Biochar Working Group on Salt spring island
Biochar working group
We’re a community-led group focused on sharing the benefits of biochar—a special type of charcoal used to improve soil health and store carbon. Whether you're a home gardener, land steward, or just curious, biochar offers a practical, low-tech way to turn wood waste into something beneficial for your soil and the climate. Do you regularly burn yard waste, such as branches and prunings? Burn it in a biochar kiln and produce far less smoke, and gain a useful soil amendment for your garden or orchard.
Members and volunteers are needed throughout the year for our various events, education, and activities. Contact Brian Smallshaw to get involved!
Teaching, Sharing & Supporting Biochar Use
Hands-On Workshops - We host seasonal workshops where participants learn to turn wood waste into biochar using open cavity kilns. These outdoor sessions cover safe kiln use, application tips, and how biochar improves soil health.
Community Education - We offer talks, demos, and resources on the benefits of biochar for soil, climate, and wildfire resilience—supporting gardeners, farmers, and curious learners alike.
Kiln Fabrication - We fabricate biochar kilns locally on Saltspring and on Vancouver Island for people who wish to have the means to produce their own biochar. Contact Brian Smallshaw for details.
Regional Support - We collaborate with other communities to support the adoption of biochar practices by sharing kilns, offering guidance, and helping organize local workshops.
Get involved with biochar
Want to try making biochar, borrow a kiln, or host a workshop? Here’s how to connect:
- Join a local biochar workshop
- Organize a community demo or talk
- Help spread the word about biochar’s benefits
Biochar Stories
Reducing Wildfire Risks & Biochar: TSS Members Travel to Clearwater, BC, to Talk About Forest Resiliency
On April 5th and 6th, Grace Fields, the TSS Project Coordinator for the Climate Adaptation Research Lab (CARL), and Brian Smallshaw (Biochar Working Group Lead) travelled up to Clearwater, BC, to speak to community members…
Biochar Kilns
Biochar is a low-tech method of carbon sequestration, and can increase the microbial activity and improve the moisture retention of soils. Adding biochar to your soil is an excellent way to improve its fertility and…
Biochar activities heating up on Salt Spring
Article first published in the Driftwood on November 16, 2022 Biochar activities heating up on Salt Spring By Robb Magley November 16, 2022 It’s such an elegant solution — and to such relatable island problems…