T H E B E A U T Y O F B I O C H A R
For your weekly Sunday carbon sink fix we’re diving into the general gorgeous-ness of biochar in @mwelbel ‘s latest piece. (Live on closedloopcooking.com!) Just what is this low impact magic you ask?
W H A T I S B I O C H A R ?
Biochar is a charcoal-like substance that is produced when you burn organic materials in an oxygen-deprived environment. The simplest way to make biochar is inside a kiln (or metal bucket.) Wood is stacked on top of the organic materials and the material at the bottom is deprived of oxygen. Dry, hard materials like tree prunings and nutshells typically produce the most stable, carbon-rich biochar, but anything that was once living should work.
T H E C A R B O N S I N K
Biochar can store carbon in a stable form for thousands (potentially longer) of years, keeping it out of the atmosphere. A practice known as “carbon-smart farming” uses biochar to store large volumes of carbon in soil and organic matter.
Adding biochar to the soil:
- increases microbial activity
- increases water retention
- attracts heavy metals away from other plants
- filters water runoff
- improves soil structure + reduces erosion
This dark magic is rich in complexity, offering a real solution to mitigating carbon emissions. You can read Maia’s full piece over on closedloopcooking.com and learn more. Plus one for finding a farm near you that uses biochar!
Have you heard of #biochar before?? #closedloopcooking