Biochar Workshop
Description: Learn how to sequester carbon in your garden while improving your soil quality by making your own biochar! We’re hosting biochar-making workshops at our nursery in Indian Head where we will be teaching three styles of char-making over two sessions. You can attend single or combined sessions as we increase in complexity and burn yield as we go!
First Session
- The first session is on 11/16/24 and will be split into two sessions running simultaneously.
- We will be making biochar using a backyard firepit (from 10am to 12pm) and a steel drum (from 10am to 1:30pm).
- Part One: Backyard Burn: Backyard firepit burn is about 2 hours long (10am to 12pm), during which you can make small amounts of biochar using a simple fire-ring or burn pit. This portion of the class is ideal for homeowners that want to improve their soil quality or make soil amendments for their personal plants.
- Part Two: Steel Drum: The steel drum method is about 3 ½ hours long (10am to 1:30pm) and provides a bigger burn yield, ideal for large suburban or rural properties or for soil amendments for small-scale/backyard nurseries.
- Participants have the option of attending only the backyard firepit session or the full session for both biochar methods.
Second Session
- The second session is 12/7/24
- We will be making biochar using the Kon-tiki from 10am to 3pm
The Kon-Tiki is capable of making ¾ of a cubic-yard (20.25 cubic feet or over 150 gallons) of char in one burn. This class is ideal for biochar enthusiasts, rural property owners, environmental organizations, and small nursery operations. Participants can attend either the Kon-Tiki workshop only or all three workshops.
What You’ll Get:
- Backyard firepit char: makes approx 10 gallons of char distributed equally among participants
- Steel drum char: makes approx 40 gallons of char distributed equally among participants
- Kon-Tiki: 60 gallons of char distributed equally among participants.
How to Join a Workshop:
- Email us at bonaterra@bonaterradc.com with your name, email, and phone number.
- Tell us which session(s) you want to attend (firepit, steel drum, contiki, or a combination of the three), and which date you want to attend (Saturday 11/16 for fire pit and steel drum with rain date 11/17, or Saturday 12/7 for Kon-Tiki with rain date 12/8). Please also let us know your method of payment
- Beth will follow up and send you a Google invite for the event with additional information for the workshop, including a liability release. She will also follow up with an invoice if necessary.
Workshop Costs:
Can be paid via cash, check or credit card.
Backyard Burn: firepit char only $50 (2 hours)
Backyard Burn: firepit and steel drum char $75 (3.5 hours)
Kon-Tiki only: $100 (5 hours)
Full Backyard Burn and Kon-Tiki: $150 (8.5 hours)
Volunteer-Trade: What to learn the biochar process, volunteer, and save the cost of the workshop? You can do the volunteer-trade option! The participant attends a workshop and then returns at a later date to monitor a burn for the nursery within one year of taking the class. Burns only occur at the nursery from September through May.
What to Bring:
- Cotton or wool clothing only, preferably denim (no polyester or silk). Anyone wearing nylon-based clothing will not be able to participate and can only observe the workshop.
- Leather gloves, if possible
- Long-sleeved shirt, long pants, closed-toed shoes (preferably workbooks or waterproof shoes made of leather or canvas)
- We recommend bringing an N95 mask or respirator if you’re sensitive to smoke
- We recommend dressing in layers as we’ll be working outside near fire, so temperatures will vary throughout the day
