Benzie Conservation District

Have you considered turning your tree waste into "biochar"?

10/10/2018

BIOCHAR WORKSHOP

Sat, November 3rd, 10 am to 12 pm, at Grow Benzie

Biochar is a stable form of carbon, chemically equivalent to charcoal, that can be used as a soil amendment to increase moisture, nutrient retention, and habitat for beneficial microorganisms, as well as sequestering carbon in soils.

GUEST PRESENTERS
Tim Overdier, soil scientist
Paul May, grazier at May Farm

$5/adult event fee. Please Pre-Register by calling 231.882.4391, or
CLICK HERE:

The Benzie Conservation District is partnering with the Forestry Assistance Program to offer a new workshop on the benefits of using biochar as a soil amendment. This is a hands-on opportunity to learn what biochar is, how to make it on your own property, and how to apply to your soil for home gardening and landscape use. The workshop will be held at Grow Benzie, 5885 Frankfort Highway (M-115), on Sat, November 3, 10 am -12 pm.

Biochar is a sustainable organic carbon soil builder that enhances water holding capacity, ion exchange, and microbial regeneration. It is created from local plant waste. Biochar offers the potential to manage tree waste as a resource, turning it into a low-volume, high-value, leading-edge marketable carbon product that improves soil for agricultural, garden and landscaping applications, with emerging environmental and economic benefits, as well as community-building potential.

Presenters for the workshop are Tim Overdier, retired soil scientist; Paul May, grazier of May Farm; and Kama Ross, district forester. Following a short video, the workshop will move outdoors where the presenters will demonstrate the production of biochar through a pyrolysis process that can be repeated on anyone’s property. All participants will be given a small bag of biochar to take home.

The workshop fee is $5/adult; please pre-register by contacting the Benzie Conservation District at 231.882.4391, aime@benziecd.org, www.benziecd.org. Refreshments will be offered; and please dress for the weather! For more information about biochar, visit: www.biochar-international.org.