Biochar School - Appropriate Technology for Small Farms
5 days of learning and experimentation at Swallow Valley Farm in Sonoma County, California
Produced by Wilson Biochar Associates, New England Biochar, LLC and Biocarbon Associates
Co-sponsored by US Biochar Initiative, Sonoma Biochar Initiative, Southern California Biochar Initiative and others TBA
Sign up at: http://biocharschool.brownpapertickets.com/
- See more at: http://greenyourhead.typepad.com/biochar_school/#s...
Who should attend? Small farmers; home, community, commercial gardeners; and anyone interested in soils, plants and small scale biomass energy. You may sign up for the whole school (3 full and two half days) or just sign up for the days you are most interested in. You will, however, save a bundle if you sign up for the early bird full tuition.
What you will learn from our faculty of 12 prominent biochar experts:
- No-cost and low-cost ways to make plenty of biochar for your farm
- Biochar application rates and methods for best results
- How to make biologically active, nutrient balanced biochar fertilizer blends
- How to analyze biochar characteristics
- How to integrate biochar economically and ecologically into your farm production systems
- How to design biochar devices that capture useful energy
Exciting Demonstrations and Lectures:
Hear Toby Hemenway talk about biochar and permaculture pattern literacy
See how Penny Livingston is using biochar for restoring native grasslands
Experience the amazing Adam Retort with Peter Hirst
See the latest biochar stove designs from Dr. TLUD
Learn about biochar from experts Gloria Flora, Kelpie Wilson and Josiah Hunt, among others
Visit Bloomfield Organics to see how biochar is used on the farm
Biochar School Schedule Details
Friday, Nov 7 Biochar in Context
1:00 Biochar 101: Introduction to biochar
2:00 4:00 Biochar kiln demonstration
4:00 Toby Hemenway: A Permacultural Approach to Biochar, Carbon, and Soil
5:00 Gloria Flora: Biochar and Sustainability
6:00 Social Hour
7:00 Dinner Kelpie Wilson: Biochar Standards and the Industry
8:00 - 9:00 Evening campfire
Saturday, Nov 8 Introduction to Biochar
7:30 - Breakfast
8:00 - Biochar 101: Introduction to biochar
9:00 Noon
Terra Preta Sanitation
Build and fire a Hawaiian pit kiln
Conservation burn techniques turn brush to biochar
Make a biochar stove or Jolly Roger Oven
Noon - Lunch
1:00 - 5:00
Feedstock management
Biochar and permaculture
Biochar characterization
Open fire kilns and new devices
5:00 Pyrolysis 101: Introduction to pyrolysis science and technology
6:00 Social Hour
7:00 - Dinner
8:00 - 9:00 Evening campfire
Sunday, Nov 9 Advanced Topics in Biochar I
7:30 - Breakfast
8:00 Biochar 201: Biochar compost science and methods
9:00 Noon
Terra Preta Sanitation
Conservation burn techniques turn brush to biochar
Open fire kilns and new devices
Make a biochar stove or Jolly Roger Oven
Biochar fertilizer formulations
Noon - Lunch
1:00 5:00
Nutrient capture and bio-filtration on the farm
Biochar characterization
Biochar and permaculture
Feedstock management
5:00 Pyrolysis 201: Pyrolysis Economics for Farm Scale
6:00 - 9:00 Luau Dinner
Monday, Nov 10 Advanced Topics in Biochar II
7:30 - Breakfast
8:00 Biochar 201: Biochar application rates and application methods
9:00 - Noon
Terra Preta Sanitation
How to operate the Adam Retort
Make a biochar stove or Jolly Roger Oven
Nutrient capture and bio-filtration on the farm
Noon - Lunch
1:00 5:00
Field trip to local farm
Biochar and permaculture
Biochar fertilizer formulations
Open fire kilns and new devices
5:00 Pyrolysis 201: Design for Heat Transfer
6:00 Social hour
7:00 Dinner
8:00 - 9:00 Evening Campfire
Tuesday, Nov 11 Future of Farm Scale Biochar and Biochar Education
7:30 - Breakfast
8:00 10:00 Panel Discussion: Future of Farm Scale Biochar
10:00 Noon Discussion: Where do we go from here?
Noon - Lunch
Lecture Descriptions
Biochar 101 the basics about biochar and how it works in soil (Gloria Flora)
Pyrolysis 101 the basics about the chemistry and physics of the biochar-making process and how different devices work (Peter Hirst)
Biochar 201 (part 1) -- Biochar Compost Science & Methods (Josiah Hunt, Pacific Biochar & Kelpie Wilson, Wilson Biochar Associates)
Biochar 201 (part 2) Biochar Application Rates & Application Methods (Phil Small, Land Profile & John Miedema, BioLogical Carbon)
Pyrolysis 201 (part 1) -- Design for Heat Transfer (Peter Hirst, New England Biochar & John Miedema, BioLogical Carbon)
Pyrolysis 201 (part 2) Pyrolysis Economics for Farm Scale (Josiah Hunt, Pacific Biochar & John Miedema, BioLogical Carbon)
Lab Descriptions
Open Fire Kilns how to make and operate pit kilns, cone kilns, top lit open burns and new devices (Michael Wittman, Blue Sky Biochar & Paul Anderson, Dr. TLUD)
Make a Jolly Roger Oven make this 55 gallon gasifier to take home. $100 materials fee (Art Donnelly, SeaChar)
Make a Biochar Stove make a very simple, easy tin can stove that you can really cook on that makes biochar from wood pellets (Paul Anderson, Dr. TLUD & Kelpie Wilson, Wilson Biochar Associates).
Feedstock Management learn how to process, handle and store different feedstocks (Matt Banchero, "the tree-hugging tree cutter")
Adam Retort learn how to operate the Adam Retort (Peter Hirst, New England Biochar)
Biochar Characterization learn how to tell different biochars apart and what they are good for (Phil Small, Land Profile)
Biochar Fertilizer Formulations learn how to make biologically active, nutrient charged biochar with compost and other ingredients (Josiah Hunt, Pacific Biochar & Simran Rafael, Regenerative Earth)
Nutrient Capture and Bio-Filtration on the Farm make a biochar/sand filter; learn about the biochemistry of filtration and use of biochar in swales (John Miedema, BioLogical Carbon).
Biochar and Permaculture learn how biochar works in permaculture systems (Gloria Flora, USBI)
Terra Preta Sanitation learn how to close the loop with biochar and use biochar to manage human waste (Kelpie Wilson, Wilson Biochar Associates)
Get more information, including local lodging and camping options at: GreenYourHead.Com.