Biochar

Line drawing comparing two fire pits in cross section. Left, a double-wall smokeless fire pit: air enters at the base, rises between the walls and jets in near the rim, where it mixes with the smoke and burns it off
How Does a Smokeless Fire Pit Work?
A smokeless wood burning fire pit has two walls. Air comes in at the bottom, heats up between the walls, and comes back out through a ring of holes near... Read more...
Line drawing of four biochar kiln types in cross section: an open flame-cap cone with flames across the top and a char bed below, a sealed retort drum sitting inside an outer fire, a top-lit updraft drum with air holes at the bottom and a chimney
Biochar Kiln Buyer's Guide: Flame Cap, Retort, TLUD and DIY
A biochar kiln is any container that is used to make biochar. A key feature that separates a biochar kiln from a conventional fire pit or burn pile is that... Read more...
Biochar Soil Map demo: clicking a spot near Huguley, AL returns 'Good response on Cecil (85%)' with a full breakdown link.
Biochar Soil Map: Will Biochar Help Your Garden?
Biochar Soil Map: Will Biochar Help Your Garden? | Pi Fabricators Will biochar help your soil? Biochar is charcoal made specifically for soil — and not every soil benefits equally.... Read more...
Can Biochar Work as an Aquaponics Filter?
Can Biochar Work as an Aquaponics Filter?
(Image courtesy of Pi Fabricators; free to reuse with a link to this article.) Allan Baker, a dedicated gardener/aquaponics/hydroponics enthusiast, enjoys the symbiotic relationship between his thriving tilapia and his... Read more...
Biochar in Soil: 2 Feet Deep for Supercharged Tomatoes
Biochar in Soil: 2 Feet Deep for Supercharged Tomatoes
Biochar Transforms Allan's Leaky Raised Beds Dedicated gardener Allan Baker knew he could grow better tomatoes, but his raised beds leaked water like crazy. His solution? Biochar two feet deep.... Read more...
Ladybug Haven: How Biochar Helped One Greenhouse Thrive
Ladybug Haven: How Biochar Helped One Greenhouse Thrive
Gardener Allan Baker discovered a simple trick to keep ladybugs in his greenhouse: biochar. He noticed the ladybugs using the coarse biochar as a mini-shelter from the heat, allowing them... Read more...
A pile of various lumber scraps with the word "BIOCHARABLE" overlaid in bold white text.
Biocharable - A Much Needed Word
What materials are biocharable? Biocharable materials are biomass materials suitable for conversion into biochar using simple, home-based methods. They must be sized right, have a moisture content less than 50%... Read more...
A proof-of-concept Pi Biochar Fire pit with burning corn stalks, used to create biochar.
How Biochar Makes Your Garden Thrive: Water, Nutrients, Habitat
Is your garden yearning for a boost? Biochar, a special charcoal made from organic waste, could be the secret to lush, vibrant plants and bountiful harvests. Biochar acts like a... Read more...