Never heard of Biochar? Time's a-wasting!

Biochar boosts your compost

If you have not yet heard of Biochar, you will in the near future. Biochar is a soil amendment with the properties unlike any other. Used in agriculture for over 3000 years, Biochar is a component of the incredibly fertile soils of the Amazon. These soils, called terra-preta, is why the Amazon jungle is unlike anyplace else on earth.

So what can Biochar do for your garden? Biochar improves nutrient retention of soil, decreasing the need for additional amendments. Its ability to hold carbon in the soil has been proven in research. While Biochar won’t make poor soil perfect, it will enhance the effectiveness and longevity of compost.

Biochar is now commercially available, but if you are a do-it-yourselfer, you can make Biochar at home. Online resources cover many ways to create your own Biochar, but if you decide to buy instead, keep in mind that although it’s expensive, it lasts a very long time in your garden. Here's one article that teaches you how to make your own. Making Biochar to Improve Soil (Mother Earth News).