Through funding from the Washington State Conservation Commission, Cascadia hosted two biochar workshops this year for agricultural producers. Biochar, created by burning wood in a low-oxygen environment, is a carbon-rich material with promising benefits for soil health.The first workshop, held December 10, was a small, hands-on event that introduced the unique considerations of burning orchard wood in a kiln. The second, on March 20th had nearly 40 participants and demonstrated the biochar production process with the Ring of Fire kiln.
 

We can’t talk about the workshops without acknowledging the McManus Family, who graciously hosted both events at their Cashmere orchard and provided removed trees and old firewood as fuel. Scott McManus, a third-generation orchardist, has been interested in biochar for over a decade and in conservation for even longer. When he learned that Cascadia had kilns available, he jumped at the opportunity to host. As he put it, “I have all these piles, and the wood is just so big, so let’s give it a try.”

While Cascadia’s biochar program has traditionally focused on forestry applications, applying it in an orchard setting offered valuable new insights. For example, apple and pear wood burn more slowly and require thorough drying. Proper preparation of the wood pile during orchard removal is one of the most critical, and time-intensive, steps in the process.

Biochar’s porous, negatively charged structure makes it especially beneficial for improving soil water holding capacity and nutrient retention, particularly in sandy soils. After seeing the process and hearing the experts, such as Korina Stark from Circular Spring, share their knowledge, participants left the workshop inspired and eager to try making biochar on their own.

As interest in biochar continues to grow, Cascadia looks forward to building on these workshops, supporting producers in exploring new ways to manage woody debris, improve soil health, and invest in the long-term resilience of their operations.

For additonal information please contact Marcy Bartelheimer at [email protected] or 509-436-1601 ext. 3.