raymondbiochar – Page 5 – Sonoma Biochar Initiative

April 6, 2013

USDA Conservation Innovation Grant Application Goes to Second Phase

The Sonoma Biochar Initiative received word on Friday that our California GIG grant application to fund the development and study of a farm-scale biochar operation has made the cut to stage two, and a full 30-page proposal has been requested. This grant, with matching funds provided by the Sonoma County Water Agency, would allow for […]

April 4, 2013

Earth Day Celebration / Sonoma April 20th

The Sonoma Ecology Center, Transition Sonoma Valley, The Sonoma Biochar Initiative (SBI), and many other local organizations, businesses, and citizens will be gathering to create a fun and engaging community spirited celebration to honor the Earth on Saturday, April 20th 1:00 – 5:00 PM on the Sonoma Plaza. For more information, go here: Earth Day […]

March 23, 2013

Biochar Effects on Vineyards in Europe

Though this article discusses the 2011 growing season in Europe, it is highly topical and relevant for our own North Bay wine growing region. This piece is also from Hans-Peter Schmidt’s Ithaka Journal. Thank you Hans-Peter and associates for all of your great work! 2011 European Vineyard Field Trial Results I have two pdf’s that […]

March 22, 2013

55 Uses for Biochar

Here is another fantastic article from Hans-Peter Schmidt’s Ithaka Journal: 55 Uses for Biochar Hans-Peter makes a great case for first using biochar in at least one other way before putting it in the ground for agricultural use: “Biochar is much too valuable for it to be just worked into the soil without having it […]

February 27, 2013

Community Meeting on March 13th

Announcing our first-ever COMMUNITY MEETING on Wednesday evening, March 13th, 2013 at the Sonoma Valley Grange Hall, from 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. The event is FREE but we will be seeking donations to help cover event costs. To register, please go here. This will be the kickoff event for our 2013 educational outreach and […]

February 6, 2013

New Biochar Article from Hans-Peter Schmidt

Here is an excellent article from European vineyard grower Hans-Peter Schmidt, a highly respected writer, farmer, and biochar enthusiast who has been doing great work on biochar’s effects in vineyards for a number of years.

December 19, 2012

The Secret of El Dorado—Terra Preta

If you have time over the holidays check out this video: Produced by the BBC, this program gives an excellent historical overview of the terra preta (dark earth) soils in the Amazon and lays out an impressive case for using charcoal (we call it biochar) as a soil amendment to help build and maintain soil […]

December 14, 2012

California Bill SB-1122: renewable bioenergy procurement

http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml;jsessionid=cd36e5138d18004eeb1fc4f367a0?bill_id=201120120SB1122 This bill, signed into law by Gov. Brown on Sept. 27th, requires energy corporations to procure electricity from producers of bioenergy. Here are a few key paragraphs: SECTION 1. Section 399.20 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read: 399.20. (a) It is the policy of this state and the intent of the Legislature […]

December 8, 2012

SBI in 2013

With our successful national conference now behind us, SBI’s Advisory Board has been hard at work developing strategies to build on the local excitement and knowledge gained at the event, and getting as much biochar into the ground as possible. We are poised to have a major growth spurt in our outreach and education activities […]

June 24, 2012

David Morell Interviewed on Biochar

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