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USBI Conference 2012
Initiative News
May 5, 2023
Activity Update
So much has been happening in the biochar program here at SEC it has been difficult to stay current with our activities here on the website. Here are a few highlights: We have been working as consultants for Earth Foundries (EF), a startup based in Santa Clara County focused on increasing fire safety in Bay […]
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Initiative News
August 23, 2022
Biochar Presentation to Sonoma County Vineyard Technical Group
Doug Beck, Science Advisor to Monterey Pacific Management, and Raymond Baltar from SBI, recently gave an hour presentation on biochar and our collaborative DWR Oasis field trial results to this local grower group. If you are interested in checking it out, GO HERE.
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Initiative News
June 15, 2022
SEC/SBI to Collaborate on 3 Cal Fire Grants
The biochar program at SEC recently received some great news regarding Cal Fire grants that have been awarded under the Business and Workforce Development program. Three out of the four grants we helped develop and will play a significant role in were funded. These include 1) an emissions testing proposal for the conservation burn technique […]
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Initiative News
February 16, 2022
We Offer Ring of Fire Kiln and Conservation Burn Training
Sonoma Ecology Center’s Restoration crew offers training in the use of the Ring of Fire flame-cap kiln and the conservation burn technique for processing surplus woody “waste” materials into biochar. If you would like to learn how to reduce the smoke when doing open burning while also saving up to half of the carbon contained […]
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Initiative News
February 5, 2022
Biomass to Biochar: Maximizing the Carbon Value
Check out this fantastic report from Washington State University on the state of the biochar industry and what will be needed to scale it. Includes contributions by practitioners from all parts of the biochar ecosystem.
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Initiative News
February 5, 2022
Final SEC Department of Water Resources Oasis Vineyard Field Trial Report
Check out the results of our 4-year biochar field trial funded by the California Department of Water Resources. Bottom line? The vines amended with biochar and compost produced 40% more fruit in year 4 than those in the control plots—using the same amount of water!
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Initiative News
December 16, 2021
Biochar In the Woods Workshop
Biochar in the Woods Workshop Learn how to make and use biochar in the woods, for the woods. What: A combination of live, online and in-field presentations and demonstrations on making and using biochar on site in the forest and WUI (Wildland Urban Interface). Why: Given the ongoing drought and dangerous wildfire conditions in California and throughout […]
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Initiative News
October 30, 2021
Interest in Biochar is Growing!
The interest in biochar seems to be on a huge upswing lately. We have been retained as consultants on a number of projects over the last few months and more opportunities seem to be popping up weekly. We were retained by Earth Foundries, an environmentally-focused startup in Santa Clara County, to provide advice on biochar […]
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Initiative News
October 30, 2021
President Biden Mentions Biochar in Speech
President Biden issued a proclamation recently that mentioned biochar. We have come a LONG way in getting the word out about this amazing ecosystem enhancement! You can read it here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/10/15/a-proclamation-on-national-forest-products-week-2021/
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Initiative News
January 29, 2021
SEC Awarded Major Urban Forestry Grant
The Sonoma Ecology Center recently signed a contract agreement with CalFire to manage an Urban Forestry grant that will produce biochar at Mare Island using pyrolysis technology from the Advanced Renewable Technology International company in Iowa. This project will work closely with a sustainably managed tree care company, A Plus Tree based in Pleasant Hill, […]
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