Building the Future from the Ground Up

Organizations and Resources

Also check out our new huge lists of links and resources.  A list of basics for newbies or going deep for the geeks. 

ORGANIZATIONS & RESOURCES

This site focuses on biochar organizations, social media sites and listservs in the U.S. and Canada.  But no biochar site would be complete without a link to the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) and their comprehensive list of biochar research papers. 

U.S. Initiatives
 

U.S. Biochar Initiative (USBI) - you're here already.  Welcome!  Visit and like our Facebook page too.

Gardening with Biochar - this site appears currently inactive but still has a lot of good information.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA AND LISTSERVS (Also see regional groups below)

Biochar Association - Linked-In Group

BioEnergy: Biochar Listserv - a very active group with great information and site organization

Yahoo Biochar Listserv - another active exchange with the latest thinking and questions about biochar

 

FACEBOOK PAGES (non-commercial): 

U.S. Regional Initiatives

You can also visit the Canadian Biochar Initiative at www.biochar.ca  and the Ontario Biochar Initiative.

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USEFUL LINKS

Ithaka Journal - a resource for ecology, vineyards and climate farming.  It has a wonderful cross-section of information primarily from Switzerland but with global applicability.

New Carbon Economy - An informational site targetting solutions that:

  • make us independent of fossil fuels
  • reverse climate change
  • create jobs
  • make our soils fertile without side effects
  • solve the water shortage problem
  • preserve the biodiversity of our planet

Biochar Gets Started in Hampton Roads - NASA, in conjunction with a group of master gardners, demonstrated exactly how biochar could be made and used in soils. To read the full article click here.

To read about biochar on Wikipedia click here.

Biochar.org is an information site that also provides consulting.

Biomass.net is an informative site on all areas of biomass.

Jock Gill has provided us with plans for his TLUD Open Source Stove.

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RESEARCH

KeySoil draws upon decades of soils research and combines this with exciting recent developments in our understanding of how organic matter is broken down when added to soil as well as the social and economic dimensions of soil management. The organization's research has shown significant potential for both improved agricultural performance and environmental protection through the better management of soil and the organic matter resources that are crucial to its performance. Learn more at www.keysoil.com/home

Cornell University: Soil Biogeochemistry - Biochar

Cornell University: Preta de Indio

Cornell University: "Ameliorating physical and chemical properties of highly weathered soils in the tropics with charcoal - a review"

Cornell University: "A handful of carbon"

Cornell University: "Bio-char sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems - a review"

Cornell University: "Bio-energy in the black"

Cornell University: "Bio-char soil management on highly weathered soil in the humid tropics"

Cornell University: "Nutrient availability and leaching in an archaeological Anthrosol and a Ferralsol of the Central Amazon Basin: fertilizer, manure and charcoal amendments"

Cornell University: "Black carbon increases cation exchange capacity in soils"

Cornell University: "Black is the new green"

Cornell University: "Mycorrhizal responses to biochar in soil - concepts and mechanisms"

University of Georgia: Biorefining and Carbon Cycling Program - Terra Preta

University of Bayreuth: Institute of Soil Science and Soil Geography - Terra Preta

International Soil Reference and Information Centre - www.isric.org

Biochar Fund: "Target Atmospheric CO2:Where Should Humanity Aim?" To read the supporting documents for this article click here.

International Biochar Initiative: "Biochar trials aim to enrich soil for smallholders"

International Rice Research Institute: "Black Soil, Green Rice"

"Biochar as a soil amendment - A review of the environmental implications"

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BLOGS

For discussions, information or to share information with biochar enthusiasts and practitioners throughout the Northwest please visit the Pacific Northwest Biochar Initiative Group.

Terra Preta Bioenergy Mailing List is a discussion forum where experts convene to exchange information on terra preta research and its modern variant, biochar. This also includes data about field experiments.

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*USBI provides the following links as helpful resources; USBI is not resposible for the content of any of these third-party websites.