Biochar 101
Description
Discovered in the Amazon, biochar soil called Terra Preta (black soil) helped the indigenous civilisation maintain soil fertility in largely infertile soils for thousands of year. Using this form of charcoal is becoming increasingly popular in improving soil fertility today, but is nothing new.
In this Biochar 101 Master Class we will explore the history, use, creation and application of this material to keep soil healthy and grow food. This session will explain what we can learn from this and how to use it in our own gardens. More specificaly, it will explain the benefits biochar provides for both plants and soil, how you can make it at home, will point to some good references and discusses the potential for its use at a larger scale in agriculture including how it can help reverse global warming.
Session run by Adrian Whitehead. See bio below.
This session is the first of five in a Masterclass Series "Growing the Foundation Soil Series". Other topics include – No Dig Gardening, Perennial Food Growing and Getting deep with soil - How soil health effects water retention, pests and produce nutrition. Book the Series Package for discount. Friends of SGA receive a 15% discount on all Master Classes. You can become a Friend of SGA here and GGPs receive a 30% discount.
What you will learn
- The basics of using biochar in the garden and how to make it
What you will get
- Access to recording for two weeks
What to bring
- No
What to wear
None
Appropriate for
Beginner gardeners or those focussing on soil health
Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA) is a not-for-profit non-government organiation dedicated to achieving a healthy biodiverse planet.
Its driving purpose is to:
- Encourage, educate and enable home and professional gardeners to adopt sustainable gardening practices to protect or enhance the natural environment;
- Provide information, education and undertake research about the natural environment;
- Reconnect people to the natural world through gardening; and
- Ensure an understanding of the impacts that gardening decisions about chemical and resource use have on the natural environment well beyond their neighbourhood.
Your Teacher
Adrian Whitehead is a climate campaigner, permaculturalist and keen organic gardener with a strong interest in food growing and tree propagation. Adrian's interest in biochar began when he saw a doco about it on TV. Since then he has attended numerous biochar conferences, visited large scale working plants in Australia, as well as making and using biochar at home and running biochar workshops. Adrian formally trained as a botanist at Melbourne University.
Cancellations & Refunds
If the organiser cancels the class:
You are entitled to a full refund.
If you can't attend the class:
Terms & Conditions
SGA’s Booking Conditions
- Bookings are considered final once payment is made and no refunds will be given for non-attendance.
- If there are insufficient numbers for an event it may be cancelled or postponed by SGA. If this is the case, you will be notified and given the option of either a full refund or a transfer to a different SGA event of equivalent value.
- Please arrive 10 minutes before the scheduled starting time for registration and seating