Happy Wednesday Fireshed community,
We hope you’re doing well and enjoyed the slightly warmer weather we’ve had across northern New Mexico! Biochar may be a term you’ve heard recently as its use is becoming increasingly popular. Today we’re sharing some background information on biochar as well as some resources for land managers and land owners on how to utilize this resource!
Today’s Wildfire Wednesday features:
Background on Biochar
Webinars on biochar topics
Upcoming biochar workshops
Additionally:
How to Prepare for Wildfire Season in New Mexico 2022 Free Extension Webinar Series
Fire & Ice: success story on collaborative prescribed burning
Hiring announcement: Wildland Coordinator and Wildland Firefighters
Best,
Liz
Background on Biochar
What is biochar?
“Biochar is a charcoal-like material that is produced from plant materials such as grass, agricultural and forest residues that are decomposed at high temperatures, often during renewable energy production. During the process, the physical and chemical properties of the plant material change into a highly porous, stable, carbon-rich material known as biochar. Recent research suggests it has the potential to be used as a soil conditioner and as a container substrate amendment in agriculture and horticulture, and it may improve several soil and substrate physical, chemical and biological properties. (What is Biochar and How Different Biochars Can Improve Your Crops)”
Uses for biochar:
“The carbon component in biochar is relatively stable, and, hence, biochar was originally proposed as a soil amendment to store carbon in the soil. Biochar has multifunctional values that include the use of it for the following purposes: soil amendment to improve soil health, nutrient and microbial carrier, immobilising agent for remediation of toxic metals and organic contaminants in soil and water, catalyst for industrial applications, porous material for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and odorous compounds, and feed supplement to improve animal health and nutrient intake efficiency and, thus, productivity. (Multifunctional applications of biochar beyond carbon storage)”
Click on any of the resources below to learn more:
Webinars on biochar topics
Biochar Workshop Part 1: How to Make Biochar
Watch the whole day of the Biochar Workshop led by Bob Wells, soil scientist Jon Nilsson and Patryk Battle. Learn how to make biochar and its many beneficial uses including greatly enhancing soil life and fertility. Discover innovative ways to maximize its uses for dynamically carbon negative farming and gardening. Visit our website for workshops and many free resources for growing food organically at http://www.livingwebfarms.org
The webinars below come from the Biochar Market Opportunities Webinar Series by Dovetail Partners
Biochar Use in Viticulture:
Biochar has been successfully used in viticulture to boost productivity through improved plant and soil health without negative effects to the grape or wine flavor. Learn about biochar’s potential, including how biochar is being used and can solve problems, during this webinar. Information provided will be applicable for biochar producers, users, practitioners, and investors.
Biochar Use with Livestock and Poultry
This Biochar Use with Livestock and Poultry webinar includes topics on biochar’s potential and how biochar is being used to solve problems. Information provided is applicable for biochar producers, users, practitioners, and investors.
Biochar Use in Stormwater Management
Over the last decade biochar has begun to play an ever-expanding role in managing and decontaminating stormwater. Learn about biochar's potential, including how biochar is being used and can solve problems, during this webinar.
Upcoming Biochar Workshops
COME LEARN ABOUT BIOCHAR!
“Biochar is an important emerging tool for productively dealing with organic wastes such as thinned woods, giving land stewards additional options for mitigating fire risk. Additionally, biochar can be used as an organic amendment that can help build productivity and is aligned with the healthy soil principles according to the NRCS.
In this workshop, attendees will *ideally* watch and participate in a biochar kiln burn led by Preston Englant. Weather conditions the day of the workshop will determine if a burn is possible, but attendees will participate in the preparation of a biochar kiln and review safety precautions and process either way. A good resource on biochar is Kelpie Wilson’s YouTube channel.
Workshop attendees will be provided with a workbook of instructions and considerations for making biochar in the southwest, and may have access to biochar kilns to borrow through the Quivira Coalition for conducting their own burns. Our hope is to establish a network of technical service providers who can supervise burns in New Mexico. This workshop is free to attend. Please bring your lunch. There will be some snacks and extra water.”
How to Prepare for Wildfire Season in New Mexico 2022 Free Extension Webinar Series
Fire & Ice: success story on collaborative prescribed burning
“While schools and government offices closed due to the snow, a fire crew saw a perfect opportunity to eliminate hazardous fuels. The Forest Stewards Guild on Wednesday led a team to burn hundreds of piles on Glorieta Adventure Camp’s property to minimize the potential for high-severity fire events.
(Source: William Melhado)
Dangerous and unhealthy fires—the consequence of suppression efforts by the Forest Service up until the 1970s—pose a threat to communities and ecosystems given the buildup of hazardous fuels and dense landscapes, advocates of controlled burns say. Along with forest thinning, prescribed burns reduce the danger communities face in the event of a large fire, which would pollute water sources and significantly disrupt the ecosystem.”
While the Forest Service can burn on private land, it’s easier for organizations like the Forest Stewards Guild to coordinate prescribed burns with landowners, explains Gabe Kohler, southwest program manager. ‘We use our crew to get some of those private land chunks done, but we also try and use it to demystify fire,’ Kohler tells SFR. Through hands-on training and a youth program, Kohler hopes to ‘get folks out here and show people, ‘You can do this.’ A private landowner could, with 10 guys, come out here and do a lot of good stuff,’ he says.”
Click here to read the full story from the Santa Fe Reporter
Hiring announcement: Wildland Coordinator and Wildland Firefighters
From the Angel Fire Fire Department:
We are hiring! Seeking an experienced Wildland Coordinator and an additional 3 Wildland Firefighters. Please see attached job descriptions. Hourly rate dependent on experience and training.
The Wildland Coordinator can be full time or part-time (subject to the candidate/experience), and the wildland firefighters can go to work immediately doing slash burning until the fire season begins. We do intend to be deployable in and out of state in 2022.
For more information please contact Chief Henson directly @ khenson@angelfirenm.gov.