A Utah State University forester, Darren McAvoy, recently led a workshop in Sitka, Alaska, demonstrating how to make biochar from waste wood. Biochar is a charcoal-like substance that stores carbon and improves soil quality. McAvoy explains that turning waste wood into biochar releases only a third of the carbon into the atmosphere, compared to 100% from open burning or rotting. The process uses a simple kiln and can be done by anyone with access to wood scraps. The workshop, held at Mt. Edgecumbe High School, involved local gardeners and educators. Biochar acts like a sponge, holding nutrients and water in soil, which is beneficial for both dry and wet climates. In Southeast Alaska, it helps prevent nutrient leaching caused by heavy rainfall. McAvoy hopes these demonstrations will encourage wider adoption of biochar as a practical carbon storage method. Biochar production is a low-tech, accessible way to sequester carbon while improving soil health. McAvoy's goal is to spread this practice globally, noting that widespread agricultural adoption could store more carbon in soil than was emitted during the entire industrial revolution. The workshop highlights a grassroots approach to climate action that anyone can implement.
