Conservation Commission News

SoilCon Field Day 2023: Hands-on Soil Health Learning and Biochar!

SoilCon Field Day 2023: Hands-on Soil Health Learning and Biochar!

What's even better than the field days of our youth? SoilCon Field Day! This event, hosted by the Washington Soil Health Initiative (WaSHI) and WSU’s Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, takes folks into the field for hands-on soil health learning.

Presentations included Dr. Deirdre Griffin-LaHue of WSU showing how to evaluate soil health in the field. And one of the demonstrations was of a biochar kiln funded through SCC's Sustainable Farms and Fields program. Biochar is made in a moveable kiln that breaks down waste wood and forest harvesting byproducts without releasing carbon into the atmosphere. The product (biochar) left in the kiln is a blackened carbon product that farmers can use as a soil amendment to improve soil health.

Learn more at https://soilhealth.wsu.edu/event/soilcon-field-day/


📸: Nick Kunz from Skagit Conservation District showing the biochar kiln.