The Biochar Handbook
A Practical Guide to Making and Using Bioactivated Charcoal
With extensive research, real-world examples, and hands-on applications, this go-to guide offers a comprehensive look at the principles and practices of biochar—and all of its world-changing uses.
Like many human discoveries, biochar has likely been invented, lost, and reinvented multiple times. It can be found in the rich terra preta soils of the Amazon and in the ancient “dark earths” dotting Africa, Asia, and Europe. However, biochar isn’t just an archeological curiosity. In The Biochar Handbook, author Kelpie Wilson argues that the simple process of burning organic material in a low-oxygen, low-emission environment could be one of the most powerful tools we have to restore degraded soils and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
In accessible and authoritative prose, Wilson demonstrates that biochar is a low-tech but effective means of reducing wildfire risks, restoring soil carbon, managing manure, weaning farms off of toxic inputs, and producing the best compost ever made.
In this book, you’ll also find:
- A pocket history of biochar
- Step-by-step instructions on making biochar for yourself
- Applications for soil water retention, pest deterrence, compost enhancement, and more
- Inspiring examples of ecosystem restoration and improved forest management
- Low-cost recipes, including Cultured Biochar and Sustainable Potting Soil
Wilson makes a compelling case that biochar is both simple to make and a potent solution to a host of knotty problems, both global and close to home. Whether you’re a gardener, homesteader, rancher, commercial farmer, permaculturalist, or forest manager, this book will show you how to put biochar to work, making you and your community more resilient as a result.
Reviews and Praise
“A brief yet thorough introduction to the history, science, and practicalities of biochar-making and its tremendous potential to restore degraded soils. Highly recommended.”
—David R. Montgomery, author of Dirt and Growing a Revolution
More Reviews and Praise
“This book is an absolute tour de force. It answers so many commonly asked questions about biochar in easy-to-understand prose. Everyone from newbies to those who have been in the biochar industry for years will learn a lot from reading this book. Recipes for bokashi, compost, toothpaste, and more showcase how biochar can be used both inside and outside the home.”
—Kathleen Draper, coauthor of Burn; former International Biochar Initiative Board Chair
“Climate repair is the greatest challenge we have ever confronted, and it falls upon our generation, right now, no excuses. A formidable scholar and mechanical engineer, Kelpie Wilson has a way with words that few with either of those skills can equal. I would read her just to enjoy her style and humor, even if the subject were not so urgent and the stakes so astronomical.”
—Albert Bates, 2024 EcoHero of the Year; author of The Paris Agreement and The Biochar Solution; coauthor of Burn
“Finally! A book on biochar that is not merely evangelizing, but written by someone with experience, who has read and done the research in order to learn the actual facts about what biochar is, what it does, and how it can be used at any scale of agriculture. It’s good to see this subject finally addressed in a practical, no-nonsense way. Thumbs up!”
—Mark Shepard, author of Restoration Agriculture and Water for Any Farm
“A balanced, intelligent, and practical guide to one of the most promising ventures in the modern appropriate technology scene, Kelpie Wilson’s book shows its author’s detailed knowledge and extensive experience with biochar on every page. I would not be at all surprised to see The Biochar Handbook turn into the classic text in this burgeoning field.”
—John Michael Greer, author of Green Wizardry and The Druid Path
“This is by far the best book on biochar I’ve ever seen! We’ve all been needing this book—it’s scientifically rigorous, well-written, and highly visual. If you don’t have it already, get yourself a copy today!”
—Matt Powers, author of The Regenerative Soil Trilogy
About The Author
About Kelpie Wilson
Kelpie Wilson is a mechanical engineer and analyst with 35 years of experience in renewable energy, sustainable forestry, and resource conservation. She has worked in the biochar industry since 2008 and was a founding board member of the US Biochar Initiative. She manages the Biochar in the Woods network to promote biochar production in place to benefit native ecosystems. Kelpie researches and teaches techniques for using biochar in compost and manure management and presents many biochar workshops each year to farmers, foresters, and landowners. She owns a biochar consulting business, Wilson Biochar Associates, and sells her Ring of Fire Biochar Kilns through Wilson Biochar, LLC. She lives in rural Oregon, where she makes biochar compost and grows a large organic vegetable garden.
Books By Kelpie Wilson
| Pages: | 288 pages |
| Book Art: | Full-color photographs and illustrations throughout |
| Size: | 7 x 10 inch |
| Publisher: | Chelsea Green Publishing |
| US Pub. Date: | June 27, 2024 |
| UK Pub. Date: | August 29, 2024 |
| Paperback: | 9781645022305 |
Available In/Retail Price
Paperback, 288 pages, $39.95USD, £35.00GBP
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