Two-day Workshop: Biochar and Forests at the Siskiyou Field Institute

Instructors: Kelpie Wilson and Ken Carloni
Dates: Friday-Saturday, March 8-9, 2019
Location: Siskiyou Field Institute, Selma, Oregon
Tuition: $120

For information about lodging, facilities and registration, please visit http://www.thesfi.org

COURSE INFORMATION

Instructors:  Kelpie Wilson, BS, Mech. Eng., Ken Carloni, Ph.D. Forest Ecology
Email: kelpiew@gmail.com; ken.carloni@gmail.com
Course Location: Siskiyou Field Institute, 1241 Illinois River Rd, Selma, OR
Course Meeting Times:  Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm; Saturday 9:00am to 4:00pm.
NOTE: In case of inclement weather, we may change the schedule of outdoor activities

COURSE DESCRIPTION 
Learn how charred biomass (biochar) can increase soil productivity (including expanded tree mycorrhizal networks in a burned area), reduce wildfire risk, and slow climate change. Mechanical engineer Kelpie Wilson and forest ecologist Ken Carloni will provide a history and science of biochar production and use during morning classroom presentations.  Afternoons will be spent in the field looking recent wildfire impact on forests, examining at biochar in the lab, and hands-on learning demonstrations of how to make biochar in simple kilns.

COURSE OUTCOMES
Students will:

1. be introduced to the chemistry and biology of biochar at scales ranging from atoms to the biosphere
2. learn how biochar sequesters carbon while improving soil health and plant productivity
3. investigate the physical and chemical properties of biochar during lab exercises
4. observe the natural production of biochar in an area recently burned in a wildfire
5. understand available technology options for biochar production at different scales
6. become familiar with the production of biochar through hands-on demonstrations

COURSE SCHEDULE

Day 1
Presentation

• What is Biochar?
• Biochar: From Electrons to the Biosphere
• Soil Microbial Ecology
• Biochar and Forests
• The Carbon Cycle and Climate Change

Activities

• Physical and chemical properties of biochar (lab exercises)
• Wildfire and biochar (field observations)

Day 2
Presentation

• Biochar Applications
• Pyrolysis – overview
• Centralized Biochar Production – options
• Mobile Biochar Production – options
• Biochar Job Planning and Estimating

Activities

• Biochar production in “flame cap” kilns

Please Join Us! Siskiyou Field Institute at the Deer Creek Center in Selma, Oregon is a wonderful facility in a beautiful wildland setting. We will have a lot of fun exploring biochar and forest ecology.
-Kelpie Wilson