Biochar Coalition

03/22/2026

Join Us in Sonoma County.

Forestville, CA - Biochar Coalition x Napa Char

Date & Time
Saturday, Apr 4 from 1 pm to 4 pm

Location:
9021 Martinelli Rd Forestville, CA
https://www.oldworldwinery.com/

Eric Mayer w/Napa Char - Lead
https://napachar.com/

Peter Roediger w/ - Lead

- Support / Facilitation
https://californiacompostcoalition.org/

Bio Char Workshop (Link)
https://biocharcoalition.org/seminars-single-page-layout/april-4th-2026-forestville-ca-biochar-coalition-x-napa-char/

The Compost Coalition of Sonoma Co. invites everyone to a BioChar demonstration hosted at Old World Vineyard, Forestville, Ca.

BioChar Coalition x NapaChar will share about the science and practices of turning our seasonal burn piles of biomass into biochar, by using the process of pyrolysis to safely store carbon. The team will demonstrate how to produce biochar from vines / prunings using a Flame-Cap kiln.

Eric Mayer of NapaChar earned a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University, where he studied fluid mechanics and hydrology and published research improving global climate simulations. Upon graduation, Eric went looking for a more immediate way to address the climate crisis, and after a circuitous path involving algae ponds and backyard burn pits, discovered biochar and flame cap kilns, and Eric's company Napachar was born. Today, you can find Eric and Napachar in the vineyards and forests of Napa and Sonoma, diverting pulled vines and forestry slash from burn piles to bake in their biochar kilns, returning "waste" carbon to the soil.

Peter Roediger has extensive field experience with flame cap carbonization and an ever growing relation with fire on the land. His years of backpacking and search and rescue launched him into the role of stewardship as a sawyer and igniter alike. He heads the coast chapter of the Biochar Coalition and is always looking for more implementation opportunities for stable carbon creation.

We will spend the afternoon together learning about the science of biochar and participating in the burning, quenching and inoculation practices.

There is a recommended donation, sliding scale for the day.

03/19/2026

Join us! For a Friday burn in Chico!

Biochar Generation Workshop
Hosted with S.A.F.E. – Student Association for Fire Ecology
Date: March 20, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: 2842 Chico River Rd, Chico, CA 95928

A hands-on educational workshop exploring how woody biomass can be converted into biochar using flame-cap kiln technology. This event will introduce participants to the science, ecology, and practical application of biochar in agriculture, forestry, and land stewardship.
Participants will gather around a live flame-cap kiln burn and observe the full carbonization process in real time while learning how biochar is produced, quenched, and prepared for soil use.

This workshop is designed for land stewards, students, farmers, foresters, restoration practitioners, and community members interested in regenerative land management and wildfire resilience.

What You Will Learn
Participants will gain an understanding of:
• How woody “waste” biomass can be transformed into stable carbon
• The science behind biochar and carbon sequestration
• Differences between ash, charcoal, and biochar
• The flame-cap kiln method and why it produces high-quality carbon
• Indigenous and historical carbon-making practices
• How biochar improves soil structure, microbial life, and nutrient cycling
• Applications in forestry, wildfire fuel reduction, erosion control, and regenerative agriculture
• How biochar can be charged, enriched, and applied to soil systems

The workshop includes both discussion and live demonstration.
Live Demonstration
During the workshop we will conduct a live burn using a flame-cap biochar kiln.
Participants will observe:
• Kiln setup and safe ignition
• Biomass feeding techniques
• Flame-cap combustion dynamics
• Temperature behavior and carbon formation
• Quenching the kiln
• Post-processing and preparing biochar for soil application

This is an interactive learning environment where questions and discussion are encouraged.
Who Should Attend
This workshop is ideal for:
• Farmers and ranchers
• Landowners
• Forestry professionals
• Restoration practitioners
• Environmental students
• Wildfire mitigation groups
• Community organizers
• Anyone interested in regenerative land management

No prior experience with biochar is required.
Safety and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
This workshop involves a live fire demonstration and participants must follow basic safety requirements.

All attendees who wish to approach the kiln area must wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Required PPE
Participants should bring:
• Closed-toe boots or sturdy work shoes
• Long pants (no shorts or synthetic athletic wear)
• Natural fiber clothing preferred (cotton, wool, denim)
• Leather work gloves
Recommended PPE
• Eye protection or safety glasses
• Hat for sun protection
• Long sleeve shirt
• Dust mask or respirator if sensitive to smoke

Participants without proper footwear may be asked to remain in the observation area for safety reasons.

Children must remain supervised at all times and may not enter the kiln operating zone.
What to Bring
• Water bottle
• Sun protection
• Work gloves
• Notebook if you want to take notes
• Curiosity and questions

Light field conditions should be expected.
About Biochar Coalition

Biochar Coalition is a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to advancing biochar education, workforce training, and regenerative land management practices.

Since 2021, Biochar Coalition has conducted dozens of public workshops and training demonstrations across multiple states, helping communities understand how flame-cap kilns can be used for:
• wildfire fuel reduction
• soil restoration
• carbon sequestration
• regenerative agriculture

Our work focuses on practical, accessible techniques that empower communities to restore landscapes and improve soil health.

Join us on March 20th in Chico, CA for a hands-on biochar kiln demonstration hosted by Biochar Coalition & S.A.F.E Chico State. Don't miss out!

03/11/2026

We have quite a bit of events coming up! We encourage everyone to attend, learn and discover the benefits of converting woody slash into biochar! If you would like to learn more of what biochar is, get involved or ask us some questions - feel free to free to visit our website!

https://biocharcoalition.org/upcoming-events

02/20/2026

Loading a Flame-Cap Kiln with a Mini Excavator.

Photo Credit : Kenneth Scherer

02/20/2026

Biochar Besties!

Lett : Kenneth Scherer (Executive Director)

Right : C Tabor Teachout (President)

02/20/2026

Join us, March 7th 9am to 3pm for a 2-3 kiln operation at Morgan Ridge. Sponsored by - this hands-on training will provide evaluation and instruction on the proper use of a flame-cap kiln.

Participants will learn how to convert woody biomass into stable, crystalline carbon that can persist in soils for hundreds to thousands of years. We will examine the science behind carbon retention, emissions reduction, filtration capacity, and the practical differences between ash production and controlled carbonization.

Across the world, many Indigenous cultures developed long-standing land stewardship practices that emphasized returning carbon to the soil rather than losing it to the atmosphere. While this training focuses on modern flame-cap kiln systems and contemporary field methods, we recognize and respect those deep historical traditions of ecological knowledge that understood the importance of carbon in living landscapes.

This workshop is offered free to the Paradise community. Onsite Biochar Services is actively recruiting future flame-cap operators and crew leaders. If you are experienced in forestry, fuels reduction, land management, or heavy equipment operations and want to expand your skill set, we invite you to train with us.

Full PPE required. Rain or shine.
https://biocharcoalition.org/seminars-single-page-layout/march-7th-2026-concow-flame-cap-kiln-trainning-burning-for-biochar

02/12/2026

February 21st 2026 - Wildfire Resilience Training - Oroville, CA

Blaze It Up: Biochar Workshop
Matthew E. Trumm- & Biochar Coalition invites the community to Blaze It Up, a hands-on biochar workshop as part of the Wildfire Resilient Series.

This interactive demonstration shows how brush and woody fuels can be converted into biochar, a long-lasting soil amendment that supports water retention, soil biology, and carbon sequestration.

Participants will learn practical, low-tech methods for creating and using biochar at a new fire-resilient demonstration site, with a focus on real-world land stewardship and post-fire recovery applications.

Date: February 21

Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Location: 3874 Foothill Blvd, Oroville, CA 95966

Please review available workshops below and select ALL workshop you are interested in learning more about! Exact dates, activities, and recommended equipment/attire will be sent via email at least two weeks in advance of each workshop. Let us know what you are interested in learning!

01/25/2026

Burning 3 flame cap kilns converting pine tree slash into biochar onsite at the old airport. This method of fuels reduction has been gaining traction around the city of Nevada City and Nevada County.

12/30/2025

Quenching with a tractor using with scooped in a flame cap kiln

12/24/2025

Prototype Tipping Trough Biochar Flame-Cap Kiln by Paul Anderson Dr.TLUD woodgas.com Don’t put kids in with flames. Very hot, leather gloves required.

12/15/2025

Snow Quench. Wood boring beetle killed Ash trees, cut down, split & piled. Without any tarp covering the piles, brushed snow off & added to a hot flame cap kiln dried the wood into combustion. Kept a clean low smoke, high heat burn, made it more comfortable to work in the cold snow conditions behind Discovery Schoolhouse in Lakeview, NY. In regions where snow is expected, burn projects can be prepared in the summer to burn in the snow season, providing a quenching option especially where water sources may be more challenging to provide.