Experiments with Biochar to Clean Water

Biochar NorthEast, inc. www. BiocharNE. org ENVIRONMENT Shelburne Farms Experiments with "Biochar" to Clean Water and Revitalize Soil B Y KEN PICARD, Local Matters Marshall Webb is accustomed to getting his hands dirty. After all, he’s the woodlands... More

Biochar NorthEast, inc. www. BiocharNE. org ENVIRONMENT Shelburne Farms Experiments with "Biochar" to Clean Water and Revitalize Soil B Y KEN PICARD, Local Matters Marshall Webb is accustomed to getting his hands dirty. After all, he’s the woodlands manager at Shelburne Farms, the sprawling agricultural estate on Lake Champlain that has been in his family for generations. But his latest project, handling charred lumber, isn’t as messy as you’d expect: A ton of biochar is remarkably clean, and holds the promise of purifying polluted water, revitalizing damaged soil, generating clean energy, even saving the planet from global warming, say scientists experimenting with the blackened wood. “The problem with biochar is the potential is so great and exciting people tend to exaggerate what’s known about it,” Webb admits. “But, according to many people, biochar is one of the key discoveries that will enable humans to survive better in this century. ” What is this miracle material? Seated Less