REGENERATING AGRICULTURE
The City of Thousand Oaks has completed initial trials of biochar on city property on a couple locations where we are trying to encourage landscaping. One of the trials where results were most dramatic was along Erbes Road where we planted Cathedral Oak trees in an attempt to beautify a barren roadside and create a living overhang as you drive. We planted the trees, installed an irrigation system, and provided soil amendments to help get the trees established. The soil was poor (mostly shale), originating from new construction filler and the trees were doing very poorly. The trees had gone through an entire summer, fall, and spring, and had failed to establish a healthy look. The trees were in declining health. A couple months after using the biochar we've seen a dramatic improvement. Since adding the bio-char and mixing it in with the soil, the trees are greener, fuller, and show new signs of growth from the base to the canopies. We are commencing with additional trials and look forward to using more Genesis Biochar.
Thank you Genesis for your support and product.
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Biochar
Since 2012 the City of Thousand Oaks has used Biochar (biological material converted to carbon sequestering charcoal within a controlled oxygen-deprived atmosphere) as a soil conditioning amendment along with aided soil compost and top mulch. The result of using biochar on various locations throughout the City and in new plantings has improved soil structure, subsurface microbial activity, overall plant root and foliage health, ph healthy soil, and a reduced need for fertilization and irrigation. The City has no need for and stopped the use of all synthetic fertilizers, cut its water use by 50% in turf areas and paid for the biochar in just a couple of billing cycles. To date, the City has utilized approximately 31 cubic yards of biochar as a soil amendment throughout the City, including landscape improvement projects and individual tree plantings. A pound of biochar sequesters approximately 3 pounds of carbon, thus, the City has sequestered approximately 93,000 pounds of carbon within its soil. Below are photo samples of biochar pellets and powder, as well as a photo of one of the locations where biochar has been applied to an area that once had poor soil quality but now thrives within the City of Thousand Oaks.
Thank you Genesis for your support and product.