White Feather Farm’s Biochar Learning Network

White Feather Farm, New York

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Launching the On-Farm Biochar Learning Network

This spring, we’re excited to share the launch of a new project we’ve been working on for quite some time: the Biochar Learning Network (BLN).

With support from Northeast SARE, White Feather Farm will be leading a three-year collaboration with five nonprofit educational farms across New York State to install biochar systems, teach hands-on workshops, and help build a shared understanding of how small and midsize farms in the Northeast can integrate biochar into their soil health strategies.

We’ve been making, learning about, and experimenting with biochar for the last few years, and while the science is compelling, what we kept hearing from other farm educators and land stewards was: “Where do we start?”

That’s what this project is about, starting together.

Partnering Farms:

All of these farms facilitate educational programming and  want to dive deeper into practices like biochar—but haven’t had the tools, infrastructure, or time to figure it out alone.

Each farm will install a tailored demonstration system on-site with our support. The project is being led by our Director of Biochar and Sustainability, Bill Hilgendorf, who’s been championing on-farm biochar systems at White Feather for several years. In cooperation with each partner, the systems will be developed to fit each farm’s unique site conditions and available biomass.

Together, the network will help source kilns, configure burn zones, and guide each other through first burns. From there, we’ll hold seasonal workshops, share protocols, and update each other with findings.

Each site will also serve as a case study. By the end of the project, we’ll have five working examples of how biochar systems can be integrated into real-world, working farms—each one suited to different needs and conditions. That means any farmer in the Northeast can look through the BLN site and say, “This one looks like me.”

Why Biochar and Why Now?

If you’re new to biochar, it’s basically a charcoal-like substance made through pyrolysis. It’s incredibly porous, and when mixed  with compost or other amendments, it acts as a long-term home for microbes, nutrients, and water in the soil. That translates to better yields, better soil structure, and fewer nutrient losses over time.

The barrier has never really been about whether biochar works—it’s about knowing how to use it, having access to the tools, and making it feasible for farmers who already have more than enough to juggle.

We’re hoping the BLN makes that learning curve a little shorter and the process far more collaborative.

Looking Ahead

Over the next few months, we’ll be rolling out the first demo sites, holding our kickoff workshops, and launching the BLN hub on our website. We’ll share what works, what doesn’t, and what we’re still figuring out.

We’ll keep you posted as it unfolds. If you're curious about visiting a demo site, attending a training, or bringing biochar into your own programming, reach out to Bill Hilgendorf at bill@whitefeatherfarm.org.