Biochar Burn at Sherman Pass

On June 26th, we completed our first BioChar burn with the USFS at Sherman Pass in the Colville National Forest. We were able to burn 1.5 piles of hand-piled slash. Mother Nature intervened and doused our kiln early with a hailstorm, followed by a thunderstorm. Lightning was too close for comfort, with simultaneous flash and bang.

Still, we were able to achieve a good pyrolysis temperature of 600°F. After 3 hours, we finished with approximately 30 cubic feet of biochar that will serve as a soil amendment and sequester almost a quarter ton of atmospheric CO2.

Oregon kiln, loaded and ready to light.

Oregon kiln, mid burn.

Making good BioChar at 600°F.

An Inclusive Outdoor Community

The outdoors should be a welcoming and safe place for everyone - and we are committed to advocating for greater racial equality and inclusion in the outdoors. To do so, we are listening, reading, and showing up to learn more about these programs, their mission, and how we can be involved. Here are some examples of amazing outdoor groups:

• 52 Hike Challenge

  • A challenge where you will gain physical fitness, mental well-being, make new friends, explore new places, and connect with family, friends and yourself through nature.

• Black Girls Do Bike

  • Growing and supporting a community of women of color who share a passion for cycling. We champion efforts to introduce the joy of cycling to all women, but especially, black women and girls.

• Black Girls RUN!

  • Encouraging African-American women to make fitness and healthy living a priority.

• Diversify Outdoors

  • Promoting diversity in outdoor spaces where people of color, LGBTQIA, and other diverse identities have historically been underrepresented.

• GirlTrek

  • Pioneering a health movement for African-American women and girls grounded in civil rights history and principles through walking campaigns, community leadership, and health advocacy.

• Fresh Tracks

  • Providing young indigenous, rural, and urban leaders with cross-cultural community building skills, leadership development training, civic engagement opportunities, and resources for innovative youth and community-led action - all grounded in the healing power of nature and culture.

• Inclusive Woods and Us

  • Amplifying the call of nature that lives within each of us by sharing stories, providing programming, organizing expeditions, and supporting outdoors education for marginalized communities.

• Latino Outdoors

  • Inspiring, connecting, and engaging Latino communities in the outdoors and embrace cultura y familia as part of the outdoor narrative, ensuring our history, heritage, and leadership are valued and represented.

• Outdoor Afro

  • Celebrating and inspiring Black connections and leadership in nature. We help people take better care of themselves, our communities, and our planet!

• Refuge Outdoor Festival

  • Creating a space to explore and celebrate diversity, nature, and life. By bringing together people of all ages and recreation levels we, the people, can meet the needs of a diverse and inclusive community.

• Vamos Outdoor Project

  • Working to connect families to environmental education opportunities through fundraising, outreach, and partnerships with local organizations.

• Young Women Empowered

  • Cultivating the power of diverse young women* to be creative leaders and courageous changemakers through transformative programs within a collaborative community of belonging.