biochar

The word of the day is biochar!

What began as research into this soil additive in 2011 has exploded in popularity. ATTRA defines biochar as "biomass, such as forest waste or animal manure, in a low-oxygen environment [in] a process known as pyrolysis." It's used as a soil amendment to "improve moisture retention, nutrient availability, and aeration and create habitat for beneficial soil microbes." Learn more here!