What We Do
We help small landholders in Northern Vermont learn to produce and use biochar to improve their gardens, orchards, and livestock facilities. Whether you have brush piles from clearing land or a steady supply of waste wood, we can show you how to turn it into a valuable and permanent soil amendment.
Consulting
One-on-one guidance for your specific property and goals. We'll assess your feedstock, recommend appropriate techniques, and help you get started.
Classes Coming Soon
Hands-on group workshops covering biochar production methods and soil application. Suitable for beginners with no prior experience.
Equipment Coming Soon
Access to biochar production equipment, so you can make high-quality char without an upfront investment.
Get in Touch
Interested in learning more about biochar production? Have questions about whether it makes sense for you? We'd be glad to hear from you.
[email protected]What is Biochar?
Biochar is a stable form of charcoal produced by burning organic material (like brush, branches, and smaller wood waste) in a low-oxygen environment. This process, called pyrolysis, transforms materials into a permanent soil amendment that would otherwise decompose or burn.
Before amending your soil with biochar, it is soaked in a nutrient-rich solution like compost tea or liquid fertilizer. Microbes and nutrients are absorbed into the porous material so it's ready to benefit your plants right away.
When added to soil, biochar improves water retention, supports beneficial microorganisms, and helps nutrients stay available to plants. For gardeners and small farmers, it's a practical way to turn yard waste and land-clearing debris into something that can improve your yields and contribute to flood resilience.
Biochar also has applications in livestock management, reducing odors and capturing nitrogen from manure. Mixed into bedding or composting systems, it serves as the carbon-rich "brown" material, holding nutrients until they're ready to return to the soil. A natural fit for closed-loop and permaculture systems.
Amazingly, biochar locks carbon into a stable form that can persist in soil for thousands of years, rather than releasing it back into the atmosphere through decomposition or open burning. It's a simple way to put waste wood to good use while returning carbon to the ground.
About Us
Foothills Charcoal Company was founded in 2024 and is based in Milton, Vermont. We serve small farmers and gardeners in Chittenden, Lamoille, Franklin, Grand Isle, and surrounding counties. We are a proudly woman-owned business.