Policy & Community Engagement
Location
CC 165
Start Date
15-10-2013 3:15 PM
End Date
15-10-2013 5:00 PM
Session Description
Growing a Biochar Learning Network in a Rural Community: Jim Long
The presentation will review what we are learning about the effectiveness of our several-year, voluntary journey to introduce biochar to residents using a variety of techniques including:
- Orientations with members of our Umpqua Bio-Alternatives Cooperative and its Biochar Study Group;
- Articles published in newsletters and on web pages produced by related groups;
- Exhibits at farmers' markets, county weed days, and Earth Day;
- Live demonstrations with farmers, community gardeners, Grange members, school students, and Job Corps youth;
- Exhibits, demonstrations, and discussions during our annual fall Biochar Exposition with members of the public, Master Gardeners and outside experts.
- Planning with the Forest Service and a community development initiative about producing biochar as a part of a long-term watershed restoration project.
Improving living conditions through energy and biochar production: Ron Larson
A study funded through the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, using funds from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the US Department of Commerce sought to identify ways that beetle-kill pine might be used for energy and biochar - to improve living conditions in the poorest part of Colorado – the San Luis Valley. SEED (Sustainable Environmental Economic Development), a non-profit NGO hoping to develop a Park has been working with a team biochar experts since early 2013 to develop a plan for the region. This presentation will focus on the answers to the questions asked in the initial RFP which covers most aspects of the production and use of biochar.
Biochar Treatment of Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves in Cambodia: Ron Larson
Building Waste to Wealth Innovation Communities: Scott Graves, Terralogix
Terralogix Group’s Scott Graves and Alec MacLeod will discuss how their team is converting municipal, local & regional scale waste into valuable products which can improve wealth in the local community. Their innovative ‘Night Soil Express’ technology will be reviewed as well as:
• What's the best way to deploy our technology.
• How do we encourage a mature marketplace for biochar.
• How do we properly define and target our market. • Can collaborating with other solutions benefit our company.
• Why is it important to develop an ethical and passionate company culture.
• How do we build a scalable growth plan.
Included in
Agricultural and Resource Economics Commons, Organizational Communication Commons, Other Environmental Sciences Commons, Soil Science Commons
Biochar Community Development
CC 165
Growing a Biochar Learning Network in a Rural Community: Jim Long
The presentation will review what we are learning about the effectiveness of our several-year, voluntary journey to introduce biochar to residents using a variety of techniques including:
- Orientations with members of our Umpqua Bio-Alternatives Cooperative and its Biochar Study Group;
- Articles published in newsletters and on web pages produced by related groups;
- Exhibits at farmers' markets, county weed days, and Earth Day;
- Live demonstrations with farmers, community gardeners, Grange members, school students, and Job Corps youth;
- Exhibits, demonstrations, and discussions during our annual fall Biochar Exposition with members of the public, Master Gardeners and outside experts.
- Planning with the Forest Service and a community development initiative about producing biochar as a part of a long-term watershed restoration project.
Improving living conditions through energy and biochar production: Ron Larson
A study funded through the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, using funds from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the US Department of Commerce sought to identify ways that beetle-kill pine might be used for energy and biochar - to improve living conditions in the poorest part of Colorado – the San Luis Valley. SEED (Sustainable Environmental Economic Development), a non-profit NGO hoping to develop a Park has been working with a team biochar experts since early 2013 to develop a plan for the region. This presentation will focus on the answers to the questions asked in the initial RFP which covers most aspects of the production and use of biochar.
Biochar Treatment of Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves in Cambodia: Ron Larson
Building Waste to Wealth Innovation Communities: Scott Graves, Terralogix
Terralogix Group’s Scott Graves and Alec MacLeod will discuss how their team is converting municipal, local & regional scale waste into valuable products which can improve wealth in the local community. Their innovative ‘Night Soil Express’ technology will be reviewed as well as:
• What's the best way to deploy our technology.
• How do we encourage a mature marketplace for biochar.
• How do we properly define and target our market. • Can collaborating with other solutions benefit our company.
• Why is it important to develop an ethical and passionate company culture.
• How do we build a scalable growth plan.
Bio and Photo
Ron Larson is an IBI advisor and board director of the USBI. He is a retired Electrical Engineer; Professor at Georgia Tech, Branch Chief and Principal Scientist at SERI (now NREL). Former Chair ASES Now principally active in 1) Colorado PUC as intervenor (mostly DSM topics) and 2) promoting Biochar (negative carbon, soil augmentation).
Jim Long facilitates a local Biochar Study Group in Oregon. He is a retired Washington State University Extension specialist in program development and evaluation. He's keenly interested in fostering community-level biochar learning networks.