As part of the Island’s commitment to improving soil health and building climate resilience, the Martha’s Vineyard Commission’s Vision Fellow, Maggie Craig, is partnering with local farms to create and use biochar—a carbon-rich material made by cleanly burning brush in a controlled, low-oxygen flame-cap kiln.
Through support from the Massachusetts Healthy Soils Initiative, Maggie visits farms across the Island to help convert their existing brush piles into usable biochar. This biochar is then incorporated back into farm systems as a compost amendment, soil enhancer, or even animal bedding, helping improve water retention, nutrient cycling, and long-term carbon storage.
To date, demonstrations have taken place at Allen Farm and Mermaid Farm, with additional sessions planned at Whippoorwill Farm, Tea Lane Nursery, Milkweed Farm, and Marshall Woodworks. Funding for this work flows through the Healthy Soils Fund to the Dukes Conservation District, and then to the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, ensuring these on-farm projects are supported at no cost to participating growers.
This hands-on approach gives farmers a practical, visible way to turn waste brush into a valuable soil resource—strengthening Vineyard agriculture while keeping carbon in the ground where it belongs.
Visit our Biochar Resource Page to learn more about Maggie’s projects and stay tuned for future demonstrations.
