Frequently asked
Everything the average customer wants to know, in the order they usually ask.
- What is biochar?
- Biochar is a stable, porous form of carbon made by heating biomass — wood in our case — in low or zero oxygen, a process called pyrolysis. It is used to improve the physical properties of soil. Think carbon scaffolding engineered for soil, not fuel charcoal engineered for heat.
- How does biochar improve soil?
- Biochar improves the physical structure of soil. Its porous particles introduce pore space that holds water, provides habitat for soil organisms, and binds cations (potassium, calcium, ammonium) — reducing how quickly rain flushes nutrients through. The improvements are structural and durable, not nutrient-delivery.
- How do I use Charged Earth biochar?
- Charge the biochar first — blend 1:1 with finished compost for 2 weeks, or soak 24 hours in compost tea or diluted fish emulsion. Then blend 10–20% by volume into the top 15–20 cm of soil. Moisten the biochar before mixing, water in thoroughly after. Full steps on the charging and how-to-use guides.
- How much biochar do I need?
- One 6.5 L bag amends roughly 0.2–0.4 m² of garden bed worked into the top 15 cm, or two to four large containers. A 4 × 4 ft raised bed takes about seven bags. Soil type adjusts the dose — our use-case guides carry rate tables for clay, sandy soil, loam, and potting mixes separately, and larger projects are better served by a wholesale order.
- Is your biochar safe for food gardens?
- Our biochar is made from untreated Ontario hardwood — clean forest biomass with no industrial waste, treated lumber, or imported feedstock. Our launch lot was screened by an independent laboratory against the heavy-metal limits in CFIA Trade Memorandum T-4-93, and all eleven metals passed with a wide margin. The results are published on the Lab Results page against the lot number stamped on the bag.
- Where is your biochar sourced?
- Our biochar comes from Ontario hardwood forests and is from Guelph, Ontario. The specific supplier is disclosed to wholesale accounts under a confidentiality arrangement; feedstock declarations are in writing on every batch.
- Where do you ship?
- Canada only, and shipping is free to every address we can deliver to — no minimum, no threshold, nothing added at checkout. Remote and fly-in addresses have no ground service, so those orders are quoted by hand before anything is charged. Usually ships in 2–3 business days.
- What is the guaranteed analysis?
- The label declares a minimum total carbon of 75 % and a maximum ash content of 5 % — a floor and a ceiling we hold on every lot, not one flattering measurement. Our launch lot came back from an independent lab at 86.96 % carbon (dry basis), well clear of the floor. The measured values for the lot you bought are published on the Lab Results page against the lot number on the bag.
- How should I store biochar?
- Dry, sealed. Biochar does not expire; it is a stable form of carbon. Keep the bag closed to limit moisture ingress (which makes the bag heavier) and dust exposure. If it does get wet, it is still usable — just heavier to handle.
- Do you offer wholesale pricing?
- Yes — for landscape contractors, garden centres, and farms. See the wholesale page for tiers and inquiry form.
- Can I use biochar in my compost pile?
- Yes, and it is one of the most effective ways to use it. Layer in 5–10 % of pile volume during build or turn. The compost charges the biochar in situ; you apply the finished blend as regular compost. Detailed method on the compost guide.
- Do I need to charge it before use?
- In a garden soil, yes. Uncharged biochar can cause a short nitrogen-borrow in the first weeks. The charging guide walks through four methods.
- How long does a biochar amendment last?
- Biochar is a chemically stable form of carbon. A single amendment remains in the soil for decades to centuries. For gardening purposes, one amendment per bed, followed by regular compost additions, is the pattern that works.
- Is this "organic"?
- We are not OMRI-certified, and we do not use "organic" as a product claim on this website. Our feedstock is untreated hardwood, which many gardeners consider fits their organic-gardening practice. If formal organic certification matters for your use, source accordingly; we will publish OMRI status here when/if we obtain it.
- Do you offer carbon credits?
- No. Biochar carbon can be certified for offset purposes through specific third-party schemes (IBI, EBC, Climate Action Reserve); we do not currently hold those certifications. We also do not make carbon-sequestration or climate-benefit claims on the site for the same reason.