Biochar is made by heating organic material like wood, crop waste, or manure in a low-oxygen environment, a process called pyrolysis.

How does biochar work?

Biochar works by improving soil structure, retaining nutrients and water, and supporting beneficial organisms.

How does biochar help in carbon sequestration?

Biochar stabilizes carbon for hundreds to thousands of years by locking it in a solid form that won’t decompose or re-enter the atmosphere.

How does biochar sequester carbon?

Carbon from biomass is captured in a porous solid form during pyrolysis and remains stored long-term when applied to soil.

How does biochar remove CO₂ from the air?

Biochar locks in carbon from biomass that originally captured CO₂ through photosynthesis, indirectly removing it from the air.

How does biochar work and when doesn't it?

Biochar works best when activated or inoculated before application. It may not perform well in sterile or already high-carbon soils without additional treatment or integration.

How does biochar capture CO₂?

It captures carbon by converting biomass into a stable form during pyrolysis, preventing it from returning to the atmosphere.

How is biochar prepared?

After pyrolysis, biochar is screened, rinsed, and optionally inoculated to maximize effectiveness.

How is biochar formed?

Biochar is formed through thermal decomposition of organic matter in a low-oxygen environment during pyrolysis.

Biochar can be used in gardens, compost piles, lawns, ponds, livestock bedding, filtration systems, and manure pits. Activation or inoculation before use can enhance performance.

Show Me The Carbon

Cleaner Water. Healthier Soil. Powered by Biochar.

Practical solutions for ponds, pits, wells, and land that are made and tested right here in Essex, Iowa.

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“Built by a veteran and relentless problem solver.”

I’m Jessica Niskin. I started Show Me The Carbon to fix broken systems like ponds overrun with duckweed, algae, pits too toxic to use, and water that smells like rot.

My tools? Biochar. Microbes. Grit!

We don’t ship from overseas or sell fluff. We’re cleaning lakes, restoring lagoons, and helping small towns across Iowa solve real environmental problems naturally. [Read the Full Story]

What We Do

🌎 "Our Mission Is to Regenerate What’s Been Lost."

💧 Clean ponds, lakes, and lagoons
🌽 Treat pit waste for stronger crops
🚰 Filter nitrate from private wells
🛢 Respond to industrial spills
🌱 Build better soil, naturally
♻️ Lock carbon away for 1,000+ years

"Our Biochar Isn’t Just Charcoal."

We charge it with beneficial microbes, mix it with powerful natural enzymes, and apply it with precision. It eats sludge. Cuts odor. Restores clarity. Sequesters carbon.
It works — and we prove it every week in the field.

Rooted in Rural Iowa. Available Everywhere.

We’re based in Essex, Iowa — working across the Midwest with farms, towns, and public lands to create cleaner, healthier environments.
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