Biochar & Urban Soils: Des Moines City, ARTi & Trees Forever

The City of Des Moines, Iowa and the tree planting and forestry advocacy non-profit Trees Forever represented by their member Kerri Sorrell recently partnered with ARTi for a biochar and tree planting project right in the middle of urban Des Moines. When passing through the cities or suburbs, whether by foot or bicycle along those long and often empty sidewalks most of us take little notice of the small plots of earth where one tree is planted apiece. Cumulatively, the effect is a good one. The avenues all lined with trees and when they grow a bit larger the positive difference does become apparent. However, what if these small plots of urban soil and the associated saplings could become part of the carbon sequestration effort? Furthermore, what if the trees themselves could become much more robust and healthier due to such an effort?