Ep 04: John Satterfield and Tomasz Zukowski from WonderChar

Biochar gets talked about a lot in soil health, but here’s the problem: not all biochar is created equal.In this episode of How We Grow, Chad sits down with John Satterfield and Tomas Zukowski from WonderChar to break down what biochar actually is, why feedstock matters, and how growers can tell the difference between a high-quality carbon input and something that may not deliver real value in the soil.WonderChar produces pecan shell biochar, turning a recycled agricultural material into a practical input for growers, soil blenders, fertilizer manufacturers, landscapers, and horticultural operations. Chad also shares why Rosy Soil has been using their pecan shell biochar in its own mixes.This conversation gets into the details growers actually need: ash content, moisture content, density, particle size, lab analysis, field trials, and how to test biochar without risking an entire crop.✅ What biochar actually is in plain English✅ Why pecan shell biochar is different from wood-based or ash-heavy char✅ What growers should look for in lab results✅ Why ash content, moisture, density, and particle size matter✅ How biochar can support fertilizer and nutrient efficiency✅ Why biochar is not a silver bullet, but can be a powerful tool✅ How to trial biochar in a real growing operation✅ Where WonderChar sees the future of biochar, fertilizer, and growing media going nextJohn Satterfield and Tomas from WonderChar are working to bring high-quality pecan shell biochar to growers and horticultural operations as a consistent, practical soil and fertilizer input. WonderChar focuses on using recycled pecan shells to create a biochar product designed for soil health, nutrient utilization, and grower-ready applications.WonderChar Website: https://www.wonderchar.com/WonderChar LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wonderchar-inc/