When biological material is burned at very high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, the resulting product is nearly pure carbon, biochar. One of its best uses are as a soil amendment where it serves as a host for beneficial organisms that dramatically boost soil fertility. Biochar is able to do this because it has an enormous number of microscopic (and visible) pores where these good soil organisms can proliferate. Additionally, it is able to adsorb nutrients in the soil and retain them for long periods of time in a form that is accesible to plants. It is well known that soils with a high organic matter content are most fertile, and adding biochar to your soil is a great way to jumpstart your soil life. You can think of it as a great big flywheel, the faster you turn it the more momentum it gains, giving way to growth and the ability for faster speeds and even more momentum. Life gives way to evermore life!