Biochar
2025 Permaculture Design Contest
Submission Period: NOW thru October 15, 2025
Theme: Biochar Solutions (Grand Prize Only)
🔥 Can your Biochar design turn waste into wildfire prevention, clean water, and carbon storage?
🌎 Maybe your Biochar design can filter water, build soil, and tell a story the world needs to hear?
Top Design
Grand Prize
$7500
PINA’s 2025 Design Contest is awarding $7,500 for the most effective and innovative biochar-based solution. We’re not just funding your vision — we’re backing it with institutional support to help you scale and shine. Partner with us to make a continental impact through permaculture!
New Designer
Prize
$2500
PINA’s 2025 Design Contest is awarding $2,500 to a NEW designer in our Beginner Track! Whether you worked solo or as part of a team, this is your chance to be recognized—and rewarded. The New Designer Track is completely OPEN: submit your very first design (it doesn’t need to be biochar-themed) and gain national visibility while joining the movement shaping our future!
Biochar Documentary
Wildfires are intensifying—but there’s a solution. PINA’s Fire Ecology Restoration Project trains crews to heal forests with fire, biochar, and indigenous wisdom. Watch the full documentary now.
Biochar Podcast Episode
Discover how biochar can transform your soil and restore ecosystems with expert Kelpie Wilson. Learn low-tech, practical methods—watch the full video on YouTube and get inspired to take action!
Uses of Biochar Article
Biochar has 50+ uses beyond soil, including water filtration, animal health, building, and textiles. Its structure supports carbon sequestration, nutrient retention, and sustainable, circular system design.
Submission Period Closes:
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Help Us Spread the Word
Here's How It Works
Grand Prize Biochar Award
The 2025 PINA Design Contest awards $7,500 to the top permaculture design focused on Biochar Solutions.
You submit your design at this link, and it will be reviewed by an expert panel, with the Top Five announced November 15. PINA members will then vote online to select the winner.
Prize funds are released in stages: $5,000 upfront, with the balance upon project completion and submission of a video showcasing the work.
Open to PDC graduates who are current PINA members in North America and Hawaiʻi.
New Designer Award
The New Designer Award celebrates fresh talent, offering $2,500 to a standout first-time designer.
Unlike the Biochar Track, this award is OPEN to any type of permaculture design (it doesn’t need to be biochar-themed)—solo or collaborative.
You submit your design at this link, and it will be reviewed by an expert panel, with the Top Five announced November 15. PINA members will then vote online to select the winner.
Prize money is distributed in two stages: $1,500 upon winning, and the remainder after project completion with a video documenting the results.
Open to new PDC graduates (1/1/2024 thru 10/15/2025) who are PINA members in North America and Hawaiʻi.
👉 Both awards require PINA membership
How $7500 Dollars Can Become Infinite Capital
How can you use the award money ($7500) to not only purchase needed materials and financial capital expenditures, but also grow other forms of capital? Which forms of captial yield the greatest returns? How can your design and design money be used to tap into the nearly infinite field of the 8 Forms of Capital?
Fully Integrated Permaculture Design for Impact
Can you WOW the general public with the many layers of good design and cultural benefits that your design addresses? How can your fully integrated design address local issues in Eduction, Well-Being, Land Stewardship, Technology, Economics, Buildings, and Community Process?
Have a design that you’re thinking of entering into the contest?
The Design Contest is open to PINA members only so if you’re not a member, why not sign up?
Rates are reasonable. You’re supporting a good cause. And you can win a lot of money to implement your best design ideas!
Past Winners
One way to inspire your winning design is to see some of the past winning designs.
Our past winners have submitted designs that encompass a wide array of permaculture ideas.
Take inspiration from the best.
Contest Rules
Interested in entering the 2025 Permaculture Design Contest? Then check out the full rules to be sure you don’t miss anything.
Submit Your Design
Submit your Permaculture Design for the chance to win up to $7500 in cash prizes and bragging rights as 2025’s Best Permaculture Design.
Key Dates
All the relevant dates from Submission to Voting to the Announcement and more can be found here.
Support The Design Contest and Help Fund Amazing Permaculture Projects!
Every little bit counts…
We have secured matching donatations, so whatever you donate is immediately doubled 💪
The Jury
Our esteemed permaculture design contest jury will evalute all projects using a standard judging matrix. Highest score wins! Then, our top 5 finalists will be featured on our website and put up for a member vote. Who’s design will win? It’s up to YOU.
Peter Bane, PINA's Executive Director
Elizabeth Lynch, PINA's Administrator
Matt Bennett, PINA Board Member
Prizes for Top 5 Finalists Include
Made Possible by a Generous Grant From Ian Graham @ Old 99 Farm
