Biochar addition to soil, anybody?

[JamesVJ]

 

[JamesVJ]

I dropped an oak last fall. I topped it by the garden area. I dragged the main trunk to the back of the property to get chunked. It was a 40 tall 60 wide oak.
I burned the entire top of the tree and got 11/3 wheelbarrow full. I use a loper to get the smaller branches separated then the chainsaw.
I had 3 piles as big as a small car.My wheel barrow is big. It hold 55 gallons of water. Lol
Get more wood than you think, it goes quick.

 

[JamesVJ]

Fun fact: the book l mentioned in my earlier post claims that because of the lattice like structure a piece of biochar the size of a grain of rice has the surface area of a football field. Hard to imagine that's even possible but that's what they say.

Correct! That's exactly why I'm making it. I've made around 700# damp weight. 3 full wheel barrows more pics coming.
My soil sucks. I will fix it over time. No nutrients sandy and no vegetative mass in soil. Shits basically sterile.

 

[JamesVJ]

 

[JamesVJ]

In the process of emptying the fire pits after quenching it's difficult to get just the char. The sand/soil precipitates out. Sludge. Good stuff here.
I put 2 layer of visquene under the screen grate to capture the poo goo. It will evap today.

 

[JamesVJ]

 

[JamesVJ]

 

[JamesVJ]

I applied the char in a grid I will rake it out kinda to spread it evenly.
I'm also applying hay from round bales that I fed the stock with over winter. I chopped it up with my mower.
Give them something to eat......
My soil sucks big time
It's and old citrus orchard.

 

[JamesVJ]

In the pic of the screen holding the char the donkees jumped the fence to mark the area by crapping on the screen. It never stops.

 

[JamesVJ]

If you want to make char get 3/4 times the amount of wood you use. I used softwood from a type of brush called Brazilian peppers.
I use smaller branches as they char quickly. Figure about the size of 4/5 pencil size.
It's very prevalent here.
I cut up 1,000's of pieces, seriously.
I'm prepping more today.
Suns up here in a hour
All coffered up and looking at half a gummie.....

 

[JamesVJ]

Short video.
Capturing poo goo and super fine ground biochar.

 

[amneziaHaze]

how do you burn it do you just make a fire or do you put it in an container with no air soo it becomes pure char without burning?

 

[JamesVJ]

I make a big fire to start for the base. Have all of you materials ready. Dry sticks, I use brush from my property. Gather tons of sticks the same sizes.
Lots n lots.
After the main fire dies down spread it out. Lay your sticks all 1 way. Let em get started. Then make them smolder kinda. You have to actually start this to understand. The fires burning but not real hot or fast. Have smoldering stuff leaves branches etc. You want to burn it but not raging. It's hard to explain but you will be an expert in an hour.
The pit is CRITICAL!
NOT TOO DEEP. KINDA LIKE A Wok SHAPE. HAVE LOTS OF SMOLDERING STUFF.
GATHER TONS OF STICKS. I BURNED THE ENTIRE TOP OF A LARGE OAK
JUST THE BRANCHES.
I HAVE CATARACTS. THATS WHY I SWITCHED TO CAPS.

 

[JamesVJ]

how do you burn it do you just make a fire or do you put it in an container with no air soo it becomes pure char without burning?

 

[JamesVJ]

This is a pretty good vid.

 

[JamesVJ]

This is the correct video of how to make biochar.

 

[JamesVJ]

MAKE SURE YOU USE THE SAME SIZE STICKS. YOU CAN TROL THE BURN MUCH EASIER AS THEY BURN/COOK AT THE SAME RATE.

I CANT SEE.
DAMN CATARACTS.

 

[JamesVJ]

Just now had a SPACEX launch...
Beautiful!!!

 

[Jimmie]

When I was living on Merritt Island ,the rumble was real during launches.

 

[JamesVJ]

When I was living on Merritt Island ,the rumble was real during launches.

I was in a bunker 1/4 mile from pad 37 when they shot it off. Daaaaaaaaaaaaamn was that something!! The whole room was shaking. It was a fireman's bunker. In case of a blast etc...