| Author | Content |
Sundownr
(Bev) Wytheville, VA
(Zone 6a)
October 08, 2008
11:49 AM Post #5647063
| darius, Fascinating article! I checked out the video links and found myself still watching videos an hour later, haha. I believe biochar is a great soil amendment, and a potential DIY backyard project.
I'm looking forward to your next installment of biochar... so hurry up!
Bev |
darius
So.Appalachian Mtns, VA
(Zone 5b)
October 08, 2008
11:52 AM Post #5647080
| Thanks. Next I need to find drums to cook up some char...
I'm adding biochar to my veggie garden this week, and added it to shrubs planted yesterday. |
Sundownr
(Bev) Wytheville, VA
(Zone 6a)
October 08, 2008
12:11 PM Post #5647162
| The only drums we ever find have once stored chemicals, so we only use them for burn barrels. We assume a thorough washing and burning removes any residual chemicals. Could they be safely used for the biochar making process? |
darius
So.Appalachian Mtns, VA
(Zone 5b)
October 08, 2008
12:46 PM Post #5647344
| Actually, I think I have drum(s) promised. I wouldn't use anything that once held chemicals without researching the chemical first. Probably a drum that held oil products would be okay... just consider that any previous traces could eventually get to foods grown in the garden. (I know I am more overly cautious than most.) |
Sundownr
(Bev) Wytheville, VA
(Zone 6a)
October 08, 2008
01:20 PM Post #5647488
| I agree caution is best. I won't use the ashes until I'm sure what was burned in the barrel either. Our big burner sometimes becomes the community refuse barrel when I'm not looking! |
paulineristeau
Warren, MI
October 13, 2008
01:27 PM Post #5666485
| Wouldn't I be able to use the charred logs left over from the campfires for this? Seems like it would be easy to break them apart and just till them into the soil.
Would be a great use for them and there are always some in the fire pit. |
darius
So.Appalachian Mtns, VA
(Zone 5b)
October 13, 2008
01:33 PM Post #5666505
| Yes, I should think charred campfire remains would work as well as buying charcoal. I often have lumps in the ashes from my woodstove, and I just pick (or sift) them out to use. |
Sundownr
(Bev) Wytheville, VA
(Zone 6a)
April 17, 2009
10:28 PM Post #6426383
| My oldest son and I spent a few hours today trying various methods of pounding down 3 bags of Cowboy Charcoal into pea gravel size pieces. We looked liked two coal miners by the time we called it quits. There's got to be a better way... something with a push-button would be a big help, lol. We got the majority of it ready to spread on the garden tomorrow. |
