[Mud]

Biochar is basically a cleansing agent like activated charcoal, has a high carbon content that helps add compost to the soil, it holds moisture an releases it like a sponge, and is generally a good additive to a soil mix.

Nature does it best and when forest fires blaze thru, what is left is biochar and ashes. It’s the way our mother nature cleans and renews.

[ginsengfarmer]

Thanks for the reply, Mud. I am really interested in any results from gardening with different kinds of biochar in different soils. From everything I have read on the subject biochar seems to capture nitrogen and phosphorus that might otherwise leech out. With fertilizer prices being what they are, any increase nutrient recycling is welcomer.

[offgridgrama]

I learned how to make biochar from David the Good YT videos and am also looking forward to seeing how it does. I’m charging my charcoal with fish emulsion right now and plan to add it to my very sandy soil in a couple of weeks. I will let you know how it goes.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by  offgridgrama. Reason: Grammer fix

[ginsengfarmer]

Awesome! Would love to hear the results!

[MartHale7]

I have been researching biochar for some time collected many links about it.

https://www.pinterest.com/mart85yahoocom/biochar/

[MartHale7]

I have found that biocar is like a hotel for bacteria. You have to make your hotel a 5 star hotel by innocutating the biochar. I have found for me it is the worm bin is the best way to innocuate as the bacteria setup show, and there are many nutrients that char will soak up and then give back as a slow release fertilizer for the plants.

[MartHale7]

This video is one of the best for breaking the char to small size.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPfKmzZE5J8

[ginsengfarmer]

That’s a great video! I never would have thought to use a garbage disposal. Looks fast and easy. I have also read some information on biochar helping clay soils by slowing compaction and retaining water. I have a link to add to your collection. It’s not a great one, but it does a decent job of showing a basic biochar kiln.

Biochar Kilns (carltonswcd.org)https://carltonswcd.org/biochar-kilns

[MartHale7]

Yeah clay can be a tough one, I have found layers of wood chips like Back to Eden gardening sure can help to loosen the soil, it does make it a better place for the earthworms to tunnel thru and bring more life.

[MartHale7]

Kimble sure is a smart guy. I have used an old meat grinder, but electric machines are so much faster.

[MartHale7]

I find it to be use useful for sandy soil, but not needed if your soil is good already.

[MartHale7]

This video from David the Good sure is well done for how he makes biochar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWg1fm6Ss1M

[ginsengfarmer]

That was a good video as well!

[MartHale7]

Yeah, I adore the pit/cone method of making char as you don’t have to have barrels wich rust out after use, just dirt.

[Oneshot]

That’s good to hear. I’m in the country. I have a burn pile that has been in the backyard for years. I’m going to soak a few buckets in the duck pool water and add a bit of chicken poop. I want to add it to my garlic/onion beds. I’ve seen rave reviews from good gardeners on the tube.

[Stoutlander]

I bought a couple of large bags of hardwood charcoal that were on sale at Walmart last spring (the bags had holes in them that were taped up). Ground it up like David the Good did in his video. Did one bag this spring and will do the other bag soon as I have realized that I should have added more to the garden. I just got a couple of large bags of vermiculite from Uline. Two 4 cubic foot bags for $42. each (minimum order is 2 bags). I’m hoping a bag will help next year as it was a very dry summer here in S.W. Missouri.