Biochar. Soil Integration for Maximum Effect.

[@marklesalle]

I appreciate your complete videos on the biochar and the use of it in a simple way, really ; even the unvolonteer wrong things to do to provide us to do so with the way to get rid of it to come back to the good process. Thank you 🙏 Mark from Lorient - Brittany !

[@halfmoongardens3345]

Thank-you Mark from Lorient! As I celebrate Christmas I find your comments a most welcome surprise. I hope you and your family are happy and enjoying some great food and friends. Merry Christmas! Cheers from Alberta!

[@James-w8j4h]

Enjoyed your video keep it up

[@halfmoongardens3345]

Thank-you my friend.

[@adamgatley8217]

I can’t remember the last time I complimented someone… I like the way you serve your soil sir… I am a soil connoisseur and it is rare for me that I see someone that simplistically gets the basics 👊👊👊👊👊 Serve the soil and the soil will serve you ✅

[@halfmoongardens3345]

Well, thank-you very much my friend, great start to my day hearing from you sir. The biology knows what it is doing we just have to support it. Hope you have yourself a great weekend!

[@adamgatley8217]

@@halfmoongardens3345 …this is what I try to tell people… the worms coupled with the mycorrhizae are the undisputed undefeated soil champions of the world and have been for billions of years… during those billions of years each second of each day they practice and refine their technique trillions upon trillions of times all over the planet… learning and sharing what they learn along the way along with their wisdom and knowledge over an internet of mycelium far superior than our World Wide Web… so the notion of any of us humans ever being able to out do or become better at it than them, when they can communicate with everything in the soil kingdom around them in real time… is preposterous! ..all we need to know is that they know… and that no one knows better than they do… even if we had an army of robots and billions of AI programs un cracking the soil code… they would still be so far ahead of us that at the end of each day we would be further behind than when we started that day… so all we need to do is get out of their way and help them by not screwing things up so they have more work to do and by helping them by giving them the materials to process… they will happily process it all without complaint. Enjoy your weekend my friend… and your garden… it’s lucky to have you.👊 ..and I bet you anything it knows it too.

[@billybass6419]

Thanks, I've learned so much about biochar from your video. Looks like you're using about a one to one ratio. Wish I had known about this 15 years ago. I probably spent close to $2,000 for potting mix. It would be more than that now. Of course, I don't know where I'm gonna get all the biochar I need now. I have a 20 x 44' in-ground in the Florida panhandle, all sand, so I will need a couple pickup loads to do it right.

[@halfmoongardens3345]

It changes the soil right before your eyes and it stays like that, awesome stuff. Made my gardening much easier without having to shovel in compost/manure each spring. Works in all soil/potting mixes and allows you to make mixes with waste material or whatever is at hand. Sounds like you need to start making some biochar. I'll be doing a sand mix this spring so I'll see how much is needed. Sand, biochar and leaf/grass cold compost from my pile, lol. Thanks for the great comment my friend! Hope you are having a good weekend, Cheers!

[@B30pt87]

I watched your other two videos on biochar too. I subscribed after watching this one.

[@halfmoongardens3345]

I am grateful for your support. More biochar coming soon. Always happy to meet new people, welcome, and thank-you my friend!

[@shantaylong4162]

I believe I listened to all your videos about biochar. I really appreciated the dry mixing. I had watched several other videos that required so much work to inoculate. Yours were encouraging, that I didn’t have to do all that. I listened while I was working one of my in the ground beds. Yes, I had my phone with me in the garden. I was taking advantage of a perfect day to prep the row for a few weeks before planting. So instead of making my own biochar, I purchased a 40 lb. bag. It is so nicely sifted, like a powder. It’s the same consistency as the 30 lbs of worm castings I also purchased. Today I mixed the two, about 1/3 castings to 2/3 char. I also added 2 scoops of a mineral complex, Bloomin Minerals. Based on your information, I will now add some of my garden soil, mix well, then incorporate into my bed. Once incorporated I will let it soak in the rain! We have been getting an enormous amount of rain. If the rain does come, as it has been doing, does everything I have said I have done, and will do, sound good to you?

[@halfmoongardens3345]

Thank-you my friend, I enjoyed reading your comment. Yes, it sounds like you are set for success. The worm castings and minerals are a great addition. I am convinced Biochar will improve any soil condition, I've seen it in action for years. Thanks again for the great comment, I like hearing how your plan comes together. All the best in this New Year my friend!

[@shantaylong4162]

I’m so excited to see what my next growing season will be like. I had so much pest devastation last year. I never got to pick one bean though all the plants looked so green and healthy, then they got hit with something. Within a few days they were all gone! A type of burning? I don’t know how to explain it. The same thing happened to my potatoes, turnips, tomatoes and sunflowers! It was crazy, but it was my first year! Gotta get something in the soil to make things better.

[@halfmoongardens3345]

@@shantaylong4162 I'm already excited too, can't wait for the snow to clear. What you describe sounds like Herbicide damage. Avoid using straw or manures unless you can verify no chemicals. Biochar will help with soil recovery, or just to build new soil. I was sorry to hear about your plants, hope your next season makes up for it.

[@shantaylong4162]

@@halfmoongardens3345 I wondered about the possibility I also wondered if my weed water was too strong. I used coffee ground / comfrey water as well. The potatoes and green beans grew beautifully then just looked like they were being burnt by something, then just withered away. It was so disheartening. Everything struggled, and the pest overload was so extreme! My zucchini had oodles of blooms and zero fruit. Thank you for your responses.

[@halfmoongardens3345]

@@shantaylong4162 yes, could be too strong a dilution applied too often. I find 1:6 to 1:10 good ratios. If it is fresh tea 1 part tea to 6 parts water. The older the tea the more I dilute it. I hope this season is plentiful for you. Best wishes

[@cowboyblacksmith]

Boy, such helpful ideas and simple easy to understand explanation of really important soil prep, thank you! I've recently gone all in on making biochar this winter, charging it in my basement for Spring, and will inoculate with compost tea, homemade lacto bacillus, leaf mold, and IMO Korean natural farming style. Can't wait to see my own wonderful mix in my raised beds too.

[@halfmoongardens3345]

Thank-you my friend. Sounds like you have put in a lot of thought and effort. I too am interested in the Korean methods, easier to understand now with more videos in English. You will love the soil you are creating, biochar really does change the whole game.

[@lrrerh8090]

Hello, my friend. I’m catching up on your videos on biochar. Great stuff!! Very informative.

[@halfmoongardens3345]

Thank-you my friend! I appreciate that very much. Have a great day!

[@kinsjsmggoiktaylor5659]

Great Video Well Done 👏👏👏♥️♥️

[@halfmoongardens3345]

Thank-you my friend! Have a great day!

[@williamodell8634]

Thanks, I enjoyed all your videos on biochar. I have started doing my own char in a 6 foot by 30 inch deep in ground cove. works really well and gives me the volume I need for my garden.

[@halfmoongardens3345]

I appreciate that my friend, thank-you! Great to hear you are making Biochar, I love the stuff. That is a good size cone, no messing around, I like it. Have a great day!

[@experiencescotlanddifferen4910]

brilliant!!! Peace to you

[@halfmoongardens3345]

Thank-you my friend! Peace!

[@markread8650]

Very helpful. We garden the same way

[@halfmoongardens3345]

Thank-you my friend! Makes beautiful soil and happy gardeners. Have a great day!

[@paulopaixao611]

👍 Brasil.

[@codyhunt3]

Great simple mix recipe. Would be good to show the after amending effect on your garden. Maybe a science experiment with a control bed. On a side note, can't tell you how many of these biochar/rock dust etc. videos I've seen where the presenter says how important it is to wear a mask while never wearing a mask.

[@halfmoongardens3345]

Guilty as charged, lol. Thank-you for your great suggestion. I should do a control bed, something to think about. Have a great day my friend!

[@charlesherrington63]

We appreciate your efforts. Sugestion , add lots of water , leaves , grass , table scrap , pack of yeast , napkins , cardboard , paper plates , more water , turn it , turn it. Just trying to help.

[@halfmoongardens3345]

I appreciate your comments. All great suggestions, I like composting into the biochar yes, and recycling paper waste at home is less trips to town. The Biochar in this video is fully charged and ready to go. Thank-you my friend, have a great week!

[@dwardodwardo643]

My first exposure to your work. Everything is dry? Microbs need some moisture don't they? I think your getting 10% of what you could be.

[@halfmoongardens3345]

Yes you are correct. I try to keep my biochar moist with fresh compost/tea, but I also leave it exposed and it was 90F and drought conditions. So yes it was dry and I don't recommend using it dry as it can kick up hazardous dust. Once mixed and put into a bed it gets watered and mulched. I pointed out it was dry just so the change in soil color/texture wouldn't be mistaken for simply wetting the soil as people watch. Microbes most certainly do need moisture my friend you are correct. Thanks for taking the time, have a great day!

[@jesseherbert2585]

Thanks again! How deep are your raised beds? For cabbage for example, would you do anything to the ground beneath the bed before adding your mix?

[@halfmoongardens3345]

I remove the top soil as deep as it goes, can vary a lot. Then I place a bed frame 16 inches high so let me say maybe 20 to 24 inches from bottom of bed to top. I use cut up trees tightly packed to fill the bed leaving only about 8 to 10 inches that is taken up by the soil mix. In ground I would remove the top soil and mix it well with biochar then replace it. The ground beneath can be broken up with a fork and biochar mixed in as well, but as long as your top soil is a good mix you should be fine for generations to come. Biochar can be used with any gardening system. If this isn't clear let me know, I'll try and help where I can. Thanks for the great comments/questions my friend! Happy New Year!

[@denisaugustine4478]

Can you just spread on top of soil and root till in. I have heavy clay soil with compost added last year

[@halfmoongardens3345]

Yes you can till it in. Careful with the dust, wear a mask if the tiller is kicking up dust. You don't want carbon in your lungs please. Be generous with the biochar in the clay, you want enough so the clay doesn't return to hard packed. Do a test patch, keep adding char until you have the consistency you want. Loose well draining soil is what you will end up with. Have a great day my friend!

[@SARJENT.]

I thought your dirt looked decent. Kool vid.

[@halfmoongardens3345]

Thank-you my friend!

[@billsnyder6945]

You might mention where you got the bio char, and how to activate it before use.

[@halfmoongardens3345]

Thanks, you are correct. I have videos on both those things. It would have been easy enough to mention, and it is important as you point out. You taking the time to leave a thoughtful comment is appreciated. Have a great day!

[@richy7tube]

Have you ever put so much biochar in your compost at the start that it barely got started breaking down and then just stopped?

[@halfmoongardens3345]

I've added biochar to kitchen compost, it made composting faster. I've added lawn clippings and leaves to biochar. It also composted faster. I've observed only positive results with biochar/compost at any ratio. Hope I'm answering what your asking. Have a great day!

[@charlescoker7752]

I live down close to the Gulf of Mexico. We have HOT Summers. I have put a lot of Horse manure bedding. I put over a foot deep. In two years. It was gone. Have started adding Biochar to the area. I hope it will turn this beach sand around. From other YT's. It takes three years to transform the soil. Do you have a quick way to crush the charcoal?

[@halfmoongardens3345]

Hello Charles Coker. I'm glad to hear you are adding biochar to your sandy soil. Well made, well charged and well integrated into the soil. Three keys to success with biochar. I would love to hear your results to come? As for a quick way to crush? Unfortunately no, I use a pail and a sledge hammer and just bash it. Not the quickest or good for mass production, but it works. You use enough and mix it in well it should produce results without waiting years. I swear by this stuff, I know you will have success my friend! Have a great week and thank-you!

[@charlescoker7752]

@@halfmoongardens3345 I have used a riding mower with a bagger. But the charcoal needs to be moist. And after you use it. You need to wash the charcoal from underneath the deck. Or the next time you use it. You will be sitting in a Charcoal dust cloud . Trying to hold your breath! Push mower with a bagger would work also.

[@halfmoongardens3345]

@@charlescoker7752 I do that to make fine mulches, I didn't even think to try it on char. Interesting idea. The dust would be my only concern, but that applies to any method. Like you say, just wet it down. Thank-you my friend, interesting!

[@charlescoker7752]

@@halfmoongardens3345 Your Welcome.

[@doloinc]

Search KZbin for "how to grind biochar easy with a garbage disposal". By far the fastest and easiest method. If you can't afford that, the most efficient and safest way to crush biochar is to put the char in a woven sand bag or used animal feed bag, fold and clip the open end and crush with a sledgehammer. Be sure to wet the biochar before attempting any type of crushing/grinding, regardless of the technique

[@austin2842]

What region of Alberta has poor soil like that? I'm in the capital region, and I'm lucky to be working with a good quality black soil.

[@halfmoongardens3345]

It is called Dark Grey Chernozemics. I'm capital region too, but I'm on an ancient salt water lake/sea bed. The local lakes are salty still. You have Black Chernozemics, and yes most soil in Alberta is great to work with. Hope you are enjoying this awesome weather my friend, thanks for the comment!

[@austin2842]

@@halfmoongardens3345 That's good to know, and yes, the weather is awesome. Thanks for the reply, and happy planting.

[@glen.simpson]

in theory biochar is not pure carbon..... how could it be? my ash residue if I cook those charcoal chunks has various elements such as calcium and potassium..... so it must be in the biochar in small amounts as well, cause I'm sure those elements didn't come from the air.

[@halfmoongardens3345]

You are correct, minerals are present. The difference being pyrolysis has broken the chemical bonds leaving pure Carbon crystal. Calcium, Potassium, etc are also present in their pure crystalized form. Actually adding high Calcium sources or Potassium can aid in the Carbon retention of Biochar, making the process even more efficient. Burning wood to ash in a conventional fire is a different chemical reaction and result than turning wood to Biochar using pyrolysis. A good question, my friend. I'll explain it better next time I do a video. Hope you are having a great Christmas and best of luck in the new year!

[@ivaknezevic6752]

Did you put some sand in that soul i didn’t anderstandyou my english iz not good Thanks

[@halfmoongardens3345]

No, just the native soil, biochar and leaf/grass mulch cold compost. I hope that helps.

[@MarcoPolo-gs5uu]

I can barely hear it

[@halfmoongardens3345]

The intro is a little quiet, my poor editing skills, thank-you for bringing this to my attention.