Black Soil Amendment sounds like a sweet metal band name.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Yeah, but what would their hit song be called?
@salazarpayne37845 жыл бұрын
This side of the dirt
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
@@salazarpayne3784 Nice one!
@g4nked5 жыл бұрын
six inches below
@gutenman71125 жыл бұрын
@@REDGardens Diamonds in the dirt or in this case , Nutrients in the dirt .
@mmm-uw1ep2 жыл бұрын
I remember when scientists first discovered the amazing Amazon soil that the ancients had made so fertile, even after hundreds of years. It was such a mystery as to how they had accomplished this. Thank you for your interesting and informative video.
@teamgay Жыл бұрын
I heard about that... what did they find?
@cdavisrn1004 жыл бұрын
This is the BEST presentation I've seen on making biochar. Most other videos have you making a kiln of one kind or another, which is simply not practical for many of us. He shows that all you need is the fuel and a pit in the ground -- the rest is just a matter of how you feed the fire.
@REDGardens4 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@nguyenai13376 ай бұрын
But still too many Oxygen for this method.
@paratrooper89164 жыл бұрын
This man is my gardening spirit animal.
@timobreumelhof883 жыл бұрын
:-)
@MachoSheriАй бұрын
Very excited for your results!
@francoiselemeur7325 Жыл бұрын
FOR ONCE,i enjoyed this video....the man talked ,but precise and clear with much démonstration Contrats.
@REDGardens Жыл бұрын
Yay!
@edibleacres5 жыл бұрын
Nice description here. I've been enjoying making biochar in cone pit for 5+ years and this method truly is ideal for diverse feed stock... One trick to offer up, in regard to getting a finer texture in your charcoal AND increasing efficiency... If you use the long stick you have for moving material around to really poke and agitate as the charcoal is being produced, you can pre-crush a lot of charcoal in the pit, help reduce ash formation, and speed up the whole process. Over time I've found I spend quite a bit of time poking/crushing/shifting material in the fire and at the end, the quenched material is often already a texture I'm happy with for inoculating and garden use.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the suggestion about using the stick. I'll definitely give it a try on my next burn.
@kdogg0405 жыл бұрын
Dude! ^2 of my favorite youtubers! Thanks for the videos RED Gardens! I love your thoroughness.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
@@kdogg040 Hey, thanks! Glad you value my work.
@zazugee5 жыл бұрын
i use a spade to crush the char while its still burning, to event out the surface before adding the next batch i think this way, there layer of crushed char will prevent oxygene from reaching underneath as easily i avoid the extra step of crushing it
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
@@zazugee Sounds like a good process, thanks.
@ben-fe3zy4 жыл бұрын
I'd love an update on how you think biochar has affected the parts of the garden you've used it on
@Katydidit3 жыл бұрын
As would I... and what changes you may have contemplated along the way. THANKS!!
@KB-22222 жыл бұрын
Update please?
@foress89 Жыл бұрын
Yes please I have found no other video on the subject in your channel
@donaldscott83985 жыл бұрын
You could use a cement mixer and some rocks to crush the charcoal up. It should beat it to a powder fairly quickly.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
That would work. I have read mixed advice about how fine is best, and it seems that a variation between the size of pea and coarse sand is thought to be best.
@thegeneralist75275 жыл бұрын
@@REDGardens Great video! My recommendation would be a good little wood chipper. I used to have a chipper and it would made processing garden refuse much easier. The wood chips would be perfect for suffocating the fire during the charcoal making process. I am interested in the scientific reason why biochar is such an effective agricultural method. It would require some research, but many forests like the amazon exist in areas with nutrient poor soils. All the nutrients and carbon are sequestered in the vegetation, and once that is removed the soil has little residual productivity. Slash and burn agriculture in these areas rapidly depletes the soil because of nutrient runoff. Biochar captures these nutrients and locks them in place where roots systems can still access them. Just like nanotechnology surface area to volume ratio is of critical importance. Smaller particles have a much higher surface area and thus activity. The charcoal itself is fairly inert and long lasting, it does not break down quickly like wood, but can act as a PH buffer as well as a nutrient reservoir. It may also provide some protection against soil pathogens and promote a healthy soil microbiome. Have to go but you get the just of what I am saying.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
@@thegeneralist7527 That is an interesting comparison between biochar surface area and nanotechnology.
@danielrose13925 жыл бұрын
You can use a concrete mixer to crush to a defined size. Fill it, mount a fitting fitting screen across the opening and then run it with the opening facing slightly down. The particles will stay in as long as they are larger than the screen width. A little work upfront, but you can screen and crush a lot of material this way.
@Logan.Bernart5 жыл бұрын
@@REDGardens The Generalist is spot on. High surface area hard carbon made from pyrolyzed cellulose nanofibers is currently being researched for use in improving sodium ion batteries. Your backyard biochar should contain a fraction of these high surface area pyrolyzed cellulose nanofibers as well. If you are interested in the battery research, these sodium ion batteries have the potential to replace lithium ion batteries in certain applications such as stationary renewable energy storage. This is important due to the environmental issues caused by lithium extraction and the global shortage of lithium driving up battery prices. Sodium ion batteries have the potential to make renewable energy storage much more feasible and affordable and pyrolyzed cellulose nanofibers could become a critical component in these batteries.
@Brandon-so9fp5 жыл бұрын
Can't wait for the results.
@jthepickle72 жыл бұрын
Thanks to this video, the burn pile will now be made into biochar. Thank you.
@MarlonVanderLinde4 жыл бұрын
I watched this a year ago, and forgot about it until now... Rewatched, and got me doing my own. Thanks Bruce.
@judyrobertson556411 ай бұрын
You need to watch gardening like a Viking. He’ll show you how to make biochar. Thanks for your video. God bless you and yours.
@shafiqulislam68722 жыл бұрын
Nicely informative with a bit of wisdom and a perfect touch of passion. Thank you for creating this.
@REDGardens2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
@cwhite4193 жыл бұрын
Such a straight forward and informative video. Thank you.
@REDGardens3 жыл бұрын
:)
@muraliiyer30553 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much , it is very helpful for me as a beginner 🙏🤝
@REDGardens3 жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@Rootedandreaching5 жыл бұрын
Extremely informative with a bit of wisdom and a perfect touch of passion. Thank you for creating this.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@masonkoller89625 жыл бұрын
I’ve watched so many guarding videos before this and I never understood the point of bio char or a practical way to make it until I watch this. Thank you so much!
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Glad you found my video useful!
@ajaxtelamonian51345 жыл бұрын
Great use for Willow especially in areas where not many other trees grow well due to the waterlogged conditions.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Yes. We have a lot of them growing around, and I have gotten into the routine of coppicing them (cutting them back knowing that they will regrow.)
@jodyjohnsen4 жыл бұрын
I like the way you present your data. I hope you’ll follow up with a review of biochar. So far, there doesn’t seem to be anyone else willing to provide a comprehensive analysis of their experiences. I’ll remain open to the possibility of using biochar until that happens but not convinced.
@superresistant02 жыл бұрын
Same
@gobigandgohomeschool48822 жыл бұрын
David the Good did an experiment and was very happy with the results.
@brianwhite95555 жыл бұрын
Here in SE Michigan, I take as much finished compost from my pile as I need for all of my spring plantings. Then I spend the rest of the growing season rebuilding the pile, mainly with alternating layers of fresh grass clippings, and leaves that I had stockpiled the previous fall. I also make charcoal during the growing season, adding it to the compost pile. I run my small Mantis tiller through the pile several times during the season, mixing the accumulated materials. I let the decomposing compost inoculate(activate) the charcoal. Your pit method seems to be working well for you. I like the particle size you end up with, and your method of activation. I've collected some small cookie (biscuits in UK) tins to use as retort chambers in making charcoal. I load them with sticks & twigs, wood chips, pine cones, make sure the lids are tightly in place, then set them atop a hot fire. Three small holes are drilled in the lids to allow escaping gases to burn off. When no more gases are seen venting from the holes, the tins are removed from the fire and allowed to cool completely. Like you, I crush the charcoal into smaller particles.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
I think your method of adding charcoal to the compost pile as you build it up is probably the best way to get it into your soil. The cookie tin method is a cool one as well, especially if you regularly have fires for other reasons.
@milenatodorova66644 жыл бұрын
Great info, i just saw in another video that you can pee on the charcoal and its collect the nitrogen ;)
@claraferrislopez7589 Жыл бұрын
I like this technic because it is very simple and eco friendly
@REDGardens Жыл бұрын
🙂
@janklebox72634 жыл бұрын
Man I love these gardening experiments. Great channel I really appreciate your work.
@drason695 жыл бұрын
Skillcult has a good video series on biochar. Worth a watch
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Skillcult is great!
@XRTRACING3 жыл бұрын
I just love watching this guys’ videos. Well said well made and shows what he is talking about with results,
@REDGardens3 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@chrisbammer86795 жыл бұрын
You're a madman! I'm so happy I stumbled across your channel!
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
LOL - glad you found it!
@jimargeropoulos83095 жыл бұрын
I appreciate the concentration of knowledge. Well done
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Thanks.
@fleurjoyce1111 Жыл бұрын
Really interesting and informative, thanks for showing
@REDGardens Жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it.
@inubaye2030 Жыл бұрын
Subscribed immediately. Thanks for the detailed information. I am starting my own biochar right away.
@REDGardens Жыл бұрын
Awesome! Thank you!
@inubaye2030 Жыл бұрын
@@REDGardens Please very quickly, I have already 5ft by 7ft space dug for refuse by the fence side in my farm garden. Can I use same to burn my biochar as it's also 5ft deep and plastered round. Hope the fire won't have effect on the fence? Thanks
@davidthegood5 жыл бұрын
Great work. I like that you're using a simple, low-tech method. I will have to try it myself.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Thanks. I figure it is better to start simple, rather than jump straight into more equipment.
@jackhighwood21604 жыл бұрын
looking forward to seeing the results from the trials!
@REDGardens4 жыл бұрын
Yeah, so am I ... haven't been able to start them yet, though hopefully soon.
@watermelonlalala3 жыл бұрын
@@REDGardens LOL
@prepperinireland22403 жыл бұрын
Hello from Co Leitrim. We harvest rainwater for household use, presently I buy in biochar to use in the filtering system so this method will be helpful for us, thank you.
@REDGardens3 жыл бұрын
Hope it works for you.
@carletorock4 жыл бұрын
What a great video!!! Gonna try it in my backyard
@shineforth13 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this very informative video!
@n3ru2 жыл бұрын
I can suggest you two things to improve your biochar making: the first is to put a metal pipe rght down the burning charcoal and using a funnel, pump all the water from bottom to top untill water gets on the surface and let it cool. This will ensure you to stop any burning. Second tip is about grinding the char. I use a meat grinder and even if it's a bit slow it works. Also it can be automatized (big funnel with more biochar on top and a drill connected to the crank). Hope it can be helpful.
@REDGardens2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the suggestions!
@mikedee88765 жыл бұрын
always interested in your low tech approach to gardening methods.....keeping it simple is usually the best way......
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
I really like the lower tech options, at least to start.
@DovidM5 жыл бұрын
A retort can produce biochar more efficiently than the method shown, and with fewer emissions. There are also questions of economy of scale. Can enough biochar be generated from waste cellulose for a small site doing what is shown in this video? I don’t argue with small scale efforts that are less efficient. There is value in doing what is currently possible rather than waiting for large scale production of biochar using a retort. I believe, however, that a retort designed for the needs of multiple gardens is the end goal.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
@@DovidM Good questions and ideas. I think that this pit method is suitable for people with small scale gardens or explorations. And it also fills that gap that you mentioned about waiting for the large or more sophisticated equipment to be developed or become affordable. That was a big benefit for me. It also allows people like me to produce some char without any upfront costs, so that I can do some explorations about how useful the biochar could be within my context before I start to upscale. I imagine if things go well I will transition to using a retort of some kind, just as you mentioned.
@lenacarrasco38383 жыл бұрын
Yaye, I'm gonna try the cone pit today! That makes sense!!! Thank you 💗
@thinlizzy5354 жыл бұрын
You are a man with a lot of energy! Just like the Energizer Bunny. Excellent video, thank You!
@REDGardens4 жыл бұрын
:)
@jtsdeals5 жыл бұрын
Great experiment, looking forward to seeing what results you get.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Thanks.
@szkielet1372 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Gonna do it the same way!
@REDGardens2 жыл бұрын
Hope it works well for you.
@reymondatienza8427 Жыл бұрын
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EXPLAINING IT VERY EASY! Congrats on your successful experiment! Hoping to hear more updates soon!
@Joe-cs8iv3 ай бұрын
You provide an excellent overview of your video's content, good or bad!
@REDGardens3 ай бұрын
Glad you like them!
@redechelon373 жыл бұрын
Solid video, thanks. Thorough and well researched, yet still open and skeptical.
@jackhighwood21604 жыл бұрын
Love it. That's my winter weekends booked in then
@REDGardens4 жыл бұрын
Have fun!
@Scarecrowking5 жыл бұрын
Very keen to see how this goes! I'm so grateful you're testing this out.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Cool. I hope to have the first initial trials done by late spring.
@ganzip60382 жыл бұрын
Brilliant dude! I was wondering how and what i needed to make this. I was pretty certain the amazonians didn't go through the fancy systems i see people making. Great explanation
@REDGardens2 жыл бұрын
Thanks! Yeah, they probably used a simple method, but not sure it would have been this method.
@brianalt39122 жыл бұрын
@@REDGardens how has it been working for you? Is there a follow up video?
@REDGardens2 жыл бұрын
@@brianalt3912 Sorry, no follow up video yet. Hopefully this year.
@gregorytoddsmith97444 жыл бұрын
I have a similar fire pit in my yard that after summers use in enjoyment with family I utilize the it as my compost pit throughout the winter. Throughout the season.. turn.. turn.🎵🎶 Cold winter mornings find it steaming.😁 Undoubtedly it is imperfect and I use the contents sparingly with other compost and potting soil to coax my hard pan clay into better production. I could probably produce some lye from the pit for soap making as it is at times way past biochar. It's Amazoningly incredible what we learn when observing nature! Thank you!!
@REDGardens4 жыл бұрын
Nice multi-purpose pit. I was thinking of setting up a pit like this with a few chairs for sitting around the fire when I just want to relax/cook, and tools use it for biochar at other times. Hadn't thought of it as a compost pit, but might also work, especially with a cover to keep the rain off.
@landasmr27145 жыл бұрын
Pleasing voice and intelligent research, thank you.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
:-)
@chrischandler30413 жыл бұрын
Any update on how well it helped the soil?
@Broad-Spectrum3 жыл бұрын
Benefits of adding biochar into garden bed will increase your plant air intake upto 400% and it also increase water holding capacity of your soil it's magical gift to your plant my brother 🇮🇳🙏
@superresistant02 жыл бұрын
@@Broad-Spectrum or it’s all bullshit and clickbait, who knows ?
@xocolaatl2 жыл бұрын
@@superresistant0 it's not you little measley rat, look up terra petra
@christyn2006 Жыл бұрын
You sound like mixed Canadian and Irish accent! Very cool voice!
@REDGardens Жыл бұрын
Yep, that is the mix! Glad you like it!
@zainumnoh14964 жыл бұрын
Good idea.
@gobigandgohomeschool48822 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the helpful video!
@priscillahudson36252 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Looking forward to watching more of your informative videos. 👍
@REDGardens2 жыл бұрын
🙂
@estherkaufman2375 жыл бұрын
YES!!!!!!!been waiting for this.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Yay!
@eb2825 жыл бұрын
Me tooooo! Yessss
@andrewyek5 жыл бұрын
@@REDGardens Hii Red, try a good effective way to make biochar while making wood vinegar.. wood vinegar is very good, it can dischourage pest thinking fire (get away) and i found out plant sprayed with very diluted wood vinegar (after filtering tar away), make healthier plant.. very obvious. as i believe these wood vinegar has got la lot of plant "essence" in it.. or even hormone (guessing)..
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
andrew ysk It would be interesting to explore the possibilities of using wood vinegar.
@elemeno94632 жыл бұрын
I'm so glad I just found your channel. I'm going to join your patreon.
@ThePmloc5 жыл бұрын
Excellent video, simply explained Great to see you back.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Thanks.
@robrob70115 жыл бұрын
This is they second video of yours that i have watched. You are incredible!! You do full research prior, then you show all aspects of what u did. You are one of the best youtubers!!! New sub over here!! :)
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Ah, thanks. That kind of comment means a lot. Glad you like my work.
@Katydidit3 жыл бұрын
I agree!!
@lynnandrews84243 жыл бұрын
I saw a KZbin video where they ground up their biochar using a heavy duty kitchen garbage disposal mounted in a hole in a table & draining into 5 gallon buckets. Smart idea, I thought!
@Thiago-qo5ww4 жыл бұрын
Power Biochar!!
@kenknutson15985 жыл бұрын
I use a Weber kettle BBQ to char rose prunings. I have found that feeding the fire as fast as I can without smothering works,though the fire does get rather big. When the char stops flaming I put the lid on to smother the fire for about a half hour and then douse the fire to put out any smoldering material. I get a good amount of char and little ash.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing your experience. I want to experiment with a bigger burn where I add material faster, but first I would want to move the pit cone further away from anything that could burn!
@X35O5 жыл бұрын
Made the same experience with the grill. Works perfect !
@halsteward10035 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video. Great stuff. One thing I've found is inoculation with half n half good compost and worm bin castings. The worms seem to love char. I've also used moringa tea and worm casting tea. Seems inoculations can be achieved but the follow up study I've never really kept track of. I do know stuff works very well.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Thanks! The use of worm castings makes sense.
@Katydidit3 жыл бұрын
Good ideas here, thanks for sharing!
@ryanfullerton29245 жыл бұрын
Very interesting video! I’ve never actually heard of biochar before. I’ll be looking forward to see how it affects the crops in your trial runs.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Thanks. I'm looking forward to it as well.
@andykadir-buxton32944 жыл бұрын
A great TV program on biochar can be seen at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoDWXqigmtGendk
@donabellahardeneravlogs7902 жыл бұрын
Great idea Sir
@Chris-zj3bq4 жыл бұрын
Good stuff! Here in indonesia we have lots of clay and volcanic sandy soil so finding good amendments are always a plus!
@_g70854 жыл бұрын
With other people's research and experiments, it seems like biochar may not be worth the effort if your garden soil is already rich in organic matter and fertility. But it totally makes sense that if you have poor soil, it could greatly improve it over time. That is exactly what it did to the poor Amazonian soil.
@ArkansasWoodcutter4 жыл бұрын
So informative. I have a conical fire pit my sons built for me from stone that will work perfectly for this. Thank you for sharing I will try this soon.
@REDGardens4 жыл бұрын
Hope it works for you.
@canopyfields Жыл бұрын
Best video on biochar
@REDGardens Жыл бұрын
Thanks@
@Muggalomaniac5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for posting this vid! I have been looking for efficient ways to produce charcoal!
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Great - I was also really glad when I discovered this method.
@alveygardens3 жыл бұрын
Make sure and build yourself a johnson su bioreactor. The fungal based composting system really seems to help build alot of biology in the soil and is another fun experiment. Great videos!
@SustainablyYoursHomestead5 жыл бұрын
I'm really glad I found your channel! It is very educational. This is just the second video I've watched, but I can already tell that I'm going to end up starting from the beginning of your catalogue and viewing every one while taking lots of notes.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Very cool! Hope you enjoy(d) my other videos!
@michaelmcclafferty33464 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing this video. You are a very hard worker Bruce. It seems like you need a lot of wood to make biochar.
@REDGardens4 жыл бұрын
It takes a fair amount of wood, and I don't think it is really useful unless you have access to a lot of wood.
@razpet205 жыл бұрын
I suggest for an experiment, you can make charcoal in different ways and different sizes, and inoculate them with similar dosages. Then you can prepare different beds for each type and garden them with a same method, then just report results with time. Great video, btw, I didn't know about this type of charcoal making before. I'm planning to try this method in the future.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
That would be a great experiment. Just need to find the time :-)
@alisonburgess3455 жыл бұрын
It’s a huge effort - it’ll be interesting to see its effects on your crops..
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Yes, it will be interesting!
@nodiggitygardens97505 жыл бұрын
you made it seem so simple ... definitely gonna give it a try..
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
It is pretty simple, once you get the hang of it.
@danl4556 ай бұрын
thank you,
@nickstraw19525 жыл бұрын
Funnily enough, I had just watched Edible Acres take on producing biochar. Using a 1/2 SS euronorm food container with cover. He used his house wood stove, and mostly scraps trimmings and off cuts. Seemed to work well and easy to control, the small batch size balanced by the more intense heat which gave a fast, simple and controllable burn. He reported up to 4 burns per evening. Thanks again for showing us your experiments.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
I hadn't seen the Edible Acres video on biochar, thanks for the pointer. If I had a wood stove in my house I would definitely use a similar method, to make good use of the heat. A good way to burn smaller material as well, and an option if I used a wood chipper to manage the bulky pruning material.
@edibleacres5 жыл бұрын
Both are legit ways to create biochar. This video shows a really amazing way to produce biochar with the 'feed stock' he has available which is a huge pile of loose, small branches and finer wood. Cone pit can process mountains of 'slash' and prunings in a crazy effective way. The wood stove style I use is excellent for small offcuts from a wood shop, or sweepings, or nutshells, or other smaller, more uniform material in a slower, more controlled way. Whats so great about this cone pit style is it really stands as a potent argument against needing to have a wood chipper. @RED Gardens - I would suspect you found a similar outcome, that cone pit really can process branch wood as fast as a small chipper!
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
@@edibleacres Good input about the different options for different feedstock. Yes it is fast, and I would definitely prefer to tend a fire than feed a noisy wood chipper.
@nickstraw19525 жыл бұрын
Nuts! We have almost as many pesky squirrels as nut trees. We get few nuts, but lots of shells, finally a good use. Do they smell nice when being roast by the fire?@@edibleacres
@robertmannarino49403 жыл бұрын
We started doing this a few years ago, with a long rectangular bed. We put manure on top and planted pumpkins. I was thrilled to get about 30 pounds of pie pumpkins from 4 plants. The next year (which is when I heard the biochar really takes effect), we got 175 pounds from 4 plants, with what was supposed to be an 8 pound max in each, producing 20+ pound fruits. We still do it, but the deer discovered the patch. This year we are covering the patch with row cover, on the theory that if the deer can't see the plants, they won't eat them...
@REDGardens3 жыл бұрын
Wow, that is quite a yield! Hope the deer cover works this year!
@tylermorgan87914 ай бұрын
You might be able to use a cement mixer to break up the charcoal into smaller pieces. Rock is broken in mining operations like this using mills. If the material breaks on its own or can break other particles, it's called an autogenous mill. You could also try adding grinding media, like steel balls, to the mix to help break the material down.
@savagerodent7533 Жыл бұрын
Exilent video, really well explained 👍
@REDGardens Жыл бұрын
Thanks. glad you liked it.
@mehranbarahouei23464 жыл бұрын
great job, man
@REDGardens4 жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@levilowder26243 жыл бұрын
I'm looking forward to your trials and updates on using this biochar in the garden.
@REDGardens3 жыл бұрын
Yeah, sorry, I didn't get to those last year. Hopefully this season.
@alsternerd5 жыл бұрын
The good thing is that biochar also readds carbon to the earth, in larger quantities, you could store more CO2. Pretty neat version with the cone. :)
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Carbon sequestration is definitely one of the benefits of biochar, and i hope to do a video soon looking at how much is sequestered.
@darrendwyer99813 жыл бұрын
Brilliant
@kirkstinson73163 жыл бұрын
I get both wood ash and char from my wood stove over the winter. Apple and cherry wood is saved for the smoker
@REDGardens3 жыл бұрын
Do you add that to your compost or direct to the soil?
@ferkelandstier94064 жыл бұрын
Thumbs up. Thanks.
@RiverPlaid5 жыл бұрын
Great video.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Thanks.
@tomjones43184 жыл бұрын
Thanks for explaining the cone burn. Interesting to see so many people struggling with this new/old resource. The Amazon people did not have modern factories to process theirs. Today the commercial makers wish to control. Odd nobody has shown the actual terra preta soil close up. How big are the pieces in it? What is the range/average etc? Here we are today taking baby steps to master this ancient craft. I have large trees to process so the cone doesn't look right for me. Hope you follow up. We need intelligent open people working on this. We need to understand what we are really trying to do.
@MorgsBrew5 жыл бұрын
Howzit! As usual, a very informative presentation of the data. I think we have been thinking and playing with biochar from a similar perspective. The car lasts 1000 years so application is probably more important than precision. To a degree. "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler". It made a significant difference for radish planted in a fine grain inclusion into a clay loam soil. I made a video where I demonstrate my double-barrel TLUD design and I wrote a short post about the method and construction with some discussion. I have since moved to the Kontiki style drum. I use a 350L steel pressure vessel which is cut in half. I welded the ends closed and now it sits on an old wheel rim. I can easily create 100L of biochar and because the vessel is sealed I can use the quenching water during the "charging" of it. Reduce the total water usage in the process. I try to make a batch per bed. About 70L int 7.5m2 beds mixed with compost and dug in initially. My TLUD video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnPJmp1uiLJjaLc
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the comment and the link.
@toddgillespie81655 жыл бұрын
I've been using an old concrete feed trough as a burn pit; it's about 5' long, 3' wide, 2' deep. I tried some smaller sizes before, but didn't like all the extra labor involved to cut the prunings down to fit. With a large pit I can just throw on bundles of long limbs, then push whatever sticks out the end further into the fire as the rest of the limb is consumed. Another perk with the large size is that there is so much material piled in, the weight of the mass does a nice job crushing the lower layers of char into small bits. Afterwards I pile the char in layers with fresh cow manure and a bit of soil for microbes, then leave it for a season while the manure composts and leaches into the char.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Sounds like a great system. The bigger, or longer pit makes a lot of sense, and I am planning to scale up for my next few burns. Thanks for sharing your experience.
@toddgillespie81655 жыл бұрын
I forgot to add that the fire is slowly destroying the concrete (turns it back into lime and gravel) so after a few dozen more batches it will probably be too cracked to use. I'm happy with this b/c I need to remove the trough anyway, and this is easier than sledgehammering it. I won't need any more biochar for years afterwards, but for a new pit I might see if I can find an old junked metal watering trough and bury it part way. Good luck with your research!
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
@@toddgillespie8165 Interesting way together rid of a concrete trough ;-)
@toddgillespie81655 жыл бұрын
Synergy!
@jeffreydustin53035 жыл бұрын
This is great info as usual. I am experimenting with Mel Bartholomew's square foot gardening method and believe the gardener could profitably replace the coarse vermiculite with charcoal.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Thanks. Replacing the vermiculite with charcoal could be a very interesting approach, so long as the char was adequately charged. I have been dreaming of building a rooftop garden one day, and think biochar could make a great light weight component of the growing medium.
@tonygassner5406 Жыл бұрын
Recently in Zambia ~ central Africa, i was able to access fine charcoal in good quantities, which I added to 200 liter drums of pelletised chicken manure soaking in water. No exact figures for pellets, about 10 liters, and from under trees and shrubs decomposing leaf litter. The idea is to produce char with all the components that symbiotically produce plant growth and health.
@motog4-754 жыл бұрын
It is very informative & interesting, but I think also a little complicated & time consuming. Must be an easier way to do this.
@joedo21145 жыл бұрын
Great video. You make great instructional and informative videos. Thanks alot.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Thanks. Glad you like them.
@heraldhivet22305 жыл бұрын
I use the same easy and low tech method to make biochar and it works really good. You can crush the charcoal with a stick while burning, just before adding the new layer of wood. Going this way, you avoid most of the dusty part of the job and get the perfect particule size!
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Good idea about crushing with a stick while burning. Glad to hear it works for you.
@WanderingVeteran5 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the good information breakdown.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
:)
@X35O5 жыл бұрын
This is it! :) Made some trials myself following the instructions of the Ithaka Institute. If anyone experiments with urine try to inoculate the full bottle/can whith some drops of buttermilk against the ghoulish smell that develops. It takes just some weeks to ferment to a sour and sweet smell.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Interesting point about the buttermilk and the smell. Thanks.
@crimsonite15245 жыл бұрын
for a couple of years now i have been using the dark carbon rich soil from spots where i had made bonfires on the ground, in my opinion it grows better plants
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
That is a very interesting observation.
@MichaelFlynn04 жыл бұрын
Ive been doing the same - the plants love all that free carbon
@harryalcantara17562 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the info
@rtv97335 жыл бұрын
interesting the way you explain this made it so much cooler!
@mycedarridge5 жыл бұрын
I have just recently found you and have really enjoyed your videos! However, I quite like THIS one, especially 😊 I have used an old roaster in our fireplace to make biochar following the method EdibleAcres used in his videos. But I have never tried his method of the cone pit. After watching this though, I might re-watch this one a few times and his videos again and give it a try! I like the amount of charcoal y'all are producing!
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
Glad you found my channel. The method that EdibleAcres uses is great, especially if you already regularly use a wood stove. This cone pit method is great for bulk material and lighter stuff.
@victorferraz9405 Жыл бұрын
The best video!
@REDGardens Жыл бұрын
🙂
@aenorist24315 жыл бұрын
Very much looking forward to your assesment down the line. Biochar to me always sounded quite homeopathic and frankly unscientific, but i trust your judgement and scientific mind and am ready to be convinced by actual results.
@REDGardens5 жыл бұрын
It is interesting how we can perceive things differently depending on where were come across the information. I fist was introduced to biochar by through the scientists studying terra preta, and other agronomists, so I feel it has that scientific foundation. But lately I see biochar based content all over the place, and often not well supported or documented, with lots of wild claims, and I can easily see how people could suspect the validity of its use.