THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BIOCHAR: how to make it, how to use it, and why it's important

Part 1: In this video, restoration ecologist Paul Morris talks about the start to finish of making biochar in the most efficient ways, how to use it in your soil, and why it's important for soil health, plant health, and climate change.

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0:00 Introduction to Biochar
4:13 Making biochar - Contiki and Barrel methods compared
7:15 Analysis of TULD method of making biochar
10:00 Quenching and charging the char with urine (human)
16:00 Crushing the char and charging the biochar
20:00 Superbrew organic fertilizer
24:00 Finished biochar
27:00 How to use biochar in the nursery
28:00 No-till garden method using biochar

Quick Guide to Making Biochar:
1. Add brush to barrel (top open and no other holes for pyrolysis) and light
2. Add layers of brush as lower layers burn down, but before ash forms
3. On last few layers, use smaller brush to ensure an even burn
4. Fill barrel with water to halt the burning process
3. Add urine to charge the char with nitrogen and leave overnight
5. Drain any water that has not been absorbed and spread the char out in an even layer
6. Crush down any larger pieces using a carpet roller or something of the sort
7. Turn in manure, soil and leaf compost (or whatever is available)
8. Pour on diluted Super Brew organic fertilizer mixture (Super Powerful Brew video)
9. Cover with a tarp and let sit for 3 months to break down and infuse into biochar.
10. Bag up and use!

A fast method that has mixed success: use biochar after 1 month and plant a nitrogen-fixing crop like beans for the first planting. Supplement with Superbrew Fertilizer regularly to offset the biochar taking up nutrients initially.

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[PlanetHealers]

Other languages?: Turn on CC, Settings - Subtitles - choose your preferred language ;) Apologies if YouTube's auto-translate says something weird!

[christerrell]

I’ve been a professional gardener for over thirty years. This year I’m setting up a poly tunnel with “no dig” raised beds in my own garden (as part of my life long experiment and learning about growing). I now feel inspired to and knowledgable enough to create my own biochar and inoculate all the growing beds. Best authoritative lesson I’ve had on the subject and how to use it. Thanks for your time. Will definitely be listening to what else you have to say 👍

[allendeanhuscusson]

We are so grateful for what you have made available for us to get started! I prayed and asked HolySpirit for what to do with HIS back to Eden garden Hallelujah Hallelujah Praise Him forevermore

[mariehebecomerford]

Marie here, on a cold wet mountain on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way. Thank you SO MUCH for that clear, informative guide. I have piles of drying prunings from nuisance invasives which I now plan to turn into biochar to feed my 3 acres of newly-planted native deciduous woodland. Your YouTube tutorial has been an important 'find' for me. Looking forward to watching your other/future videos. For now you have provided so much to work with.

[tishhobbs]

I've spent half of this very cold day in GA watching biochar videos. Yours has been greatly educational. I can't wait to get started. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[aburabaah]

Greetings from Maldives, I'm using it for my banana farm it's effective and tree's are healthy and happy, thank you for your knowledge. I'm using exactly your method. Again thanks.

[cryptohodler]

Thank you for putting your steps into layman's terms. Very informative. Much appreciated.

[phillipchambers]

Thank you for the step by step and easy to understand walkthrough of how to create and use biochar! Looking forward to starting this up and getting this going to use in our raised beds.

[janicejurgensen]

Wow! I need to persuade my husband to make it for me!! Ty I’m sharing this video.

[andrejzalec]

You have explained very clearly, understandably and to my knowledge perfectly how terra preta is done. I greet you from Slovenia (EU)

[seankinney]

Great video and super informative. Will be using some of these ideas in the future. Thanks for all your time and effort!

[Bpt]

The Ultimate Guide to Biochar. Indeed it is! Thank you for making this video.

[brandonballard]

Most practical video on making biochar I have seen. Good job.

[richardwilliams]

Thank you Paul from NZ.
Over the years walking about the hill country in my West Coast area I've often seen black burnt soils and old embers on our ancient Maori Pa.
Believing it was there because of the way our early European forefathers burnt the land for farming.
Since watching programs such as yours I now believe our Maori of old known about the secrets you are trying to re teach us on here.
Once again thank you and I look forward to watching more of your programs.
I always thought I was a pretty good gardener using tricks my mother taught me 50 years ago and nothing like what you have shown me.

[basilegilbert]

Thank you for this comprehensive video making something somewhat complex and with huge potential ramifications so simple to understand and providing practical guidance for a novice to take it on. Much appreciated!

[edwardwillis]

I plan on instituting this in my garden and flower beds.

[JimLarsen]

I dug a concave hole about 30" deep at center and 4' wide at top and filled with very dry small branches up to 1.5" with several up to 2" on top. It burned very hot and fast with some wind blowing and as I saw hot coals at bottom I started adding dirt around the edges to slowly smoother the deeper part fire. I kept filling in around the edges until only a few larger pieces were burning on top. When they were well charred I sprayed water to put it out. I had almost no ash and a full pile of char.

[ChilLemonade]

Excellent Content! I love how detailed, hands on and thorough this is! Subscribed!

[debrachin]

I love this! So easy to follow, simple step by step.
I'm new to gardening and this has helped immensely since I'm doing organic planting.

[jyang]

I love how you explained the process of making biochar, clear and timely. I watched your video til lthe end.THANKS.