Finally Making Biochar

Biochar is a soil amendment that I have wanted to try in my gardens, but figuring out how to make it was a bit of a sticking point. But sometimes when you wait long enough, a simple low tech method will be developed, which makes it much easier to start.

Videos referenced:

[judyrobertson]

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.

[cdavisrn]

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.

[mmm-uwep]

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.

[jthepickle]

Thanks to this video, the burn pile will now be made into biochar. Thank you.

[HavokTheorem]

Black Soil Amendment sounds like a sweet metal band name.

[edibleacres]

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.

[donaldscott]

You could use a cement mixer and some rocks to crush the charcoal up. It should beat it to a powder fairly quickly.

[original_yosemitesam]

At about 3:00 you want to cover that pile with about 6 inches of moist green grass clippings, let it have a bit of oxygen and leave it smouldering as though two or three cigars are burning, then the next morning quench it. And terra preta can be big or small, no need to sieve, put it in the compost ready for next year.

[MarlonVanderLinde]

I watched this a year ago, and forgot about it until now... Rewatched, and got me doing my own. Thanks Bruce.

[ben-fezy]

I'd love an update on how you think biochar has affected the parts of the garden you've used it on

[davidthegood]

Great work. I like that you're using a simple, low-tech method. I will have to try it myself.

[Rootedandreaching]

Extremely informative with a bit of wisdom and a perfect touch of passion. Thank you for creating this.

[ajaxtelamonian]

Great use for Willow especially in areas where not many other trees grow well due to the waterlogged conditions.

[paratrooper]

This man is my gardening spirit animal.

[francoiselemeur]

FOR ONCE, i enjoyed this video....the man talked, but precise and clear with much démonstration
Contrats.

[reymondatienza]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EXPLAINING IT VERY EASY! Congrats on your successful experiment! Hoping to hear more updates soon!

[janklebox]

Man I love these gardening experiments. Great channel I really appreciate your work.

[jodyjohnsen]

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.

[brianwhite]

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.

[nru]

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.