From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Hey yall.well i burn locust wood all winter.has lot coals left over everymorning. I dump them in same place& now i got a clean pile of coals with no ashes can i use this as bio-char.

2/15/2014 2:43:01 PM

Berne, Indiana

Yep good for you

2/15/2014 3:45:01 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Good good,read something bout charging it.as in soak it in liguid fertilizer of some sort?

2/15/2014 4:41:44 PM

Upa Creek, MO

Wouldn't that shoot the potassium and ph up? Maybe use sparingly depending on your soil content.

2/15/2014 4:43:55 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

I say it is not Bio Char...it must be made in a no oxygen environment with a low temperature. You have unburnt embers :(

2/15/2014 6:44:30 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Luke the ashes would deffinately not sure bout the char. Most folks seem to like it so not sure.
Thank ya shannon.wonder what was done in past dig a hole build a fire then cover up with dirt?

2/15/2014 7:28:39 PM

Upa Creek, MO

I'd figure it out for sure before adding especially if where growing pumpkins. Nothing worse than blowing out every fruit you set by day 30 or having them mature early. I'm just hesitant in general since every time I think I am helping the soil I have a disastrous year.

Linus, that Jake and the Neverland Pirates cake is great. My kid would love that.

2/15/2014 9:31:40 PM

Gays Mills, Wisconsin

Yardman, if there's no noticeable wood and your "coals" are in a brittle, black, crumbly state then the char you have is biochar. Its from wood that has been pyrolyzed because the wood burner cuts out the air (oxygen) when it shuts the damper/vent. The heat continues until all internal gasses have been consumed. This occurs a lot in outdoor wood burners when the fire is near the end of it's cycle and load. My neighbor actually makes biochar and sells it. There's no difference. Smash into tiny pieces and charge with a tea and you're good to go!

2/15/2014 9:36:28 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Will do luke.
Cornhusk yes its were i close off damper cast iron two eye stove& its un condition you said half inch peices.
Read up on the furnaces while back how you build fire under furnace& have a pipe for gas to escape running under barrel& is ignighted by fire under barrel

2/15/2014 10:24:35 PM

Piqua, Ohio

google homemade bio char, I put wood in a 5 gal metal can and put it in a 55 gal grum that is burning.

2/16/2014 8:34:44 AM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Ok thanks josh.So basiccaly for real bio char it needs to be heated but not burnt with actual flame.

2/16/2014 9:00:24 AM

link to how to make biochar.interesting reading.Depending on your soil ,it can be negative.
http://howtogardenadvice.com/soil_prep/make_biochar.html

2/16/2014 11:15:01 AM

Piqua, Ohio

the wood needs to char without oxygen

2/16/2014 1:30:47 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Good link thank ya spudder
Josh so taken the oxygen away does it do something to the wood.or is it to keep the wood from combusting& catching fire.cause wood will burst into flames at 240° im thinking except if it dont have oxygen

2/17/2014 8:31:07 AM

Gays Mills, Wisconsin

it will burn completely to ash with oxygen

2/17/2014 6:07:05 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Ok thanks cornhusk

2/17/2014 7:48:53 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXMUmby8PpU&feature=player_embedded
http://www.biochar.info/biochar.biochar-production-methods.cfml
A couple of links for do it yourself.Do a search for " home biochar production "

2/17/2014 8:36:00 PM

Sharon, MA

Great cause it holds fertilizer, but watch out for ther pH climb in your soil. Generally biochar is in the 6-10 pH range. And Pumpkins won't grow good above 6.5.

2/20/2014 3:37:06 PM