Biochar

Back in November of 2012, Diane and I took a class at the Sunnyvale Community Garden on Biochar. Biochar is basically a charcoal made from any type of biomass and used as a soil amendment. It is produced using a high temperature, low oxygen burn called pyrolysis.

In the class we were introduced to biochar as well as taught how to make a small biochar oven using a one gallon paint can obtained from your local hardware store, a number 10 can (the type used in industrial sized kitchens), and a tall juice can. We also made a biochar oven using a 55gallon drum and a piece of stovepipe which can alo be found at the local hardware store. At home here we use woodstove pellets to make our char. You start by filling the paint can with the dry pellets along with a little bit of them soaked in alcohol. You then light the soaked pellets, the whole process takes about 45 minutes.

This week on Thursday the 7th I started a seed germination trial to see what percentage of biochar to soil produced the best yield. Today Saturday the 9th I discovered one sprout in the 25% mix.

Its Sunday and more and more sprouts are coming through I will count them on Monday.