[Terrapreta] Farm Produced Biochar

[Jeff Davis]

Tom wrote:
> I have talked with friends and clients who are grain farmers in the
> "prairies" (US Midwest and Canada) about making biochar on the farm. So
> far
> there is: a) interest in the biochar and its potential; b) no real
> interest
> in making it themselves unless there is a do-it-yourself model
> ("entertainment value"); and c) skepticism about the economic and
> agronomic
> value ("show me").


Tom, that's a good sign!

This is in it's early stages. No grower (only income) in his or her right
mind should dive into this whole hog, so to speek.


> Why should a grower invest his labor, equipment and money in making
> biochar
> on the farm?

After a matrix implosion it may be the only game in town.



>We haven't clearly made that case yet.

That's because we don't know what we are doing. BUT we are working on it.


>Growers I know will not speculate unless there is a perceived pot of gold
>at the end of the rainbow.

Smart move.


> Find an interested grower and build a system around his/her specific
> circumstances. Demonstrate that it's worth doing. Then watch 1% of the
> farmers in the area adopt it.

I see this as a new species of farming. Maybe the old species of farmer
will simply die off and the new species will take over.

I'm working on a MICRO version of what you are talking about:

Grow switchgrass

ret switchgrass

Add char

grow potatoes

***************

ALSO:

produce affordable gasifier/char-maker/bug-repellent components

etc

etc

Later char switchgrass

more etc


BUT not time for typing!!!!!!!!!!


Jeff




-- 
Jeff Davis

Some where 20 miles south of Lake Erie, USA