[Terrapreta] better links

[Richard Haard]

Hi Michael
On Feb 20, 2007, at 9:09 PM, Michael Bailes wrote:

>
>
> On 21/02/07, Richard Haard <richrd at nas.com> wrote:
> We would like to use willow coppice as our alternate energy  
> strategy  http://www.flickr.com/photos/rchaard/396838826/in/ 
> set-72157594444994347/
>
> Thanks Richard great photos
>
> What would you do differently?
For me to conduct a controlled research program i need to retire from  
my current job and to do this research at a place other than our  
production nursery. Or to encourage someone else to do same which is  
why I am posting this.

> Why willow for coppice?
Willow is my favorite native plant. I love their  genetic diversity  
especially looking at distribution from our latitude and north to  
Canada and Alaska. Just looking at Scouler willow , Salix scouleriana  
I have isolated 5 different ecotypes that come true to seed just in  
western Washington, and this species occurs from Manitoba to Alaska  
to Mexico.I have been selecting strains of Scouler willow and  
propagating another  - about 10 species of willow from seed for about  
10 years. We grow them for restoration markets as bare root and  
stakes. We are planning to expand our production this fall on a 25  
acre piece of land nearby. There will be considerable surplus wood  
production.

Willow is ecto and endo mycorrhizial, it is a primary succession  
species and with uneven harvesting creates an ideal habitat for  
wildlife from invertibrates to birds mammals and fish. Willow coppice  
groves can be put on seasonally flooded land adjacent to riparian  
zones. Productivity is compatible to grasses and ecological benefits  
are greater where habitat is correct.

Every region, every community, every business and individual need to  
examine and to do post peak oil contingency planning. If I was living  
in NW Iowa my plan would be different.

I looked at the regional scale for willow coppice groves and decided  
our proximity to the rail grid would allow us to ship chips harvested  
to cofired coal power plants or other markets. This is not my  
strategy though. We are only interested in our small farm and in- 
house power needs for water pumping and product refrigeration, and to  
take care of our farm productivity while supporting the 18 people and  
families who work year around with us.

> How do you intend to use it?

Right now power is too cheap. We are grid connected with 2 refineries  
nearby, interstate highway system, natural gas, etc. Wind and solar  
are not appropiate to our location.  We use much manual labor for our  
plant production methods so why not adapt our alternate energy  
strategy to our present labor pool and develop a system based on  
faggots and pyrolysis.

This is why I have been reading gasification and biomass lists for  
some time now. How many years before oil costs spike beyond $200/bbl  
and never come back? This is our timeline to develop this alternate  
energy and agriculture system. In remote areas and for people without  
our wealth and rich economy this time is now.
>
> Any reason for using perlite rather than cheaper zeolite bentonite,  
> attapultite etc or is your soil already clayey?
Last summer i used charcoal in our Egdal seeder which places a mix of  
perlite and stratified seed in our seedbeds in rills.   This puts the  
char and innoculum in direct contact with germinating seed. I would  
love to find a cheaper substitute for this. We use bentonite to plug  
leaks in our irrigation dam this would make a sticky mess.

I also mix the charcoal with commercial compost and spread with a  
spreader , then rototill in. This dilutes the char in the upper 8  
inches of soil and as my supply of char is limited I have been lately  
either using as a band while seeding or top-dressing and working into  
the soil between the seed rills by hand.
> Did you do Ph tests before and after char?

No-Makes sense- thanks
> With what results?.
> Did you have any "control" row not treated with charcoal?
Yes -
> Would wetting the charcoal help dust problems?

No- I have soaked  lump charcoal overnight with same results while  
chopping in compost shredder. Some of John Flottviks conifer char was  
exposed to weather and wet. This may be an important pretreatment so  
far as microbial utilization!!
>

Best wishes Rich H


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