[Terrapreta] Feedstock for TP Charcoal

[David Yarrow]

not all tree species sprout from stumps (coppice).  most softwoods are not good stump sprouters, and hardwoods vary considerably.  and some coppice more easily and prolifically than others.  a bit of research will be required to sort such a stategy out and identify species with the proficiency and efficiency suited to such a production strategy.

and then there are shrubs and bushes that produce a lot of vigorous growth, much of it woody.  in general, the land, soil and water do not like to be exposed to direct sunlight, which will heat and dry out the land.  the land prefers to be kept shaded, cool and moist.  so as soon as you clear-cut trees from land, you get not only tree stumps and seedlings sprouting -- you get a chaotic profusion of underbrush -- often with lots of briars and thorns to protect the trees until they each larger size.  this sort of small diameter biomass shrubbery is quite woody and can feed a pyrolysis process.  it will all go though a chipper and reduce to a compact, small particle size feedstock.

on my own 1.3 acre property, every year i have to clear away the undergrowth ranging from weeds to shrubs and small trees.  i make piles of them, which then decay over three years into dark brown humps of wonderfully rich organic matter that i then spread around to enrich my garden soils.  these piles also become microbial communiies, loaded with bacteria, fungi, mycorrhyzae, insects, and all other decomposers.  spreading these rotted around also inoculates my soil to boost its digestive capacities.

David Yarrow
"If yer not forest, yer against us."
Turtle EyeLand Sanctuary
44 Gilligan Road, East Greenbush, NY 12061
518-330-2587
dyarrow at nycap.rr.com
www.championtrees.org
www.OnondagaLakePeaceFestival.org
www.citizenre.com/dyarrow/
www.SeaAgri.com
 
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  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sean K. Barry 
  To: 'terrapreta' ; rkurt at tadaust.org.au 
  Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 3:44 AM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Feedstock for TP Charcoal


  Hi Kurt,

  I've heard of coppicing before and I also think it could work as a source for charcoal and doing "Neo Terra Preta" land reforming.

  SKB
    ---- but---- there is another way. 
    Coppicing. Cut the tree off a foot or so above the ground, when its 8 or 
    so inches thick. Use the wood, the stump will reshoot and some years 
    later you will be able to repeat the process and keep on doing so, over 
    the years. 

    Kurt
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