[Terrapreta] Terra preta postings on arclein blog

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Kevin,

I think they used the most common burnable biomass that was there at the time, probably jungle trees.  Somewhere, someone has done an analysis of the charcoal found in the Terra Preta soils and even as charcoal it was determined that it was trees that were used.  I will find a reference for this.  When I do, I'll send it to you.  Okay?

If all I had was a loin cloth, a stick, and some "fire", I think I could find a way to fell a giant tree in the Amazon rainforest, even if I had to burn it down (from the base up).  If you cut the bark off of any tree in a circle around the base (this is called "girdling"), then it will die, and it can be knocked over.  Just dig a hole all around it.  In the Amazon, the roots of tall trees do not go very far into the ground.  Wind will be your friend.

Think outside the box of corn flakes.

Regards,

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kevin Chisholm<mailto:kchisholm at ca.inter.net> 
  To: Sean K. Barry<mailto:sean.barry at juno.com> 
  Cc: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> ; Robert Klein<mailto:arclein at yahoo.com> 
  Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 8:28 PM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Terra preta postings on arclein blog


  Dear Sean

  Sean K. Barry wrote:
  > Robert!
  >  
  > YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR ASSERTION THAT AMAZONIAN 
  > PEOPLE MADE ALL OF THE TERRA PRETA FROM CORN STOVER 2500 YEARS AGO!  
  > WOULD YOU PLEASE QUIT STATING THIS AS FACT?

  What would you suggest as being a more feasible, practical, or likely 
  way for the natives to make char?

  Is there any reason why the char required for terra preta would not be 
  made in this manner?

  Best wishes,

  Kevin
  >  
  > SKB
  > 
  >     ----- Original Message -----
  >     *From:* Robert Klein <mailto:arclein at yahoo.com<mailto:arclein at yahoo.com>>
  >     *To:* terrapreta at bioenergylists.org<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>
  >     <mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>>
  >     *Sent:* Friday, September 21, 2007 4:30 PM
  >     *Subject:* [Terrapreta] Terra preta postings on arclein blog
  > 
  >     I thought that I would work through the 250 message
  >     backlog from this group sitting in my inbox this
  >     weekend.  A daunting task.  However I am pleased to
  >     see the extensive sharing of information on forests
  >     taking place.  I expect that I will be able to quote
  >     some of this on my Blog.
  > 
  >     I also sat down and developed a list of my terra preta
  >     related postings, not all reposted to this group and
  >     posted that on my blog.  I am including a list here
  >     for you to peruse.  My advice is to start at the
  >     beginning to the description of the corn stack method
  >     of indigenous production and then jump to the end and
  >     work backward.
  > 
  >     I see no realistic way to economically produce terra
  >     preta without resorting to a variation of the original
  >     production method.  Concern was raised about the
  >     production of methane which I see as misplaced.  In
  >     fact, the methane will likely provide the majority of
  >     the heat in the combustion process, but this needs to
  >     be properly field tested.
  > 
  >     Here you go.  While you are at it bookmark my site or
  >     subscribe as I post daily on a range of related
  >     subjects. Even better give me stuff to comment on.
  > 
  > 
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/06/carbonization.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/06/carbonization.html>
  > 
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/06/corn-cultures-bright-furure.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/06/corn-cultures-bright-furure.html>
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/06/total-carbon-sequestration-potential.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/06/total-carbon-sequestration-potential.html>
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/06/tropical-soils_26.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/06/tropical-soils_26.html>
  > 
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/07/discussion-with-ron-larsen-on-terra.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/07/discussion-with-ron-larsen-on-terra.html>
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/07/human-labor.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/07/human-labor.html>
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/07/those-amazonian-soils.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/07/those-amazonian-soils.html>
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/07/pollutants-from-carbonization.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/07/pollutants-from-carbonization.html>
  > 
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/07/nutrient-accumulation.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/07/nutrient-accumulation.html>
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/07/uniqueness-of-corn-culture.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/07/uniqueness-of-corn-culture.html>
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/07/amazon.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/07/amazon.html>
  > 
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/08/heat-distribution-and-terra-preta-soils.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/08/heat-distribution-and-terra-preta-soils.html>
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/08/getting-job-done-biochar-on-modern-farm.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/08/getting-job-done-biochar-on-modern-farm.html>
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/08/tom-miles-comments-on-biochar.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/08/tom-miles-comments-on-biochar.html>
  > 
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/08/mel-landers-and-jackie-foo-on-field.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/08/mel-landers-and-jackie-foo-on-field.html>
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/08/methane-and-pottery.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/08/methane-and-pottery.html>
  >     http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/09/glopbal-corn-culture.html<http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2007/09/glopbal-corn-culture.html>
  > 
  > 
  >     enjoy
  > 
  >     arclein
  > 
  > 
  > 
  > 
  >          
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