[Terrapreta] scored

[Gerald Van Koeverden]

It might well take a year to cure it.  But what is the best way?

1.  Saturated in water in a barrel so that the alcohol can gradually  
diffuse out into the water

2.   By composting in a pile.

3.   By incorporating it into the soil at a low concentration..

None of us have the experience to be able to decide which is best.   
But I wouldn't discount the option of incorporating it into the soil  
completely.  The soil has an amazing store and variety of organisms  
ready to consume.  For example, if you try to compost a bioplastic  
(basically carbohydrates, gelatin and water) like hot dog casings, it  
takes several months to do so in municipal compost piles which are  
turned regularly.  But I found that when I incorporate them into  
moist sandy soil directly, they are consumed within 2 weeks!  When I  
dug them up at 2 weeks, I found worms where I never saw any before;  
they were consuming the microorganisms that were consuming and  
multiplying off the bioplastic.

Whether the whiskey-soaked charcoal is toxic or not, all depends on  
its concentration.  What might be toxic in a compost pile (where it  
would be highly concentrated) might be food in the soil (where is  
mixed in a much more dilute ratio.)  I would try adding some to soil,  
and just checking it to see what is going on.  The soil too is a  
natural composting medium...

Gerrit




On 12-Apr-08, at 9:02 PM, Brian Hans wrote:
>
> I think everyone will eventually find out that 1 yr of 'curing'  
> charcoal is for best results. I agree with David, let the fungi do  
> its job. Its going to do it either under your eye or in the soil,  
> but one way or another, its how the 'stuff' will be removed, by the  
> fungi. I would rather have it done above ground than to suck the  
> life out of your soil for a year.
>
> I am thinking that this is a good job for a compost pile. Dark,  
> wet, cool, loose cations... its as close to soil as your going to  
> get. Adding char to the compost pile will innoculate and solve the  
> above issues and will also give you a way to apply the material.
>
>
> Brian
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: /attachments/20080413/184aafc3/attachment.html