[Terrapreta] scored

[Sean K. Barry]

Hi Gerrit,

Keeping an open mind about this is a good idea.  I like your ideas.  Maybe Jim could try all three of those, each with some of that ton oc "whiskey charcoal", at least for a time, and see what happens?

Regards,

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Gerald Van Koeverden<mailto:vnkvrdn at yahoo.ca> 
  To: bhans at earthmimic.com<mailto:bhans at earthmimic.com> 
  Cc: terrapreta at bioenergylists.org<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2008 8:13 AM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] scored


  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


  _______________________________________________
  Terrapreta mailing list
  Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
  http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biochar/
  http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org
  http://info.bioenergylists.org
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: /attachments/20080413/c013b0a1/attachment.html