[Terrapreta] Forestland management

[Greg and April]

I'm currently facing having to buy land, in what was ancient seabed that is now uplifted, and as such, the soil ( if there is any at all ), is thin sandy stuff with little organic matter and nutrients.    I was here for 3 years before I saw my first worm, that's how dry and organic poor the soil is.    

Most of the water shows up for about 3-4 weeks in the mid summer monsoons ( if you can call them that ) - even then it's usually less than 20 inches for the year, so I have to take a number of moisture saving steps, until I can build up a thick enough natural mulch.

If you know what western short grass prairie is ( in some cases little more than some hard pack sand ) that's exactly what I'm facing, trying to make it more useful than just grazing a few cows on.

While I doubt that I would be able to change it all.    Changing strips of it, even small areas at a time, I figure that I can eventually change enough to take care of my family - I'm not asking any more than that - trying to will be asking for trouble.    

I see char as an important part of the plan, in order to hold nutrients, rather then have them wash away in the sandy ground during a storm that dumps 3 inches of rain in 40 mins or less.    

I have seen what I can do in my backyard with bunch of rabbits and the ashes from the fireplace ( including the char ) in a 4x8 garden and the backyard in general.


Now that you know what I'm facing, do you see why I believe that char will be an important part of the plan, now that I have learned about it?    

As for where I'm going to get the char, I'm going to have to make every lb of it - but I will not be able to do that until I have the land - as to where I'm going to get the wood, to start off with - let's just say that at this time, I have identified a seasonal source - free for the hauling.


Greg H.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Sean K. Barry 
  To: Terra Preta ; Greg and April 
  Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2008 21:08
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] Forestland management



  So what do you hope to achieve or learn by putting charcoal on your soil?

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