[Terrapreta] Char w Gas/ Char without
Jp Warren
jpwarren at interlog.com
Mon Jun 9 07:37:49 CDT 2008
Hi Edward, -thanks for the clarification.
I sent your reply to what I have as the entire discuss list.
Cheers,
Jp Warren
416-467-1339 (desk)
416-629-2512 (mobile)
Toronto
Quoting Edward Someus <edward.someus at gmail.com>:
> *23% VM was the lab info **Dynamotive **stated** case.
>
> In this case the VM residual after carbonization is high, which might be
> advantageous for burning for ignition but not for biochar and storage
> condition.
> *
>
> On Mon, Jun 9, 2008 at 1:44 PM, Jp Warren <jpwarren at interlog.com> wrote:
>
>> Self-ignition! Oh my stars!
>>
>> Pardon my ignorance, but does this mean that different chars can contain
>> different levels of chemical energy (volatile gas)?
>>
>> Here's me trying to paraphrase the main distinction you are describing
>> between energy and agri Chars:
>> Char is wood cooked in the absence of oxygen, and this process releases
>> volatile gas, depending on how long and at what temperature it is cooked
>> (either more or less volume of gas will be released). Somewhere along this
>> cooking scale the division between energy and agri char is found, based on
>> how much gas remains in the finished Char. I assume charcoal for barbequeing
>> has some gas in it, to fuel the cooking of food. Also charcoal used to work
>> iron and steel in a forge would also contain gas. But in agri use we have no
>> need for gas so having none remaining is ideal. I assume this would be the
>> same for art-quality charcoal, and the carbon rod inside old carbon
>> batteries.
>>
>> Are these assumptions correct?
>>
>>
>> Jp Warren
>> 416-467-1339 (desk)
>> 416-629-2512 (mobile)
>> Toronto
>>
>>
>> Quoting Edward Someus <edward.someus at gmail.com>:
>>
>> YES, I listed some major technical aspects to justify and highlight the
>>> biotic and energy application differences, certainly there are many more
>>> interesting technical aspects to compare.
>>>
>>> The dust explosion risk is certainbly a big problem for powder like
>>> materials, specially those ones which containing high volatile organic
>>> content with self ignition potential when contacted with air.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Jun 9, 2008 at 5:01 AM, Jp Warren <jpwarren at interlog.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> BTW -I'll be away from this desk from the evening of the 10th to the
>>>> 23rd.
>>>>
>>>> Can't wait to catch up on this discuss!
>>>>
>>>> Jp Warren
>>>> 416-467-1339 (desk)
>>>> 416-629-2512 (mobile)
>>>> Toronto
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Quoting Edward Someus <edward.someus at gmail.com>:
>>>>
>>>> Dear Lloyd,
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanx for yr letter.
>>>>>
>>>>> DYNAMOTIVE char is not suitable for agro applications. This is made for
>>>>> energy. It may be the name BioChar, which they consider as marketing
>>>>> tool,
>>>>> but in real terms this is an energy char for industrial application.
>>>>>
>>>>> -
>>>>>
>>>>> The 28-29 GJ per tonne is indicating that it is low grade carbonized.
>>>>> The
>>>>> number should be over 30 MJ/kg.
>>>>> -
>>>>>
>>>>> FORMULATION: fine powder, with problem of storage and transport.
>>>>> -
>>>>>
>>>>> VOLATILE MATTER 1: dry basis 23% this is the tar residuals, which are
>>>>> high toxic with extreme negative biotic effects, if it used for that.
>>>>> None
>>>>> of the EU 27 countries would give any bio related permit for this
>>>>> applications other than energy use.
>>>>> -
>>>>>
>>>>> VOLATILE MATTER 2: dry basis 23% is indicating very low thermal
>>>>> efficiency and technological problems during carbonization, possibly
>>>>> incl.
>>>>> basic carbonization technology construction design errors.
>>>>> -
>>>>>
>>>>> VOLATILE MATTER 3: dry basis 23% would not qualify for food - grill
>>>>> application.
>>>>> -
>>>>>
>>>>> VOLATILE MATTER 4: dry basis 23% is suitable for industrial energetic
>>>>> applications only. However, the high alkaline Ca content in the 11% ash
>>>>> makes it molten even at low burning temperatures, so at the end of the
>>>>> day
>>>>> it might make more technical problem with settings than total gain,
>>>>> while
>>>>> the total cost of use is possibly on the high end side.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> They are comparing wood char Sulphur to coal 1-2.3%, which picture is
>>>>> incomplete. For US raw coal as received A.R. Mine is true, but after 3R
>>>>> Clean Coal pre treatment processing, the coal S content is same low as
>>>>> <0.1%, I suggest still for far far less cost tha "biochar".
>>>>>
>>>>> *keep me posted. tks have a nice day.*
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Sincerely yours: Edward Someus (environmental engineer)
>>>>> HOMEPAGE: http://www.terrenum.net
>>>>> EMAIL 1: edward.someus at gmail.com
>>>>> EMAIL 2: edward at terrenum.net
>>>>> 3R Environmental Technologies Ltd.
>>>>> ADDRESS: H-1222 Budapest, Szechenyi 59, Hungary
>>>>> TEL handy: +(36-20) 201 7557
>>>>> TEL / FAX: +(36-1) 424 0224
>>>>> TEL SKYPE phone via computer: Edward Someus
>>>>> 3R TERRACARBON: http://www.terrenum.net
>>>>> 3R CLEANCOAL ENERGY: http://www.vertustechnologies.com
>>>>> http://www.nvirocleantech.com
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, Jun 9, 2008 at 3:39 AM, Lloyd Helferty <lhelferty at sympatico.ca>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> JP,
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You make some good points.
>>>>>> I was thinking of perhaps heading down to the Evergreen Spring Plant &
>>>>>> Garden Fair at the Don Valley Brick Works yesterday since that is one
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> places you mentioned is considering adding a Green Roof and could even
>>>>>> create the Biochar (in the kilns there). I didn't expect I would be
>>>>>> able
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> make it downtown to Leslie Grove Park.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I understand the concern over contaminants. According to the
>>>>>> Dynamotive
>>>>>> website the bioChar they are selling is virtually sulphur free and has
>>>>>> EcoLogo certification by Environment Canada's Environmental Choice
>>>>>> Program,
>>>>>> although I now suspect that it may not be an ideal substrate after all,
>>>>>> since they indicate it is shipped as a "fine powder".
>>>>>> There is a chart showing an Example of Analysis of the Ash in their
>>>>>> BioChar
>>>>>> at http://www.dynamotive.com/en/biooil/biochar.html#what (see Table
>>>>>> 3).
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> note that they are marketing it as a fuel.
>>>>>> Arsenic concentration is supposedly < 10 mg/kg (<10ppm), Cadmium <1ppm.
>>>>>> Health Canada's guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality has been
>>>>>> established at 0.010 milligrams per litre (kg) based on lifetime
>>>>>> exposure
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> arsenic from drinking water, which is 1000X more stringent, so I'm not
>>>>>> certain water flowing through this biochar would be drinkable nor
>>>>>> whether
>>>>>> the veggies that grow in the medium could be certified organic. It's a
>>>>>> good
>>>>>> question: Does char "lock-up" contaminants embedded within that carbon
>>>>>> structure?
>>>>>> And might microbial activity help to release these contaminants?
>>>>>> Edward
>>>>>> might be able to answer this since he seems to have the most experience
>>>>>> running tests, although perhaps I should ask the TerraPreta list folks
>>>>>> as
>>>>>> well.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Lloyd Helferty
>>>>>> Thornhill
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> From: Jp Warren [mailto:jpwarren at interlog.com]
>>>>>> Sent: June 7, 2008 7:13 AM
>>>>>> To: Lloyd Helferty
>>>>>> Cc: nhelferty at rogers.com; Lloyd_Helferty at ea.epson.com;
>>>>>> doug at douglasprest.com; dwalsh at web.net; edward.someus at gmail.com;
>>>>>> erik at tepuidesign.com; openwindowsdm at yahoo.ca; speck at greenroofs.org
>>>>>> Subject: RE: Biochar research
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi Lloyd,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Great discuss you're all having here, just glad to be a part and to yak
>>>>>> about it to people I meet in my daily wanders.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I would assume Bethanne is concerned about the contaminants that have
>>>>>> in
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> past been pointed to within municipal waste byproduct, typically sewage
>>>>>> sludge pellets, as traditionally offered to the farm community as
>>>>>> fertilizer/soil enhancement (humus) treatments. Even in Don Valley
>>>>>> Ravine
>>>>>> Norway Maples there may be such heavy metals due to the trees living
>>>>>> their
>>>>>> lives in the plume of the Don Valley Parkway and the other
>>>>>> transportation
>>>>>> corridors snaking up the floodplain.
>>>>>> Otherwise I assume char produced other than as an industrial byproduct
>>>>>> would
>>>>>> likely be acceptable to the Groofies (-Green Roof ies).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The name Dynamotive sounds industrial. I assume they are making
>>>>>> biofuels,
>>>>>> so
>>>>>> their char would be a by-product, as was discussed earlier in this
>>>>>> thread,
>>>>>> and so might then contain the contaminants Bethanne seems rightly
>>>>>> concerned
>>>>>> about, introduced through industrial processing.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Some plants also are very adept at removing toxins from soils, through
>>>>>> taking them up through their root system and sequestering them within
>>>>>> their
>>>>>> woody structure. Constructed wetland species also come to mind in this
>>>>>> category, as they are chosen for their ability to process human waste.
>>>>>> Char
>>>>>> from both such bioremediation sources of plant material might then
>>>>>> classify
>>>>>> as an industrial process byproduct and therefore be unacceptable as a
>>>>>> soil
>>>>>> enhancer for rooftop gardens, especially those anticipating organic
>>>>>> food
>>>>>> production where soil health is the ultimate objective.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Even naturally-occurring soils may contain high levels of metals such
>>>>>> as
>>>>>> arsenic and therefore may be vectors for introducing them into the
>>>>>> soils
>>>>>> they are added to as char.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> An interesting thing to consider is that, since char locks-up carbon
>>>>>> from
>>>>>> escaping the plant structure for, even thousands of years, does this
>>>>>> mean
>>>>>> that the contaminants also embedded within that carbon structure also
>>>>>> are
>>>>>> locked in place? It seems nutrients are captured and life forms live
>>>>>> within
>>>>>> the porous structure of the char, but do they actually transfer
>>>>>> materials
>>>>>> with the char itself? Seems not, since if they did it would lead to the
>>>>>> breakdown of the structure, but one can't assume that once it enters
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> soil matrix the char isn't stripped of everything that is not carbon,
>>>>>> since
>>>>>> it's porosity would provide access throughout its interior.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'll be at the Leslieville Tree Festival today, boothing for
>>>>>> RiverSides,
>>>>>> so
>>>>>> come on down to South Riverdale for a day of family fun! I promise I'll
>>>>>> leave my broad-axe at home, even if they do set me up under a Norway
>>>>>> Maple!
>>>>>> (-but only because today of all days I will surely appreciate the total
>>>>>> shade such sun-hogs afford)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Cheers, Jp
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Jp Warren
>>>>>> 416-467-1339 (desk)
>>>>>> 416-629-2512 (mobile)
>>>>>> Toronto
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Quoting Lloyd Helferty <lhelferty at sympatico.ca>:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > JP,
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Thank you so much for all of the work making connections to people
>>>>>> > who have an interest in these projects and technologies. It is
>>>>>> > important that we start doing tests of Biochar in Canada, and Green
>>>>>> > Roofs seems like a great place to start since these are 'harsh'
>>>>>> > environments that one could say somewhat replicate "marginal lands",
>>>>>> > which is primarily where Biochar has been shown to have the greatest
>>>>>> > benefit. ((Soils that already have high SOM
>>>>>> > -- Soil Organic Matter -- don't necessarily require Biochar as an
>>>>>> > amendment ~ as you have indicated earlier, field trials have shown
>>>>>> > that adding Biochar to these types of high SOM soils can actually
>>>>>> > increase biological activity so much, and thus accelerate
>>>>>> > decomposition to such a degree, that the SOM starts to break down and
>>>>>> > return additional carbon to the atmosphere at rates that might
>>>>>> > otherwise have taken much longer to occur.))
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > With regard to "clean" bioChar (not contaminated), one could use
>>>>>> > "horticultural charcoal" (soil orchid mix charcoal / terrarium
>>>>>> soilmix):
>>>>>> > Ex. Basques Hardwood Charcoal
>>>>>> > Manufacturers of horticultural charcoal made with hardwood logs 121,
>>>>>> > St-Alphonse, Luceville, QC, G0K 1E0, CANADA
>>>>>> > Phone: 418-739-5314
>>>>>> > Fax: 418-739-3457
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > It might be a bit expensive to go that route, however. 1 kg of
>>>>>> > Coarse Horticultural Charcoal can cost about $4.43. (To cover an
>>>>>> > entire roof might be an expensive prospect...) There are probably
>>>>>> > other sources. For instance, I know someone on the TerraPreta list
>>>>>> > who lives here in Ontario and wanted to dispose of about a ton of
>>>>>> > bioChar a few weeks back. I don't know if he's found anyone to take
>>>>>> > it yet.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Dynamotive has started to sell their Biochar, although I've read
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> > it may be fetching a premium price as well ($2 US/ lb or ~$4,000/ton
>>>>>> > -- similar to the price of the Horticultural Charcoal noted above).
>>>>>> > They sell this Fast Pyrolysis BioChar under the trade name, CQuestT.
>>>>>> > Last year Dynamotive plopped 14 tonnes of biochar onto a field in
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> > US, as part of a project led by Heartland BioEnergy LLC, in Iowa's
>>>>>> > Corn Belt -- ostensibly to improve soil fertility and crop yield. (I
>>>>>> > don't know what the results were.) They also have a fairly new
>>>>>> BioOil
>>>>>> > plant in Guelph that can process 40 cubic metres of wood waste a day,
>>>>>> > so they likely have a lot of bioChar residue to get rid of.
>>>>>> > According to their website, http://www.dynamotive.com, their West
>>>>>> > Lorne plant has shipped about 2 tankers of BioChar out, in addition
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> > other smaller shipments of BioChar to (individual) clients. On April
>>>>>> > 16, 2008 they first shipped about 10 tonnes of BioChar to a soy bean
>>>>>> > farm in Ontario. The plant just started operation on March 31, 2008
>>>>>> > by shipping "50 cubic meters of char to another?) soy bean farm in
>>>>>> Ontario".
>>>>>> > Tom Bouchard, COO of DynaMotive is on the TerraPresta list too,
>>>>>> > although I don't know his e-mail. You could use info at dynamotive.com
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Lloyd Helferty, Engineering Technologist
>>>>>> > Thornhill, ON
>>>>>> > 905-707-8754
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> > From: Jp Warren [mailto:jpwarren at interlog.com]
>>>>>> > Sent: June 6, 2008 11:30 PM
>>>>>> > To: nhelferty at rogers.com
>>>>>> > Cc: Lloyd_Helferty at ea.epson.com; doug at douglasprest.com;
>>>>>> > dwalsh at web.net; edward.someus at gmail.com; erik at tepuidesign.com;
>>>>>> > lhelferty at sympatico.ca; openwindowsdm at yahoo.ca; speck at greenroofs.org
>>>>>> > Subject: Re: Biochar research
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Hi All,
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > One of the other directors here at Riversides doubles as a green
>>>>>> > roofie, and said they use alvars as their base plantings.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Here is the thread as of today,
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > (BTW: I, JP, will be away from this desk from the 9th through the
>>>>>> 23rd
>>>>>> > of
>>>>>> > June.)
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2008 19:53:25 -0400 [07:53pm EDT]
>>>>>> > From: Bethanne Currie <bethanne at socialinnovation.ca>
>>>>>> > To: 'Jp Warren' <jpwarren at interlog.com>
>>>>>> > Subject: RE: green roofs
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Hi - yes I know Zora - we worked on the Jackman Ave Public School
>>>>>> roof
>>>>>> > - (she fundraised) and we installed and hence spent their money!
>>>>>> > Anyways...we have no local research on biochar - locally at least.
>>>>>> > What would be a possible source of the char that is not contaminated
>>>>>> > with heavy metals - post industrial burn?
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Beth Anne Currie, Children's Environment and Health Consultant
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and the Environment
>>>>>> (CPCHE)
>>>>>> > 215 Spadina Avenue, Suite 400
>>>>>> > Toronto, ON M5T 2C7
>>>>>> > Work: 519-379-8231
>>>>>> > Fax: 416-644-0116
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> Email:bethanne at socialinnovation.ca<Email%3Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca>
>>>>>> <Email%3Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca<Email%253Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca>
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> <Email%3Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca<Email%253Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca>
>>>>>> <Email%253Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca<Email%25253Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca>
>>>>>> >
>>>>>>
>>>>>> >
>>>>>>
>>>>>> > Web: www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> > From: Jp Warren [mailto:jpwarren at interlog.com]
>>>>>> > Sent: June 6, 2008 4:49 PM
>>>>>> > To: Bethanne Currie
>>>>>> > Subject: RE: green roofs
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > I'm talking with Evergreen toward them thinking about using the brick
>>>>>> > kilns at The Brick Works to make charcoal out of the non-native
>>>>>> Norway
>>>>>> > Maples in the city's ravines, which is where the BrickWorks is
>>>>>> located.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Are you saying you want to use biochar but the supply is
>>>>>> insufficient?
>>>>>> > Has there been any research into rooftop garden performance when
>>>>>> > biochar included in soil mixture? Zora at the Big Carrot wants to try
>>>>>> > it, and Dennis Morrison at 6 St. Joe's is also interested.
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Cheers, Jp
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Jp Warren
>>>>>> > 416-467-1339 (desk)
>>>>>> > 416-629-2512 (mobile)
>>>>>> > Toronto
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Quoting Bethanne Currie <bethanne at socialinnovation.ca>:
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> >> No - it's not available in the quantities we currently need - but
>>>>>> who
>>>>>> >> knows in future?
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >> Beth Anne Currie, Children's Environment and Health Consultant
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >> Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and the Environment
>>>>>> >> (CPCHE)
>>>>>> >> 215 Spadina Avenue, Suite 400
>>>>>> >> Toronto, ON M5T 2C7
>>>>>> >> Work: 519-379-8231
>>>>>> >> Fax: 416-644-0116
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> Email:bethanne at socialinnovation.ca<Email%3Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca>
>>>>>> <Email%3Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca<Email%253Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca>
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> <Email%3Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca<Email%253Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca>
>>>>>> <Email%253Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca<Email%25253Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca>
>>>>>> >
>>>>>>
>>>>>> >
>>>>>>
>>>>>> >> Web: www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> >> From: Jp Warren [mailto:jpwarren at interlog.com]
>>>>>> >> Sent: June 6, 2008 2:01 PM
>>>>>> >> To: Bethanne Currie
>>>>>> >> Cc: emilya at riversides.org; rainbarrels at riversides.org;
>>>>>> > info at riversides.org;
>>>>>> > [Hide Quoted Text]
>>>>>> >> k_mercer at sympatico.ca; katina_8 at msn.com
>>>>>> >> Subject: Re: green roofs
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >> Hi Bethanne,
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >> Great to know we have a knowledgeable person on this stuff!
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >> Have you done/heard anything about applying biochar?
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >> Cheers, Jp
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >> Jp Warren
>>>>>> >> 416-467-1339 (desk)
>>>>>> >> 416-629-2512 (mobile)
>>>>>> >> Toronto
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >> Quoting Bethanne Currie <bethanne at socialinnovation.ca>:
>>>>>> >>
>>>>>> >>> Hi JP - thanks for your email on alvars and green roofs.
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> Part of my working life involves the creation/design/plant
>>>>>> selection
>>>>>> >>> for green roofs across the GTA. (*See - www.gardensinthesky.ca)
>>>>>> As
>>>>>> >>> such, we mostly select a blend of local grown alvar species - and
>>>>>> >>> use a tried and true recipe for blending local growing media that
>>>>>> >>> seems to keep plants nurtured and sustained - at least on most of
>>>>>> >>> our projects (some are over
>>>>>> >>> 8 years old in GTA). The growing media is critical and must be
>>>>>> >>> blended with the correct %ages of open porous, organic and
>>>>>> inorganic
>>>>>> >>> constituents. >> We are working toward perfection on this one -
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> >>> have a secret sauce that >> we get blown up on out roofs with a
>>>>>> >>> "blower truck".
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> Anyways...we have (the green roof industry) much research on green
>>>>>> >>> roof "water holding capacity" based on depth of soil, plant canopy
>>>>>> >>> coverage, slope, intensity of rainfall over time and other
>>>>>> parameters.
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> A critical driver for green roof policy and proliferation in many
>>>>>> >>> jurisdictions across North America is the stormwater retention and
>>>>>> >>> the discharge purification capacity. Even in Toronto - the
>>>>>> >>> stormwater driver did more to push the municipality toward policy
>>>>>> >>> adoption/financing than my primary research on air pollution
>>>>>> mitigation.
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> We are attempting to choose species that require little watering -
>>>>>> >>> although we all know the first year or two are critical - hence, a
>>>>>> >>> bit of controlled watering helps establish root expansion.
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> Anyways...let's hear it for green roofs.
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> Beth Anne Currie, Children's Environment and Health Consultant
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and the Environment
>>>>>> >>> (CPCHE)
>>>>>> >>> 215 Spadina Avenue, Suite 400
>>>>>> >>> Toronto, ON M5T 2C7
>>>>>> >>> Work: 519-379-8231
>>>>>> >>> Fax: 416-644-0116
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> Email:bethanne at socialinnovation.ca<Email%3Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca>
>>>>>> <Email%3Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca<Email%253Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca>
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> <Email%3Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca<Email%253Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca>
>>>>>> <Email%253Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca<Email%25253Abethanne at socialinnovation.ca>
>>>>>> >
>>>>>>
>>>>>> >
>>>>>>
>>>>>> >>> Web: www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>> >>> From: Jp Warren [mailto:jpwarren at interlog.com]
>>>>>> >>> Sent: June 5, 2008 7:17 AM
>>>>>> >>> To: emilya at riversides.org; rainbarrels at riversides.org;
>>>>>> >> info at riversides.org;
>>>>>> >>> k_mercer at sympatico.ca; katina_8 at msn.com;
>>>>>> >>> bethanne at socialinnovation.ca
>>>>>> >>> Subject: Side discuss on Biochar
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> Hi All~
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> I just became party to a discuss that seems to have been going on
>>>>>> >>> for a year now at least, re a combination of fronts:
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> -Biochar (terra preta soil, agrichar) See Saturday's Quirks and
>>>>>> >>> Quarks show, available as an archived podcast) -Rooftop gardening
>>>>>> >>> -Alvars as appropriate plant communities for urban rooftop
>>>>>> >>> ecosystems -Rainwater harvesting
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> Basically a bunch of people are talking about using biochar as a
>>>>>> >>> rooftop media, and growing alvars on that, this toward a native
>>>>>> >>> plant biodiversity approach to urban rooftop gardening. Then theres
>>>>>> >>> another thread within the same group re local food production,
>>>>>> again
>>>>>> >>> rooftop and biochar based. Then I brought up that charcoal
>>>>>> (biochar)
>>>>>> >>> might be great re filtering rainwater, esp since I believe that
>>>>>> >>> alvars are rock-based plant communities, meaning there would still
>>>>>> >>> be much runoff available to be harvested from an alvar'd roof
>>>>>> >>> (alvars cycle through deluges and droughts).
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> If you're interested I can forward you the email thread, and add
>>>>>> you
>>>>>> >>> into the list of discuss-ees.
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> I'm also helping Greenest City to design/build a rainwater
>>>>>> >>> harvesting system >> for the community gardens at a park in
>>>>>> >>> Parkdale, capturing water from the community centre's steel roof
>>>>>> >>> next to it. This is through/with Andrew Hellebust. Meeting with the
>>>>>> >>> GC folk this afternoon at the site on Cowan Ave.
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> Cheerio, jp
>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>> >>> Jp Warren
>>>>>> >>> 416-467-1339 (desk)
>>>>>> >>> 416-629-2512 (mobile)
>>>>>> >>> Toronto
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> > Jp Warren
>>>>>> > 416-467-1339 (desk)
>>>>>> > 416-629-2512 (mobile)
>>>>>> > Toronto
>>>>>> >
>>>>>> >
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Sincerely yours: Edward Someus (environmental engineer)
>>>>> HOMEPAGE: http://www.terrenum.net
>>>>> EMAIL 1: edward.someus at gmail.com
>>>>> EMAIL 2: edward at terrenum.net
>>>>> 3R Environmental Technologies Ltd.
>>>>> ADDRESS: H-1222 Budapest, Szechenyi 59, Hungary
>>>>> TEL handy: +(36-20) 201 7557
>>>>> TEL / FAX: +(36-1) 424 0224
>>>>> TEL SKYPE phone via computer: Edward Someus
>>>>> 3R TERRACARBON: http://www.terrenum.net
>>>>> 3R CLEANCOAL ENERGY: http://www.vertustechnologies.com
>>>>> http://www.nvirocleantech.com
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Sincerely yours: Edward Someus (environmental engineer)
>>> HOMEPAGE: http://www.terrenum.net
>>> EMAIL 1: edward.someus at gmail.com
>>> EMAIL 2: edward at terrenum.net
>>> 3R Environmental Technologies Ltd.
>>> ADDRESS: H-1222 Budapest, Szechenyi 59, Hungary
>>> TEL handy: +(36-20) 201 7557
>>> TEL / FAX: +(36-1) 424 0224
>>> TEL SKYPE phone via computer: Edward Someus
>>> 3R TERRACARBON: http://www.terrenum.net
>>> 3R CLEANCOAL ENERGY: http://www.vertustechnologies.com
>>> http://www.nvirocleantech.com
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> Sincerely yours: Edward Someus (environmental engineer)
> HOMEPAGE: http://www.terrenum.net
> EMAIL 1: edward.someus at gmail.com
> EMAIL 2: edward at terrenum.net
> 3R Environmental Technologies Ltd.
> ADDRESS: H-1222 Budapest, Szechenyi 59, Hungary
> TEL handy: +(36-20) 201 7557
> TEL / FAX: +(36-1) 424 0224
> TEL SKYPE phone via computer: Edward Someus
> 3R TERRACARBON: http://www.terrenum.net
> 3R CLEANCOAL ENERGY: http://www.vertustechnologies.com
> http://www.nvirocleantech.com
>
More information about the Terrapreta
mailing list