[Terrapreta] First Hello & General Background

[Lloyd Helferty]

  This reminds me of the idea of creating 'seed balls' to help spread and
re-seed, especially in hard-to-plant areas.  One makes 'seed balls' by
mixing the seed for each season's crop with (usually) clay, compost or
manure, which are then formed into small balls and dried. Much less seed is
used than in conventional growing, resulting in fewer plants which are
smaller but stronger with a higher yield. It is an ancient technique that
was re-introduced by Masanobu
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masanobu_Fukuoka> Fukuoka.
There was some talk on the Biochar list of using Biochar instead of or in
conjunction with the clay/compost/manure to re-seed.
See, for instance,
http://permaculturetokyo.blogspot.com/2006/10/seed-balls.html
  I've also read that seed balls are one of the best methods for
re-naturalizing areas if a mixture of multiple native plant seeds are used
when making the seed balls.  Not all of the seeds will germinate, but
depending on the particular micro-habitat of the individual sites where the
seed balls are spread, some of them likely will be able to survive and
propagate.
The addition of sugars or starches to the mix may be an interesting idea if
it becomes 'a food source for microorganisms' that will inhabit the soils.
I would suspect that the cheapest [$$] organic binder would probably be the
most appropriate from the list provided below.
 
    Lloyd Helferty
    Thornhill
 
  _____  

From: Greg and April [mailto:gregandapril at earthlink.net] 
Sent: June 16, 2008 1:04 PM
To: Lloyd Helferty; Terra Preta
Cc: 'Laepple'; 'Jp Warren'; biochar-ontario at googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] First Hello & General Background



A number of things come to mind just off hand, but I don't know just what
other factors come into play.
 
-    Starch.    Easy to biodegrade adds a food source for microorganisms
but, not exactly fire proof.    OTOH just the act of making the char into
pills, will make it more flame resistant.
 
-    Sugar.    Much the same as starch, but when heated, releases water, so
it takes time to get burning - but if and when it actually does catch fire,
watch out.
 
-    Corn Syrup.    Same as sugar, but, more water to keep things cool.
 
-    Molasses.    Same as Corn Syrup, more readily available.
Agricultural grade will also add minerals and trace elements that are easily
taken up by microorganisms.    A basic operation, could run, with the
growing of sugar cane, processing for sugar, turning the and leaves bagasse
into char ( using the excess heat to run the processing plant ), and use
some of the left over molasses to act as a binder for the char.    Start by
returning char to the original sugar cane fields, then when the fields have
a basic allotment ( it's not like char has to be added back to fields every
single year for the rest of the fields life span ), start exporting it to
other fields.
 
For use for binding char, all of the above materials, can be of a non-food
grade, saving food grade for human consumption.
 
Clay can be used as a binder - if the right type of clay is used, then the
CEC could be increased as well as trace minerals - such a binder would be
very good for sandy soils, to help retain water during dry periods.
 
In alkaline soils sulfur could be used as a binder and as a Ph neutralizer -
but it would take longer to break down.
 
Various organic Gels or resins might be used as binders.
 
You could even mix and match binders to do a specific job(s).
 
 
When you get right down to it, the possibilities are almost endless.
 
 
Greg H.
 
 
----- Original Message ----- 

From: Lloyd  <mailto:lhelferty at sympatico.ca> Helferty 
To: 'Greg and April' <mailto:gregandapril at earthlink.net>  
Cc: 'Laepple' <mailto:laepple at golden.net>  ; 'Jp
<mailto:jpwarren at interlog.com> Warren' ; biochar-ontario at googlegroups.com 
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 20:04
Subject: RE: [Terrapreta] First Hello & General Background

That is a great idea, Greg [powdered char to be turned into pills].  If not
legislated yet, it is at the very least a good 'product' idea that might be
introduced, for instance, to companies like Dynamotive, who create (and
transport) their powdered char to their test sites across North America.
What would you suggest as a 'substrate/binder' that could also "act as a
fire retardant"?
Perhaps Hemicellulose could be used? (ex. Glucomannan is a water-soluble
polysaccharide that is considered a dietary fibre. Glucomannan is a food
additive used as an emulsifier and thickener. Glucomannan comprises 40% by
dry weight of the roots or corn of the konjac plant. It is also present in
large amounts in the wood of conifers and in smaller amounts in the wood of
dicotyledons (flowering plants whose seed typically has two embryonic
leaves).
 See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicotyledon
 
    Lloyd Helferty
 


  _____  

From: Greg and April [mailto:gregandapril at earthlink.net] 
Sent: June 14, 2008 12:01 PM
To: Lloyd Helferty
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] First Hello & General Background


****  Please see the portion of Jp Warren's post that I highlighted in red (
at bottom ), to understand the reasoning behind my words. ****
 
It might be a good thing to keeping in mind that even flour will explode
under the right conditions - and powdered char is a primary ingredient in
black powder.
 
I have personally see the results of fine powdered char ( and nothing else
but the local air ) coming in contact with an ignition source - and to put
it simply, the results were bad.
 
 
 
I would go so far as to actually supporting such a law, because it really
does protect people.
 
 
One way around such laws would be to require the powdered char to be turned
into pills ( from 1 to 5 mm in diameter ) with a water soluble binder that
also acted as a fire retardant.    
 
Such pills could also simplify handling and application, being cast into the
field like any solid fertilizer, where upon the first rain or other
application of water, the binder breaks down, releasing the char.
 
 
Greg H.
 
 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lloyd Helferty" < <mailto:lhelferty at sympatico.ca>
lhelferty at sympatico.ca>
To: "'Jp Warren'" < <mailto:jpwarren at interlog.com> jpwarren at interlog.com>;
"'Laepple'" 
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 22:06
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] First Hello & General Background


> I'm hope that everyone copied on this thread who has an interest in
Biochar
> and field trials in Ontario will eventually sign up to the group.  I know
it
> might be a lot to ask (I have difficulty keeping up with my own e-mail
most
> of the time too), but I think it's important to do this.
> 
> Lloyd Helferty
> Thornhill
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jp Warren [mailto:jpwarren at interlog.com] 
> Sent: June 9, 2008 8:04 AM
> To: Laepple
> Cc: Lloyd Helferty; 
> Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] First Hello & General Background
> 
> So could powdered Char be legislated a hazardous material re
transportation?
> -detrimentally affecting price. (Sounds like a recipe for good coffee, you
> want to grind it at the point of final use!)
> 
> Thanks for setting up the GoogleGroup, Lloyd, I signed-in this morning.
> 
> I tried to copy this email there by starting a new discuss thread, but
> couldn't get past the login, though I'm already another group's member.
I'll
> figure it out later.
> 
> I assume this entire discuss is now moving over to the BioChar Toronto
> GoogleGroup page.
> 


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: /attachments/20080619/600d3437/attachment.html