[Terrapreta] subscribe

[Kevin Chisholm]

Dear May

You have a fabulous opportunity to investigate Terra Preta!

Is there already Terra Preta in your area? Can you learn from what is 
there now?

Could you describe the kinds of land you have available for your work?

Do you have an analysis of soil on which /bixa orellana and pineapple/ 
presently grow successfully? Do you have an analysis of your own soil?

Would you be interested in attempting to find out how teh Brazilian 
Indians of 4,000 years ago built up their fields to what we now know as 
Terra Preta?

Do you have any low lying or swampy areas that may contain black carbon 
soil deposits from the anaerobic decomposition of vegetative matter?

How do you propose to provide the nutrients necessary for good plant growth?

Your charcoal should be quite good for use in providing charcoal to the 
soil.

Regrettably, your pictures got cut from the e-mail posting.

Best wishes,

Kevin

May Waddington wrote:
> My name is May Waddington, and I am a PHd antrhopologist. I have 
> worked in the amazon for many years with an indigenous tribe, and in 
> Northeast Brazil with traditional groups such as the babassu women and 
> andiroba women.
>
> Over the last 4 years I made a major turn on my life, leaving Rio de 
> Janeiro, purchasing 400 hectares of land in a region which is a 
> mixture of /caatinga /and /cerrado,  /the Buriti Doce farm. I am 
> employed at a small state college nearby.
>
> I have been running a series of agro-ecological experiments in this 
> land. In preparing to plant 10 hectares of /bixa orellana  a/nd 
> pineapple, we tested some /slash and burn/ practices which are 
> considered less harming (/queimada de toco vivo)/. This technique, 
> includes several security measures, selected trees are cut in a way 
> they will re-grow, and the most wood is saved for other uses. We made 
> 20 traditional ovens to produce charcoal in the area, which burned for 
> a week or so (see pictures - the wood is covered in earth with an 
> opening on each end of the /caeira/).
>
> The innovation was accompanied by the /IBAMA/ (National environmental 
> agency) and was used to teach local farmers. It resulted in some 1000 
> kg of charcoal, which I have been resisting to sell.
>
> I want to ask you if my charcoal can be used as Biochar. I would also 
> like to volunteer the farm as an experimental area for anyone who may 
> wish to study this production in this climate/soil conditions.
>
> As you must know, the State of Piauí is pioneering biodiesel 
> production, and there are major plants in the neighborhood.
>
> In case you show any interest, I can deliver written materials to you. 
> Please see pictures of the traditional charcoal making ovens.
>
>
> -- 
> Proteja o meu email como eu protejo o seu! Não facilite a captura de 
> endereços para o envio de SPAMS. Utilize o Cco para replicar 
> mensagens. Não divulgue mensagens sem limpar endereços anteriores e 
> retire os "enc" e "fwd" dos campos de assunto. Assim evitamos riscos 
> de contaminação!  Grata.
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Terrapreta mailing list
> Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biochar/
> http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org
> http://info.bioenergylists.org