[Terrapreta] a philosophy for TP conversation.

[Sean K. Barry]

Hello TP readers,

Of late there has been some discourse on this E-MAIL list about what is and what is not appropriate to talk about in the open forum.  Saying this amounts to a "topic police" has been met, also, with claims that we should shut up about that.

Now, I would like to suggest that everyone is free to choose to read or not read whatever they like.  Likewise, I think that it would be unproductive to force a "(what this) means test" for anyone to submit a posting here.  So what if a posting is "off-topic" for the 'terrapretalist's three approved and sanctioned topical headings; 1) TP for agriculture, 2) TP for carbon sequestration, 3) making charcoal for use in TP?  So what, if thinking about TP and all it implies brings to mind some idea that is not at the front of the in the mind of some one else on the list?  Creative thought, at least in my world, often times takes a lateral approach in thinking (aka off-topic).

So, I think we should welcome any comments, even "off-topic" ones.  If they are of interest inside the group anyone interested can continue the thread and talk about it, in the public forum.  The ones not interested can IGNORE it.  If it is not an interesting "off-topic" thread, then it can and will likely "die out", an uninteresting thread.

But, stomping on ANYONE for making mention of a topic that is not deemed pertinent to the topic of TP is wholly a SUBJECTIVE action, possibly insulting, and probably resulting in erosion of membership.   I think this is true unless we want an unending series of posts like, "YOU SHUT UP", NO YOU SHUT UP!", "YOU SOB, WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME TO SHUT UP WHEN I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP!!!"

...king "off topic" this for a while people

Regards,

SKB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Richard Haard<mailto:richrd at nas.com> 
  To: Michael Bailes<mailto:michaelangelica at gmail.com> 
  Cc: Terrapreta<mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org> 
  Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2008 8:42 AM
  Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] SEED BALLS


  I strongly do not agree. I see no reason to single out this posting with everything else that comes through.  


  This is directly relatated to design of research using charcoal powder. I would rather have innovations using charcoal discussed in open forums and put into general use than dealing with trade secret and patent protected before we can use the application. 


  What better way to put charcoal in contact with plants. We can move from tons per acre to ounces per acre needed for a tp nova situation.




  Rich

  On May 24, 2008, at 7:54 PM, Michael Bailes wrote:


    Benjamin this is all very interesting but this list is about Terra preta and issues relating to that.
    Could you please restrict your posts to that topic or at least show how what you are posting is relevant to the topic.
    Thank you
    Michael Bailes
    TP List Moderator


    2008/5/25 Benjamin Domingo Bof <benjaminbof at yahoo.com.ar<mailto:benjaminbof at yahoo.com.ar>>:

      On Seedballs


      Seedballs are seeds wrapped in a mixture of red clay and fine compost and rolled into balls about one-half inch in diameter or smaller.

      They can be an effective way to provide broadcast sown seeds with protection from birds, insects and other creatures.

      They can be useful in broadcast sowing food crops, and also for ecosystem modifications such as restoring native plants or regenerating plants in damaged or other plant-deficient areas.

      The words "can be" are used because they don't always work the way one hopes. Their effectiveness depends upon environmental conditions and timing. It takes rain or irrigation to dissolve the clay and release the seeds to germination, and even if the seeds are released the resulting seedlings could be overwhelmed and suppressed by existing vegetation.

      The most commonly used basic formula for making seedballs is to take one part of seeds (by volume), three parts of relatively dry and sifted compost, and five parts of dry powdered red clay. Mix the seeds into the compost to partially coat the seeds with the compost, and then mix the powdered clay in to coat the seeds/compost. Then start adding water sparingly until you have a somewhat thick mud pile. Break off a small chunk (about the size of a marble) of this mud pile with your fingers or a small spoon and then roll the chunk in the palms of your hands until it feels firm. Set aside to dry, break off another chunk, and keep repeating until the mud pile is gone.

      Some people add microorganism inoculants to the mixture. Some add powdered hot red pepper to increase repulsion of creatures that might otherwise feed on the seeds.

      Some people mass produce seedballs by putting the seeds/compost/clay mixture into a large rotating drum, such as a cement or mortar mixer with smooth interior walls, adding water, and extracting the seedballs as they are formed to the right size by the revolving action of the mixer.

      Before you start making and using seedballs it is important to do some research and do a little thinking about what you might unleash if your seedballs work. There is an inherent danger in their use - the introduction of plants into an ecosystem that become invasive and destructive to existing desirable vegetation.

      An excellent place to start your research is at the seedballs.com<http://seedballs.com/> website. There are several articles about how to make and use seedballs, how they have been used to modify ecosystems in a beneficial way, and about what you really need to think about before you start making and using them.

      -- Lawrence Haftl<mailto:support at fukuokafarmingol.info> 



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    Michael the Archangel
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    because they don't realise they are The Problem.".
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