■ 27 May 2011 | 9:37 AM
Gardeners, Learn to Make Biochar
Gardeners, are you curious and want to find out more about biochar, the ancient fertilizing method that was featured in the Virginian-Pilot a couple of weeks ago?
Here’s the article by Pilot staff writer Scott Harper: http://hamptonroads.com/2011/05/nasa-scientists-experiment-ecofriendly-f...
If it sounds intriguing, you can attend a demonstration to learn how to “cook” your own biochar on a small scale, as in the photo to the right.
Hampton Master Gardeners will show you how it’s done at 1, 2 or 3 p.m. Saturday (That’s tomorrow, May 28.) in front of 3164 Coopers Arch in Eagle's Nest off West Neck Road in Virginia Beach at the Tidewater Builders Association Spring Homearama.
Simply put, bio-char is burned wood that is a natural fertilizer.
NASA Langley Research Center scientists have been interested in bio-char not only as a possible organic fertilizer but also as a substance that will help global warming by storing carbon underground.
Hampton Master Gardeners have been working with NASA to spread the word about bio-char, and that’s what they will be doing tomorrow at Homearama.
Find out more about Homearama, May 28 through June 12, at www.homearama.tv
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and hydroxyl alcohol in the
and hydroxyl alcohol in the mini bar. Build it and the Wee-Beasties will come.
The MYC fungi create an Interstate highway for moisture & nutrients while at the same time form an Internet for plant chemical communication.
Microbes like to sit down when they eat.
By setting this table we expand husbandry to whole new orders & Kingdoms of life.
US Focused Biochar report: Assessment of Biochar's Benefits for the USA
http://www.biochar-us.org/pdf%20files/biochar_report_lowres.pdf
Not Fertilizer but soil Infrastructure
Agriculture allowed our cultural accent and Agriculture will now prevent our descent.
Wise Land management; Organic farming and afforestation can build back our soil carbon,
Biochar allows the soil food web to build much more recalcitrant organic carbon, ( living biomass & Glomalins) in addition to the carbon in the biochar.
Every 1 ton of Biomass yields 1/3 ton Charcoal for soil Sequestration (= to 1 Ton CO2e) + Bio-Gas & Bio-oil fuels = to 1MWh exported electricity, so is a totally virtuous, carbon negative energy cycle.
Biochar viewed as soil Infrastructure; The old saw;
"Feed the Soil Not the Plants" becomes;
"Feed, Cloth and House the Soil, utilities included !".
Free Carbon Condominiums with carboxyl group fats in the pantry and