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Win a deck of Permaculture Playing Cards this week in the Permaculture forum!
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![[Thumbnail for DSC05176s.jpg]](/t/76165/a/80376/DSC05176s.jpg "Filename: DSC05176s.jpg
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![[Thumbnail for DSC05177s.jpg]](/t/76165/a/80377/DSC05177s.jpg "Filename: DSC05177s.jpg
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![[Thumbnail for DSC05178s.jpg]](/t/76165/a/80378/DSC05178s.jpg "Filename: DSC05178s.jpg
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![[Thumbnail for DSC05179s.jpg]](/t/76165/a/80379/DSC05179s.jpg "Filename: DSC05179s.jpg
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The permie formerly known as "Mike Jay"
"Hundreds of years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the type of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that it becomes a tourist destination"
The permie formerly known as "Mike Jay"
"Hundreds of years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the type of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that it becomes a tourist destination"
1
The permie formerly known as "Mike Jay"
"Hundreds of years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the type of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that it becomes a tourist destination"
The only thing...more expensive than education is ignorance.~Ben Franklin
3
The permie formerly known as "Mike Jay"
"Hundreds of years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the type of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that it becomes a tourist destination"
6
![[Thumbnail for 20190805_080228.jpg]](/t/76165/a/84827/20190805_080228.jpg "Filename: 20190805_080228.jpg
Description: View to the East")
![[Thumbnail for 20190805_080241-with-notes.jpg]](/t/76165/a/84828/20190805_080241-with-notes.jpg "Filename: 20190805_080241-with-notes.jpg
Description: Compost bin planting bed")
![[Thumbnail for 20190805_080251-with-notes.jpg]](/t/76165/a/84829/20190805_080251-with-notes.jpg "Filename: 20190805_080251-with-notes.jpg
Description: Main planting bed")
![[Thumbnail for 20190805_080304.jpg]](/t/76165/a/84830/20190805_080304.jpg "Filename: 20190805_080304.jpg
Description: Electricity!!!")
![[Thumbnail for 20190805_080316.jpg]](/t/76165/a/84831/20190805_080316.jpg "Filename: 20190805_080316.jpg
Description: View of the South planting bed")
The permie formerly known as "Mike Jay"
"Hundreds of years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the type of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that it becomes a tourist destination"
5
![[Thumbnail for 20190803_104103.jpg]](/t/76165/a/84873/20190803_104103.jpg "Filename: 20190803_104103.jpg
Description: Pre-excavation. Aeration exhaust hole at the top back and poly sheeting ceiling")
![[Thumbnail for 20190803_111249.jpg]](/t/76165/a/84874/20190803_111249.jpg "Filename: 20190803_111249.jpg
Description: Cross section of pile. Smooth brown spot in the middle is coffee grounds")
The permie formerly known as "Mike Jay"
"Hundreds of years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the type of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that it becomes a tourist destination"
3
Greg Martin wrote:That is a great question. My speculation is that it has to do with being a granular sponge. I don't crush mine, I leave it at the full size it's made at....something like 1/2 - 1", but lots of other sizes too. Then I lay 2" on the ground to sop up any compost drippings while creating an air permeable base. The rest of the pile has it throughout and it may help open up air channels there too, albeit not as much as the base. Since the biochar can fill up with water, but also space things open a bit for air and drainage I figure it does that in the pile like it does it in the soil. Also, all the wet surface area in the biochar is a home for soil microbes, so that likely helps in the pile as well. I should really try and examine my biochar more throughout this process. Would be fascinating to see exactly what's happening in that microcosm. I wonder if I can get a university soil scientist interested in my compost piles :) Hmmm, any of you guys a university soil scientist?
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I don't have much char stockpiled but I probably have a couple chicken feed sacks full. I'll throw them in for sure. I have perforated drain tile at the bottom to blow air in through. So I probably don't need a layer at the bottom for aeration. So I'll probably just mix these sacks in as I build the pile.
The permie formerly known as "Mike Jay"
"Hundreds of years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the type of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that it becomes a tourist destination"
1
Zone 5b/6a, alkaline soil, 12 inches of water per year. For now the goal is a water independent urban homestead with edible landscaping and food forest.
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The permie formerly known as "Mike Jay"
"Hundreds of years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the type of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that it becomes a tourist destination"
3
So I think what I learned is that I need to get the pile wetter when I build it. I may need to add water during the composting season. I think I need more N to get the pile hotter and to complete its composting by spring. The wood chips seem to be small enough so I don't think I need to run them through my chipper.
I think I'll divide the chamber in half (E/W) and try a different recipe on each side. One or both sides will get shredded hay mixed in to increase the Nitrogen ratio. One or both sides may get a bunch of coffee grounds (20 to 50 gallons) to also bump the N. One side may get run through my chipper to test smaller wood pieces.
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The permie formerly known as "Mike Jay"
"Hundreds of years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the type of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that it becomes a tourist destination"
2
.jpg "Filename: Initial-layout-until-I-learned-that-the-air-is-supposed-to-come-up-through-the-A-coil-).jpg
Description: Initial layout until I learned that the air is supposed to come up through the A coil :)")
.jpg "Filename: A-bit-of-char-(I-d-use-more-if-I-had-it).jpg
Description: A bit of char (I'd use more if I had it)")
The permie formerly known as "Mike Jay"
"Hundreds of years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the type of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that it becomes a tourist destination"
1
Ian Williams
Ian.bub@gmail.com
Master Carpenter
Permaculture Designer
Natural Builder
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The permie formerly known as "Mike Jay"
"Hundreds of years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the type of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that it becomes a tourist destination"
2
The permie formerly known as "Mike Jay"
"Hundreds of years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the type of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that it becomes a tourist destination"
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