|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
![[Thumbnail for DSC05176s.jpg]](/t/76165/a/80376/DSC05176s.jpg "Filename: DSC05176s.jpg
Description:")
![[Thumbnail for DSC05177s.jpg]](/t/76165/a/80377/DSC05177s.jpg "Filename: DSC05177s.jpg
Description:")
![[Thumbnail for DSC05178s.jpg]](/t/76165/a/80378/DSC05178s.jpg "Filename: DSC05178s.jpg
Description:")
![[Thumbnail for DSC05179s.jpg]](/t/76165/a/80379/DSC05179s.jpg "Filename: DSC05179s.jpg
Description:")
"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
"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
"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
4
"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"
8
"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
"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?
3
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.
"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.
5
"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.
3
"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
.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)")
"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
3
"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
"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
5
"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
3
"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"
"You must be the change you want to see in the world." "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." --Mahatma Gandhi
"Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words." --Francis of Assisi.
"Family farms work when the whole family works the farm." -- Adam Klaus
2
"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
"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"
"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"
Don't fall for the My-Place-Is-Special, It-Won't-Happen-Here Syndrome.
"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
"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
"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
If the banana can survive zone 8 winters then pushing things to zone 9 should work... but the growing season may just be too short here.
Cultivate abundance for people, plants and animals - Wild Homesteading
3
"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"
