Please describe the physical properties of torrefied spruce

[Michael Lewis]

Biochar is charcoal (carbon) made from bio mass, like wood chips, weeds, brush, wood scraps, etc. As I understand it the carbon bonds with minerals in the soil and makes them available to the plants growing in that soil. It's ancient 'technology' that increases the ability of the soil to grow crops. That's why I want it in my garden.

[Mario Proulx]

Neat! Y'all taught me something new. Again!

I was just reading(at the link Larry shared) about biochar and compost. The gist of it, as i see it, is that the common things we compost aren't good to biochar, and the materials that don't compost well are ideal for biochar. Since I have 5 large willows in my yard, I have a constant source of twigs, especially after the snow melt, and many of them end up in my compost bin with the grass cuttings and leaves, only to be tossed aside and taken away when I screen my compost. So now, I could make biochar of them, and mix that in with the compost! As well, most of my shop scraps are too small to make cooking charcoal with so I just burn them, but now I could also turn them into biachar. Cool!

As well, there's mention of bones being great for the biochar process as well. If I were to follow-through and make biochar, this home could be nearly 100% trash-free...

[Larry Davis]

Good link here http://www.biochar-international.org/biochar

[Mario Proulx]

And this page.

http://www.biochar-international.org/compost

[Bill Raymond]

As a further aside from the original topic, much of shop scrap such as sawdust and shavings can be composted provided a good source of nitrogen is available. Fortunately, we have a good supply of nitrogen-rich fluid which we excrete everyday. Despite what for many might be a "yuck" factor, urine is usually sterile (unless there is a urinary tract infection) and a bucket of shavings and sawdust mixed with urine does not smell at all.

[Stephen Neal Saqui]

As much as I enjoyed the late posts....
Did you guys know that I had a 1929 roadster pickup with an Olds V8, channeled with cheater slicks....how did I ever become a guitar maker?

[Larry Davis]

As much as I enjoyed the late posts....
Did you guys know that I had a 1929 roadster pickup with an Olds V8, channeled with cheater slicks....how did I ever become a guitar maker?

I know. You became a guitar builder because half a set of torrefied spruce might just be one big piece of biochar???? That's it, right?

[Stephen Neal Saqui]

Larry,

There you go. At least I can sleep at night....knowing my biochar is out in the garden.