Full Post: http://permacultureottawa.ca/making-biochar/
by Ron St. Louis
What is biochar?
Biochar Definition http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochar
Why make biochar?
I have been experimenting with biochar because:
playing with fire is fun
our soil is really really sandy and needs amendments
we have lots of dead-fall
playing with fire and fire contraptions is really fun
I originally got the idea from this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXMUmby8PpU A few years back it was the only thing I could find on biochar. Now there is tons of videos on how to make it yourself if you search YouTube.
If you are on Facebook also check out Sean Butler‘s post on a controlled test using biochar. Anxious to see those results. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.281848498509622&type=1
The Process
I recycled a 55 gallon steel barrel, a smaller barrel and used stovepipe. The stovepipe had a stepped edge (for stacking with other parts) that made it easy to fit into a hole I cut in the lid of the barrel with tin snips. Note the holes punched into the barrel to allow oxygen in. The stovepipe is there to allow for better updraft.
Here I used a barrel originally used for grape/wine juice that was in a plastic liner.Unfortunately the paint on the barrel does have to burn off during the first burn. Suggestions to avoid that would be appreciated.
Add split wood into the inner barrel. Make sure they aren’t too big or packed too tight because they won’t convert properly to char.
Here is a photo from the last batch I tried but didn’t convert all the way because the wood was too big and packed too tight.
Place the inner barrel with wood inside the larger barrel.
Flip it upright and center. With the barrel sitting loosely upside down it allows the gasses from the wood to escape releasing pressure from the bottom. This also prevents oxygen from entering and ‘burning’ the wood and instead ‘converting’ it to char. The gasses that escape also go through the fire and supposedly burn up for cleaner combustion.
Fill in the outside diameter with kindling. Here I just used deadfall branches from around the property but you could easily use smaller split wood.
Fill it up almost to the top and add some newspaper to help start the fire.
FIRE!!!
Notice that I’ve put it up off the ground to mitigate the risk of fire. Make sure you do it out in the open to avoid burning nearby trees. I just used some steel structure that was left on the property. You can also just set it up on a few cinder blocks or patio stones.
Bigger FIRE!!! Now that it is going put the lid on with the stovepipe. This is already pretty hot sobe very careful. Make sure you have thick leather gloves and thick clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. A hammer helps seal the lid. The barrel I had also came with a sealing ring. If you can still get it on without burning yourself, put it on to ensure a good seal.
Lid on and secured. It will smoke a lot at first. This will get really hot so take this time and energy to throw a pan on the top of the lid where there is room to cook your dinner.
After a few minutes you can see the fire has worked its way down the barrel. Notice the flames in the holes at the bottom of the barrel.
After 15-40 minutes you will see the wood is still burning but very clean. There is no more smoke coming from the top but it is still really hot. This is especially fun to do this in the darkbecause the barrel glows red hot and you can see heat and flames come out from the top of the stovepipe.
After a few hours have passed the barrel should be cool enough to open up. As you see there is barely anything left at all in the outer barrel.
This is what you hope comes out of the inner barrel. Nice light and fully converted CHAR!!! This batch turned out great.
Add some water to stop the dust and break up the larger pieces. I just smash it up using a piece of firewood. Add this to your compost and soil to create rich black water and nutrient absorbent earth.
At our cabin we have a bucket we throw it into where the boys urinate to add in the nitrogen before mixing in with the compost.
And that, my friends, is how you can easily make your own biochar for fuel or to amend poor soil.
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