A couple weeks ago I sat in on a meeting with Joe James of Agritech and a group of USDA researchers to learn about biochar and its potential as a agricultural additive. Joe James and his company are working on commercializing a torrefaction machine created by NC State. His unit is expected to produce large quantities of biochar in a very short amount of time very efficiently.
I'm not quite ready to invest in this scale of biochar production, but I do want to try my hand at creating some of my own to play around with. With a little web searching I stumbled across this video of a very simple two barrel retort.
For those who want to read further, look at some charts, and graphs here is the link to download the technical article on the "Impact of Biochar Amendment on Fertility of a Southeastern Coastal Plain Soil" produced by Jeffery M. Novak, Warren J. Busscher, David L. Laird, Mohamed Ahmedna, Don W. Watts, and Mohamed A. S. Niandou.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
greenhouse activity
So with all this seeding work, I have tricked myself in to feeling like it is already spring, until the mornings remind me that it isn't by sending me rushing back inside for a coat.
Red Express Cabbage
Belstar Broccoli
Spring Raab
All my flats
Crops to plant soon: Carrots, Beets, Radish, Parsnip
Red Express Cabbage
Belstar Broccoli
Spring Raab
All my flats
Crops to plant soon: Carrots, Beets, Radish, Parsnip
turning my compost
I also recently turned my compost pile. Most of the tender green garden waste was broken down. So I guess it is working, but I still haven't seen any steam during these cool mornings.
Maybe some day soon I will spend a day tweaking my compost pile, so I can share a picture of steaming rising from an active pile. Without the heat from an active pile, the composting process is much longer.
Maybe some day soon I will spend a day tweaking my compost pile, so I can share a picture of steaming rising from an active pile. Without the heat from an active pile, the composting process is much longer.
Pepper Time!
First week in Feb. is the time to start your pepper seeds indoors.
The varities that I am trying this summer are: Hungarian Hot Wax, Corno di Toro, California Wonder (Green / Red), Golden Wonder (Yellow), Black Beauty (Purple).
The varities that I am trying this summer are: Hungarian Hot Wax, Corno di Toro, California Wonder (Green / Red), Golden Wonder (Yellow), Black Beauty (Purple).
potatoes for the formal garden
It is getting close to the time for potatoes! In this part of central South Carolina the recommended planting dates are Feb. 20 - Mar. 10 according to Clemson Extension. Yesterday I spent 30 min cutting up some different types of potatoes for planting in the formal garden. Jenks did me a favor and collected some different varieties for an organic market in Columbia called Rosewood Market.
Klamath Pearl
Russian Banana
French Fingerling
Purple Idaho
Later this week or early next week the potatoes for my farm are coming in for Colorado. I know it's a long way but they ( Potato Garden ) were recommended to me by another grower as a very reliable seed potato source. Plus their shipping rates were much lower than I could find anywhere else. My potato order includes an All Red, All Blue, and a fingerling that I can't recall right now.
Klamath Pearl
Russian Banana
French Fingerling
Purple Idaho
Later this week or early next week the potatoes for my farm are coming in for Colorado. I know it's a long way but they ( Potato Garden ) were recommended to me by another grower as a very reliable seed potato source. Plus their shipping rates were much lower than I could find anywhere else. My potato order includes an All Red, All Blue, and a fingerling that I can't recall right now.
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