Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Barbara Money <bmoney9@verizon.net>]

Hmm, I tend to agree with those who doubt the value of bio-char.... That 
said, I think a more representative test would be to *not* add magic 
juice to the 3 beds if any aren't doing well--you wouldn't know if the 
improvement was due to that alone instead of the various concoctions in 
each bed. It would make the whole exercise of running a test rather 
pointless. If a bed wasn't doing well, then it's particular concoction 
would be the cause of the lack, no?

Of course, if you see one bed going to h*ll, you can make note of which 
one it was, and if it isn't too late, you can add magic juice to save 
the veggies in it. Your test would then be essentially done.

Personally, I think the only reason bio-char "works" is because of all 
of the compost, magic juice, etc that is mixed with it, plus the 
leavings of the piglets or chickens or whatever critter you are using to 
turn the beds. It seems like a lot of extra work; when, if I want 
carbon, I have a wealth of fallen leaves every year, and sawdust from 
the firewood stack.

Barbara M
Foster, RI

--
"Animals Are A Gift"