Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[richard green <greenrw71@hotmail.com>]

Good points Barbara, and during the test Magic juice usage will be as a last recourse and applied equally to all beds. I also think the only reason it works(if it works) is because of what it is inoculated in and what's added to it after its in the soil. Which might not be a bad thing. Compost breaks down releasing nutrients. How much of those the plants catch before leaching away depends on many factors as I understand it including soil type. If the charcoal acts as a nutrient sink and absorbs and hold them before leaching that could be of help. I have sand and tropical heat.   

Rick

 

> Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 18:27:20 -0500
> From: bmoney9@verizon.net
> To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] Bio-char test garden
>
> 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"
>
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