Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["John D'hondt" <dhondt@eircom.net>]

First lesson in organic chemistry : any organic material heated over 400 C is no longer containing any organic compounds. Charcoal is chemically identical to coal; it is as stable and inert as coal.

And most fires in nature are a disaster and not a good thing. Irish farmers have been burning shrubs since the stone age and that is the main reason so much of the land is absolutely infertile. True, some plants have become adapted to fire as a aid in killing all competition and because there are some ashes containing some of the original minerals left. These plants are not the most beneficial in a rich ecosystem. In Ireland I can mention two, Molinia grass and gorse (Ulex), the "prickeline" bush. (very painful to the touch.) But you see more and more bare rock poking through the green after every burn.

john

----- Original Message -----

From: richard green

To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org

Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 12:05 AM

Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] Bio-Char test garden

Charcoal is organic matter, which is why nature makes charcoal? Every forest fire that is rained on! Is not composting accelerated decomposition? We do in months what nature would take years to accomplish. This includes deep mulch sheet composting. Charcoal is stable OM requiring centuries to decompose, it resist compaction and provides a habitat for mycorrhizal fungi. Is not every perminate raised bed at some time formed by moving soil? Thus aerated? Bio-char is a one time application, or it can be accomplished thru multiple applications thru sheet composting by addition to your normal compost and used as a mulch, and it is a good nitrogen source if soaked in nitrogen. Are not normal organic practices, green manures which require tillage to get the nitrogen in the soil? Is that not damaging to soil structure? I rescued another pile of leafs from the side of the road destined for the local land fill today they will become mulch or compost, I left the branches that could have become biochar because I've not yet dug a small fire pit. I am doing my share to help . I thank God for Rondale who remained open minded to new ways of thinking and re-testing of old ideas and asked himself if there is a better way. My intent is to test not argue. I respect and share the same beliefs as many on this list. However,Thank of the savings in fuel alone if OG farmers could skip the tillage of green manures? 

Rick

 

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Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2011 06:16:36 -0800
From: minifarms2@yahoo.com
To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] Bio-Char test garden

Taking organic matter and making biochar is bad news even if it increases yields.  It destroys OM that the soil needs to take in rain, aerate the soil and on and on.  It took decades to get farmers [including the USA] to stop burning OM and now some sat that.was wrong.  It is a no-brainer.  Nature knows best.

Ken H

--- On Wed, 2/16/11, richard green <greenrw71@hotmail.com> wrote:

From: richard green <greenrw71@hotmail.com>
Subject: [Livingontheland] Bio-Char test garden
To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 4:15 PM

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