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Ramial chipped branch wood

 
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I first learned about "chipped branch wood" or "ramial wood chip" about a decade ago.  But it takes training and care to separate out the ramial branches to get this particular form of chipped wood.

Anyone here with experience of setting up a reliable source of ramial chipped branch wood?

Background & evidence:

My understanding is, any deciduous tree branch below about 7 cm / 3 in in diameter, will have a significantly lower carbon content than the trunk wood or general older mixed trunk & branch deciduous chip.

"The C:N ratio for ramial woodchips ranges from 30:1 to 170:1; and for stem wood, 400:1 to 750:1."

Ramial woodchips
https://zerodig.earth/ramial-woodchips/

The late farmer-philosopher Dave of Darlington did important work on ramial chipped branch wood in the late C20th:

Growing Sustainably, collected essays of Dave of Darlington, https://veganorganic.net/book-review-growing-sustainability/

"Nutritionally these are the richest parts of trees, with young tree branches containing as much as 75% of the minerals, amino acids, proteins, phytohormones and enzymes found in the tree."

Ramial woodchip production and use on farm, 2020, Organic Research Centre https://www.organicresearchcentre.com/news-events/ramial-woodchip-production-and-use-on-farm/

Pioneering agroecologist Iain Tolhurst has great success with ramial chipped branch wood, particularly for nourishing the soil ecology or biome on their 20 acre farm:

"It brings the forest to the farm with increased fungal activity in the soil and additional nutritional benefits. In the last five years, their yields have doubled."

Propagation substrates: Is woodchip a viable alternative to peat? Q&A with Iain Tolhurst,
https://www.innovativefarmers.org/knowledge-hub/propagation-substrates-is-woodchip-a-viable-alternative-to-peat-qa-with-iain-tolhurst/

Lots more detail:
Ramial chipped wood amendment drives shifts in soil microbial carbon and phosphorus cycling networks across a depth gradient, 2026, González-Coria et al. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167198726000929
 
Ac Baker
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One approach would be, "chip your own".  Then you know exactly what's gone into the mix.

But I'm in an urban area.  I don't want to add to pollution from powered wood chipping if I can avoid it.  That's noise pollution as an immediate concern for our neighbours, as well as fossil fuel use.

I'm thinking you'd need a very low gearing for a pedal powered ramial branch wood chipper.  Ideally, you'd want it to be multi-seat too (e.g. tandem, trandem or higher numbers!).

Has anyone made, used or encountered a human-powered ramial wood chipping machine?

It looks like Lorraine Campbell in Cornwall has a recently had built a pedal-powered woodchipper for preparing material for composting:
https://www.soilresilience.com/post/raising-funds-to-buy-a-pedal-powered-wood-chipper-for-community-compost-projects
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/pedal-powered-wood-chipper
https://www.instagram.com/soil_resilience

They apparently first used it this past summer, so I've dropped them a message enquiring about their experiences!

But using pruned or fallen branches in the bottom of the compost bin, to also help drainage & aeration, seems link a simpler & more affordable solution!
 
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