Why don't more people make biochar?

I'm thankfully in a situation where I can pit burn quite freely during the wetter season.  No resistance in this area, because fuel reduction helps everyone out here, neighbors are glad and none close enough for direct scrutiny. Have been producing 8-10 yards per season fairly easily, in just a few day's cumulative effort. Largely due to an abundance of flammable feedstock, which won't be the case after a balance of thinning is achieved since it's fairly slow growing open woodland. Incorporated almost all of it back in the ground thus far, but interested in attempting some clay-char block wall building experiments soon. Have not been inoculating, besides small portion added to composts.

I have about four bushels of wood chips, ranging from green to rotten.  I have a tent-heater airtight available, and some open-burn opportunities in the fall.  Is this enough material to bother with, and how would you convert it if it is?

Bob Stuart wrote:I have about four bushels of wood chips, ranging from green to rotten.  I have a tent-heater airtight available, and some open-burn opportunities in the fall.  Is this enough material to bother with, and how would you convert it if it is?

What is the size range of the chips?  Normally when people biochar they want to at least have some chunks left.  That said, if you can put the chips in a *nearly* airtight can, then it would probably work for you.  So, give it a try...

* if it is airtight, then the heat will cause it to pop open or explode.  You want enough leakage so that the volatiles escape.

The chips are out of a common garden appliance.  A few sticks under 1/8" made it through, but the main output is irregular chunks that would pass through a 1/2" hole.  I could scrounge up another, matching tent heater, but I don't want to make a huge project out of this if it is only a tiny percentage of my carbon output.