Scott Raber

    I just sent an inquiry to New England Biochar. The metal Adam retorts he sells seem to be what I am looking for because they are mobile, apparently extract wood vinegar and tar, and meet United States standards. I looked through all the links and most of them had blank links or something or they did not sell machines themselves. The University of Washington research is fantastic. Of course you could research biochar until you are blue in the face but I just want to get a machine soon and not spend all my time fooling around in a yard. I found what seems like the machine I saw in the video on Alibaba, but I will be sending the farm in Japan an inquiry about their machine. It will depend on the price difference and efficiency assuming I get a lead on the Japanese model. The price on the machine I found on Alibaba is not clear, so I am sending an email to them too, but imagine the transport costs will be extreme. New England biochar has a teacher come set up the system so that will probably make me go with them.
    Any thoughts on funding an Adam retort? Could I do some kind of co-op with it? What would the market be for selling wood tar and wood vinegar to farms and such?

Thank you so much. This is all very helpful. I appreciate the leads to no nonsense pragmatic info and the advice from someone who has experience. I would like to pick your brain on this some more as you seem to have some insight. However I am calling it a day right now. I just can't read anymore today. Just wanted to let you know I will be getting back to you.
Did not have time to check if you linked to the exact one they had in the video which I am sort of infatuated with. But I do want to get into this as a business. I have the capitol and intend to finish a business plan for it this year. Maybe you have insight on that. Thanks. I will be in touch.

The next question would be why would you want to? If you are building a little hut to work on while you develop a property that would be ok, right. But if you want a house that will last hundreds of years, the whole point is to fill it with people. The point is that it fits within a larger community. I just heard about CEB or ISSB, which are compressed bricks. I guess you could build one on your own. You could build a cob or wattle a daub house but if you are going to dig up the dirt with a machine someone else will probably be helping if not at least to deliver something. I think a more interesting question might be to ask how many different people can you get involved in building a house.

http://www.hemmingjorgensen.com/

This guy did research on the traditional ice houses of Iran. If you want to dig a little deeper maybe something of their construction would be helpful.
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Hey, just an update. I met with the CMC today and MC and they are totally on board with the project! Told me to write up a couple point papers and I think I will make a power point. A small plot is definitely in the cards. But it is also going up the chain of command. Who knows, we could get funding from Washington to do aquaponics or roof gardens ect. Hoping this will be the seed for a major change in the way the Navy runs bases ect. Will know more in a week.

That sounds great. But I can only afford the Chicago School of Violinmaking because of my GI Bill. In America that is money they give you to go to school if you are in the military. I will look into it though. While I have read a lot about violins and gleaned what I could from asking around Chicago shops, I still don't know much about the world of violin making. I was so impressed when I saw a Joshua Bell concert and I used to take lessons and I played with a jam band in a pub for a minute for free beer, but that was years ago. It is intriguing and beautiful though and I want to be part of it. I will try and put my mind to some clever way to pay for it and maybe I will end up going to school there.
Also that is great info on how to make a buck in this trade. I really appreciate that. If I can make beer money while farming I would be happy. That is totally the kind of thing that makes the permies message board great. I think that deserves an apple. Thanks.

That is true. There is also a proud history of fraud and swindling if you get into the history of violin making. It is accepted practice to antique new violins to make them look like the "more valuable" older instruments. I think a big part of that price is the hype.
I will look into pipe making.

Hey. I am in the Navy waiting to go to more technical training in Virginia. However gardening is my passion and I think about it constantly. And I plan to save all my money to buy a farm someday. I have been waiting weeks but I finally got a meeting with the Command Master Chief here at Naval Training Station Great Lakes to discuss planting a garden here on base. He is like the head fellow in charge here and my petty officers and fellow sailors seem to think it is a good idea. We have acres of unused land here on base and my mind reels with the possibilities. I hope I can communicate some of these to my command Monday when we have a meeting. I am looking for people in the area who would be willing to work with us if I can get something in the ground next season. Local restaurants, sources of organic fertilizer, professional farmers, ect. Anyone who can get on board with us and make excellent things happen here in Northern Illinois. Also want to discuss the possibilities if something like the WPA could get going again. Think of what a literal army of gardeners with a massive budget could do for this country...

I am obsessed and I am almost definitely doing this. Actually Chicago has a thriving urban agriculture scene and if I can stay out of trouble I have lots of ideas that I can do in the city. Maybe I will try to get a business or garden going, do little experiments with mushrooms and silkworms ect in my apartment. The future of the violin industry is interesting. The idea of jumping into an unbroken line of craftsmen is so appealing, and I would love to be part of making something great in America.

Wow, this one was just too good. I love this guy! You know that moment when you find your permaculture doppledanger in another country? They have great machines, and yes, they got them from India. Maybe I could kickstart an intership there or just ask to learn there for free. Maybe there are government grants for subsidies for silk. That would be worth exploring.

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