Gray Henon

pollinator
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since Aug 15, 2019
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Appalachian Foothills-Zone 7
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Recent posts by Gray Henon

By no means tech free here, but backing up to a desktop computer is a good step to minimizing exposure.  
Around 1.5 cords of mixed hardwood and pine for heating 1400 sq ft in zone 7, VC Resolute stove.   Probably another 3-4+ cords of white pine turned into biochar.   Not sure how to quantify bamboo, but we burn a lot of it for biochar as well.
2 days ago

Phil Stevens wrote:

Gray Henon wrote:My current biochar crushers.  They do a remarkably good job!  And they taste great!



Do I see some Wiltshires in that mob? How are the sheep liking your biochar? Do you mix it with anything to feed to them, and what sort of size do they prefer?

Mine weren't interested until I added some salt (mineral block) but now they'll eat small amounts plain. They seem to like smallish chunks but not too fine, because that makes them sneeze.



Katahdins.  Not sure how much they eat, but their hooves do most of the crushing.  I spread the char in my food savanna and after a month or so, it is hard to find a piece that has not been crushed.
2 weeks ago
My current biochar crushers.  They do a remarkably good job!  And they taste great!
2 weeks ago
Wait for the burn ban to be lifted then make biochar by quenching the burn pile with water when it gets down to coals.
2 weeks ago
14,135

All spread!  Just over 1,000 gallons!
2 weeks ago
13,720

Still more to go…
3 weeks ago
13,420

Finally got a burn done after the end of a long dry spell.  While I was waiting for rain, we just kept accumulating brush near the burn pile.  Probably had over half an acre covered.  The burn took three people 5 hours of continuously feeding the fire just about as fast as we could work.  Got 300 gallons spread tonight and plenty to go.  I am always hesitant to project totals, but hoping we come close to our previous record of around 1000 gallons.


4/3/25
3 weeks ago
I am usually in favor of low tech solutions (ie dogs), but I am interested to see where tech can go…

https://www.reuters.com/technology/meet-swagbot-ai-powered-robot-cattle-herder-preventing-soil-degradation-2024-12-12/
4 months ago
13,120

Been distracted a bit by hunting/butchering season but things should pick up soon;)
4 months ago