If someone's already covered this, please redirect me... I'm not finding info here or YT.
Anyone making biochar with No logs or branches (maybe twigs).
Instead Using:
-Dry dead Grasses
-All those dry dead standing woody field plants
-Mainly the above, but other possibilities: woody seed pods i.e. Sweetgum Spiky Seed Balls...
Benefits?:
-Less time/energy needed to convert than thick wood.
-No work required to crush (already small or crumbles easily)
-Much easier to stuff container full with flexible material (no cutting to fit needed)
I've only made a 2-gallon pot-full I cooked inside my wood-stove. Done in a few minutes! But interested in much larger amounts, and wondering if barrel drum is way to go, or can be done in open pit (maybe if burnt over water-pit that helped extinguish quickly). I'd imagine an enclosed method is best for thin materials (as they'd burn to ash more quickly).
-Dug Pit (metal walls?)
-Single-Barrel (light, burn, smother with lid or water?)
-Double-Barrels (most efficient?)
-Kiln (to airy for thin stuff?)
-?
Here's another idea: Load the thin material first in the bottom, and burn some thicker sticks on top until its down (burning sticks use all oxygen, keeping thinner stuff from burning to ash?)
Like to keep it simple.
Expect to prep/dry material as much as possible in advance.
Also priority that smoke be minimal as possible.
Heh, BTW those Sweetgum Spiky Seedpods seem made to be charcoal. Both Charcoal and Sweetgum pods already have a lot of surface area... Together!!?!
Thankya!
