Paul Luuh

Interested in the Bokashi mix as that was the original post. How do I successfully mix biochar with the bran when I am using the Bokashi bin and my food scraps?

When one bin has fermented for the required 2 weeks, how do I then mix in more biochar, when I place the fermented scraps into a soil factory?

Here is what I am talking about.

I read that a user took Bokashi bran and mixed biochar with it in an effort to charge and innoculate the biochar.

Also other users placed a layer of biochar in the bottom of both the bucket with a drain and a bucket without a drain (two differen types or methods to ferment, one has a drain and the other does not), in an effort to charge and innoculate the biochar.

This got me thinking.

I make organic super soil with the typical amendments such as, coco coir, worm castings, organic dry amendments, rock dust, perlite etc.

I am starting a Bokashi method by which I will take the amended soil and instead of cooking it off outside, by placing in typical large pile with frequent turning to allow the microbes to break it all down, and waiting 3 months to complete, I am adding the finished and fermented Bokashi (2 weeks fermenting) mix to that same soil in bins that you can get at Lowes or Home Depot and are generally able to hold many many gallons of soil. I also have EM-1 Compost Activator at my disposal.

My thoughts are that either way the biochar would be charged and innoculated. I would think it possible to just collect the moisture from your Bokashi bin and add it to a separate bucket of biochar, as I have read users doing this as well.

The issue is that I DONT KNOW! I am only guessing at the outcome of any methodology.

So, anyone want to jump on this pile of compost?

It would be great to think that I could solve the problem of effectively amending my soil with it having been properly cooked or fermented, or whatever, whilst at the same time charging and inoculation the biochar. With the end result being a well balanced supr soil in a timely manner. But alas, good things come to those who wait.

So, anyway...no malice here and thanks.

Yea, I don't know...that's why I'm here asking.

I bought biochar from the Build A Soil website. I was led to believe they are a reputable source. In addition I purchased a other cubic foot from Bliss. Another so-called reputable resource, I imagine.

From my observations they are both very similar in quality. Again, I am not an authority and have based my opinion on my research.

So, yea...I don't know.

Seems that there is some confusion, regarding my inquiry. I get that this is a 1000s years old naturally occurring organic process, that happens in nature without human intervention.

But I don't have two years for this process to effectively take place. Nor do I possess the resources to waste on failed crops, wasted time and resources such as seeds, fertilizers, etc.

If possible, I am just looking for a proven method to effectively charge and innoculate my biochar. One where I possess a level of confidence that will enable me to effectively grow plants without the added confusion of whether or not my biochar is stealing food from my soil and ultimately my plants.

Again, I am not calling anyone out or disagreeing with anyone to the point of aggravation. Just continuing to peel back the layers of biochar charging and inoculation.

So sorry for any confusion.

Thanks to all. Hopefully some day there will be a proven method. I did not realize there was so little information backed by scientific research to determine the biochar is indeed beneficial or not when placed in your soil, based off the method used to prepare the char.

In other words...we know it's beneficial, once it is charged and inoculated CORRECTLY. The mystery is, what is that method or methods?

I mean no disrespect and truly thank everyone in this discussion, but I don't want to experiment and wait, only to document the failures over the years, until I solve the mystery, whilst my garden suffers through the data collection and analysis.

With all the knowledge and information on biochar that I have found, not one was definitive and conclusive, while backed by scientific research that their method produced beneficial biochar, instead of a magnet pulling all nutrients into it.

That's all I am saying. I'm not saying anyone in this discussion is right or wrong. I'm not mocking or dissapointed with anyone. I'm just not done trying to find the answer.

I really thank everyone.

Didn't crush, as I purchased from BAS. Already to go, just gotta charge a d innoculate.

I did read your response and was NOT debating you, in fact I was stating that my method would fail cuz of the char sinking to bottom of bucket...essentially drowning. I was only asking if you agreed. Meant know disrespect. Geez, sorry man.

Hey bud, I just read your response to a different post...

Not charging or insufficient charging has been shown to temporarily decrease the benefit of biochar.   One problem with liquid inoculation is that if you put the char under liquid for any length of time, it becomes anaerobic.  Now you are developing all of the microbes that lead to disease.


So my method won't work because the char is sunken and microbes are dead?

Just wondering.

My apologies again!!!

I use worm castings, calmag, Recharge, fish emulsion and kelp/seaweed. Also add in some molasses and sometimes some guano.

Hope that clarification made some sense.

Thanks

My apologies as I  think I need to mention that when I charged my first batch of biochar using ACT, I meant that the whole time the tea was brewing, using the hi-pressure bubble snake, the biochar was also in the tea...bubbling. I did this to feed and breed microbes whilst charging the biochar all during an intense bubble bath, if you will. I maintained an average temperature of 72 degrees and bubbled for a little over 36 hours.

So, at least now you know the full story.

Regarding your wet method...I  am a little confused. Would you please elaborate? Recipe or ingredients, how you wet it and are you then draining the solution etc.

Thank you sir, much appreciated.

Hello

Disclaimer: I know nothing and am learning. Please be kind and forgive my ignorance.

I am new. So glad to have found your website. I am hoping to learn alot of great things here.

Here is my question. I am struggling to find and adopt a successful method to charge my biochar. I made an ACT with worm castings, fish emulsion and kelp/seaweed. All organic. Let sit in the bubbling mix until all biochar sank. Added to super soil and experienced some problems with the grow. Many things may have contributed to the issues but I wish to rule biochar out.

So, I recently started learning about Bokashi and wish to start using the method regularly. I ordered two Biorfe bokashi bins as a kit. My questions are the following:

1) Should I first treat the biochar with DTE Water Soluble Solution Grade fertilizer that include the basic NPK and other beneficial micro nutrients. If so how...should I add the recommended amount of soluble fertilizer to the RO water per DTE instructions and for how long should it soak in the mixed solution...until it sinks? The product's from DTE include AGMino 14-0-0, Fish Bone Powder 4-20-0, Langbeinite 0-0-21.5, and Gypsum and Calcium 96. My only reason for considering this is to make the char ready for the microbes that will populate the biochar after it is full of food.

2) Should I then mix the biochar with worm castings, molasses and some Great White, or Recharge, EM-1 etc.in an effort to populate the biochar with microbes. How long should it soak and what is the best mix of beneficial microbes etc.?

3) Should I just add equal parts biochar with the Bokashi bran that I use in the bins? Should I let the process take whatever time it takes to fill bucket and then ferment for the recommended time, then add to super soil to complete process, while adding TERAGANIX Compost Activator to the super soil mix and allow the process to complete over the next 4 to 6 weeks. This process is time consuming and only inoculates a small portion of biocharvat a time.

5) What ever you think...I am open to suggestions. I really want to do this correctly. I have two cubic feet of wonderful biochar that I will use in the super soil I am making or amending.

Thank you all so much!!!