Creating Biochar from Hedgelaying, Jeremy Weiss, Devon Hedge Group

Learn the basics of making biochar for garden use in this video with Jeremy Weiss. Jeremy runs Proper Edges in Devon, specialising in rural skills.
Making biochar is a great way to make use of organic waste material from hedge laying; usually this material is just bonfired.

Seven top tips for a successful burn...


1) Always keep the fire going well and don’t choke it by feeding to much in at a time.
2) Try and get the materials as dry as possible before a burn so you don't produce much smoke - so not after the brash has been rained on!
3) Try and burn small pieces under 3cm diameter - not wood which could go in a woodburner.
4) Quench it carefully, trying not to saturate the char but ensuring you put it out!
5) Use the char as you would a carbon/air source in your compost heap where that massive surface area of pores will be invaded by all the micro-organisms living in your compost - Albert Bates likens it to putting a coral reef in your soil.
6) Other ways of doing it on a smaller and larger scale - you can make that shape by digging a pit - or you can make small batches with a metal bin or bath tub.
7) Be sure to site your burn well away from flammable materials such as thatched roofs, poly tunnels, etc. Have plenty of water on hand for emergencies.

More information...
Contact Jeremy here: https://properedges.com/

The Royal Horticultural Society has an information page on biochar: https://www.rhs.org.uk/soil-composts-...