charcoal burning

[openspaceman]

i was scrub clearing this week had a fire not ideal had some thorn to get fire going then it was elder horible stuff to burn. had to make sure fire could not blow in wind as plenty of dry grass yes this time of year. banked it with earth then covered to stop wind blow next day removed earth and had some good charcoal left

 

If you want to make char without much effort just leave the <2" material windrowed till late May. Dig a 3' deep slit trench or find a container, like an old bath or trough with no holes in the bottom. Start a fire in the bottom and once it is flaming well add brush to the top, Maintain a flame and add material such that no grey ash layer forms on the burning branches. Eventually no air will be able to get down the sides and to the wood at the bottom because it is consumed in a flame from the evolving offgas. Keep adding brush slowly until the char bed fills the trench/container.

 

It is best to douse the char as it's difficult to seal it from air and will burn away to ash.

 

Now this isn't the best charcoal in the world but I have sifted out 50% which was in spec for the old B&Q scheme and it is OK for own use.

 

I have made 100ft3 like this for 2 hours work with a tractor and crane in a double ring kiln.

 

It is of course a good soil additive and is recalcitrant enough to fix carbon for an extremely long time, whereas had it rotted. burned or been composted it would be CO2 in the atmosphere in a fairly short period.