The video demonstrates the process of turning scrap timber into charcoal, which is then ground down, inoculated with compost tea, and added to breathable sand bags to create horticultural charcoal. This form of charcoal creates a habitat for microorganisms that become nutrients for plants, fungi, and soil organisms, while also improving soil structure, slowing leaching, and capturing carbon. It is a permanent soil improver that is a sustainable alternative to compost or artificial fertilizers.
00:00:00 In this section, the video explains the process of turning scrap timber into charcoal. The timber is sliced into thin flakes and dried in mesh-sided wagons, then placed in a homemade cone kiln, where the top layer is burned off and the layers underneath cook into charcoal. The charcoal is quenched with water and ground down to a suitable size for a soil additive. It is then inoculated with living microbes from a large vat of compost tea. Finally, the microbes move into the tiny fissures in the charcoal, creating an activated charcoal that can be added to soil.
00:05:00 In this section, it is explained that putting horticultural charcoal into breathable sand bags will allow it to create a habitat and reservoir of microorganisms which become nutrients for plants, fungi, and larger soil organisms. It slows down leaching during rain, making the soil more resilient to drought and flood, while helping to break up heavy soils and raising the pH. Horticultural charcoal greatly improves the soil’s structure and is a permanent soil improver that captures carbon while never degrading over time. This is a sound alternative to compost or artificial fertilizers, making it an excellent resource for gardeners and growers.
