Biochar Bags Approx 20 Litres(5kg) - 1200 Litres(300kg)
This is our original product, 100% organic and free of chemical biochar. Sustainably produced at our farm in Wales, utilising on-farm ash-dieback affected trees. The biochar is produced from carefully selected disease affected trees and we will hopefully be part of a woodland planting scheme in 2025 to make sure we are at one with a complete circular economy of growing, processing, inoculating and applying our very own biochar for the growth of the trees at our farm, as well as soil health in the surrounding fields. We are very much interested in no waste, low footprint and utilising everything we can on-farm and making sure we are sequestering as much carbon as possible. Having the animal waste at the farm helps us tremendously, where we can charge/inoculate/activate our biochar as soon as its made and is just great that it's all done on site. We'd like to share this journey with you.
After purchasing a bag, it will need activating by mixing in with your own compost. At the moment, we can only sell the raw form of biochar(non-activated) as we are currently inoculating our first big batch of biochar, having only recently had cattle brought back indoors for the winter time. So right now there’s plenty of animal manure available for us as an inoculant (the best form of organic, nutrient dense inoculant in our humble opinion), along with our secret ingredient for super powering your biochar, but obviously we will need at least a couple of months to have large quantities of readily charged biochar available on our website. You can either purchase the raw biochar right now and inoculate it yourself (charge/activate it through adding to your own compost etc and wait approximately 6-8 weeks before the biochar is fully charged and ready to apply to your soil), or you can wait until we have our batches of inoculated biochar ready for sale. We should have these bags available to purchase by end of December 2024 if you are more interested in a biochar product to add straight to your soil.
There are various inoculation methods. If you do a quick search online you will find there are many ways to charge your raw biochar. We have provided you with a quick guide below for you to get started right away with charging your biochar as there are a few ways of getting the best out of activating your own biochar. After you’ve carried out the inoculation process, here are a few ideas so you can put this amazing product to good use:-
Around new trees
Hanging baskets
Raised beds
Containers and pots
Vegetable patches and flowers
Animal bedding
Inoculating or activating your biochar is essential to make it more effective for soil health by adding nutrients and microorganisms to its porous structure. Here are several descriptive ways to inoculate biochar:
1. Compost Inoculation
• Description: Mix raw biochar with mature compost and allow it to sit for several weeks. The biochar will absorb the rich microbial diversity and nutrients from the compost.
• Process: Blend 1 part biochar with 3–4 parts compost. Let the mixture rest for 2–4 weeks, turning it occasionally to ensure even inoculation.
• Outcome: The biochar becomes charged with beneficial microorganisms, humic acids, and nutrients, making it ready to enhance soil fertility.
2. Manure Tea Soaking
• Description: Submerge biochar in a liquid “tea” made from manure (such as cow or chicken manure) for several days to weeks.
• Process: Steep manure in water (in a ratio of about 1 part manure to 5 parts water) for several days, then soak the biochar in this nutrient-rich solution for 1–2 weeks.
• Outcome: The biochar absorbs nitrogen, phosphorus, and other key nutrients, as well as beneficial microorganisms from the manure.
3. Worm Castings (Vermicompost) Inoculation
• Description: Combine biochar with worm castings to activate it with a rich microbial community.
• Process: Mix biochar into your vermicompost bin or blend it with worm castings and let it sit for a few weeks. The biochar will become infused with microbes and organic matter from the castings.
• Outcome: The biochar is activated with diverse bacteria, fungi, and other beneficial organisms, boosting its effectiveness when added to soil.
4. Nutrient-Rich Compost Tea
• Description: Immerse biochar in a compost tea solution to inoculate it with beneficial microbes and nutrients.
• Process: Brew a compost tea using aerated water and a porous bag of mature compost. Once brewed, soak the biochar in the tea for several days to weeks.
• Outcome: This process charges the biochar with a living microbial network and soluble nutrients, enhancing its impact when added to soil.
5. Urine Inoculation
• Description: Use human or animal urine to inoculate biochar with nitrogen and other nutrients.
• Process: Dilute urine with water at a 1:4 ratio and soak biochar in this solution for several weeks. Stir the mixture occasionally to help with absorption.
• Outcome: The biochar becomes loaded with nitrogen and other minerals, making it highly effective as a soil amendment.
6. Effective Microorganism (EM) Inoculation
• Description: Use a solution of Effective Microorganisms (EM), which are beneficial microbes, to activate biochar.
• Process: Mix biochar with an EM solution and let it sit for 2–4 weeks in a sealed container or under a tarp. This anaerobic environment allows the biochar to absorb the microbial culture.
• Outcome: The biochar is activated with diverse beneficial bacteria and fungi, improving its ability to enhance soil biology.
7. Fermented Plant Extracts (FPE)
• Description: Activate biochar using plant extracts fermented with lactic acid bacteria and other microbes.
• Process: Ferment plant material (like weeds or kitchen scraps) in water for a few weeks with the addition of molasses or sugar. Once fermented, soak biochar in this nutrient-rich extract.
• Outcome: The biochar becomes infused with natural plant compounds and beneficial microorganisms, enhancing nutrient cycling and plant growth in soils.
Each of these methods helps charge biochar with nutrients and beneficial microorganisms, ensuring it works more effectively when integrated into soil systems. The specific method you choose will depend on the resources available and your goals for improving soil health. Our biochar will help improve the structure of your soil, increase water and nutrient retention and provide a healthy habitat for beneficial microorganisms. The biochar will bring permanent change to your soil and sequester carbon for hundreds or even thousands of years, doing your bit for the environment.
If you have any further concerns or questions, please feel free to call us on 07985225330 or alternatively send us an email at info@biocarbonwales.com
Bio Carbon Wales Team - Sequestering carbon one field at a time!