Turning Royal Oak Lump Charcoal into Biochar using Wood Chipper

I needed to crush four bags of Royal Oak Lump Charcoal into fine pieces that could be used to make Biochar for adding to the raised garden beds. I have tried many different ways in the past, but all of them were very time consuming with less than desirable results. This time I decided to experiment using my DK2 wood chipper to shred the bigger chunks of charcoal into fine pieces, and it worked better than expected. I had to create a tube made out of plastic sheets to catch the charcoal chips that were thrown out of the chute, and catch them in a bag inside of a trash can. It made a lot of dust, but it did create the finely chopped charcoal that will be easily worked into the garden soil once it is activated as Biochar.
At the end of the video, I start activating some of the freshly shredded charcoal to turn it into Biochar.

[@B30pt87]

Hey, thank you for making this video. It covered all the parts I couldn't find in other videos.

[@dalimwagore6871]

I thought it is that whole process of pyrolysis (removing all those gases from burnt coal) that makes char. You merely shredded charcoal and got charcoal powder.

[@cowboyblacksmith]

I built a simple in ground "Kon tiki" style pit to make my own charcoal for biochar, just an inverted cone shape lined with red brick. It's so much fun burning limbs, hedge trimmings, brush etc into charcoal. After I douse it with water it's pretty easy to chop up fairly fine with a shovel. My chipper shredder is on the fritz but man did that ever make quick work of it and made the perfect size. A shovel though while in the pit is a close enough second best. I like the idea of having different sized pieces of the charcoal for biochar.

[@LeatherHomestead-io8dt]

Cowboy i like the different sizes too.but not to much super fine as it blows and washes very easily . I even like walnut size as i think the larger mass will hold water longer

[@kingtool5799]

I did one bag of lump charcoal but used a large sledgehammer and a 5 gal bucket. Wetting the charcoal before crushing it, really helps with dust. My inoculation was done with worm castings like you, but also azomite rock dust, urea pellets, and bone meal and finally some dissolved molasses to really crank up the microbe population. Within 2 days, I had lots of furry white fungal growing. I may scale up like you suggest with the chipper/shredder.

[@ohio_gardener]

Your soil will reap the benefits of having Biochar added to it. Spray the charcoal with water the night before running it through the chipper to reduce the dust.

[@jerrydaniel1530]

cool . i think i will use my wheelbarrow

[@charlescoker7752]

Where I live. They run a closeout sale on Charcoal at the end of barbecue season. Good time to stock up.

[@denveready3486]

Great video, love the chipper idea , lots of dust though, maybe pre wet the lump before the chipping method, how did your results go when you spread the activated bio char into the garden beds ? Was there ever a follow up video with the results?

[@ohio_gardener]

In subsequent batches I sprayed the lump charcoal the evening before and let it soak overnight. Much less dust the next day. I have been using activated biochar for years, and the improvement in quality and quantity of produce has amazed me.

[@charlescoker7752]

You can add a biodegradable surfactant to make the water wetter.

[@brettkennedy8832]

I noticed in another video you have comfrey I always make comfrey tea and add to my biochar try it comfrey is great

[@ohio_gardener]

Thanks! I love my Comfrey plants, and use them in many ways to improve my gardens.

[@teddynola]

How long does the biochar remain active? What is the best way to store? Thank you for sharing your process.

[@ohio_gardener]

It remains active forever unless it comes in contact with something that kills the microbes, such as chemical fertilizer or pesticides. I store it in breathable burlap bags, but most often by the time I get it activated I am ready to add it to the garden soil.

[@teddynola]

@@ohio_gardener thanks!

[@LeatherHomestead-io8dt]

Not sure how "clean "the wood was to start if so that would be one step cut out for people that can't do a burn.Well done, I have made some if you care to check it out @ Leather Homestead

[@fivesons8706]

Maybe if you put water in the trash can before you begin it might hold down on the dust... not sure, just thinking it might.

[@ohio_gardener]

In subsequent batches of charcoal that I need to chip I sprayed the charcoal with water and let it set overnight before putting in the chipper. It almost totally eliminated the dust. Much better.

[@fivesons8706]

Wow... good deal! I'm glad to hear that it works because I'm going to be trying my woodchipper out for crushing charcoal too. I've crushed by hand with a sledge hammer (held sideways) and it was a lot of work and very very dusty. @@ohio_gardener

[@LeatherHomestead-io8dt]

I leave mine out in the rain after it is made it stays wet and gets a little nitrogen @@ohio_gardener

[@bart9409]

How many square feet of soil with that cover?

[@ohio_gardener]

Not sure. Since I already have some Biochar in all of my beds, I just use this to add to the compost tumbler to get it activated. I add about 10% charcoal by volume to the compost tumbler, then when the compost is spread over the raised beds the activated charcoal is added at the same time.

[@bart9409]

@@ohio_gardener That is helpful thanks