The idea is to make a small Kon-Tiki kiln in the backyard. Make biochar while enjoying a low-smoke fire.

1. Remove the legs, handles and lid from a used round charcoal grill.
2. Dig a hole and put the bottom of the grill in the hole.
3. Light a little fuel at the bottom.
4. Slowly add fuel Kon-Tiki style.
5. When full, quench the embers with water or smother with the lid.

That's it. Small fuels like twigs and wood chips should work.

This won't save the planet but it could be fun.

I cannot test this until the ground thaws.

(Kon-Tiki kilns are described here: https://wiki.opensourceecology...)

Have fun experimenting. I've seen some persuasive things about biochar but haven't devoted energy to it.

Even better, stack sticks in criss cross layers reaching above the rim. And light the pile on top. Add more fuel, one layer at a time, when the fire is almost out. Like in this video at 1:02:
https://youtu.be/DmzQFCp2kNI

It works! I made 7 pounds of biochar from 28 pounds of firewood.

The top down burn is the easiest campfire you will ever make. Crisscross layers of wood and light the top. The top layer will burn. The falling embers will eventually light the second layer. Slowly, the fire will make its way down to the bottom layer. You never have to tend the fire. And it burn cleaner than other campfire methods.

When the fire gets low, quench the hot embers to make your biochar.

Here is a video: https://youtu.be/nFKSaeudqCQ

I hope others try with different fuels and report their successes and failures.

I've decided to drink the biochar koolaide. I have an EPA wood burning stove that leaves some charcoal in the ash. So I shovel the charcoal and ash into a bucket, let it cool, then screen it. I put the ashes in the garbage and further crush the charcoal with a shovel. So far I've only put it in the compost bins. I doubt I'll get enough to make a substantial difference but it might make the compost smell a little sweeter in the winter months. Heck, I'm saving the planet, improving my compost and garden soil, and warming the house without burning fossil fuels! Not too bad for someone just hanging around the house on a weekend.

76Terra said: I put the ashes in the garbage

Oh No!

Whether your soil is alkaline or not, surely you have a space out back behind the garage (or something) that you could dump the ash...

No need to add to the waste stream unnecessarily...

I just googled whether lime is needed in Sacramental area...
Seems that soil testing labs are noticing increasingly acidic soils in your area...

You maybe should be adding those wood ashes to the vegetable patch rather than the trash.

Found a pdf:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=...

Project Title: Development of Lime Recommendations for California Soils

Executive Summary
Increasingly acid soils have been noted by agronomists and soil testing laboratories on soils of northern and central California. These soils tend to be moderately to highly weathered or poorly buffered and acidified through nitrogen fertilization. Water pH levels below 5.60 are sufficient to impact crop growth and quality, dependent on the crop.

I agree, some or all of the ash ok OK to use. I do a firepit and then scoop and throw the ash-char mix around. My area is definitely acidic naturally. In another thread I reported that my neighbor dumps woodstove ash inches deep and things growing around and even through it seem fine.

Thanks for the tip! I'll give it an experimental try. It is pretty late in the wood burning season around here so I won't have a lot of stove residuals. I'm going to continue separating the charcoal from the ash going forward. Based on some comments I've read the biochar has to be activated for better results.