Bottom Up Biochar

Think for a moment: When did you first hear about “chemical fertilizers”? You just always knew… because millions of dollars are spent to subsidies fertilizers and advertise for them: “Make fertilizers accessible and desirable to everyone”

Why not do it for biochar?

Because it is free. Noone earns money advertising for free products. Good thing that I care more for people and the planet than I do for money.

June 2020, I started joining Facebook groups on farming in Zambia, Botswana, Ghana… to promote biochar. Even there I saw advertisments of large agro-businesses. So I decided to copy their strategy:

“Make biochar accessible and desirable to everyone”

Instead of “More fertilizer, more plant growth, get 50% off”, I went for “More biochar, more microbes, make it for free”. I got blocked… from a Facebook group for farming in Kenya because my offer seemed to good to be true. But before that happened, 1000 members joined the “Biochar Network Africa” wanting to learn… so I started turning complex concepts into simple graphics: Making biochar know-how accessible to everyone!

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All things biochar...

This graphics gives step by step insturctions on how to use biochar in nursery trays and pots. On the right there is a picture of tomato seedlings in small pots. On the left are the three steps that read: First, charge your biochar. Second, mix biochar and soil in a ratio of one to nine. Three, fill your pots or trays with the biochar-soil mixture and plant into them.

Using Biochar in your Nursery…

The graphic compares the differences between soil enhancers and fertilizers. The left side defines the characteristics of a soil enhancer as being permanent and adding structure to the soil. The example given is biochar. The right side defines the characteristics of fertilizers as temporary and adding nutrients to the soil. The example given is NPK.

Soil Enhancer vs. Fertilizer

This picture shows the title page of the practical biochar guide.

Biochar – Practical Guide (for printing)

Biochar – Practical Guide

This is a title graphic that says: Seven ways to charge your biochar. The background is dark green and the seedling icon of bottom-up-biochar is in the corner.

7 Ways to Charge Biochar

This is a graphic that explain how to charge biochar as a bedding. On the right side there is a picture of chicken. On the left side are two steps that descripe how to charge biochar as bedding. First, Substitute your bedding with biochar. Second, the biochar charges with the animal droppings. Use it after changing the bedding.

Charging as Bedding

This is a graphic that explain how to charge biochar with urine. On the right side there is a picture of some metal buckets. On the left side are three steps that descripe how to charge biochar with urine. First, put your biochar in a container. Second, add urine until the biochar starts floating. Third, let it set for a minimum of three days and keep it wet.

Charging with Urine

This is a graphic that explain how to charge biochar by mulching. On the right side there is a picture of grass. On the left side are two steps that descripe how to charge biochar by mulching. First, use biochar and grass cuttings in a ratio one to ten by volume. Second use it as mulch and apply a thin layer around your plants.

Charging by Mulching

This is a graphic that explain how to charge biochar by co-compost. On the right side there is a picture of compost. On the left side are three steps that descripe how to charge biochar by co-compost. First, add biochar to your compost pile over time. Second, biochar should be less than 50% of the pile. Third the biochar is charged when the compost is ready.

Charging by Co-Composting

This is a graphic that explain how to charge biochar with fertilizer. On the right side there is a picture of fertilizer. On the left side are four steps that descripe how to charge biochar with fertilizer. First, use half the fertilizer usually used for that area. Second, dissolve it in water. Third, add your biochar and more water until it floats. Fourth, let it sit for minimum three days, keep it wet.

Charging with Fertilizer

This is a graphic that explain how to charge biochar with compost. On the right side there is a picture of compost. On the left side are three steps that descripe how to charge biochar with compost. First, Add water to your biochar until it leaks out. Second, Mix biochar and compost in the ratio one to one. Third, let it sit for fourteen days and keep it moist.

Charging with Compost

This is a graphic that explain how to charge biochar with manure. On the right side there is a picture of manure. On the left side are three steps that descripe how to charge biochar with manure. First, Add water to your biochar until it leaks out. Second, Mix biochar and manure in the ratio one to one. Third, let it sit for fourteen days and keep it moist.

Charging with Manure

On the left side is a picture of biochar, on the right side is a picture of manure. The text says that the biochar to manure ratio should be one to one.

Charging Ratio

The picture shows the three steps to making biochar. First: Making Char. Second: Adding Nutrients 3. Using Biochar in Your Soil. On the sides there are additional tips on using biochar.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Three steps to making biochar. The first step is making and shows a picture of pieces of char. The second step is charging and shows a picture of a pile of manure. The third step is applying and it shows a picture of biochar in fron tof plants. There are describtions for each step.

3 Steps to Biochar

Biochar is for free, permanent and organic. The graphic shows three examples of crop yield increase with biochar. The yield of tomatoes in Nigeria increased by 62%, the yield of maize in Kenya increased by 177% and the yield of onions in Senegal increased by 50%.

Crop Yield Increase – Examples

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Check out my ideas for future projects and find out how you can contribute…

Until then: Join the Biochar Network Africa!

…a Facebook group for everyone interested in small-scale, low-tech and practical biochar production. All my content is also postet there and you can find great discussions about biochar making, charing and application. See you there!