David the Good sent me. This is awesome. Thank you!
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Thanks for visiting! Make sure to watch all the Biochar videos in the playlist.
@PatrickKQ4HBD
7 ай бұрын
@@LiveOnWhatYouGrowSame, and I will too.
@TheSwiftCreek2
7 ай бұрын
Same
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
@@TheSwiftCreek2 Welcome!
@SrinivasaReddyMuly
7 ай бұрын
me too
@lynettehoyt1903
6 ай бұрын
Thank you! Been trying to figure out how to make a small ant of char in my own Dallas size, metropolitan back yard, and this is it!!! I came because of David The Good. Great minds..... :-)
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
6 ай бұрын
You're very welcome! Just make sure you get the retort up to the temperature where the retort at least partially turn cherry red. I'm not talking about David, but there are a lot of people talking about making biochar that don't know this, and wind up making very low quality biochar with a lot of impurities still in it!
@paulc.3333
7 ай бұрын
David the Good sent me here. Great video!
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Awesome! Thank you!
@Norbingel
Жыл бұрын
What do you do with the cans after you can't use them anymore
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
I throw them into the recycling bin. I meant to say that on the video!
@lauraservey495
Жыл бұрын
Pure genius!
@robang01
7 ай бұрын
Do you need to add holes in the cans when your making your bio char can tool?
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
You don't HAVE to put a hole in the end of your can because the gasses escape from the seams where the two cans are joined, but it does make it easier to see the flames coming out of it so I can see when it's finished.
@littlegreenpatch98
Жыл бұрын
Hi, What type of wood is best to use for this?
@annenitkowski
Жыл бұрын
use any type, but a variety of materials is best.
@naturalhealthmadesimple8589
7 ай бұрын
Im not seeing the link to order the crimper and didnt find it on the internet either. Please advise
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
If you want to purchase the crimping device please visit the following link: amzn.to/3WYBek9
@simonhot
Жыл бұрын
Nice
@davidthegood
7 ай бұрын
Thank you - I shared this on my main blog this morning. Good thinking.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Awesome, thank you!
@davidthegood
7 ай бұрын
We tried it last night with a pair of #10 cans - put in wood chips and sweet gum seed pods, then put the retort in our fireplace for the night. Worked like a charm - perfectly carbonized.@@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
@hamburger512
7 ай бұрын
Here because of DTG!
@vickiduggan7553
7 ай бұрын
@@hamburger512 me too
@UncleDeesYT
7 ай бұрын
Also here because of @davidthegood
@graemefenwick6925
7 ай бұрын
When 2 cans stick, open one of them with the can opener, crimp that end and you have a 3 can cooker. Just a thought. David the Good sent me.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Takes up too much room in the woodstove. Plus I have an unlimited supply of cans! Not worth the time.
@dcmp3po
6 ай бұрын
How about blow on the junction with a warm hairdryer or warm water, until the outer can expands and you can easily slide them apart?
@LJKlineburger
Жыл бұрын
Bamboo is an excellent thing to make biochar out of. Grows fast and has nice straight sticks for packing in the retort.
@abraham3901
Жыл бұрын
I found bamboo charcoal burns clean , lights fast, gets real hot and lasts longer and the food is delicious when used properly. Use it on a big green egg almost daily.
@emgeespeaks8397
Жыл бұрын
Thank you SO much. I've learned something new to work on for next year. Here in SE Wisconsin, Zone 5, I'm nearing the end of my growing season 😞 but I'll work on biochar while I can
@davidthegood
7 ай бұрын
It is good; however, it explodes in a quite entertaining and sometimes dangerous way if you don't split it open between the joints.
@aig9672
7 ай бұрын
@@davidthegood funny seeing you here
@davidthegood
7 ай бұрын
Mom lets me go online sometimes@@aig9672
@kenoguy10
10 ай бұрын
Actually, for can sets that are are stuck together but still able for one end to be opened with a can opener, they could still be used by making and adding another crimped can to fit on the top as usual. This would extend the length of the char cooker. (hopefully still possible to fit inside the fire box.) If you were worried about it coming apart at the middle can, you could fix one of the end cans to the middle can with two or three self tapping sheet metal screws. Just an idea if you needed to fit longer pieces of wood or bone etc. into your biochar maker. This biochar maker built for free is such a great idea!!!! ...... T H A N K S !!!!!!
@lori-annallen9186
7 ай бұрын
Those were my thoughts too. Also, since before it's charged for gardening it's just charcoal-this would be great for making your own lump charcoal for grill cooking or fire starting (same method as making char cloth, just a larger scale) and you could use bigger pieces then. Set the next batch in your fire and you're ready to go again.
@thefishfin-atic7106
Жыл бұрын
Awesome video! I have been trying to source a 30 gallon barrel for almost a year (after watching another biochar video) and had no luck (lots of 50 gallons out there though) and after seeing this, I just smacked myself in the forehead! Of course this is by FAR the most sensible way to make biochar. Everytime we have a campfire this year, I'll be throwing in a few of these cans in there - it helps the fire burn too as the flamible compounds outgass, and I end up with a healthier soil for my garden = win, win, win Thank-you very much for sharing your idea, it is a game-changer!!!
@BigWesLawns
Жыл бұрын
People will argue better cookers, but miss the context. This is perfect for you and what you described. I like it. I could see tossing them into a firepit while sitting around, chuck a couple on there and bury them in branches your burning anyway & in a while you got some char. Simple and cheap. I dont want to spend money. Frugal not cheap.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
I agree. I don't have money to spend on fuel for my furnace. That's why I heat my house with free woodchips and get over $12,000 of biochar for free every year! Because of the biochar I get lots of food from my garden with less work and save even more money, plus it's more nutritious food!
@rozland46
7 ай бұрын
David the Good sent me here. Thanks for the brochure making instructions!!
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Let us know how it works out for you!
@barbarasimoes9463
9 ай бұрын
I am a 63 year old, 4'11" woman, who, until this point, thought that I could never make my own biochar because of the huge drums and welding equipment seemingly required. You have made it possible, and for that, I am so grateful. Thank you for your video; I've already passed it on to friends and the Permie website. By the way, I love that I will be able to use all of the bones and get rid of them in a worthy way! I had prime rib for Christmas, and was bemoaning the fact that the ribs are so large. Not any more! I have a solar digester which is almost full. I'd love to remove all of the bones still in there...they never have broken down...and make char with them; then, I'll have room to just put in the fat and soft debris. Win, win!
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
9 ай бұрын
Fantastic Barbara! I'm 63 also, and I never would have imagined how this one simple idea would change so many lives! It's not like I invented biochar, but that I just came up with an idea to make it easily, and inexpensively... like for free! Make sure to watch the other biochar videos I made for ideas on how to make and activate it and use it in your garden, and subscribe and hit the notification bell so you'll be notified every time we put up a new video!
@TheTamrock2007
7 ай бұрын
I'm right there with you. The last few years I was interested in biochar, but the process seemed overwhelming for me. I'm 62 and just moved into my forever home. I'm super excited and watching all his videos today. I have a long way to go. Compost areas to set up, etc etc etc. But I am truly thrilled to finally start this journey
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Remember, we're here for you if you need any help. A whole community of us!
@ameliagfawkes512
7 ай бұрын
I'm your height and almost your age. We have a woodstove we barely use. We also burn garden waste out in an incinerator. Guess what I'll be doing. Just need a crimping tool. We really only have the smaller cans, but still worth it. I've been thinking of making biochar for a couple of years now and this makes it so easy. xx
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
@@ameliagfawkes512 Let us know how it turns out. In case you didn't see it, you can get the crimper here. I think they're on sale: amzn.to/3WYBek9
@Getoutofthewoods
7 ай бұрын
Another viewer that found you through David the Good...
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Thank you!
@randalmoroski1184
Жыл бұрын
“Living Soil”..! A revolutionary concept. So take that Monsanto !
@liberta2570
7 ай бұрын
We need to help Mon....to go broke and finished!!!
@nathanburget
6 ай бұрын
👍
@MahaEm-o8g
4 ай бұрын
Hahahaha! Right?!
@kablevins
7 ай бұрын
Great video. Sent here by David the Good. I bought the crimping tool. We've been making biochar for a few years now, but using a 55-gal. metal drum. I like your method for small quantities.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
I like it because I can heat my house for free AND make 600 lbs./year!
@ninemoonplanet
7 ай бұрын
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow trying again, sorry, but does all the material need to be completely dry? IE bones have marrow, etc. Thanks
@anitabellefeuille7362
7 ай бұрын
@@ninemoonplanetno they don’t have to be dry. Green wood, leaves, bones with marrow will all turn to Biochar. You just wouldn’t want to fill it with water.
@lindawillenburg6626
7 ай бұрын
Thank you so much! Found you through David the Good.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
@@lindawillenburg6626 Welcome!
@richardpallotta6158
Жыл бұрын
Great use of available materials reflecting a modern "permaculture" mindset. I also appreciate that this guy doesn't care he could be dubbed the " nutty professor" of biochar. Kudos! And looking forward to more on this channel.
@artstamper316
7 ай бұрын
How "Good" of David to recommend your channel! I live in a town and have neither fireplace nor wood stove nor are open fires permitted😢; but our son has just purchased a property on which they hope to homestead so I'll definitely be recommending this to him!
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Yes, he is a "Good" man!
@sarahtheorme
6 ай бұрын
Are you allowed a barbecue? I think that could work.
@sharlenec7289
7 ай бұрын
David the good recommended your video thank you
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Thanks for stopping by. Let me know if you have any questions.
@ienekevanhouten4559
7 ай бұрын
I have been wanting a way to make biochar for years! I am not handy, and intimidated by big projects. Besides by now I am 80 and no longer on an acreage with plenty of wood. This is perfect!
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
It IS perfect. Let us know how it works out for you!
@eveny119
6 ай бұрын
Some places like golf courses will offer free wood chips, or check with tree trimming services.
@diogosilva2475
11 ай бұрын
Another stunning video about the production of biochar. I just love the simplicity and intelligence of the whole process. Thanks again for sharing these gems.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
11 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed them! Make sure you watch all the Biochar videos in the play list here: www.youtube.com/@LiveOnWhatYouGrow/playlists And make sure you subscribe and hit Notifications so you won't miss the new biochar videos I'll be coming out with over the winter!
@B30pt87
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for showing this. I love the idea of making small amounts - mostly because I don't have a 50gallon drum yet, but also because I can use a wood stove indoors to make biochar. Good video, and you are a good person.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
You are so welcome!
@B30pt87
9 ай бұрын
@@LiveOnWhatYouGrow Update: I bought a crimper on Amazon, and I hit up my local pizza place for the cans. You're right, they were delighted to give me their gallon sized ones. It's the beginning of winter now, and my woodstove is ready to start making a winter's worth of biochar. Thank you again for making this video! Blessings upon you.
@emgeespeaks8397
11 ай бұрын
I made my first can on biochar! I used 2 14oz and put it in my grill when we cooked. Now i don't feel afraid of it. I've made larger ones for the fireplace. I'm so excited!
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
11 ай бұрын
That is so awesome!
@jenbear8652
7 ай бұрын
Great idea to put in the grill!
@justincase1152
7 ай бұрын
Just stumbled upon this video! I was just saying yo my hubby I needed to add this to my garden but did not know HOW to do it. What a God send! Thank you! I subbed to your channel!
@Shawn-nd6ew
Жыл бұрын
What about the non organic coating on the inside of most cans now days? I am wishing plastic was never allowed into production too bad we never look past our noses : (
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for bringing this up. If you have plastic on the inside of the cans you can put the empty cans in the fire, let them get red hot, and take them out and let them cool. Then use a wire brush to scrape out the ash and wash the can with soap and water. Currently, the food industry is trying to (or being forced to) ameliorate the situation to utilize less toxic materials. Check out this website: www.foodpackagingforum.org/food-packaging-health/can-coatings
@keithnotley2440
Жыл бұрын
Brilliant !!! Thankyou so much! I have made Biochar for several years now - fantastic soil amendment!- BUT your production method is GOLD! Wishing you all the best.🥰🍀🥰
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@trockodile
7 ай бұрын
Here via David the Good's channel, instant subscriber, great stuff! Thank you for this great idea and all you're doing to encourage self sufficiency, self reliance, and a community spirited mindset. Great channel! 👍
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Thanks and welcome! Check out the other biochar videos in the Biochar Playlist!
@trockodile
7 ай бұрын
@@LiveOnWhatYouGrow Many thanks! I've been watching a good few from your back catalogue of uploads. Great stuff and very much appreciated. Thank you from the Highlands of Scotland! 👍
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
@@trockodile I appreciate that. What's your climate like there?
@trockodile
7 ай бұрын
@@LiveOnWhatYouGrow Odd at best! We're a late last frost (end of May), coupled with an early first frost (beginning of October), so a fairly short growing season. Summers rarely go above 20C. We get snow every winter for multiple bursts of a couple of weeks, but rarely colder than around -6C and usually only to a maximum of a foot or so in depth at a time. High winds (60 to 100mph is not unusual, below 20mph is unusual!) with a lot of coastal high salt wind burn, high rain fall (daily!), shallow soil over granite bedrock but of a medium to good growing capacity. We spend a lot of time choosing the right varieties, sheltering our gardens in one ingenious fashion or another, building soil using any organic materials we can lay our hands on, growing in containers/pots which we can reposition or protect from the weather, and making raised beds to get the best out of the place! We have access to a lot of free and abundant coastal resources (seaweed is an absolute godsend) and all my immediate neighbours farm to some extent so are helpful, tolerant, sympathetic, and generous people to be among. It feels like the kind of place you either love and spend your whole life learning to work with, or you loath it and leave, or at least it feels like that at times. We have coasts galore, mountains, space to grow, wildlife, and good neighbours who still know how to raise their own food... and we have Highland cows who are cute, good natured, hardy, and delicious in equal measures. It's a pretty phenomenal life here! 😁👍
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Thanks for getting back to me, The reason I'm asking is, it looks to me like you have the same growing conditions that we have here in Connecticut in the US. So a lot of the things we do on the videos may be applicable to you as well. It sounds like we both have the same mindset about gardening and self-sufficiency as well! I look forward to getting to know you better!
@CharlieLemmink
11 ай бұрын
Finally, an accessible way to make high quality biochar (compare to my previous interest in the Hookway retort and impossible-to-find small steel barrels to put inside larger ones). Thanks! I'll be visiting some pizza restaurants soon...
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
11 ай бұрын
And the best thing about this method is that I get to heat my house for free throughout the winter instead of letting the heat go to waste like with other retorts! By the way, it helps if you buy pizza from them!
@CharlieLemmink
11 ай бұрын
Unfortunately, my favorite pizza-maker (my wife) just uses little glass jars, but thanks for the advice! I'm sure you're right that it helps to be waiting for a pizza when I ask!
@daleglenny8253
Жыл бұрын
Ordered some crimpers just now! This will be a perfect technique for inside my pizza oven! Now to source some larger tins (and some free wood chip). Thanks for this great technique!
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
Don't forget you can use bones, corncobs, hair, cardboard, twigs, dead chipmunks, sawdust, or anything that was once alive and turn it into biochar!
@abraham3901
Жыл бұрын
Indeed, Pine cones are perfect size once it brakes down. Now porosity is key, heard soft wood has a lot more porosity like pine, vs. say oak or magnolia. …but x the grill, We pick hard woods to make charcoal to grill mushrooms lately.
@daleglenny8253
Жыл бұрын
@@LiveOnWhatYouGrow haha, it’d be quite a feat to get a dead chipmunk where I am. I’m more likely to get kangaroo bones, if you catch my drift. But good to know about the bones. We don’t eat a lot of meat but some. I’ve been wondering how to get the bones into the garden without attracting vermin.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
I use whatever the power company gives me. It's all good! Now back to the mushrooms...
@ddavis78704
7 ай бұрын
What a great idea. The one thing I would suggest is running the cans through a heat cycle once to burn off the plastic lining that is in the can. You also may want to keep that in mind when you are doing this first burn. If you are doing it in an indoor stove.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Yes I do talk about this, but at such high heat anything reactive, that is, anything that could be toxic to you or your garden... that part will vaporize and burn off with all the methane, wood alcohol, and tar that's coming out of the wood.
@iartistdotme
Жыл бұрын
Question - would it work to just add another can on the sealed shut one after you can opened it? It sure would be larger.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
I'm not sure what you're asking - for what purpose? If you're talking about the two I got stuck together, yes you can make a 3 can retort if it will fit into your fire. I was thinking about doing that. It sure won't hurt to try!
@saddammall3337
Жыл бұрын
All the way from rehoboth Namibia🇳🇦...great idea 🤔
@portiamonnette
7 ай бұрын
Do you know the "Food Forest Namibia" guy ??? He is trying to help spread permaculture to the poorer communities in Namibia. Check him out if you see my reply to your comment
@anitatom8569
7 ай бұрын
I, too, found you from David the Good.🤗
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Thank You very much!
@Janette-rz4km
27 күн бұрын
I'm collecting #10 cans from my job and I plan to do this. I collected 3 bean cans today and I'm going to buy the crimper. David the Good sent me as well.
@isaaca6445
9 ай бұрын
You, sir, are an absolute genius!!! You have no idea how much you've helped me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!🙏🏿❤
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
9 ай бұрын
Glad to help! The best way to thank us is to subscribe and hit the bell and like buttons so we can get the content out to more people! Plus you'll get notifications every time we put up a new video! We've got a lot more to say about biochar.
@rhinothumping
7 ай бұрын
I’ve been doing this with single soup cans and coffee cans for several months now. I love the crimping idea to make a larger retort! I usually fill mine with broken twigs that I pull from fir trees on the property. It allows me to clean up the undergrowth and not waste all the twigs that would normally burn up in a fire.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
It IS a game-changer. You will make more, and higher quality, biochar much more efficiently! I can understand why people would try to save money by not buying crimpers, and some people really can’t afford them, I totally get it. But the value of the biochar I make is in the thousands of dollars, like over $10,000 a year, and you want it to be the highest quality possible. When you have wide gaps in your seams because you’re using pliers to make the scallops, you’re going to let too much air in and lose way more than the cost of the crimpers by the lower value of the end product that turns to ash! So when YOU CAN afford the crimpers, IT PAYS to get them! Here’s a link for the crimpers to look at: amzn.to/3WYBek9
@andrewsprout9281
7 ай бұрын
I have been looking for a DIY biochar retort, this one is perfect! Thank you for the idea
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@zialuna
7 ай бұрын
Wow! I'm so happy to have found this video, so useful as I build a fire every day in winter. Thank you!!!
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@lisa13-13
7 ай бұрын
This is great! Can't wait to try this. David The Good sent me too.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Let us know about your results!
@kazparzyxzpenualt8111
7 ай бұрын
There was a product made called "Bio-Charlie" which was a cute name for this style of either in stove / in fire pit appliance. It looked simple enough and was made apparently out of a section of stove pipe and the same sized end caps right off the hardware shelf. Some kind of handles were on the end caps. Splendid recycle project you have shared! Thank you!
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Thanks for posting. I learned about the Bio-Charlie a few years ago. But in my opinion it has three major drawbacks compared to my method. • First of all is the cost. My method is free. • Second, you would need to purchase multiple units: one to put in the fire, one to have cooling before opening up, and one _to have ready_ to put into the fire. • Third, you can make much more biochar with my free method. I usually have three large retorts In the fire (made from #10 cans) and six smaller ones also in there made from soup cans, with all nine at once. While those nine are cooling I already filled nine more cans that are ready to put into the fire. While the first nine are still cooling AND the second nine are in the fire I'm already filling up nine more. So I can make a lot of biochar this way AND heat my house for free all winter!
@avrileley4534
5 ай бұрын
@@LiveOnWhatYouGrow Maybe I missed this somewhere, but approximately how long would these cans take to become finished biochar? Are we talking of a few hours? Also would you need to top up your fire with logs periodically? Perhaps just when you put a new set of cans in? This is fabulous. Thank you.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
5 ай бұрын
@@avrileley4534 It takes me about an hour, but it all depends on how hot your fire is and the moisture content of your feedstock. You may need to add wood to your fire because you need your retorts to get up to about 1500°F (815°C) to make the best quality charcoal. Very conveniently, the steel cans turn cherry red at that temp so you have a good indicator of when it's finished.
@MamaTrepFreeman
Жыл бұрын
Such an awesome and educational video! Could you also use those 2 stuck cans that you have used the can opener on and add a third can crimped to the top so that you have a longer biochar retort, for use in a larger fireplace or fire pit? Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and expertise.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
You absolutely can! BTW you should always have at least three times the amount of retorts you can fit into your fire, so you can put more in the fire while the finished ones are cooling!
@MamaTrepFreeman
Жыл бұрын
@@LiveOnWhatYouGrow I did it! 62 and learn something new every day! Thanks 😊
@johnthompkins6362
Жыл бұрын
That was my idea too. Instead of throwing away those 2 cans just add another one to it. Love the idea great thanks for sharing it
@dethdriver1974
7 ай бұрын
Got the link from DTG! I liked and subscribed and will be sharing with my friends.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Awesome thank you! Reach out to us if you have any questions!
@lloydr.6271
4 ай бұрын
Just subscribed because I found exactly what I needed ref biochar , CEC , etc. The retort is on my "to do" list. I'm restoring my polytunnel and all of this helps tremendously. Your other video on biochar and the " black soil" was illuminating. Many , many thanks. We're nowhere near feeding ourselves 100 per cent yet but that is our target. Cheers.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
4 ай бұрын
Thanks for your comment, cheers to you. I'm renaming my process for building regenerative soil, I'm calling it a Mostly No-work Garden because we don't have weeds, we don't till or turn the soil, and we hardly have to water! But I always say, in addition to that, that it takes a lot of work to build a mostly no-work garden! Because the microorganisms drill down deep bringing up nutrients and concentrating them in the growing area, we eventually won't have to add any amendments to the soil for fertility. I'll always make compost but I won't have to make nearly as much once the microorganisms are flourishing and I get the depth of aerobic soil. Biochar is a very important facilitator for both of those!
@bobg5362
7 ай бұрын
Watches video. Realizes he has two steel, fifty-five gallon drums behind the barn. Starts searching for T-Rex-sized crimping tool. 😄
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Finding T-rex crimping tools is easy... you need to get a big enough wood stove to put it in AND a big enough house to put the woodstove in. It probably would be easier to use #10 cans you get free at the pizza restaurant!
@thesumofus-g2b
4 ай бұрын
how did you make the crimping before you used the crimping tool mentioned? It’s so expensive over here…
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
4 ай бұрын
Try grabbing the opening in the cans with a pair of needlenose plyers and twist it all the way around making a zig-zag pattern, Or you can cut slits about an inch (25cm) deep on the edges of the can and you should be able to fit one can into the other. It's still best to get the crimpers when you can afford them to make better quality biochar as you will get less ash and more char with the crimpers.
@meanqkie2240
7 ай бұрын
David the Good sent me. Great instructional. New subscriber.😁
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Thanks for the sub!
@907AKOFT
Жыл бұрын
Do you have worry about the melting plastic coating on the inside of the can absorbing into the biochar? Thank you for the videos!
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
Unless someone can show me otherwise, I don't! The cans are being heated to cherry red hot which according to: hypertextbook.com/facts/2000/StephanieLum.shtml is a temperature of over 1300°F. At that high temperature, any chemicals that could be harmful are volatilized. What's left behind is the carbon and minerals. However if someone shows me a study otherwise, I will change my thinking about it. But so far there aren't any as far as I know.
@Acappellaokecom
Жыл бұрын
Your last two videos are amazing! THANK YOU!!!! This is the most expedient technique I have found. (Ordering crimpers in 3...2...)
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
Thanks, I appreciate it a lot. Let us know how you do with your biochar!
@Herculesbiggercousin
7 ай бұрын
David’s shoutout sent me here. Thank you for sharing! Great work and I hope you have a killer 2024 season
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Thanks
@jadvla
7 ай бұрын
David the Good posted your bio char maker and I subscribed so I could get more great ideas
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Welcome!
@saltybildo9448
2 ай бұрын
Boiled peanut cans ,😜
@thedude5740
Жыл бұрын
Save yourself some crimping time by using the can opener properly. Use the can opener to cut the side of the can and not what you consider to be the lid...😂
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the info but the beaded part that remains around the top of the can makes the retort last a lot longer through many more burns. They deteriorate much more quickly when you remove that part!
@KalaEsso
10 ай бұрын
I tried this, but I noticed a bunch of metallic looking residue inside the can and amongst the biochar. Is this stuff ok, or do you do a first burn and clean off the inside of the can? These shiny metal flakes seem toxic?
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
10 ай бұрын
I don't worry about it at all. It's the inner coating of the can. The red-hot temperature of the can will burn off all the volatile compounds in it. But if you are concerned, you can put the empty cans in the fire until red hot, and then take them out, let them cool, and clean them out with a wire brush.
@theresahanken4295
7 ай бұрын
This is GREAT! Thank you for sharing! May God bless you and your family.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
We're here for you if you have any questions!
@AngryPeasants
7 ай бұрын
David the Good sent me. I burn wood for heat, now ill make Biochar too! Tyvm.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
If you can get a tree company deliver a load of woodchips for free, you can use them to heat your house. Just bring them into your house before it rains on them. It'll take twice as long to turn to char, AND you'll burn through your retorts twice as fast! BTW, you can also use the chips as a mulch, for your walkways, and as a brown component for you compost piles!
@AngryPeasants
7 ай бұрын
@@LiveOnWhatYouGrow Oh interesting, I'll look into burning woodchips for heat, tyvm!
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
@@AngryPeasants ONLY if you burn them in the retort. They won't burn like regular firewood! I think you probably know that, but I wanted to make sure!
@alynmcgee1580
7 ай бұрын
Just saw you on Survival gardener and ordered my crimper right away. This is truly a blessing for so many gardeners. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Welcome!
@Warriors_Garden_and_Workshop
Жыл бұрын
great information, I'm curious though how much biochar in the soil is too much? is there a compost to biochar ratio that you use? Also, for people who don't have a woodstove and have to use an open fire, a campfire for example, how long does the process take? Can you tell it's done without opening the can?
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
Hello, my next video will tell you how to make and activate biochar. Most people who've been working with biochar for a long time say the ideal would be 10-20% but it seems to me that number is just a taking point everyone repeats, and no one REALLY knows, because none of them EVER talks about the depth of that percentage! If you're talking about the top six inches, and the 10% number, that would mean adding in 0.6 of an inch, (which is a LOT of biochar for a garden my size!) If you're talking about 2 feet of depth it would require 2.4 inches. That's an amount I'm never going to reach if I'm making 500 lbs. a year. The amount of time it takes will vary depending on what feedstock you are using, Oak, for example, will take much longer than a retort full of acorns. The amount of moisture in the stock also influences the amount of time needed, as does the temperature of the fire. The temperature inside a woodstove gets up to about 1200°F and a fire outside MAY not get up to that temp. so the time needed will vary a lot depending on your circumstances. Generally, it takes about an hour to do one batch of dry woodchips in my woodstove. Last year it rained on my chips outside and they took about 3 hours to finish. When your retort is in the fire it will go through three stages. At first, you're going to see steam escaping out of the hole on top. Next, you will see a flame coming out of the hole when the methane and alcohol combine with oxygen as it escapes. Finally, when the flame stops you'll notice through the hole that it's glowing red inside. At this point, it's probably done. I just take the can and put it aside for two hours or so to let it completely cool down. If, after opening it, I find it's not completed, I just close it up and put it back into the fire, sometimes even the next day. It heats back up VERY quickly, and you'll see that flame again as the remainder of the volatile gasses are burned from the stock. After it's done, the most important thing is that you don't pour it out into your container until you know that there is not even one red ember left in it. If even one is in it, it will ignite the whole batch and you will be left with a bucket of ashes! So once you're ready to add it to your bucket, you'll need to add some water to make sure it's completely out! The next video will be about making and activating the biochar so I will be covering all this! Thanks for all the great questions!
@tiemruoubinhan
Жыл бұрын
Great! We're Vietnam 🇻🇳 want to say thank you very much
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
cảm ơn bạn (using Google translator)🙂
@krisoberhauserbishop7552
6 ай бұрын
I have 15 acres, goats, and grow. Lot of food but I am always looking for easier ways of doing things as I age. This was a great video. Thank you.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
6 ай бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@vidard9863
7 ай бұрын
Allegedly tree companies will sometimes offer free wood chips. Combining that with this trick and you could get a virtually free very low effort system going.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
I have TONS of woodchips out in my yard. They're fantastic for the walkways and for the brown component of my compost piles. I also use them to make fungal dominated compost to bring the fungi to bacteria (F:B) ratio into the about 1:1 ratio it needs to be for the types of crops I'm growing!
@resolutionarybeing1885
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for this wonderful idea! I have been making bio-char in my wood stove in the small dark blue oval roasting pans that have lids that fit fairly snugly. I love your idea so much more, Free, any size matching cans and so practical in sizes that can be tucked in all spaces around the burning wood.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
I'm glad that I could help!
@gordonmitchell729
6 ай бұрын
Amazing idea friend. I love this video and I have saved loads of coffee and dog food tins and wondered what I could use them for. I have a very big garden and the grapevines and apples trees need some help so this is a great way to provide some nutrients for them. Thank you 🙏
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
6 ай бұрын
I know what you mean, but just to be clear for all the readers, biochar doesn't provide any nutrients for your soil or plants but provides homes for the microbiological life IN the soil, as well as to help increase the CEC (cation exchange capacity) of the soil, so the soil itself CAN hold more nutrients.
@gordonmitchell729
6 ай бұрын
@@LiveOnWhatYouGrow understood thank you. Important point to remember. I will be watching your videos for more information. I have a lot of mulch from last year so I will be adding that. 🏆
@AngryPeasants
7 ай бұрын
Cans are lined with plastic stuff, make sure you burn that off before your first run of biochar.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
If you want to you can throw the cans in the fire to heat them up and let then let them cool and clean them out with a wire brush!
@miriammarguet8751
7 ай бұрын
Thank you, exactly what I was worried about. I don't want to have that in my garden.
@emgeespeaks8397
Жыл бұрын
Thank you SO much. I've learned something new to work on for next year. Here in SE Wisconsin, Zone 5, I'm nearing the end of my growing season 😞 but I'll work on biochar while I can
@TrggrWarning
5 ай бұрын
I want to try it, can I Biochar on a BBQ? By throwing one of those on/in my grill as I BBQ What would be the estimated heat/time requirement? How did you crimp those things prior to this crimper? Think twisting some pliers would do the trick
@liberta2570
7 ай бұрын
My mom made this in her fire wood bbq. I was young and didn't understand then, but now I do. She learned during ww2 in Italy. Thank you for the reminder. I will try in smaller cans for our fire pit. How long does it take? How do you know it's ready?
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
How long it takes depends on many factors, how hot the fire is, but especially the water content of your feedstock. Generally, you can figure about an hour. The way you can tell it is done is by observing whether smoke or flames are coming out of the the hole on the end and from the seams where the two cans join together. When that stops happening, you know it's probably done. Take it out of the fire, let it cool completely, and slowly open it up to see the contents without spilling them out. If everything is black inside and no brown wood is visible you can dump it into a container for activating. If you see any brown left at all you can put it back into another fire later on to complete the process, (which should only take a few minutes).
@liberta2570
7 ай бұрын
@@LiveOnWhatYouGrow Great instructions! Thank you. I'm going to try soon!! Need to collect some cans first.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
@@liberta2570 Thanks for subscribing!
@shaulgrantz9077
7 ай бұрын
David the Good (who should maybe be called: David the Best), sent me as well and I'm really glad to be here. Thank You.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Welcome!
@DennisZimmerman
9 ай бұрын
@liveonwhatyougrow On the cooker that you cut the bottom out just crimp another can and you will have a larger cooker.
@abraham3901
Жыл бұрын
I use this little Altoids metal containers, they Re perfect for pistachios shells or anything small like bamboo pencil sticks. Made a few x xmas presents. Lotsa fun watching your video. Thanks.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
Now, there's an example of being creative, Any metal container that excludes air while letting the wood gasses escape can be your retort! Thanks for sharing!
@alexcampbell1895
Жыл бұрын
Thank you very much! This is really quite a valuable guide to healthy soil! I’m excited to learn the next phase, activating the bio-charcoal !
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
Please subscribe if you haven't already, and click the ALL button to receive notifications. The new video is already up!
@jeffsinnock5353
7 ай бұрын
Thank you thank you! I watched this video went out got the cans and the crimper and so far made two 5-gallon buckets then charged and started adding it to my garden beds and flower soil. Spring is coming this will be the first season adding biochar excited to see the results.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Make sure you watch the activation video here: kzitem.info/news/bejne/w4SAk4Glp2aFf20 I always activate it for at least thirty days BEFRE adding it to my garden beds, and then I still add it on top of the soil and cover it with a layer of compost. This method will prevent the char from sucking the nutrients out of your soil. Here is a video that shows you 5 ways that I use it: kzitem.info/news/bejne/q2mttqZqoamEZaQ
@dixiedennis2388
7 ай бұрын
I've slowly been making biochar and adding it to my garden for a few years now. This method seems much easier and more efficient than the open system I've been using. I also love that in your other video you say it's not necessary to grind it to dust! I've been adding it "chunky" because otherwise I get too busy to process it.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Same here. I was too busy, and it was too dusty, and I found out it was unnecessary to grind it to powder! Thanks for commenting!
@qualqui
7 ай бұрын
Your IRIE channel recommended by King David the Good below my comment!Thank you for sharing this priceless information, 👍,subbed and greetings👋for your family and you from central Mexico!🤠
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Awesome, thank you!
@ladyela9283
6 ай бұрын
Thank you for being here, Sir; David the Good sent me, and yes, I subscribed.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
6 ай бұрын
Welcome aboard!
@Singing434
Жыл бұрын
What type of cookers can this be put in to make the bio char? How long to cook it to have it done?
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
You can do it in a number of ways, from burning in open pits on the ground to the retort method I teach, and even elaborate ways using 55 gal drums. The next video explains the way I do it. But there are a lot of ideas online showing a variety of methods. Here's my video on how I do it: kzitem.info/news/bejne/w4SAk4Glp2aFf20
@CRAZYCR1T1C
2 ай бұрын
Hi , great idea. Here is an easier way: biscuit tins
@ronachadwick7908
2 ай бұрын
Interesting. Can you video and post?
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Ай бұрын
That'll work... anything that prevents air from getting in while allowing the gasses to escape!
@HKdouche
6 күн бұрын
I'm worried that it might pressurize and blow, are there any chances of that happening?
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
5 күн бұрын
I've been making it for years and it has never happened. In a worst-case scenario the two cans theoretically would just come apart, but even that never happens because the gases escape from the seam where the two cans join, AND from the hole I put in the end of one of the cans.
@crappo8459
6 ай бұрын
Nicely done 👍
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
6 ай бұрын
Thanks 👍
@nickp.2432
7 ай бұрын
Awesome thanks ❤
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
You're welcome 😊
@WoodRanger138
7 ай бұрын
Crimping WITHOUT crimping tool: kzitem.info/news/bejne/tHqt3JevnYd6pIYsi=RdDU9fyQxAPB6_vr
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Thanks!
@craigthompson8275
7 ай бұрын
Excellent video. I would like to ask you about scale. You mention a 1/4 acre garden and 500lbs per year of biochar that will not break down. So how much do you put in your garden before you say, "I now have enough"? What about a raised bed that is 4ft by 8ft.? Thank you! (ALSO IF/WHEN YOU HIT THAT LIMIT DO YOU STOP USING COMPOST.?)
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Hi Craig, for a 4 X 8 bed I would say one garbage can full, about 125 lbs. amounting to about a two inch thick layer would be about right. That will give you a 10% ratio for the top twenty inches. When you hit that amount of activated biochar, you won't need to add any more forever. I would never stop adding compost until I'm too old to do it, as it's not the biochar that's making your soil fertile, but the soil LIFE which makes it fertile, and that's going to take some time. The compost is the food for the microorganisms and I think you should add a small amount each year even after you're built up your fertility. It also depends on the condition of your soil when you start, so there is no one size fits all answer. You need air in your soil too. It needs to be able to drain well, and also be able to retain water, and compost helps you with all that!
@aruuuba
7 ай бұрын
Great idea, thank you from Spain!! New subscriber! Any suggestion for the people that don't have that crimping tool?
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
You absolutely don't need the crimping tool to make biochar. I understand why people would want to save money by not buying crimpers, and some people really can't afford them, But the value of the biochar I make is in the thousands of dollars, over $10,000 over one winter, and I want it to be the highest quality possible. When you use other methods you often have wide gaps in your seams because you don't get a good seal, and let too much air in, you lose way more than the cost of the crimpers when your charcoal turns to ash. Ash is ok for your garden, but its value is pennies a cubic foot, while biochar is worth about $170 per cubic foot! I've made retorts in every way imaginable, including using plyers and twisting the metal to form that zig-zag pattern, and cutting slots about an inch long on the open end of one of the cans and jamming it into the other, but the crimpers really are the best way to go. Without a good seal, you not only let more air in the retort and some of the contents turn to ash, but also the cans will often come apart in the fire... especially after multiple uses... AND it all turns to ash! So when YOU CAN afford crimpers, IT PAYS to get them! Here’s a link for the crimpers I use: amzn.to/3WYBek9
@pastryshack551
7 ай бұрын
O my god, so smart sir, I was burning my wood the hard way. Thanks
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
You're welcome!
@samsaumatua1077
6 ай бұрын
How do we join your community? Apreciate your video. Informative. ----Sam
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
5 ай бұрын
Thanks for asking. Just subscribe to our channel and click on the notifications bell. You will receive notifications whenever we put up a new video and people can respond to your questions and posts. Also, click on the Community Tab where you can participate in what other people are talking about. If you click the link near the top of our channel's homepage that says, "and 3 more links" You can scroll down and send us emails directly with any questions you may have! Also, if you like any of our videos, give us a like or a thumbs up to help us gain a bigger reach to more people who may need to hear about Live on What You Grow! Thanks!
@debbybommarito2729
7 ай бұрын
I live in an apartment but I will make one or two of these and take them to the next backyard fire pit party at my daughter’s house. Then I can use it in my little 3x10 garden and containers Pretty cool - I’m excited! 🎉 A person can garden anywhere! I plan to get my wood pieces from the big box store like Menards or Lowe’s or maybe a local wood shop
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
I'm excited for you... REALLY! You can turn that small plot of ground into something really productive if you can make a batch of compost every year along with your biochar. The secret to a productive garden in microbiological life, and since you're working with such a small area, you can make it super fertile! I recommend you get a small compost tumbler like the ones on this Amazon page: amzn.to/42CqeNR It doesn't matter which one you get, but I used one of these when I was just getting started and they work great! You can also do vermicomposting like I showed in this video: kzitem.info/news/bejne/w5xmp4t_fJWChX4
@christinolan7538
Жыл бұрын
On the can that you used a can opener on, why don’t you just get another can for a new lid, and use it as a three can cooker
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Жыл бұрын
Hi Cristi, that is a great idea. I was thinking about either doing that, or making it into a Top Lit Updraft Biochar Stove (TLUD)! I currently only make biochar in my woodstove in the winter, (and get free heat in the process), and making a TLUD would allow me to make biochar all year, and cook food, boil water, etc. for free. I really hate the idea of an open burn biochar pit because you're wasting one of the most valuable end products of making biochar... and that is the clean heat it produces!
@B_4035mn
Ай бұрын
Man, that's a lot of BPA released into the atmosphere, maybe you should've researched what's in the cans before doing that.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
Ай бұрын
Yes and you don't really need it, the gasses escape out from the seams as well. It's just easier to SEE the gasses and steam escaping out through the vent hole and makes it easier to tell when the pyrolization process is completed.
@GypsyBrokenwings
6 ай бұрын
David the Good sent me over! Great idea! 👍
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
6 ай бұрын
Welcome!
@nathanburget
6 ай бұрын
Hey. After reading comments, I just thought of a question. Can I put a few of (you're can idea) in oven. I have no flame source.✌& thank you. May all be well.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
6 ай бұрын
You really need higher temperatures than you can reach in an oven to make quality charcoal for turning into biochar, plus the gasses that come out of the wood need to ignite and burn or they will be released into the air you breathe! So the answer is a definite no.
@TheFernchap
7 ай бұрын
Can a little of this biochar help my house plants indoors? How about my domestic blueberries, haskaps and peach tree? Amazing. I just found you! ❤
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
Yes, absolutely, as long as it has been charged and if you keep the amount to around 10% of the soil volume!
@bjoburn7821
7 ай бұрын
Thanks for Good Information
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
You're welcome!
@davidandrulis1576
6 ай бұрын
If you're wondering where to get a crimper like that, they are used in the HVAC industry to crimp pipe in ductwork. Places like Home Depot or Lowe's should carry them, or they can be purchased on eBay. Maybe even Harbor Freight.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
6 ай бұрын
You can get them on Amazon by following this link: amzn.to/3YasuYM
@robang01
7 ай бұрын
Hi there. Did you say you make over 500lb of bio char a year? How often during the winter months are you making charcoal? Daily? A few times per week? And how many pair of #10 cans do you use over a Winter season, approximately? Just trying to get an idea in my mind of how this process looks, and gathering up cans. I believe I would need about 500lb too. Is that also approximately 4 or 5 large trash cans that hold 500lbs? 100lbs per can? Also, how do you make the other things you add when you activate the bio char? Many blessing and many thank yous
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
7 ай бұрын
One large can fully charged is about 125 lbs. I put in it whatever I have on hand including compost, leaf mold (I bring in about a dozen 5-gal. bucket in the fall), worm castings, fish fertilizer, urine, basically anything like that. I make it all day every day throughout the winter. I use about 40 -50 #10 cans over the course of the winter. And don't forget, the burning of the gasses in the wood burn very cleanly, and that's how I heat my house!
@bethannlawrence4512
5 ай бұрын
What is the composition of your cans? Are they steel? Lined or unlined? Just wondering how you source them and ensure that they aren't Aluminum and/or lined... I'm assuming that you avoid Al due the concern about Al contamination in the biochar at such high temps. Thanks!
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
5 ай бұрын
I source the cans from a local pizza restaurant. You can tell if they're steel by checking with a magnet. Aluminum can't be used because it melts at about 660°F and the retorts must get to about 1500°F to make high quality char. I don't worry about the lining because the high heat volatilizes it and it goes up the chimney. If you are concerned about it you can put the empty cans in the fire until they're red hot, take them out, let them cool, and clean them with a wire brush, steel wool, or a Scotch pad.
@GardenJen
5 ай бұрын
Came from David as well and bought the crimper with your link! Amazing idea!
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
5 ай бұрын
Welcome!
@61chihugs
8 ай бұрын
I will try using my Webber barbeque -- nice round dome cover to make biochar. I heard that hardwood should be used. Nice to hear wood chips okay to use.
@LiveOnWhatYouGrow
8 ай бұрын
If you use the wood to cook your food, it would be fine. Just extinguish the red hot coals with water. Make sure you don't use lighter fluid or charcoal briquettes that have lighter fluid as an additive. I personally wouldn't want to use the grill to solely make biochar as it will burn through the metal quite rapidly. It may be better to make a fire on the ground and put out the fire with water when the coals are red.
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