Biochar for Home Gardeners: A Guide to Producing, Charging, and Applying Biochar to Dramatically Improve Soil and Plant Health Kindle Edition

I am an experienced gardener of many years, but I am just getting into understanding the dynamics of my soil. Biochar is a little known amendment that I am interested in. After reading this book, I am ready to start using it. This is an excellent book on the subject.

This concise review of the history, use and ways of producing bio char is eye opening. There is something in it who enjoys growing food and landscaping. With this information you can avoid the use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers.

A great method for improving soil structure and bio availability of nutrients and water retention in the soil resulting in fruits and vegetables having a higher quality of health and nutrition for the plant's. consequently those that consume these plants fruits vegetables etcetera also benefit. I highly recommend reading this book and putting the information into practice.

I only take one star from it because it skipped over a chemical description of what exactly it is. There is only so much to extrapolate from the means of production. But, having known nothing about biochar before reading this, I've definitely been turned on to a new gardening trick that I'm sure to try.

This is a good write-up on biochar on how to create it, use it to get the maximum benefit. Could have included some additional methods to create on a small scale.

This book poses an interesting topic, though I found it lacking in some areas.The book presents a discussion on why gardeners should consider using biochar to enrich their soils, then moves on to making, readying, and applying this organic material. “Biochar for Home Gardeners” ends with a very short history of biochar and a list of references.I believe Mr. Fry’s intentions were to publish a helpful book (as opposed to the thousands of books created with the goal of making money first and foremost). He does make some good points and the text is professionally written. Unfortunately, there are other areas where this book is found to be lacking.Most of the pictures do not add value to the book, some appearing only to be added as filler. The picture of the top-lit updraft gasifier, for example, won’t help much when combined with the short description. This is one of the most important sections in the book, and it would be extremely difficult for a lay person to successfully create what would be needed.I was concerned with the inoculation section of the book. While I have studied human manure (humanure) and believe it can be useful, one must be cautious in this area and I felt the author should have gone to greater lengths to warn people about manure from meat eaters (us, our dogs and cats, etc.) as well as the use of kitchen wastes (the author encourages us to use “meats, dairy, oil, bones”).Bottom line: While the book is professionally written, there are missing aspects important in a book like this, such as complete descriptions on how to create biochar (with adequate pictures). The successful percentages are much higher than I have seen elsewhere, and while I can appreciate the author’s excitement, the incredible numbers come off more as hype than anything else (Example: “The results are oftentimes dramatic with productivity in many crops increasing by an average of 20% and sometimes much more…” needs a reference, and words like “many crops” and “much more” do not encourage a feeling of factual reporting). This book is a starting point for those interested in searching for more information, but not much else. Three stars.

Good overview of production, uses, and benefits of biochar to improve soil health and increase quantity and quality of garden produce.

This book is a useful tool to start using biochar in our home gardens.

Nice contribution as a general overview of the biochar amendments to the soil food web, being as cheap and acessible as powerful.

I was intrigued by this so overlooked but critical aspect of soil management. Can’t wait to have a go at building the charcoal creating furnace and see what can happen!

Eye opening and confirms my rare, sensible thought: the great surface area of char is a Great home to beneficial creatures in our gardens, despite reading a number of times, for years, that "char from your fire is not good for the soil. It won't break down!" Good!. I can't wait to scale up! and give this a decent Go. Thanks Jeff! A very fine book on this soil-building subject.