Thank you for choosing the Biochar Fire Pit! Your purchase not only provides a unique and sustainable outdoor heating and cooking experience but also contributes to environmental health.

This firepit is designed to produce biochar, a valuable soil amendment that can improve soil fertility, increase water retention, and sequester carbon dioxide in your garden. By using this firepit, you’re actively participating in sustainable practices and contributing to a healthier planet.

To get started, please follow the instructions below to produce your first batch of biochar.

Instructions:

https://youtu.be/4rSbcE5I4sQ

Scan the QR code above for a short how to video. 

1. Check burn rules: Check with your city, county or other jurisdiction to ensure burning is permitted. 
2. Prepare the Kiln: Ensure the Biochar Fire Pit is on stable, fire-resistant ground place at a safe distance from structures and other flammable material. Verify your hose is working and attached to the Biochar Fire Pit.
3. Collect Biomass: Collect biomass (i.e. wood, prunings etc.) from your garden to make biochar. We have successfully made biochar from garden “waste” such as tree prunings, dried corn stocks and dried berry vines. It is important to try to select yard waste that is as dry as possible so it is easier for you to keep your Biochar Fire Pit burning and to reduce the smoke from your Biochar Fire Pit. You can also use cardboard (plastic free) and other compostable forms of waste as long as the moisture content of the waste is low enough. 
4. Build Your Fire Base:  Start with a loose layer of small twigs and dry leaves at the bottom of the kiln. You may also use paper or cardboard (plastic free) as tinder for your fire. 

If you need help to learn how to start a fire a youtube search for “how to build a campfire” will get you on the right track. 

1. Light the Fire:  Light the fire as you would a standard campfire. 
2. Manage the Fire: As the fire progresses, Gradually add larger pieces of biomass. Use small diameter sticks or kindling until you have a hot base since using too large of biomass at the start of the run may result in it becoming buried too quickly and not fully converting to biochar. It typically takes 10-15 minutes to get a hot base. Wood should be cut down to no more than 2 inches thick  because any thicker and you risk the wood not fully transforming into biochar.
3. Continue to add biomass: As the fire burns you will see that it burns down giving room to add more biomass to your fire pit. When the flames have died down it is a good time to add more fuel. Unlike a traditional fire pit that allows oxygen to come in from all sides you will see that biochar starts to accumulate in the Biochar Fire Pit. As you get closer to the end of the run (~30 - 40 minutes)  use progressively smaller diameter biomass because larger diameter biomass will take too long to convert to biochar. 

Hint: Roasting marshmallows and making smores as your last step before quenching is a great way to pace yourself and avoid quenching too early. 

1. Extinguishing the Fire: When enough biochar has accumulated in the Biochar Fire Pit that you can not add much more biomass to the top wait until the fire has burned down and is no longer flaming. Quench the fire from the bottom up by turning on your garden hose water supply with your hose connected to the quenching pipe. Do not allow the fire pit to overflow because hot material could flow out of the fire pit. 
2. Drain the Biochar Fire Pit: Once the fire pit is completely quenched and you are sure nothing is burning you can drain the Biochar Fire Pit either where it stands or you can drain the water into another part of your garden by using a the garden hose attached to the Biochar Fire Pit.  
3. Mix Your Biochar Into Your Compost Bin: Mixing biochar into your compost bin is not required to sequester carbon or for long term soil improvement but can help your garden's growth next growing season because biochar is like a sponge for nutrients so charging it up with nutrients and microbes from your compost will allow biochar to help your garden right away. 
4. Leave Your Biochar in the Compost for a Month: This gives microbes and nutrients time to soak into the porous biochar structure.

Add the biochar to your garden: Unlike most fertilizers where the biggest gains are made by putting the fertilizer on your best soil, biochar improves the soil and will improve the properties of your worst soil. 

1. Hint: if you do have some biomass that did not fully convert to biochar (as in it is not easily broken apart with your fingers) you can let it dry out and put it in your next fire. 

Important Notes:

• The biochar production process typically takes 2 to 3 hours with wood but can be much faster with quick burning small diameter biomass. For example we have made biochar with corn stocks and the total run time was around 30 minutes. 
• The quality and texture of biochar can vary depending on the feedstock and burning conditions.
• Local regulations regarding open burning may apply. Always check your local burn rules before using a Biochar Fire Pit. 
• If you want to make biochar with corn stalks or other dried out biomass from your garden preparation is key. You want all the corn stalks (or other quick burning biomass) prepared ahead of time and ready to go because when you are dealing with such a fast burning biomass you need to act fast to keep the fire properly stoked. You won’t have time to walk around your garden collecting this biomass while you are burning it. 

Troubleshooting:

Under-charring:

Note: If you don’t get full conversion to biochar you can set the charred wood that did not fully convert aside to dry out and put it in the fire pit the next time you make biochar. 

Under-charing typically is caused in a few ways:

1. By putting in a thick stick right at the beginning and then covering it up so quickly that the hottest burn zone moves up past this stick before it fully converts to biochar. You will know it is not converted because it will not crumble and will retain a strong wooden core. 
2. Putting in wood that is too thick close to the end of the run or in general putting in wood that is too thick.  We recommend splitting your wood to a maximum of 2in in diameter. You might be able to get away with thicker but this is a good starting point. I wouldn't put in anything much over an inch in diameter when you have about a half an hour left. 
3. Quenching too quickly after adding new wood. You generally won’t want to add any new wood for the last 15 minutes. When you quench you should see very few flames. Tall yellow flames mean that the gasses (synthesis gas formed during pyrolysis) that cause tall yellow flames are still coming out of your wood. Biochar does not make tall yellow flames but wood transforming to biochar does. 

Too much ash formation:

1. One cause of converting too much of the biochar to ash is using wood that is too long so that instead of building up layers of wood you end up with the wood sticking out the top of the fire pit allowing for air to channel down to the char bed. Cutting your wood to a length where it can lay horizontally in the fire pit and can be formed into a layer of wood will result in less ash. 
2. Another cause of too much ash formation is leaving your fire pit burning for too long. 

But don’t rush it. Roasting marshmallows after the flames have died down is a good way to pace yourself and prevent under-charring.  

Water not draining:

Note that we recommend letting the Biochar Fire Pit drain overnight before troubleshooting draining. 

Water not draining can be cause by several factors:

1. Airlock: Hose airlocks happen when there is an air pocket in your hose that stops the water from flowing out of the hose. Picking up your hose and moving it can help to clear the air pocket. If that really does not work you can disconnect the hose at the fire pit to eliminate this issue. 
2. Clogged drain holes: The drain holes may be clogged. You can use your hand or a tool to try to unclog the drain holes from inside the fire pit. 

Safety Disclaimer: These instructions are for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional guidance or safety training.  Always prioritize safety when working with fire and hot materials.

Here's how to incorporate biochar into your gardening routine:

• Application Methods: There are several ways to use biochar in your garden:
• Direct Mixing: Mix biochar directly into your soil during planting or bed preparation.
• Mixing with compost: If you want to see immediate results in your plant growth, inoculate the biochar by mixing it into your compost at about a 50% ratio and leaving it to inoculate for a month is the best practice. This is not necessary if your goals are more long term soil improvement or carbon sequestration but we strongly recommend it if you want to improve your garden in the coming growing season. 

Conclusion:

Biochar is a powerful tool for creating a healthy and sustainable garden. Making your own biochar saves you money and avoids transportation related carbon emissions. By improving soil health, promoting plant growth, and offering environmental benefits, biochar is a win-win for both your garden and the planet. 

 

Click here to order a Biochar Fire Pit today!