Dons' Dirt

[DonTesla]

Above was an HVAC truck converted onto rolling bars, used for a one man operation/ease of unloading etc.

We are looking at larger options that this, but I thought it was a cool discovery..

Below, is a picture of our compost pile supporting life all by itself, no additives no ph liners, just straight fungal dom thermo compost!!

 

[DonTesla]

Wow, the government gave away $15 million this month for grants, mostly to small farms and food / environmental places.. time to get the business plan in order and to hit these folks up

 

[DonBrennon]

Ya know ya peaked my interest in biochar again...............well..........I can't believe I haven't stumbled across this guy and his set up before and I'm not sure if you have, but here are some links that may interest you anyway....................

https://craigsams.com/bio-char/
http://www.carbongold.com/kilns-biochar-production/kiln-tech-information/

..........feck, you're workin with 'Bob Wells' and I'm tryin to give you tips on biochar, LMFAO, but if you ain't seen this before it's well worth looking at.

Good luck with your grants too, this guy Craig Sams is/was probably granted up to the eyeballs or government funded in some other way, but you should see the price his 'Grochar' products are sold for............isn't organic growing supposed to be cheaper??? To give him the benefit of the doubt, it seems he does invest a lot in research, so he does have to fund that I suppose?

Stay Gravy

 

[DonTesla]

Thanks brother, no no really appreciate the link! haha, just cause we're chatting with Bob Wells doesn't mean we're chatting with Craig Sam yet, he has a great take, world wide reach, and collective viewpoint despite his high end product that is not cheap, although biochar, isssssss straight amazing, carbonGold is a great name, unfortunately the price matches, lol!

Looks like their cacoa studies are getting funded and re funded successfully, hell yea.. producing fruit in 3 less years than trees that don't get inoculated with biochar, thats also beefed up with seaweed, compost, and myco, though, if I'm not mistaken.

.. how much is it there? this gold lol?

Myco, as we all know can have its own host of benefits, this one is my fav though:

Strangling a root burrowing nematode, this myco fungi strand is.. dinner served ;D

 

[DonTesla]

Ya ..[snip]...........isn't organic growing supposed to be cheaper??? To give him the benefit of the doubt, it seems he does invest a lot in research, so he does have to fund that I suppose?

Stay Gravy

Yeah bro, he mentions organic food should be cheaper than conventional, I don't see how that works if we gotta pay a tonne for carbon.

But you're right, he seems well invested and a part of projects all over the globe, which is really cool

You stay gravy too bro! Hope that allotment is coming along nicely! Just got some NEMS in, I gotta spray the big garden and build some more composers, would love to find some cheap mowers with bags on them too, seeing these fields of dandelions got me wanting to mow lol!

 

[DonBrennon]

£19 for a 60L bag of 'coir based' compost, but it's not available in garden centres, you gotta buy it online, so add at least £10 for shipping and you're looking at £30. I can get 15 x 40L bags of decent compost for that price locally or if I add £25 I can get a tonne of top quality compost dropped wherever I want it.

I suppose their 5-5-5 fertiliser and soil improver are more reasonably priced at £15 for 2.5kg or £40 for 20kg, but then again, I've just bought 5kg of Neem meal for £10 and I can get 20kg of pure alfalfa pellets for around £12

It is worth noting that I've found gardening/growing is very much a middle/upper class thing over here, so the whole industry is geared towards such a market and they can get away with charging the prices they do

The allotment is challenging, been treating my apple tree with AACT's this week thinking I was battling a fungal problem only to find out it's 'Wooly Aphids' LMFAO! After a bit of reading the tree may be a 'right off', apparently they're very difficult to get rid of and this was/is a heavy infestation. I gave it 16L of a Neem oil/Dr Bonners spray yesterday, gonna go and assess the damage soon.

 

[DonTesla]

£19 for a 60L bag of 'coir based' compost, but it's not available in garden centres, you gotta buy it online, so add at least £10 for shipping and you're looking at £30. I can get 15 x 40L bags of decent compost for that price locally or if I add £25 I can get a tonne of top quality compost dropped wherever I want it.

I suppose their 5-5-5 fertiliser and soil improver are more reasonably priced at £15 for 2.5kg or £40 for 20kg, but then again, I've just bought 5kg of Neem meal for £10 and I can get 20kg of pure alfalfa pellets for around £12

It is worth noting that I've found gardening/growing is very much a middle/upper class thing over here, so the whole industry is geared towards such a market and they can get away with charging the prices they do

The allotment is challenging, been treating my apple tree with AACT's this week thinking I was battling a fungal problem only to find out it's 'Wooly Aphids' LMFAO! After a bit of reading the tree may be a 'right off', apparently they're very difficult to get rid of and this was/is a heavy infestation. I gave it 16L of a Neem oil/Dr Bonners spray yesterday, gonna go and assess the damage soon.

so thats not for biogold the brand but a coir based eh
Yeah that extra shipping is the kicker hey. May as well go with that extra 25 for the top quality compost if you can then eh!

And yeah nothing like making your own amendment based fertilizers for less.. nice hunting there mango. thats how its done.

You have an apple tree with Wooly Aphids!? uh wow thats a good (albeit unique) problem to have, lol, but shit son, are there any beneficial predators for that, like a type of ladybug, or how does one get bugs out there, is there a good spot for bugs at least?

(I just looked up beneficial nematodes I did not see the Woolies on there. would love to mail you some but don't think its possible)

But neem oil is some hella powerful stuff.. hopefully that renders them sterile for ya right away. I really hate aphids how they just cluster up and suck juices out and get all fat. Ill have to check my notes and see if there's anything good in there for ya. Hopefully the assessment goes well!

 

[DonBrennon]

so thats not for biogold the brand but a coir based eh
Yeah that extra shipping is the kicker hey. May as well go with that extra 25 for the top quality compost if you can then eh!

And yeah nothing like making your own amendment based fertilizers for less.. nice hunting there mango. thats how its done.

You have an apple tree with Wooly Aphids!? uh wow thats a good (albeit unique) problem to have, lol, but shit son, are there any beneficial predators for that, like a type of ladybug, or how does one get bugs out there, is there a good spot for bugs at least?

(I just looked up beneficial nematodes I did not see the Woolies on there. would love to mail you some but don't think its possible)

But neem oil is some hella powerful stuff.. hopefully that renders them sterile for ya right away. I really hate aphids how they just cluster up and suck juices out and get all fat. Ill have to check my notes and see if there's anything good in there for ya. Hopefully the assessment goes well!

I've read conflicting articles on predators of wooly aphids, some list the usual suspect for aphids, eg, hoverfly, lacewings, ladybugs etc, others say the waxy substance they protect themselves with is impenetrable to them. I've read an article that says neem oil and soap can be used and one that says a large infestation, like mine, is almost impossible to eradicate.

Glad you reminded me of nematodes though, I need to get some nemaslug and general fruit & veg protection soon!!! Non of the articles suggested them for treatment though and after a 'brief search', I can't find any available that actually target aphids. Although I have stumbled upon Beauveria bassiana fungus and biopesticides, I'll let ya know what I find while looking into them. I think these could be the answer, if I can find one that definitely target aphids

 

[DonTesla]

I'll ask my entomologist contact whats good in that regard too bro.. sound like some nasty waxy fookers ey fuck I hope we smoke them, can u pressure wash em off with a hose on jet mode?!
@DonBrennon

 

[DonBrennon]

I'll ask my entomologist contact whats good in that regard too bro.. sound like some nasty waxy fookers ey fuck I hope we smoke them, can u pressure wash em off with a hose on jet mode?!
@DonBrennon

Yeah, I did it last night, not got enough pressure on the hose pipe, so used my 8L sprayer pumped up to the max and with the nozzle on jet. It does need to be a powerful jet to blast em' off, they're stubborn mofo's but I reckon I got 'most' of them. I then sprayed as much of the tree as I could cover with neem/soap. From my last experience of spraying, any survivors will be easily identifiable in a few days, the 'fuzz' comes back really quick, and I'll attack em' again.

Got some photos on the thread I've got going on the gardening forum, I'll be updating my progress, so you can see how it goes

https://www.rollitup.org/t/wooly-aphids-and-how-much-neem-oil-dr-bronners-can-an-apple-tree-take.941913/#post-13568473

 

[Joomby]

High grade Herbalists following along to the sneak peaks!
here is a little chart showing the new base

View attachment 3945659

.. happy to say we are working towards clearing a few acreages of its deadfall and slash, and have access to the countries hardest and cleanest burning softwoods. Our biochar batches will be ramped up soon.

We are also venturing out into native grasslands, and forests, to collect microbes to make a BIM.
looks like we have a good organic source of native grassland grass, don't even have to clear highway shoulders for the provinces anymore.

Meanwhile, I have located about 75 coffee shops around me, so thats another option to look into next week more.

I think my bro may have found a large source of limestone as well as the red and calcite pumice. Plus shale, many many colours, thanks to our buddy in the mining industry. I think black shale may have heavy metals as well as unoxidized carbon but nonetheless, its the pumice I'm after, and limestone and gypsum.

View attachment 3945666

So definitely some things falling into place.

..the new Meal Recipe, & Mineral Recipe, are not included here. But they will be paramagnetic and volcanic based. and we will be testing several recipe tweaks in several side by sides.. many non vegetarian recipes as well.. this will be a lot of fun..

gonna test some different ratios of limestone to gypsum as well and see what kind of results we get.

Lotta work to do this year, lol. Gonna be good though.

Hey don ! I work in the mining industry in Australia and I often wonder if I took certain rocks and minerals home and smashed them up and added to my mix would I end up with more trace elements the trouble is I don't know what I'm looking at haha also we have a native bird commonly called a scrub Terky and they make huge piles of leaf matter to essentially make a mulch pile that heats up and they lay eggs inside the pile to keep them incubated and the piles are used by the dominant male and past down generations after generations some piles are thought to be 100 years old ..I wonder how much good fungi would be in them considering the piles are almost completely carbon and it's on the tropic of Capricorn so the Conditions would be perfect all year round for fungi growth... I really should buy a microscope. Hit me back I would love your input. @greasemonkeymann You to brother

 

[DonTesla]

Oh for sure, @Joomby!

Gypsum

Limestone

Lava Rock

Dacite

Langbeinite

Basalt

Blue Rock Dust / Glacial RD

Moonstone

Green / Pink Moss Agate

anything varying in minerals / low in heavy metals / highly paramagnetic

For this reason Azomite (everything from a to z) and Zeolite, fro example, don't make my list.. lead can have good anti-negative-effects on MJ actually but AL binds P when pH dips so I like so stay away from AL even in my aerations if I can (perlite and verm are last resorts for me personally because of this also)

As for your century old scrub Terry piles, those sound like some hidden gems.. I'd be playing around with those for sure, if I could without disturbing them, they sound sacred to them, and powerful parts of the family tree, lol.

 

[Joomby]

Oh for sure, @Joomby!

Gypsum

Limestone

Lava Rock

Dacite

Langbeinite

Basalt

Blue Rock Dust / Glacial RD

Moonstone

Green / Pink Moss Agate

anything varying in minerals / low in heavy metals / highly paramagnetic

For this reason Azomite (everything from a to z) and Zeolite, fro example, don't make my list.. lead can have good anti-negative-effects on MJ actually but AL binds P when pH dips so I like so stay away from AL even in my aerations if I can (perlite and verm are last resorts for me personally because of this also)

As for your century old scrub Terry piles, those sound like some hidden gems.. I'd be playing around with those for sure, if I could without disturbing them, they sound sacred to them, and powerful parts of the family tree, lol.

The scrub terkys are actually common and it's nothing to come across a dozen when going for a small walk. But in saying that I agree to not harm them or take dig in the pile when it's breeding season. I was more so thinking about taking a small amount and using it in my compost teas making a little bit go a long way

 

[calliandra]

The scrub terkys are actually common and it's nothing to come across a dozen when going for a small walk. But in saying that I agree to not harm them or take dig in the pile when it's breeding season. I was more so thinking about taking a small amount and using it in my compost teas making a little bit go a long way

a little teaspoon full is enough to innoculate your piles

 

[Joomby]

a little teaspoon full is enough to innoculate your piles

I could take a bucket and it wouldn't make a dint. If you dig around 2 ft deep it's black gold full of worms. They are considered pest's by gardeners as they are not afraid to dig your garden up and decide your yard is the new spot for a nest. I find them intriguing and get a laugh when they jump on my fence and distract my dog while another one takes scrap from my compost pile. @calliandra What type or zoom microscope would you suggest for a cheap ass like me to use for composting I would love to know what is in the nests and also my teas. And when I get one prepare yourself for copious amounts of pictures asking "what's this" haha

 

[calliandra]

I could take a bucket and it wouldn't make a dint. If you dig around 2 ft deep it's black gold full of worms. They are considered pest's by gardeners as they are not afraid to dig your garden up and decide your yard is the new spot for a nest. I find them intriguing and get a laugh when they jump on my fence and distract my dog while another one takes scrap from my compost pile. @calliandra What type or zoom microscope would you suggest for a cheap ass like me to use for composting I would love to know what is in the nests and also my teas. And when I get one prepare yourself for copious amounts of pictures asking "what's this" haha

Here's what Ingham is recommending at the moment:
http://www.soilfoodweb.com/Microscopes.html
The first one is a bit overdone in terms of not needing those 25x eyepieces, but I really like that the cam is stuck on, not built in (it IS built in in my microscope, and I hate that! Big mistake, you can't ever switch cams if you want a better one).
What is essential is that it has to have an Abbe condenser and an iris diaphragm so you can shadow your samples.
HTH

 

[DonTesla]

The scrub terkys are actually common and it's nothing to come across a dozen when going for a small walk. But in saying that I agree to not harm them or take dig in the pile when it's breeding season. I was more so thinking about taking a small amount and using it in my compost teas making a little bit go a long way

Yeah those magical piles will be best used in a tea so you stretch their powers out, you lucky Turkey!!! (jk bro, happy for you!)

 

[DonTesla]

Nice link @calliandra appreciate the AACT / microscope inputs

had to look up what you meant, lol

I find these to be pretty good value considering how much cameras can go for

 

[DonTesla]

I've wanted to stumble across this texture and color for a while now, my buddy has done an awesome job hunting down pretty much ALL the sources I've literally wished for and thrown out there as 'organic ideals', I'm so grateful for his help.. here is a nice shot of the rotting wood he sent me from our trip to the claims this wknd...

 

[DonTesla]

Interesting Results from our professional Basalt Analysis:


7.03% Aluminum (paramagnetic)

7.01% Calcium (paramagnetic)

6.14% Iron (ferromagnetic)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Traces, in parts per million:

240 ppm Chromium

80 ppm Beryllium

37 ppm Cobalt

35 ppm Copper

34 ppm Cerium

1.7 ppm Arsenic

0.6 ppm Caesium

0.05 ppm Silver