Science Forums 2

[Tiabin]

Hi guys!
I'm employing what, if google serves me true, seems to be a novel idea... using a fresnel lens to cook up some biochar. Has anyone done anything like this? Any tips? Thus far I'm thinking all I need is a tube of some sort, with a top, thats made of some metal that can take a tremendous amount of heat (these lenses can melt glass), pack it full of pine needles, leaves, coffee grounds, chicken bones, and the like... flip upside down, and focus the lens on it for a while. Will this work?

Oh and another question... I plan on charging the charcoal with my urine. I'm going to be installing an organic garden on the property. It'll be my first garden, and unfortunately our soil has a significant amount of clay. Will the coal + compost be sufficient to repair the tilth of the soil, as well as provide the essential nutrients? From what I'm reading it seems like the charcoal readily replaces fertilizer nearly entirely -- let alone the biochar PLUS compost.

Input is greatly appreciated.