Bio char
can I activate bio char with a JMS method, or apply it early with IMO4?
The answer
iv had very good results with taking a old leaky bucket putting hardwood lump char in it and pouring unused JMS in there it leaks out slow i also use the bucket as a boys room in the garden after a few weeks of this i get really good growth on the char to add into the garden
From the KNF library
From the KNF library
Drafted by Claude from Office Hours and the books
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Sep 2026
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5 sources
Drake says JMS works early in bed prep, but it mostly feeds existing biology and does not deliver Master Cho's IMO microbes (Office Hours Ep. 14, 55:30).
On IMO4, Drake adds biochar at IMO4 or IMO5 so microbes can colonize it (Office Hours Ep. 8, 14:05). He also adds biochar and wood chips to foundation IMO4 for carbon (Office Hours Oct 2025, 32:37).
For a new bed, the library gives these steps:
- Ridge the bed, soak the biochar in fish amino acid, and add IMO4. Water in maintenance solution plus minerals. Finish with a Jadam microbe solution (Office Hours Ep. 20, 19:36).
- To activate biochar directly, soak it in fish amino acid and microbes for 15 minutes. Rake it into the top inch of soil with dolomite. Build toward 5% biochar over three seasons (Office Hours Ep. 17, 23:08).
The sources differ on charging. One soaks first (Office Hours Ep. 17, 23:08). Another says charged or uncharged matters little (Office Hours Ep. 8, 14:05).
The library gives no method for soaking biochar in JMS alone.
Sources
- 32:37 Office Hours (Oct 2025) — IMO3 Temperature Fixes, Pile Size, and FPJ for Bees · “add biochar and wood chips too for carbon.”
- 23:08 Office Hours Ep. 17 (Feb 2022) — Biochar Activation, Fish for FAA, and Fruit Sweetness Formula · “Soak it in fish amino acid and microbes 15 minutes, rake into the top inch of soil with dolomite, and build toward 5% biochar over three seasons.”
- 55:30 Office Hours Ep. 14 (Jan 2022) — JADAM Sulfur, Humic Acid From Compost, C90 Seawater Ratio · “JMS works early in bed prep, but it mostly feeds existing biology as a prebiotic rather than delivering Master Cho's actual IMO microbes.”
- 19:36 Office Hours Ep. 20 (Feb 2022) — Crystal Vortex Brewer, Pig Pen Sizing, WCA/WCP for People · “Ridge the bed, soak biochar in fish amino acid, add IMO4, water in maintenance solution plus minerals, then a Jadam microbe solution.”
- 14:05 Office Hours Ep. 8 (Nov 2021) — FAA (KNF Fuel), Water-Soluble Nutrients, Chick Feed Timing · “Add it at IMO4 or IMO5 so microbes can colonize it, and charged or uncharged doesn't matter much.”
1 more answer
Thank you! I’ll try the bucket with holes method after a 1 day JMS soak. My 7 year old son can’t wait to pee in the bucket, he’s very inspired by these natural farming methods.
