11 ms·

Innovation by ancient farmers adds to biodiversity of the Amazon, study shows

56 points by Thevet 6y ago

Melting_Harps 6y ago
Biochar is very interesting topic I got introduced to by the son of a Biodynamic farmer I worked for in Schwaebisch Gmuend, he had done his last year of undergrad studies for his Ag degree in Africa to try and utilize this method to re-rehabilitate the soil by introducing micro-organisms alongside subsistence farmers. Biodynamics, after you remove the often over-emphasized 'woo-woo' aspect (which I personally enjoy, but can be off-putting to the uninitiated) of it from Steiner, is actually just really sound Microbiology and Astronomy. The surface area you create via pyrolysis in organic matter to create the bio-char for microoragnisms is actually really impressive and a low cost way to maintain soil fertility. Graham Hancock actually made the point in his book America Before [1], that Amazonian People actually cultivated the Amazon Forest as we would with Nature Preserves in National Forests. Its a pretty interesting perspective I never considered being from the West and took the Amazon for granted, but it makes sense when your way of life relies on Natural Paganism and Biodiversity the abundance of of wild-life to help feed your People. 1: https://www.amazon.com/America-Before-Earths-Lost-Civilization/dp/1250153735 https://www.amazon.com/America-Before-Earths-Lost-Civilizati...
- jnwr 6y ago
  A professor of mine first exposed me to biochar and its usage in creating Terra Preta[1]. It's fascinating. I think you are definitely correct in the 'woo-woo' assessment. But I know if people can get past that, talking about this is worthwhile. From what I know, biochar is a big component in making this terra preta soil, and you don't see it mentioned much outside certain circles. So I'm excited to see mention of it on HN. 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terra_preta https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terra_preta
  - klyrs 6y ago
    I've always wondered why this hasn't caught on (presuming it isn't all woo) -- it can't be that expensive to run a few large-scale tests at, say, an ag school's farms. Would modern farming practices defeat the purpose somehow?
    - danielheath 6y ago
      One big limitation is that you can only capture the value created on your own farm, but not the downstream effects. There are lots of “prisoners dilemma” food production methods where everyone is better off if nobody exploits (eg: salmon runs are not owned by anyone in particular, so maintaining them is a matter for underfunded parks departments, but properly maintained they produce astonishing amounts of delicious food).
- igorkraw 6y ago
  How does astronomy factor into it?
- LunaSea 6y ago
  I think that biochar is interesting but make no mistake, the astronomy side is pure pseudo-science at the same level as homeopathy.
  - waihtis 6y ago
    Google isn't yielding any good results - what has astronomy got to do with biochar?
    - patall 6y ago
      The comment is about Rudolf Steiner and the anthroposophic movement where many of the permaculture (but also a lot of lets say more questionable) ideas have been popular: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodynamic_agriculture https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodynamic_agriculture
      - waihtis 6y ago
        Thanks! Reading through the approach it does seem esoteric part is quite limited to small things like the moon calendar and using "magic" fertilizers.. I wonder how widespread those approaches really are.
        LunaSea 6y ago
        It's the biodynamic agriculture is basically biological agriculture plus magic. No serious scientific research has been proven any merit to the ideas.
        patall 6y ago
        They are quite widespread for one reason: certificates. Demeter is one of the oldest and most strict organic certificates and also probably the most powerful. If a farmer really wants to do sustainable agriculture, it makes sense to go for the demeter certificates as it is well known and generally one of the best paying. Unfortunately, to get it you have to take part in the stupid 'magic' to get it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demeter_International https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demeter_International (That and I really feel irritated when I go to an organic bakery and they also try to sell you energized water. On my last skiing trip they sold home made lemonade but with Grander water. I asked whether I could get it without and they told me that is not possible and why the hell would you opt-out if you do not believe in it. Didn't make it cheaper for me though, and they certaily pay quite a bit for that fraud.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Grander https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Grander
samvher 6y ago
I highly recommend the book "1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus" by Charles Mann which among others goes into this topic as well. It really changed my conceptions about ancient civilizations in the Americas.
spiderfarmer 6y ago
I put all the ashes from my wood stove in the winter on my vegetable garden and fruit trees. The ash is rich in calcium, potash, minerals and trace elements. I only avoid using it on the potatoes, the calcium provides a thicker skin, which I don't like.

56 points by Thevet 6y ago

Biochar is very interesting topic I got introduced to by the son of a Biodynamic farmer I worked for in Schwaebisch Gmuend, he had done his last year of undergrad studies for his Ag degree in Africa to try and utilize this method to re-rehabilitate the soil by introducing micro-organisms alongside subsistence farmers. Biodynamics, after you remove the often over-emphasized 'woo-woo' aspect (which I personally enjoy, but can be off-putting to the uninitiated) of it from Steiner, is actually just really sound Microbiology and Astronomy. The surface area you create via pyrolysis in organic matter to create the bio-char for microoragnisms is actually really impressive and a low cost way to maintain soil fertility. Graham Hancock actually made the point in his book America Before [1], that Amazonian People actually cultivated the Amazon Forest as we would with Nature Preserves in National Forests. Its a pretty interesting perspective I never considered being from the West and took the Amazon for granted, but it makes sense when your way of life relies on Natural Paganism and Biodiversity the abundance of of wild-life to help feed your People. 1: https://www.amazon.com/America-Before-Earths-Lost-Civilization/dp/1250153735 https://www.amazon.com/America-Before-Earths-Lost-Civilizati...

jnwr 6y ago
A professor of mine first exposed me to biochar and its usage in creating Terra Preta[1]. It's fascinating. I think you are definitely correct in the 'woo-woo' assessment. But I know if people can get past that, talking about this is worthwhile. From what I know, biochar is a big component in making this terra preta soil, and you don't see it mentioned much outside certain circles. So I'm excited to see mention of it on HN. 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terra_preta https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terra_preta
- klyrs 6y ago
  I've always wondered why this hasn't caught on (presuming it isn't all woo) -- it can't be that expensive to run a few large-scale tests at, say, an ag school's farms. Would modern farming practices defeat the purpose somehow?
  - danielheath 6y ago
    One big limitation is that you can only capture the value created on your own farm, but not the downstream effects. There are lots of “prisoners dilemma” food production methods where everyone is better off if nobody exploits (eg: salmon runs are not owned by anyone in particular, so maintaining them is a matter for underfunded parks departments, but properly maintained they produce astonishing amounts of delicious food).
igorkraw 6y ago
How does astronomy factor into it?
LunaSea 6y ago
I think that biochar is interesting but make no mistake, the astronomy side is pure pseudo-science at the same level as homeopathy.
- waihtis 6y ago
  Google isn't yielding any good results - what has astronomy got to do with biochar?
  - patall 6y ago
    The comment is about Rudolf Steiner and the anthroposophic movement where many of the permaculture (but also a lot of lets say more questionable) ideas have been popular: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodynamic_agriculture https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodynamic_agriculture
    - waihtis 6y ago
      Thanks! Reading through the approach it does seem esoteric part is quite limited to small things like the moon calendar and using "magic" fertilizers.. I wonder how widespread those approaches really are.
      - LunaSea 6y ago
        It's the biodynamic agriculture is basically biological agriculture plus magic. No serious scientific research has been proven any merit to the ideas.
      - patall 6y ago
        They are quite widespread for one reason: certificates. Demeter is one of the oldest and most strict organic certificates and also probably the most powerful. If a farmer really wants to do sustainable agriculture, it makes sense to go for the demeter certificates as it is well known and generally one of the best paying. Unfortunately, to get it you have to take part in the stupid 'magic' to get it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demeter_International https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demeter_International (That and I really feel irritated when I go to an organic bakery and they also try to sell you energized water. On my last skiing trip they sold home made lemonade but with Grander water. I asked whether I could get it without and they told me that is not possible and why the hell would you opt-out if you do not believe in it. Didn't make it cheaper for me though, and they certaily pay quite a bit for that fraud.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Grander https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Grander

samvher 6y ago

I highly recommend the book "1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus" by Charles Mann which among others goes into this topic as well. It really changed my conceptions about ancient civilizations in the Americas.

spiderfarmer 6y ago

I put all the ashes from my wood stove in the winter on my vegetable garden and fruit trees. The ash is rich in calcium, potash, minerals and trace elements. I only avoid using it on the potatoes, the calcium provides a thicker skin, which I don't like.