Charcoal

Charcoal is what remains of wood when it didn't burn completely into ashes. Since most of the water, tars, and volatile gases are gone, what’s left is mostly carbon, which burns hotter and cleaner than fresh wood.

It has various uses:

• Soil Booster (biochar): Mixed into compost, so-called "biochar" improves water retention, adds carbon and gives microbes a place to thrive. It’s been used for centuries, e.g., a major part of the Amazon’s terra preta which is revived in modern horticulture. Crush it up: smash charred woods into smaller bits—pea-sized or finer, like coarse sand. You don’t need a powder, just something that’s not big lumps. The smaller size increases surface area, letting it interact more with soil, water, and roots. Big pieces still work, but they’re less effective at spreading the benefits evenly. You can work it in directly to the plants: mix those crushed bits into the dirt where you’re growing stuff—garden beds, pots, whatever. Use a shovel, trowel, or your hands to blend it into the top 4-6 inches of soil. You’re not just dumping it on top; you want it integrated so roots can access it and it can start holding water and nutrients.

• Filters: both for odor or water, its porosity makes it sucks up smells. Put some in a jar or bag and stash it in a fridge, basement, or near a litter box. Rinse first if too sooty. Grind it fine, layer it with sand or gravel in a DIY filter, and run water through. It’s not as refined as commercial filters, but it’ll pull out some organic gunk and sediments.

• Cooking or Grilling: If it’s clean, use it like lump charcoal. It’s great for a quick, hot burn—think searing meat or firing up a small grill. Less smoke than wood, more flavor than briquettes.

• Heat Retention: It holds heat and radiates it back slowly, so can be used as a radiator.

• Art: it can be used as a chalk.