I am having difficult finding what I should best use to inoculate (to charge) char in order to turn it into biochar.

I do not wish to blend it with compost or other materials which will dilute the biochar. I seek to keep the char is its original state, as much as I can, but to inoculate it.

I am faced with two options: (1) to inoculate it so that it works best as a general soil amendment to the red soil typical to Albemarle County; (2) to inoculate it so that it best assists in nutrient development / maintenance of soil in a raised bed garden. The latter is formulate with Miracle Grow potting soil, degraded wood chips, humate soil conditioner, green sand, worm casting, granite dust, vermiculite, pearlite and peat moss.

Compost tea seems to be a favorite inoculant. John Kohler uses a tea sold on Amazon . . . Boogie Brew Compost Tea.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqtD3DZV9iM&ab_channel=LearnOrganicGardeningatGrowingYourGreens

• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZEAJRJ/ref=ox_sc_act_image_2?smid=A2TNVEX3UKOJOH&th=1

One YouTube instruction even calls for 1C sugar, 1C worm castings, 2C oats, 1 small handful of each of rock dust and clay kitty litter to inoculate a 5-gallon bucket of char. See the following @ 15:15.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rcDSuwaIA4&ab_channel=TheUrbanHarvest-HomegrownEducation

I and my wife are retired folks with a small garden. The simplest advice you can offer will be appreciated.

Thank-you.

Tom B. (Class of ’70)