Yes, gelignite is an explosive that is a relative slow burner as explosives
go, certainly much slower than T.N.T. tri nitro toluene. I'm not sure where
you would get it in the U.S. Anyway it would be good to get a qualified
practitioner to do the job. If you ar e using it and wipe a contaminate hand
across your brow you get a headache like you wont forget in a long time.
To use it for the purpose of loosening soil or blowing ditches out
one bores holes with an auger just a little bigger than the plug. Usually
for loosening soil hlf a plug is put in each hole with a detinator and a
length of rapid burning fuse. Connect as many fast fuses together as is
possible as the effect is cumulative. To all the fast fuse joined to gether
attach one slow fuse or use a detinator like that used in a quarry. It is
important to asses the depth of each charge and the distance between them to
just achieve the optimum fracturing of the pan. There should be no soil or
stones flying around. The soil should lift between one to two inches then
settle back. All the holes need to be well packed. Once more I suggest this
is a job for an expert, and only to be used when more gentle methods are
inadiquate. It is not part of the biodynamic method! It can be extremely
effective when expertly executed.
I have farmed land that has had a pan formed by a high water
table. This is one of the reasons for adequate drainage.
The objective of all this is to get an active soil life that will
keep the soil free enough to allow good root penetration. A couple of auger
holes under each plant filled with compost or a mix of soil and compost may
be all it takes to achieve your objective while the biodynamic method gets
on with dissolving the pan over time.
Best wishes,
Peter.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Doug & Jay Stewart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 6:43 AM
Subject: Re: Perfect Orchard - gelignite?
> What is gelignite? How is it used? Where is it obtained?
>
