Can Bentonite and DE be produced at home?

I have just been gettig into DE and now it seems Bentonite, and I keep wondering if there is a way to manufacture the stuff myself? The more I can make at home or produce myself, the more I feel "self-sufficient."

I know a little about the process of DE mining, sort of... but wonder if there are ways of producing it closer to home, or at least in regions of the United States, if not done already.

-cheers, Christian

Christian,

I think all of the DE brands sold in the USA are sourced from mines in western North America.

Fresh water diatoms are common. There are DE mines all over the world. In fact, I have seen calcium bentonite mines for sale online.

I am sure there are veins of food grade DE and food grade CB around, but correctly identifying them and mining them will be another task that is above my pay grade.

Blessings.