Forum:

organic

Rock Dust

Jeremy Bunag

gardener

Posts: 231

Location: Central IL

posted 15 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I was just perusing my local landscape recyling center and saw that they had red granite fines, categorized under compost stuff. Not knowing much about it I thought I'd do a little research on what is was, how it worked, and why one would want it.

Here's an interesting article I thought I'd share: http://www.activecompost.com/Co-utilization%20of%20Rockdust,%20Mineral%20Fines%20and%20Compost.pdf

I did some heavier reading in some places, and skimmed in others. I'll have to go back and give it my full attention later...

-Jeremy

Susan Monroe

Posts: 1093

Location: Western WA

posted 15 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

If you get a good soil test done, it should indicate if you would need it or not. It's probably beneficial to most soils, as it tends to contain quite a few trace minerals.

No soils are perfect as they are found, and most of the soils have either been overgrazed, chemically farmed, or the topsoil scraped off to build on.

Most of our foods have been tested and found seriously lacking in minerals, much of this due to government-backed farming techniques that have concentrated heavily on chemical-based NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potash) and totally ignoring the lesser elements that are required for nutrient-dense foods and good health.

Here is an interesting site called Remineralize the Earth: http://remineralize.org/joomla/

Sue

Brenda Groth

pollinator

Posts: 4437

Location: North Central Michigan

posted 15 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

from time to time i think i should add minerals to my soil too...although it was never really robbed of it's nutrients in the past ..as it was an organic celery farm for a long time before we moved here..but the celery wasn't really grown where we use the soil..but on the neighboring property..there is one area that was an old vegetable garden that is kinda spent pretty bad..im building this up with lots of organic stuff..and possibly some minerals might be called for there..

in the past i have gotten a few small bags of minerals to throw out here and there..but neve really did much research on it..probably should..

our soil is very very dark black in most areas..Michigan peat, grey clay and some sand..and the topsoil varies from very thick to just a few inches..esp where the clay is 4' deep.

Brenda

Bloom where you are planted.
http://restfultrailsfoodforestgarden.blogspot.com/

Jordan Lowery

pollinator

Posts: 1528

Location: zone 7

posted 15 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

sorry to bring up such an old post but i thought it was relevant.

i use rockdust in my garden. i collect it from the local rivers. Ive found it builds up along the side and in banks. when the dry season comes most of it is above the water line, the finest stuff is usually at the top. one other benefit from collecting in rivers is the diversity of rocks that i get vs. using one rock type. so i get lots of minerals for healthy food.

so its free, its local, its always replenished, and it grows great food.

The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings. - Masanobu Fukuoka

Jeremy Bunag

gardener

Posts: 231

Location: Central IL

posted 15 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

No topic is too old to bring up!

That's a great idea for getting some amendments!

Joel Hollingsworth

pollinator

Posts: 2103

Location: Oakland, CA

posted 15 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

My long-term plan includes a careful choice of the grit I feed chickens: A mix of small stones with minerals they, or the soil, lack, and hard stones to make dust more quickly.

Unless there's a lot of fly ash mixed in, I think some sorts of concrete waste would work.

"the qualities of these bacteria, like the heat of the sun, electricity, or the qualities of metals, are part of the storehouse of knowledge of all men. They are manifestations of the laws of nature, free to all men and reserved exclusively to none." SCOTUS, Funk Bros. Seed Co. v. Kale Inoculant Co.

Brenda Groth

pollinator

Posts: 4437

Location: North Central Michigan

posted 15 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

there are very few sources for any rock parts or dust in our area..we would have to ship most of it in..i think that maybe if i was to find a place that processes rock, such as cemetary headstones or something..i might be able to locate some..i do think it would add a lot to our soil.

Brenda

Bloom where you are planted.
http://restfultrailsfoodforestgarden.blogspot.com/

Joel Hollingsworth

pollinator

Posts: 2103

Location: Oakland, CA

posted 15 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

Brenda Groth wrote:a place that processes rock, such as cemetary headstones or something...

The cutting tools often contain some cobalt. I have no idea how quickly they wear, I suspect it couldn't be too rapid or it wouldn't be profitable, but I might want to send some of the dust for testing in case the level of cobalt were enough to be a problem.

If not cobalt, nickel...which isn't quite so bad.

Brenda Groth wrote:
there are very few sources for any rock parts or dust in our area

I guess deep roots are the most elegant answer, then?

paul wheaton

author and steward

Posts: 52522

Location: missoula, montana (zone 4)

∞

I like...

posted 15 years ago

Number of slices to send:

Optional 'thank-you' note:

Send

I wanna endorse both ideas of:

1) getting your soil tested first, and

2) know what is in the stuff you are adding to your soil.

It is possible to have toxic levels of something and then compound it.

My books, movies, videos, podcasts, events ... the big collection of paul wheaton stuff!

life is short - but not as short as this ad:

GAMCOD 2025: 200 square feet; Zero degrees F or colder; calories cheap and easy

https://permies.com/wiki/270034/GAMCOD-square-feet-degrees-colder