I think it is so important to remember that its about the balance for healthy soil. They all play a part, the worms, soil nutrients and minerals. Wih the rockdust I have been using in australia, from Munash, they have the soil fertilizer Rockdust and the liquid spray for foliage to help stimulate the growth. My garden has thrived since I swapped from chemicals.... must be something to it!!!
A TYPICAL soil MIGHT consist of 25% air, 25% water, 40% mineral matter and 10% organic matter.
WHAT MINERALS SHOULD BE IN YOUR SOIL?
TYPICAL MINERALS THAT MOST LABS TEST FOR ARE ZINC, COPPER, MAGNESIUM, BORON, IRON, PHOSPHORUS, POTASSIUM, CALCIUM....CAN YOU NAME OTHER ESSENTIAL MINERALS THAT SHOULD BE IN YOUR ROCK DUST FOR A HEALTHY ORGANIC GARDEN, I'M SETTING UP TESTS FOR THIS....THANKS
@whothehellgivesadamn I readily admit my ignorance in this area.... I use rock dust minerals since I got a bag ~ inexpensively, but other YouTubers would be better able to answer you on what minerals in it are helpful. Happy gardening. Post your test results! I would be very interested in the results.
humic acid breaks down rock dust minerals to a point where they can be taken up by the plants. this is present DURING the composting process, and earthworms have the same affect on it. sprinkling it into finished compost is not very beneficial at all. do a pot test, one pot sprinkling it into finished compost, and one having run it through worms, or having applied it to the compost DURING the composting process. the results are obvious in the taste and health of the plant when its done right.
@BoondockFarms Hi, Thanks for your insights. When I put in this raised bed last year, I had more than 5,000 pounds of compost delivered (a truck load; I have a video on this)! So I didn't have access to the compost during the composting process. But we all know that the soil is still living and dynamic so I'm adding my rock dust minerals now, because it is now or nothing for this bed. But for other compost that I am currently composting, I'll consider your advice of adding rock dust there. Thnx
@1too3fore: Thanks for commenting. Actually, this rock dust was being added to a raised bed that had nothing BUT compost (complete with bugs), and the Rock Dust was mixed in (if only to avoid the wind blowing it away if I only left it sprinkled on top).
@1too3fore: Frankly, though, I do not really know how well substantiated are the benefits of Rock Dust. Gardening for me is partly just for fun and experimentation, and I got this fairly cheap, and it predictable that compost made mostly of leaves would be low in some minerals, and since I didn't add any other amendments to my raised bed of compost... I figured it was cheap enough to at least add a bit of this. So far the plants are mostly growing well, and perhaps the Rock Dust is helping.
@OrganicGarden123 yeah, scientists are experimenting with it now to see if it really does anything. I'm giving it a try this year, too. Hard to tell if it works unless you use it only on half the garden with the soil prepared the same way..
I think it is so important to remember that its about the balance for healthy soil. They all play a part, the worms, soil nutrients and minerals. Wih the rockdust I have been using in australia, from Munash, they have the soil fertilizer Rockdust and the liquid spray for foliage to help stimulate the growth. My garden has thrived since I swapped from chemicals.... must be something to it!!!
twinmone 2 months ago
HERE'S A QUESTION:
A TYPICAL soil MIGHT consist of 25% air, 25% water, 40% mineral matter and 10% organic matter.
WHAT MINERALS SHOULD BE IN YOUR SOIL?
TYPICAL MINERALS THAT MOST LABS TEST FOR ARE ZINC, COPPER, MAGNESIUM, BORON, IRON, PHOSPHORUS, POTASSIUM, CALCIUM....CAN YOU NAME OTHER ESSENTIAL MINERALS THAT SHOULD BE IN YOUR ROCK DUST FOR A HEALTHY ORGANIC GARDEN, I'M SETTING UP TESTS FOR THIS....THANKS
whothehellgivesadamn 7 months ago
@whothehellgivesadamn I readily admit my ignorance in this area.... I use rock dust minerals since I got a bag ~ inexpensively, but other YouTubers would be better able to answer you on what minerals in it are helpful. Happy gardening. Post your test results! I would be very interested in the results.
OrganicGarden123 7 months ago
humic acid breaks down rock dust minerals to a point where they can be taken up by the plants. this is present DURING the composting process, and earthworms have the same affect on it. sprinkling it into finished compost is not very beneficial at all. do a pot test, one pot sprinkling it into finished compost, and one having run it through worms, or having applied it to the compost DURING the composting process. the results are obvious in the taste and health of the plant when its done right.
BoondockFarms 8 months ago
@BoondockFarms Hi, Thanks for your insights. When I put in this raised bed last year, I had more than 5,000 pounds of compost delivered (a truck load; I have a video on this)! So I didn't have access to the compost during the composting process. But we all know that the soil is still living and dynamic so I'm adding my rock dust minerals now, because it is now or nothing for this bed. But for other compost that I am currently composting, I'll consider your advice of adding rock dust there. Thnx
OrganicGarden123 8 months ago
Actually, it's not as simple as that. Rock dust is useless unless in the presence of compost and earth worms and should be mixed into the soil.
1too3fore 1 year ago
@1too3fore: Thanks for commenting. Actually, this rock dust was being added to a raised bed that had nothing BUT compost (complete with bugs), and the Rock Dust was mixed in (if only to avoid the wind blowing it away if I only left it sprinkled on top).
OrganicGarden123 1 year ago
@1too3fore: Frankly, though, I do not really know how well substantiated are the benefits of Rock Dust. Gardening for me is partly just for fun and experimentation, and I got this fairly cheap, and it predictable that compost made mostly of leaves would be low in some minerals, and since I didn't add any other amendments to my raised bed of compost... I figured it was cheap enough to at least add a bit of this. So far the plants are mostly growing well, and perhaps the Rock Dust is helping.
OrganicGarden123 1 year ago
@OrganicGarden123 yeah, scientists are experimenting with it now to see if it really does anything. I'm giving it a try this year, too. Hard to tell if it works unless you use it only on half the garden with the soil prepared the same way..
1too3fore 1 year ago