Cascade Minerals’ own Chuck Canham will be giving a special presentation about the benefits of soil remineralization as part of the “Forever Fuchsias” celebration at Lakewold Gardens in Lakewold, Washington during the first weekend of September. (Chuck will speak to visitors at 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 6, 2014; additional event details can be found…
We’re always conducting tests on a wide variety of plants to demonstrate the overwhelmingly positive benefits of soil remineralization on plant health and crop yields. This year, our test greenhouse in Madras, Oregon is filled with lots and lots of lovely leeks. What we’ve found is that plants that were planted in mineral-rich soil that had been…
Ground up rock material doesn’t usually appear on lists of compostable materials such as “greens” (e.g., grass clippings, hedge trimmings) and “browns” (e.g., fall leaves, wood chips), but volcanic rock dust is a sure-fire way to charge up the composting process. In this YouTube video, agronomist Rich Affeldt explains how to add mineral-rich volcanic rock…
Colorful hanging baskets that bloom all season long are a hummingbird’s best friend—and an eye-catching addition to any garden. So why would you want to fill your light and airy hanging baskets with a dark and gritty material like volcanic basalt? As a byproduct of violent volcanic activity, basalt is not something that gardeners (or…
A summer heat wave has hit Portland, Oregon. Here in The City of Roses, we don’t get that many days in the mid-80’s much less a whole week of temperatures in the mid- to upper-90’s. Needless to say, people—and plants—are drooping just a bit. While it’s true that roses aren’t as fussy as most people…
Gardeners frequently ask, “How much rock dust should I apply to my garden to get results?” Let us start by saying that not all rock dust is alike and that we cannot speak for other products, only for ours. But without taking anything away from our competitors, we see Cascade Minerals as an improved replacement…
Commercial potting mixes are convenient, but most are nothing more than sterile dirt (likely treated with chemicals to eliminate weeds and pathogens). Instead of mineral-rich soil, they are mostly bark, peat or coir—light enough to transport, but lacking in the essential minerals and trace elements that produce lush, fragrant flowers and nutrient-dense food. For the most…
Short on space? No problem! With some careful pre-planning, you can turn a small space into a garden that grows fresh produce all season long. Here are some practical tips for making the most of a tiny plot: 1. Follow the sun. Make sure you track sun and shade patterns before you prepare your site….
Spring is the ideal time to remineralize the soil with all-natural rock dust, before these fast-growing beauties really take off. If it helps, think of roses as teenagers. With the proper nutrition and in the right conditions, they will blossom right in front of your eyes! It is not enough to rely on commercial rose…
Think your soil sleeps in winter? Think again! It may be hard to believe that millions of living and breathing microorganisms are under the ice and snow. Bacteria, fungi, algae, nematodes, anthropods—you can’t see them with the naked eye, but they all contribute to the health of the soil. Winter doesn’t slow them down. In…
