Alas, our summer reading list has been light on mystery books and romance novels. Instead, we’ve had our noses buried in “heavier” topics, like the demineralization and degradation of our earth’s soils and how we have to make dramatic changes if we have any hope of saving the planet (and ourselves). Not that we’re complaining,…
So what’s all the fuss about rock dust? Rock dust goes by a few other names, like “rock minerals,” “rock flour,” “rock powder,” “stone dust,” “soil remineralizer” and “mineral fines.” Whatever you call it, rock dust is finely crushed rock containing essential micronutrients and trace elements that are important to the life cycle of plants…
National Pollinator Week is a week in June where we celebrate the bees, birds, butterflies, bats, moths, flies and beetles that keep an ecosystem healthy and which support much of our wildlife and watersheds. Here are some amazing facts, courtesy of the Pollinator Partnership: Between 75% and 95% of all flowering plants on the earth need…
Referred to as “nature’s plow,” they improve the structure of the soil by systematically tunneling their way through the earth. We’re talking, of course, about earthworms. Their presence in your garden is a good thing—a very good thing. As they wiggle their way back and forth, they aerate the soil and help beneficial microorganisms get…
If you have a garden, you have pests. It’s unavoidable, but using pesticides to get rid of them should be your last resort (according to this article, homeowners use up to 10 times as many chemicals as farmers do per acre. Can you guess where those chemicals end up?). There are many ways to deal…
Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster is derived from finely milled volcanic basalt and nothing more. With no synthetic chemicals or man-made additives, our rock dust is approved for use in organic production. Yet we’ve noticed puzzled expressions when people see silicon dioxide (SiO2) listed as an ingredient. “Hey, isn’t this supposed to be an all-natural…
The holiday festivities are over and the winter solstice has passed. This can only mean one thing: It’s time to start planning for the spring garden! What are your resolutions for the year ahead? Maybe you’ve decided to do more composting. Perhaps you’ve resolved to try planting new and different varieties of fruits and vegetables. It…
Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster is derived from finely ground volcanic basalt and nothing more. With no synthetic chemicals or man-made additives, our rock dust is approved for use in organic production. Yet we’ve noticed some puzzled expressions when people see silicon dioxide (SiO2) listed as a main ingredient. “Hey, isn’t this supposed to be an…
Whether you are new to composting or consider yourself a master composter, you may not have considered the benefits of adding volcanic rock dust to your compost pile. 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)….
The month of May has arrived here in Oregon with beautiful, sunny weather. Needless to say, gardeners are itching to get their tomato plants into the ground. (Including all of us here at Cascade Minerals. After all, our company mascot is “Mr. Tomato!”) Do we go for it? Should we wait? These are the questions…
