In this post, we’ll talk about the role of healthy soil in keeping kids (and adults) active and fit through sports and recreation. Think about it: Without healthy soil, we can’t grow the grass on which we play soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, golf and polo. And where would we play ultimate Frisbee, lawn darts, or bocce?

To grow turf that provides good footing and traction, you need to start with healthy soil. Healthy soil is soil that is teeming with bacteria, fungi, algae, nematodes and anthropods. They are the busy biological “athletes” whose main task is to break down organic material and make nutrients available for plants to absorb.

Like naturally talented athletes, these biological microorganisms don’t need synthetic chemicals to perform. In fact, chemically synthesized fertilizers do more harm than good by feeding plants directly without adding anything back to the soil. Without the proper sustenance, soil cannot support healthy soil organisms, support water retention or retain essential soil nutrients. It becomes so compact and hard that it is uncomfortable to play on—and may even increase the chances of injury.

And yet, many of our sports and recreation fields are doused in chemicals year after year. Some of the reasons are cultural, i.e., we expect to see perfectly manicured and emerald green playing fields. Other reasons come down to old habits and the misguided belief that chemicals are less expensive and more reliable than organic alternatives.

But what about the safety and performance of kids who are being exposed to sports turf toxins? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found multiple pesticide residues in the bodies of children ages 6-11 at significantly higher levels than all other age categories. Yikes.

The fact is that there are viable alternatives to managing playing fields. One of those alternatives is all-natural rock dust made of volcanic basalt. Compared to other volcanic rocks which are high in quartz, basalt weather relatively quickly which means it breaks down readily in soil. Applying finely ground basalt powder to a playing field is like adding a fresh deposit of natural soil minerals.

Volcanic rock dust begins to release nutrients to turf grass as soon as the roots make contact and additional nutrients become available with ongoing weathering. The result is a steady flow of nutrients over time and an improvement in the overall root structure of turf grass. The stronger the roots, the less chance that weeds have to grow. By building overall soil structure, rock dust can also improve water retention and help prevent compaction.

So what can you do? If your school or park system is still using synthetic chemicals, advocate for organic alternatives. As part of an overall organic regimen, rock dust has been proven to help build lawns and fields that dense, functional – and safe.

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About Us: Central Oregon Basalt Products mills massive stones from Central Oregon’s legendary Cascade Mountains to produce Cascade Minerals Remineralizing Soil Booster, the highest quality volcanic rock dust available. Because it is not a fertilizer and contains no synthetic chemicals or man-made additives, it is safe to use around your plants, children and pets when used as directed.

The post Keeping Fit: Rock Dust Helps Build Healthy Soil That Supports Sports and Recreation appeared first on Cascade Minerals.

Up to 80% of public schools have some sort of contractual arrangement with a provider of fast food, from Coke and Pepsi to McDonald’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut and more.

With many children eating up to half of their daily calories in school this is a worrisome statistic indeed. But where does the fault lie?

This is a controversial and complicated question. Rather than assigning fault we should be focusing our attention on creating long-reaching change.

Part of that change begins with the people (and the corporations) that grow our food. Sadly, most children today don’t even know what really nutritious and delicious fruits and vegetables taste like! Most of the produce that is grown for conventional grocery stores and food distributors is grown in soil that has been treated with synthetic fertilizers to compensate for the fact that they’ve been woefully depleted of essential minerals and trace elements.

Minerals that aren’t in the soil aren’t in our food—and food without minerals doesn’t just fail to provide proper nutrition, it also doesn’t taste very good! Minerals are what create the sweetness, flavor and nutrition in our food.

So is it any wonder that—given the choice between a greasy slice of pizza or a limp and tasteless salad—kids will choose the pizza, every single time?!

If you’ve read our previous blog post (“What Do Rock Dust and Recess Have to Do With Getting Kids to Eat Better?”), you’ll know that we believe that teaching kids about the link between soil health and good nutrition is essential to our future. That’s why we are proud to lend our support the Seed to Table Program by donating nearly 1,000 pounds of our all-natural volcanic basalt product to the program.

Based in Sisters, Oregon, the program’s mission it is to increase health and wellness of students and families, specifically decreasing obesity, by providing equal access to nutritious foods and offering opportunities in garden based wellness, science and art education. One of the best ways to introduce children to great-tasting, nutritious food is to teach them how to grow their own fruits and vegetables in soil that has been remineralized with all-natural volcanic rock dust. Rock dust is Mother Nature’s own way of making minerals available to plants in the balanced form they need to thrive. In a sense, rock minerals are to soil health what prebiotics and probiotics are to human health.

“Thank you, Cascade Minerals, for your donation of Remineralizing Soil Booster to the Seed to Table Program! It is a fantastic product and we are already seeing results! Being able to integrate a local product such as volcanic basalt and its micronutrient properties into our curriculum has allowed students to gain a larger understanding of geological/soil processes and nutrient requirements of plants in Central Oregon!”

The conclusion? If we want kids to EAT better, we have to TEACH them to GROW things that TASTE better!

The post Going from “Fed Up” to “Fired Up:” Teaching Kids About Soil Health & Nutrition appeared first on Cascade Minerals.