Minerals

Note: Currently, I am not carrying any of these mineral products, as they take up a lot of storage room and can be purchased elsewhere for less money. I am, however, leaving up all of the following information on them, as it is very useful reading.

Naturally-mined mineral products (ie. not chemicals) can be very beneficial, although their annual application "for good measure" is unnecessary and potentially harmful. As a landscape moves into balance, they are needed less and less, especially if you are focusing on organic matter. Organic matter contains these minerals, so that should be the main focus. Leaving the grass clippings in place, raking the leaves into the beds in the fall, and composting will all provide minerals.

Still, there are products that can greatly help us bring our ecosystems to a balance more quickly. Many of the products out there, even so-called "organic" fertilizers, bring in large amounts of minerals that are often expensive, unnecessary, and are potentially harmful if they are not needed. See the resources section for more info.

Other than rock dust, most mineral products are composed of big quantities of just one or two minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus. Unless you are knowledgeable enough to "read" the landscape and know what is needed, they should not be applied in much quantity without a soil test. And unfortunately, almost all soil testing labs give chemical recommendations, or even if they try to give organic recommendations, they are based on the chemical paradigm.  I use International Ag Labs in the US. They are one of the few labs using appropriate testing methods and giving sound recommendations. A test costs $50, plus $15 or so to ship it there. It is well worth it.

Click on the links at right to learn more.