The Elixir of the Earth

To grow a greener lawn, have healthier trees, and cultivate bigger vegetables, the soil needs to be enriched. Before reaching for that bag of nitrates or other chemical fertilizers, the conscious homeowner or farmer should stop for a moment to consider what needs to be put back in the soil to enhance its life-giving properties. Like the magnified form of the human body, the earth has the wondrous capability of healing itself. When forested areas of the world use up the nutrients in the soil, the earth has a built-in remineralization system that can be learned from and applied right in the back yard. The process is known as remineralization through rock dust application. John Hammaker, a research scientist in Massachusetts, postulates that each ice age in the history of the earth regenerated its topsoil. When the planet's forests deplete the soils of nutrients, they begin to die off, releasing their stored carbon into the atmosphere. All this carbon builds up in the atmosphere, creating a "greenhouse effect" and causing a the earth's temperatures to rise.

This heat is most concentrated around the equator where the sunlight is greatest. The higher temperatures cause evaporation, and the moisture rises, creating a vacuum underneath which pulls in cooler air from the polar regions. As the air is pulled in from the North and the South, another vacuum ensues, pulling the warm moist air towards the poles. During this time there is a lot of strong activity like typhoons and hurricanes that occur in the earth's sub-tropical regions. When the moist warm air from the tropics arrives in the polar regions, it hits the cooler temperatures and condensates as snow. The snow builds up, and the weight causes it to pack into the ice and push southward from the north pole and northwards from Antarctica. At this time there is an increase in earthquakes and volcanoes caused by the extra weight on the continents. The glaciers descend, grinding up all rocks and mountains in their path, remineralizing the soil. When the forests again take root, they absorb the carbon from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, and the ice age diminishes.

Hammaker has extended this hypothesis to explain what is currently occurring on earth right now. According to Hammaker, earth's inhabitants have accelerated the onset of the next ice age through the burning of fossil fuels and the deforestation of large forested areas like the Amazon. Hammaker says the only way to stop the glaciers from knocking down our back doors within this generation or the next, is to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, reforest the cities and the countryside by replanting and remineralizing the earth through rock dust applications. While Hammaker advocates going out and remineralizing all forests and fields, the average homeowner usually does not have the time to take on such a large task. However, by simply taking care of one's yard and garden through natural means, the cumulative effects will yield significant results on a global scale.

About Rock Dust

The amount of minerals and the quality rock used to produce rock dust depends on the location of the quarry, and the mining process. Many companies sell rock dust, but it is best to inquire about what minerals it contains and if there are any chemicals added. If their manufacturing plant is nearby, ask to take a tour. Some companies simply sell the dust that is left over from manufacturing other products. This may not have the necessary minerals for plants and trees, so it is best to buy rock dust from those companies which make it specifically for this use. They will be happy to provide a lab report for you.

Rock dust is usually high in calcium, iron, magnesium, sulfur, and more than 100 other trace minerals. The PH level is often very high (eight or nine) and therefore must be used in small amounts, combined with compost, with peat moss if acid soil is required, or made into a liquid form. The rock dust does not dissolve when mixed with water, but forms a colloid, making it instantly available to the plants it is sprayed on. Rock dust can replace many other natural mineral products which are harder to get and more expensive.

The Bacteria Eat First

Not all the food that you add to your soil makes it to the plants. Initially, it must be broken down by soil microbes. The microbes live in many different areas of the soil, some live on the root hairs of many plants, some live only deep in the ground. The bacteria which live on the root hairs of plants convert minerals found in the soil into a different form of the same mineral which is available to the plants. Microbes tear apart or combine minerals. Also when the microbes die they leave behind minerals in a changed form which is also available to the plants as food.

Mix The Dust

For best results mix different sources of rock dust together to get more complete trace minerals. There are many companies now offering rock dust. We have listed as many of them as possible in our Resource Directory. (coming soon)

Making your own Rock Dust

While this is not the easiest way, it can be done. Obtain a fifty gallon steel drum, weld bicycle gears at both ends. Hook up a bicycle through the chain gears. Set up the front wheel on a non-movable base. Get a large round river stone to place inside. Make an opening which can be closed and locked. Then place local rocks into drum and exercise while crushing the rocks! Most soft rocks will work well. You can also crush lobster tails, clams, and other seafood materials. Add oyster shells to increase calcium.

any questions?

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