volcanic power
"
WE CA N EACH
do our part to replenish the soil on
our little plot of earth, and reap the
benefits of delicious food and good
health in the process.”
HOW TO USE BA SA LT IN YOUR GAR DEN
To access the hundreds of minerals present in basalt,
you’ll need to make sure
you have plenty of microbial
life in your soil. The beneficial
microbes will extract the miner-
als from the basalt and feed them
to your plants in a form they can use.
One of the best ways to accomplish this
is to always pair basalt with compost. You
can mix basalt directly into your compost
pile before you add it to your garden. For better
results, add basalt to your compost when you
start your pile and add it every so often to make
sure there are plenty of minerals available to your
plants when you finally add it to your garden. If
you don’t like to disturb your soil, you can add a
layer of basalt to your garden and then cover it
with a layer of compost. Compost tea is another
effective way to increase microbial life in your soil,
and pairs well with basalt.
When choosing your powder, make sure it has
the texture of flour. The smaller particle size
allows it to break down for your plants faster. A
good rule of thumb is to use 10-15 pounds of basalt
for every 100 square feet. This application will last
three to four years. You don’t need to add basalt to
your garden more often than this.
Although modern agricultural practices have
depleted our soil, there is still time to repair the
damage. Amending our soil with basalt is a great
place to start. We can each do our part to replen-
ish the soil on our little plot of earth, and reap the
benefits of delicious food and good health in the
process. The healthier the soil is, the better our
food tastes, and the healthier we are.
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