Tuesday, 22 June 2010 01:48 |

Written by Ginny Ducale |

Azomite

I found something that might be of interest, Azomite is sold nationwide. The main proprietor is a company called Peak-Minerals located in Missouri. Here's some info on azomite.

A Source of Minerals & Trace Elements

Azomite is the name of a special rock in Utah. Early this century geological prospector Rollin Anderson found deposits of montmorillonite clay in a valley south of Salt Lake City. U.S. Bureau of Mines analysis showed the clay is similar to Chilean/Peruvian caliche rocks from which much of the world's nitrate was mined. Anderson ground montmorillonite as fine as possible, then put it in his garden. Results were amazing and nearly immediate. Minerals in Azomite are necessary to optimal metabolism in living things. Ground to dust, minerals are small enough to pass through cell walls of organisms.

Azomite is natural mined rock from a specific volcanic deposit in central Utah marketed as a free-flowing, less than 200 mesh, tan to pink powder with a density of 48 lbs./cubic foot. Shipped in bulk ($350/ton) or 40 lb. paper sacks ($19). No additives, synthetics or fillers. Mineralogically, Azomite is rhyolitic tuff breccia. Chemically, it's hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate. U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR 582.2729) lists it as "anti-caking agent." It's "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) by FDA for feeds up to 2% by weight. Odorless, insoluble (1%). Azomite has 67 major and trace elements, so its name means "A to Z Of Minerals Including Trace Elements." Typical analysis shows every element that's beneficial to plants and animals, and other elements (micro-nutrients) scientists believe essential. Any contaminants are within American Feed Control Officials guidelines.

Azomite is mined since 1942 as soil amendment and livestock feed additive. Cattlemen report faster weight gain, improved feed efficiency, upgraded meat quality, greater disease resistance, reduced mortality. Dairymen report increased milk, higher butterfat. Poultry producers report enhanced egg fertility and shell quality. Crop farmers report improved growth, health, size. Potatoes report 19-60% increase in yield; sugar beets are larger, with higher sugar content. Citrus growers report improved recovery from decline, healthier trees. In 1988 Peak Minerals, Inc. acquired the deposit and initiated accredited research in Colorado, Utah, Florida, and Georgia. Studies in broiler chicken, mycotoxin, citrus, and crops indicate benefits and are available by request. Currently approved for organic farming in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. Research recommends 300-600 lbs./acre broadcast, or 2 lbs./10 sq. ft in gardens. Users are testing row and foliar application.

It seems to be an expensive way (a $19 bag treats 200 sq. feet for one season?) to add elements and their ones we're concerned about occur only in trace amounts. I believe the increase in yields and growth that the site are primarily from the potassium and calcium (mineralogically speaking). Offered by Roger.

Friday, 25 September 2009 00:23 |

Written by Administrator |

Food Does Grow on Trees

We help people plant gardens as a service to our community. We open the soil, bring in compost and amendments, and help you plant seedlings and seeds. We specialize in edible landscapes including trees, and medicinals if they are wanted. Winter gardening works well in Eugene.

Gardening is the perfect way to work with the Earth. Dig deep into the Earth and plant your roots again! This is a great way to harmonize Mind, Body, and Spirit! No garden is too small. Indoor and Outdoor. Patios and front lawns. Gardens promote peace. During WW II Victory Gardens were grown as a part of the home effort to allow the food the farms grew to feed the boys overseas. Today we're planting gardens to mitigate global warming to allow our children to live.

The human race will not know peace till each everyone one of us has access to healthy food, and clean air and water.
Plant a seed and watch it bloom into a Victory Garden.
Tell everyone you know!
Together we will change the climate one garden at a time!

541-653-0149 | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it | Register for a Garden Here.

Wednesday, 13 January 2010 17:12 |

A LIST OF WHAT WE CAN DO:

1. We want city help to locate land that can be used to construct new community
gardens. There are many lands under 4J jurisdiction that are not being used.
We would appreciate the city helping us get 4J to release these lands for
community gardens.

2. There are other vacant lots that could be used for community gardens. We
want city help locating and making these lands available. Tax incentives at the
city and county level would be great.. Then we want help from the city on how
to get the water. We can find the way to build the fences.

3. We want these community garden plots to first go to low income folks and so
we want there to be ways for these folks to get the funds which with our methods
are minimal to start the garden ($60.00). There is a rental fee in the
community gardens and we want a fund so that this fee can be paid for low income
folk.

4. Our gardens are based on a system that was developed by William Albreacht
during the 40's and has given and will continue to give many solutions to
climate change including more carbon storage in the soil, less soil additives,
less organic runoff, more nutritious vegetables, less noxious weeds, and less
labor. We actively seek ways for these methods to be documented and
thereby extended to the Extension Service and local farms. We are actively
doing research with growing grains with a no till system. We have worked last
year with dry land farming and want to continue with this. We believe that it
is in the interest of everyone in food sufficiency (I prefer this term to food
security) to encourage and pull together these sustainable practices and
encourage such practices in the whole community. Again maybe tax incentives or
other incentives would work.

5. More than anything the Victory Gardens stands for a CAN DO ATTITUDE. 67% of
our population is on medically prescribed antidepressants or mood elevators. If
we start doing what we can for ourselves and our community most of us will not
be depressed. It is relying on "them" to solve our problems and noticing that
things are not getting solved that is depressing us. As we get more active, we
would expect that city and county government (local government) would have ways
not just to hear people expound on what works or what is wrong, but to have
ways to work together to get the jobs done effectively. I do not see this as a
lot of thinking., talking or discussion. I am wanting a way that people who
have a vision and want to do it can be encouraged, and linked together to other
visions in a self organizing type of way. A CAN DO WEBSITE as well as a CAN DO
BOARD maybe at the bus station down town.

Monday, 12 October 2009 18:43 |

Written by Patrick Hunter |

Jobs List, work list, activities & plans

We currently have many acitvities going on at the local gardens and we are in the need of volunteers. So if you want to get your hands dirty and meet new people, then contact us at 541-653-0149.......>>>>>>

Victory Garden Teams

Do your part to plant 10,000 new gardens in Eugene/Springfield in2010
We want anyone with access to garden space
new gardeners who need help setting up a garden
intermediate gardeners who need extra help with their gardens
experienced gardeners to lead a team of 5-6 Victory Gardeners
Teams will work together to plant gardens at each others houses.
(2-3 hours each week for 5-6 weeks)
New gardeners will experience the fun and excitement of creating an
"instant" garden in their very own yard

If you are disabled or are not a team player, we have a gardening package for you as well.