Worrying comments about our food

[burnie]

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/die...cid=spartanntp


Now the main thrust of this may not be exactly accurate, some of these stories sometimes have an underlying ulterior motive, like polls and who asks for them can colour the outcome. But what is disturbing is that modern farming is bringing about the removal of trace elements from the soil and the food. Basically we are producing more food, but it is less use to us!!
If ever there was an advert to grow your own, this is it.

[veggiechicken]

I read all of that article and the only bit that seemed to be relevant was

"Even when fresh produce is consumed, there appear to be fewer micronutrients available than was once the case. This is due to issues such as soil health, caused by poor agricultural management and climate change."

It seemed to be targeting vegans rather than the omnivores.

[Thelma Sanders]

Some tests on vitamin/mineral levels in vegetables were done by the Government (in the 50s I think) and they did find lower levels than previously - so this is nothing new.
That's why adding rock dust makes sense to me. It may not work in the short term, but must be of benefit in the long term as the mineral dust breaks down. Maybe you wouldn't want to buy and apply to a council plot - but may be worth considering for your home veg garden if you intend to stay put.

[Scarlet]

My mum gave me rock dust as a present a few years back. I didn't see any difference straight away....but perhaps it did something! Adding any extras should help
In the long term though, as I'm getting older I'm finding it harder to do the digging so lots of root veg is bought in these days

[Guest]

I remember reading several years ago about back gardens are the future as sq foot of back garden vs sq foot of farmers field it was so many times better in nutrients already.

As gardeners you know home grown tastes better so there has to be something to it nutrients wise, not just varieties although that also adds to it commercial varieties are breed for size and consistency.

I don't understand vegan but it doesn't help if they are against muck being added to soil. It means the soil is already depleted of various nutrients.

[Small pumpkin]

Don't know what you're all worried about. I've got Martian soil

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...lands-46521999

awesome

[Aberdeenplotter]

My mum gave me rock dust as a present a few years back. I didn't see any difference straight away....but perhaps it did something! Adding any extras should help
In the long term though, as I'm getting older I'm finding it harder to do the digging so lots of root veg is bought in these days

I used it in my previous plot and that season I had a tremendous return for my efforts. However, I didn't do any sort of comparison against ground not treated so the rock dust may or may not have influenced anything. I bought a couple of bags of the stuff a few weeks back and this time I will be doing a proper triall

[Snadger]

I've used rock dust without a control and look forward to AP's trial. From what I can gather rock dust is just volcanic rock crushed?


If so the cost of it seems extremely high, nearly as high (I paid a fiver for a small box) as the volcano it came from.

[Thelma Sanders]

I've used rock dust without a control and look forward to AP's trial. From what I can gather rock dust is just volcanic rock crushed?

Why confused? Volcanic rock is what all soils started out as.... The soil around volcanos is some of the most fertile in the world. Unfortunately it carries deadly risks for people that farm there, if the volcano wakes up without warning.

Me, I'll just stick with the rock dust

But yes, some rock dusts are expensive, because it is very hard to grind small enough to apply.

[rary]

Rock dust comes from quarries where they grind the rock for gavel chippings, if you go to a quarry most will let you fill a bag free of charge as the dust needs to be cleaned out from the machinery, there is generally different mineral content and quantity at each quarry, the one close to where I stay has a lower mineral content and different make up from the bags of rock dust sold by BnQ, but spreads on the garden just as easy

[rary]

Other points to note, some minerals are required to aid plants draw in the nutrients, and the mineral content in our food is a lot less now than it was in the fifties, so what you buy in the shops may look nice but doesn't have the substance