Comments on: Balancing Soil Minerals (Pt2) http://sustainablesmallholding.org/balancing-soil-minerals-pt2/ Permaculture, and Sustainable practices on a Lincolnshire Smallholding Thu, 08 May 2014 07:18:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.1 By: Douglas Smith http://sustainablesmallholding.org/balancing-soil-minerals-pt2/#comment-6597 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 14:23:46 +0000 http://sustainablesmallholding.org/?p=3915#comment-6597 Yes – UK labs as a general rule seem to be more expensive than the states. Look forward to seeing the finished 3rd part!

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By: Deano Martin http://sustainablesmallholding.org/balancing-soil-minerals-pt2/#comment-6569 Tue, 06 Aug 2013 12:18:59 +0000 http://sustainablesmallholding.org/?p=3915#comment-6569 Hi Douglas
I’ve delayed writing part 3 as it stated becoming a summary of the stages of the book. I’m going to shorten the draft and concentrate on what my amendments are, rather than an explanation of how I arrived at the prescription.
I used Logan labs. The Laverstoke test was unreasonably expensive compared to the $20 that they charged. I used rockdust, kelp, Manganese and copper and magnesium sulphate, plus Borax. I have Sulphur to add too, but am waiting for empty beds.
Cheers
Deano

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By: Douglas Smith http://sustainablesmallholding.org/balancing-soil-minerals-pt2/#comment-6483 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 15:42:47 +0000 http://sustainablesmallholding.org/?p=3915#comment-6483 Look forward to seeing part 3 in due course. Based in Hertford, UK I’m also interested in the remineralisation approach (Steve Solomon) and will be interested how and where you source required minerals the UK. Did you also have / use the Laverstock soil test, or choose to send the soil sample to the states for parity with the recommendations given there? Prior to reading more on Solomon, I had a test from Laverstock (http://bit.ly/wfIQJa) and would be interested seeing if the results here can be used – like your own results, one of the issues it flags is Magnesium and the ratio to Calcium.

Thanks,
Douglas

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By: Permaculture and the Ethylene Cycle Myth - The Sustainable Smallholding http://sustainablesmallholding.org/balancing-soil-minerals-pt2/#comment-2819 Fri, 10 May 2013 21:19:12 +0000 http://sustainablesmallholding.org/?p=3915#comment-2819 [...] Ethylene Cycle. Strangely enough I do not recall reading about it anywhere else. In my last post (Balancing Soil Minerals Pt 2) I was reminded of the Ethylene Cycle by a comment from Darius, a fellow Permaculture Practitioner, [...]

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By: Deano Martin http://sustainablesmallholding.org/balancing-soil-minerals-pt2/#comment-2670 Sat, 04 May 2013 13:37:10 +0000 http://sustainablesmallholding.org/?p=3915#comment-2670 Hi Darius
I hope to answer some of those questions in the next post, but the last one is relevant here. This test shows available minerals. I am assuming that there may be unavailable minerals that are not reported. As icrobial activity may increase those over time, it suggests to me that an ongoing series of tests, perhaps every two years for me, is called for.
The ratio of minerals and surplusses will be covered in the next article.
Where were you reading about the aerobic/anaerobic cycle that you mention? Was it in relation to the ethylene cycle?
Thanks for the mention of Holmgren in your other comment. Where was the bit about digging/aerating the soil? I’m going to go through it again, but you could save me some time.
Cheers Mate
Deano

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