epletion levels averaging 70% over the last 50 years alone. Delta land, fed by rivers, makes exceedingly fertile farming land because the minerals washed down from the mountains or hFeeding the soil with minerals, to the Organic vegetable gardener, usually means putting waste organic matter, (stems, stalks & leaves which we did not eat), back into the soil. But, if the vegetable matter is grown in mineral-poor ground, what does this ultimately mean for the long term future of our soils and subsequent crops?

HOW DID MINERALS GET INTO THE SOIL?

When the last Ice Age receded, leaving behind the ground down remains of rocks, decaying animal & vegetable matter slowly combined with it over the millenia to produce humus and soil rich in minerals. We are at the end of an interglacial period and these minerals found in the soil have been slowly used up, resulting in present day mineral depletion levels averaging 70% over the last 50 years alone. Delta land, fed by rivers, makes exceedingly fertile farming land because the minerals washed down from the mountains or h

if the vegetable matter is grown in mineral-poor ground, what does this ultimately mean for the long term future of our soils and subsequent crops?

HOW DID MINERALS GET INTO THE SOIL?

When the last Ice Age receded, leaving behind the ground down remains of rocks, decaying animal & vegetable matter slowly combined with it over the millenia to produce humus and soil rich in minerals. We are at the end of an interglacial period and these minerals found in the soil have been slowly used up, resulting in present day mineral depletion levels averaging 70% over the last 50 years alone. Delta land, fed by rivers, makes exceedingly fertile farming land because the minerals washed down from the mountains or h

O THE SOIL?

When the last Ice Age receded, leaving behind the ground down remains of rocks, decaying animal & vegetable matter slowly combined with it over the millenia to produce humus and soil rich in minerals. We are at the end of an interglacial period and these minerals found in the soil have been slowly used up, resulting in present day mineral depletion levels averaging 70% over the last 50 years alone. Delta land, fed by rivers, makes exceedingly fertile farming land because the minerals washed down from the mountains or h

produce humus and soil rich in minerals. We are at the end of an interglacial period and these minerals found in the soil have been slowly used up, resulting in present day mineral depletion levels averaging 70% over the last 50 years alone. Delta land, fed by rivers, makes exceedingly fertile farming land because the minerals washed down from the mountains or hepletion levels averaging 70% over the last 50 years alone. Delta land, fed by rivers, makes exceedingly fertile farming land because the minerals washed down from the mountains or hinterland are continuously replenishing minerals taken up by plants.

Of course, meats are also affected since the animals are fed on mineral defficient crops. Ask any farmer why he feeds his animals supplements, if their grazing/silage is supposed to be satisfactory, and he will probably say 'Because the animals need it'. Farmers are not usually inclined to spend money without reason!

WARNING BELLS.

As far back as 1894 Dr. Julius Hensel wrote 'Bread from Stones', the first book on this subject. He argued that plants grown on mineralised soils were stronger and more nutritious and that the increasing power of the fertiliser industry was masking mineral deficiencies. A chiropractor, David Thomas,