Where to get green sand in Canada (Calgary specifically)
natalie403
14 years ago
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celtic_07
14 years agomorphoz3a_ab
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Ironite, Ironate, or Green Sand
Comments (9)Thanks Jenny. Don't worry. I'm a learned skeptic (by necessity) and an intuitive second and very willing and interested in hearing all sides and generally need proof to move one way or another. I generally try to get information and opinions from different sources and perspectives with their agendas in mind. With respect to Ironite, I've looked at rulings and recommendations from EPA, a few state rulings, and any state agriculture and university plant and soil tests. It can be time-consuming. Therefore, I thought someone may already have done what I'm doing. I bought the amendment mostly for repotting and for the health of my gardenias, roses and other ornamentals, but I also used it also on my crops because Ironite is marketed for shrubs, trees, and garden as well, and there are pictures of tomatoes and lemons on the bag, so there can be no misunderstanding there. I had no idea that there is no federal regulations or oversight on fertilizers (or some legal loophole) in that fertilizers (including fertilized potting mixes - not just Ironite but many national brands) can be made and sold from recycled toxic waste and be sold as unregistered fertilizer products. Here is a stop order list of fertilizer products I uncovered from Washington State Department of Agriculture dated 10/10/03 (NOT all for heavy metals), http://agr.wa.gov/Pestfert/Publications/docs/FertilizerProductsIssuedStopSaleOrders.pdf The two Ironite formulas I purchased are not on this old stop list and seem not to have too much contaimination according to one soil and plant test, but I may return them just to be safe and if there are existing comparable alternatives. I certainly don't want to pollute or ingest pollution and would not want to pay for or know how to dispose of toxic waste. What is worse about Ironite is that the even with the uncertainty of the bioavailability of theses heavy metals aside (although some believe and/or have proven that they are in time), the EPA and state agricultural agencies knew about the source of recycled heavy metals in Ironite and that it should be a non-exempt registered recycled mined fertilizer with the EPA, and over twenty public health and environmental advocates have written letters to Target, Lowes, and Home Depot in 2002 (5 years ago) asking them not to carry Ironite. PA and MN (and some other states) were able to reach a settlement and ban Ironite for sale from their state until the company can provide supporting evidence and proof that their products are safe as claimed when use as directed. I'm willing to wait for the proof before writing it off, but shouldn't there be some kind of label while we wait for any conclusive evidence in the meantime? And does it really take 10 years for corroborating plant/soil tests to be done to reach a public health decision? Without product label warnings, how are consumers suppose to be informed to sort out the science and the political maze? [excuse the frustrations] Where can one buy Hollytone? I also bought a bag of Plant-Tone from Espoma while on my shopping trip (couldn't decide I guess). Other than missing a few minors, it's an organic complete fertilizer with micros. Heard of it? Any thoughts? I should have followed through with my original idea of using soluble hydroponic fertilizers because I'm already growing soiless anyway. Anyone sees a problem with using hydroponic nutrients in soiless containers? Thanks for any tip or feedback....See MoreMy Experiences Leveling My Lawn with Sand
Comments (137)Please allow me to explain some facts about the different types of sand. As a contractor and someone who has worked in a concrete plant you better know what type of snd you need for the job you are doing. With that said lets began. Sand is either dug up in a quarry or dredged from a pond, lake or a sand quarry that they hit a spring in and filled with water. All commercial sand is washed so it can be graded for size and type. You have to go out and dig up your own if you want to get unwashed sand ( which is not recommended for landscaping ) to be used as fill sand or what we call sandbox sand. First thing to fall out of the washer is mason sand. Next is concrete sand followed by fill sand which contains some clay. Next is gravel base and is made-up of lots of clay and small gravel.This is what you typically find on ball diamonds and clay tennis courts or as a base for a gravel driveway or path through your garden. It can be packed down so hard you would think it was concrete with a colored dye in it untill it rains. Dogs, cats, kids and husbands get in quite a bit of trouble when it rains because of this stuff. Next is pea gravel. This can be used to cover the gravel base or partly fill holes like lateral lines where you need good drainage or placed under downspouts to keep the water from making a canyon of you lawn and it gives it a decorative look. Just remember to use something to keep the gravel in place or your mower becomes a machine gun when you mow around It. A lot of people use it in flower beds and around the base of trees too for decorative look. Rock gardens look neat and pea gravel mixed with river rock works well for this. Next comes river rock. Used as I just mentioned in place of the pea gravel ecept not on lateral lines or sewer pipes or any other underground lines and pipes. Although it does work well for drip irrigation or soaker hose. Then the last is river stone. Good for decorative landscaping and filling in wash outs or anywhere you need the water not to erode the ground beneath them....See Moreraised bed mixed with native soil (sand)
Comments (26)Thanks for the pictures. You will certainly need to use every conceivable water saving method, that much is clear. The area of your future house looks very dry indeed. The closest experience I have is gardening in central florida where although there is no shortage of water as a yearly average, there is a quite dry season during the cooler part of the year, the sky is very clear so the sun is bright and hot and the sandy "soil" dries out very dry. There is a also a lot of drying wind that is very hard on food plants and young fruit trees. I suspect there will be several critical factors for you, presuming that the main issue, water, is available. Windbreaks will be super important, and the easiest thing would be to build the house with walls that enclose a sheltered garden. Second, you likely have far too much sun for most annual food crops, so if that sheltered area can have shade from about 1 or 2 in the afternoon might help a lot. With such clear sky and high sun there the morning will probably be enough. In extreme environments the majority of the heat stress on a plant that is not well-adapted will be from the west. Equally important will be crop choices, and that is where it's especially unlikely anyone on this forum will be able to give good info. As mentioned earlier, there must be people in the region who will know everything. We all know of some dry hot climate tree crops: notably date palm and almond, maybe pomegranate, because they are popular foods in the west, but I am pretty sure that there are a number of leguminious trees as well that will grow in those conditions. There must also be some annual type and maybe perennial type greens and other vegetables. I would think it logical that any of the common food crops that originated in the damper and/or cooler climates (which is most, by far) will be a waste of your time and resources....See MoreVancouver-Calgary
Comments (25)"Your statement was "seeds and cones" Cones are not propagatable living plants, just receptacles for the seeds. The EU at least does not restrict their entry in the same way that live plants are restricted. "If you are a researcher or have a legitimate need for seeds you can apply for a collection permit" Ever tried getting one? The red tape, and restrictions, in some cases that I've seen, are ridiculous, and make it impossible for all but an extremely small number of official state institutions. Private individuals, however legitimate and valid their research might be, are not entitled to apply. (Note, this may not apply to Canadian National Parks, I don't know what specific regulations apply there). "Seeds can be legally purchased" Though most such are not accompanied by any documentation of source, etc., that a grower might want, or may not come from a particular population that a grower may wish to study. And never accompanied by a vouchered herbarium specimen to document the identity. "Over 4 million people visit Banff every year, imagine if they all removed seeds" Not a very valid argument. 99.999% of those 4 million have no interest in collecting seed. What would be sensible, is if they had say, 1000 collecting permits per year, freely available on request, without any red tape. That would enable management of collecting at a low level that would not harm the environment. Some places in the US at least, do have arrangements like this (e.g. BLM land). Resin...See Moreshazam_z3
14 years agonatalie403
14 years agonatalie403
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14 years agocowgirl2
14 years agonatalie403
14 years agoshazam_z3
14 years agocowgirl2
14 years agonatalie403
14 years agoSherwood Botsford (z3, Alberta)
14 years ago
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