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Remineralize the Earth (RTE) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Northampton, Massachusetts, and founded in 1995 by Joanna Campe.[1] The organization’s mission is to "promote the use of natural land and sea-based minerals to restore soils and forests, produce more nutritious food, and remove excess CO2 from the atmosphere”.[2] RTE’s vision is to overcome desertification, increase food security by increasing the yields and nutritional values of food grown in healthy soils, and stabilize the climate by amending soils and forests across the globe with readily available and finely ground silicate rock dust and sea minerals.

Education and public outreach about soil remineralization's potential benefits are some of RTE's primary efforts. The organization is currently working on science curriculum for K-12 students that includes multiple topics related to soil remineralization, such as botany, sustainable agriculture, nutrition, and geology.[3] The curriculum draws from information compiled on the organization's website, which contains the only research database dedicated to soil remineralization and related projects around the world.[4] The projects and research papers on RTE's website include information and case studies on "reversing global desertification through agroforestry and reforestation, sequestering carbon, and stabilizing the climate."[5] RTE has partnered with the University of Brasilia on an agricultural remineralization project and the University of Massachusetts Amherst on researching combinations of biochar and rock dust for use in agriculture.

History

Origins

RTE was incorporated in 1995 to "disseminate ideas and information about remineralizing soils throughout the world.”[6] The organization was founded on the principles of the growing movement of soil remineralization, which advocates for the use of natural mineral sources as fertilizers. The use of rocks and minerals for agricultural development, known as agrogeology, has been around for centuries,[7] but investigation of the power of soil remineralization through natural mineral sources only began in the 19th century.[1] RTE’s mission emerges from the work of individuals and groups who pioneered work in this field. They belonged to one of three distinct groups/areas of work: European research, agrogeology, and the grassroots movement of soil remineralization.

Almost a decade prior to RTE’s conception, founder Joanna Campe was featured in Irish Independent while speaking at a Future In Our Hands (FIOH) educational conference. There, she suggested soil remineralization as a way to speed up reforestation efforts, which could help absorb CO2 in the face of climate change.[8] The newspaper identified Campe as “founder of TERRA, an American environmental organization,” which stood for The Earth Regeneration and Reforestation Association.[9] In the mid-1980's Campe had begun folding rock powders into her garden after coming across the work of John D. Hamaker, an engineer turned farmer and writer who argued that rock dust could mimic the action of soil-enhancing glaciers.[10] In 1986, Campe launched Soil Remineralization, A Network Newsletter in Northampton, Massachusetts with the goal of facilitating an international grassroots movement of soil remineralization.[1] In 1991 the newsletter became Remineralize the Earth Magazine,[11] with a circulation of 2500 people, before transitioning in 1995 into the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization it is today.

Real Food Campaign

RTE's Real Food Campaign, which ran from 2008-2013, sought to bring soil remineralization into the general public consciousness by making information about remineralization and nutrient density available to consumers, farmers, and food retailers. Dan Kittredge, executive director of RTE from 2007-2008, was the director of the campaign. Kittredge went on to found the Bionutrient Food Association, an organization with the mission of “(increasing) the quality in the food supply” by training farmers in biological soil management.[1][12]

Their constituents are growers, consumers, and purveyors of food. They, aside from training farmers in biological soil management, organize a yearly Soil & Nutrition Conference.[13]

Renown & Awards

Local Media Attention

In partnership with Grow Food Northampton, Remineralize the Earth was featured in MassLive, a news and media website based in Northampton MA, for their work with rock dust in community gardens. As explained by Remineralize the Earth founder, Joanna Campe, the rock dust in the soil creates “growth in the microorganisms of the soil and...counters the effects of soil acidity, prevents erosion, [and] repels insects.” She continued, “Long term, the silicate strengthens plant tissues so they won’t attract fungus or insects.” “[Don] Weaver who is on the board of advisors to Remineralize the Earth said, 'Remineralize essentially means replenishing the full spectrum of the natural minerals to an organism or an ecosystem.’” “This means restoring the mineral base so that all organisms and ecosystems are fully nourished and can reach their biological and genetic potential.” The director of Grow Food Northampton, Lilly Lombard, commented that they "want to create the best and most fertile soil," and rock dust is a great help, because it “‘instantly washed into the soil,’” making for easy application. [14]

As featured in the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Remineralize the Earth “was incorporated in 1995 to disseminate ideas and information about remineralizing soils throughout the world.” Their focus on putting minerals back into soil seeks to reduce the damages of climate change since remineralization reduces carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Campe comments that remineralization “‘is a way of imitating the nature creative forces of the Earth by returning minerals to the soil and is something that can be done by anyone from backyard gardeners to the largest farms.”  Their website features more information on remineralization and is “a clearing house for information, providing a wealth of knowledge and links.”[6]

National Award for Sustainability (1998)

In 1998 Remineralize the Earth was nominated for a Renew America Award by Bill Holmberg, who is a Remineralize the Earth board member and one of the founders of the American Council of Renewable Energy (ACORE). The National Awards Council presented Remineralize the Earth with a Certificate of Environmental Achievement recognizing the outstanding program in the Renew America 1998 Environmental Success Index.[15] According to the EPA, this award was given to “programs throughout the nation that demonstrate leadership and excellence in integrating environmental, economic and community sustainability.”[16]

Partners and Conferences

RTE has initiated numerous local and global projects. Local partners include the Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School (PFSJS),[17][18][19] Brook’s Bend Farm,[13][20] Grow Food Northampton,[14] and New Harmony Farm CSA,[21] where the organization used rock dust combined with biochar.[22] International projects include initiatives in Costa Rica, Panama, Barbuda, Cameroon, Senegal and Brazil.[23]

US-Based Projects

Greg Watson, MA Commissioner of Agriculture, delivers the keynote speech at A Forum On Soil Remineralization and Sustainable Agriculture.

In 1993, the National Task Force on Remineralization of the National Aggregate Association (NAA) met at their headquarters in Silver Spring, MD. The conference was attended by Robert J. Able, Task Group Chairman, Richard C. Meininger and David W. Jahn of the American Aggregates Corp, Sandy Wood of Vulcan Minerals, and other NAA Staff. Attending from the USDA was W.D. Doral Kemper, head of National Programs on Soils, and Ron Korcak, Fruit Lab and the Program on Use of Industrial Byproducts in Agriculture. Also attending was Andrew Euston of HUD, Greg Watson,[24] Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture, and Joanna Campe of Remineralize the Earth.[25]

In 1994, the USDA, the United States Bureau of Mines, the National Stone and Aggregate Associations, and RTE co-sponsored A Forum On Soil Remineralization and Sustainable Agriculture at the USDA headquarters in Beltsville, MD.[26][27] The USDA conducted a series of demonstration trials with rock mineral fines.[28]

In 1996, RTE received multiple grants to do a two-year research project in the Pioneer Valley at the University of Massachusetts, Hampshire College, Smith Vocational High School, along with organic and conventional farmers. Donors included the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, and the International Center for Aggregate Research (ICAR) US.[29]

In 2008, RTE sponsored an official side event at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC2008), invited by the State Department and ACORE.[30]

International Projects

In 2013, Joanna Campe was a keynote speaker at the II Congresso Brasileiro de Rochagem, and presented The Potential of Remineralization as a Global Movement.[23]

  1. ^ a b c d Goreau, Thomas J.; Larson, Ronal W.; Campe, Joanna, eds. (2014-12-19). Geotherapy. p. 98. doi:10.1201/b13788. ISBN 9780429168901.
  2. ^ "Remineralize the Earth". Remineralize the Earth. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  3. ^ "Remineralize the Earth". www.guidestar.org. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  4. ^ "Remineralize the Earth". Cuba-U.S. Agroecology Network. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  5. ^ "Remineralize the Earth". Cuba-U.S. Agroecology Network. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  6. ^ a b Merzbach, Scott (May 17, 2006). "Rock Your World Movement Grows to Replace Lost Minerals in Soils". Daily Hampshire Gazette. Vol. 220, no. 218. pp. A1, B6.
  7. ^ Straaten, P. van (2002). Rocks for Crops : Agrominerals of Sub-Saharan Africa. OCLC 1156492507.
  8. ^ "Voices in the wilderness predicting doom". The Irish Times. September 22, 1986.
  9. ^ "Soggy summers, withering winters blamed on pollution". Irish Independent. August 13, 1986.
  10. ^ Homeyer, Henry (2004-06-24). "On a Fad Diet of Rock Dust, How the Garden Does Grow (Published 2004)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  11. ^ "Remineralize the Earth". Ibiblio; The Public's Library and Digital Archive.
  12. ^ "Home | Bionutrient Food Association". bionutrient.org. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  13. ^ a b "Soil & Nutrition Conference Archive | Bionutrient Food Association". www.bionutrient.org. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  14. ^ a b "Florence community garden in Northampton readied for spring groundbreaking". masslive. 2011-11-26. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  15. ^ "Renew America Award for Remineralize the Earth from 1998". Remineralize the Earth. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  16. ^ "04/29/99: THE BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM RECOGNIZED BY RENEW AMERICA". archive.epa.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  17. ^ "Home | Bionutrient Food Association". bionutrient.org. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  18. ^ "Students Gain Hands-On Experience with Remineralization at Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School". Remineralize the Earth. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  19. ^ "High School Project with Aji Peppers Show Increased Growth with Rock Dust and Compost". Remineralize the Earth. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  20. ^ "Brook's Bend Farm". Remineralize the Earth. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  21. ^ "New Harmony Farm in Newbury - Local Food Guide - Northeast MA". guide.farmfreshri.org. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  22. ^ "Remineralization: Brazil Enacts Groundbreaking Legislation for Sustainable Agriculture". New Hope Network. 2014-02-06. Retrieved 2021-01-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ a b Bamberg, Adilson Luis; Posser Silveira, Carlos Augusto; de Souza Martins, Éder; Bergmann, Magda; Martinazzo, Rosane; Huff Theodoro, Suzi, eds. (2013). Conference: II Congresso Brasileiro de Rochagem. Pocos de Caldas: ANAIS. pp. 91–100. ISBN 978-85-61175-68-9.
  24. ^ Edelman, Emily (2020-10-20). "Bits & Bytes: Schumacher lecture; Halloween StoryWalk; 'Local Characters: Back to School'; West African drumming class". The Berkshire Edge. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  25. ^ Campe, Joanna (1998). "NAA Task Force on Remineralization". Remineralize the Earth Magazine. Double Issue 4-5: 32–33.
  26. ^ Scott Jr., Frederick I. (Summer 1995). ""Soil Remineralization: An Essential Environmental Action" (reprint from American Environmental and Laboratory Journal)". Remineralize the Earth Magazine. Double Issue 7-8: 18–22.
  27. ^ Euston, AIA, HUD, Andrew (Summer 1995). "USDA Forum and Beyond – Where Do We Go From Here?". Remineralize the Earth Magazine. Double Issue 7-8: 24–27.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ Barsotti, Aldo (Summer 1995). "USDA Begins Field Demonstration for SR: An Overview of the Regional Nature of Mineral Fines". Remineralize the Earth Magazine. Double Issue 7-8: 16–17.
  29. ^ Campe, Joanna (Spring 1997). "Soil Remineralization for an Economically and Ecologically Sustainable Agriculture in the Pioneer Valley". Remineralize the Earth Magazine. double issue 10-11: 49–53.
  30. ^ "WIREC 2008". REN21. 2019-06-02. Retrieved 2020-12-15.

External links

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Remineralize_The_Earth&oldid=999760137

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