Yeah, I wasn't trying to lump anyone into the conspiracy theory thing...or assume you were going that route. That's why I stated "assumption or conspiracy theory" as reasons some people go that route. I understand assumptions, right or wrong, because assumptions usually have some basis in reality and are weighed before stated. Rock powders have been investigated, btw. The major issue is how many years it takes for them to become plant available vs how quickly you can incorporate those nutrients via other means. There's more than a few studies that see little to no effect after 3+ years. When you can apply a chemical corrective measure...or even a manure/seaweed/compost/etc measure and get more immediately available effects it becomes more relevant. A lot of rock dust applications I see out in the "real world" are in permanent plantings, such as orchard and perennials with existing root systems which you can't till to dig in to amend. This is an industry that still relies heavily on foliar feeding, too...and they're always looking for a way to supplement anything that can lessen the labor/mechanical-intensive foliar feedings. Many of these rock dusts are industrial/mining waste. There's a lot of people who would love to have another avenue of revenue out of what would otherwise be waste. That's the reason Ironite exists. Even though there's cheaper and more quickly available way to get iron+micros into a garden/lawn, it's been successfully marketed as a nutrient addition. It was a waste product of industry until someone figured out you could get people to dump it on their lawns. As far as a lot of money to be made in rock dusts, I'm not so sure about that. The weight of the material, the amount of application needed, and the time to get effectiveness are holding back it's use. As it is, the volume being sold is holding the market back to the point where a few dollars worth of crushed rock is demanding a price that's rather outrageous and mostly used by the hobby gardening market. A lot of the large scale use (such as in orchards) are mostly being used by those who have access to local mining or distributors who can supply it cheaply so they don't have to deal with it as waste. The market for these dusts have been a curiosity for decades, but it's been trying to find a foot since the 1970s without getting anywhere quickly. It's not for a lack of research into their properties...it's a few variables...especially time of effectiveness and cost (suppliers, shipping, and local availability). This post was edited by nc-crn on Sun, May 12, 13 at 19:14

I've had a design business for 13 years...and am busier than I want to be most of the time... with no advertising. I'm a real believer in good old fashioned networking and passing out business cards. Some of my best contacts are builders and re-modelers, small garden centers,architects, realtors, interior decorators, landscape contractors who do not (or do not want) to do their own design work and, of course, satisfied clients. For an irrigation contractor I'd suggest building a good rapport with your suppliers (let them know you'd appreciate their recommendations),local landscape designers and landscape architects and engineers, plant wholesalers, building and remodeling contractors (new homeowners always ask their builders to recommend service people), sod companies, and garden centers. I was surprised that many landscapers sub-contract their irrigation and landscape lighting systems to other companies. (Lighting is another area that many irrigation folks seem to be expanding into these days.) Keep your eyes peeled for Home/Garden shows. For a minimal fee you can rent a booth for the weekend and meet/greet quite a number of people. You could also "direct market" by putting together an attractive flyer describing your services and mail it to these kinds of businesses (using the phone book as a resource) and adding a personal note and your business card. Sometimes developments have their own "newsletters" that sell advertising space very inexpensively The possibilities are endless. Once you get a few good leads and several satisfied clients...quality work and word-of-mouth will do the rest. Good Luck!

I know how you feel. Even though I haven't had to put my dad into a home I did have to sit down with him and let him know that I cannot handle going over everyday. The guilt is awful but you have to think of yourself and take care of yourself too. No matter what it's not easy to tell anyone bad news or sad news. Best to sit with him and let him know you need to take care of yourself. Don't do it behind his back. Ask him if he'd like to go with you to check out the homes and see which one he prefers. Just remember just because you can't take care of him as much, does not mean he has to go into a home if he does not want to. He can say yes or no. Many times we have to wait till something bad happens or their mind is so far gone that they have no voice to say if they go or not. If he can afford to hire someone or even allow someone else to come in to help out at home would help you out. My dad does try to play with my feeling I think but he does know that I'm not much better off then he is. I have back problems and cannot clean house without taking pain medicine. I cannot lift more than five pounds. I can only carry five pounds from the car to the house and even that can get to me if I have three or four trips. Thing's that I don't have to worry about bring in I wait till DH gets home and ask him to carry them in. Of course dad does not know just how much I'm troubled I don't show it but finally had to tell him just how bad it is for me. II can be in pain and not show it, I'm like that, only when the pain is so bad does it show. Add to the mental part of caring for him it was and is really taxing on my health. So the best thing to do and sit with your FIL and let him know how it's wearing you down. I'm sure he'll understand. Just remember he's going through a bad time in life himself and if he get upset know it's not at you, it will be more at aging and not being able to do what he'd like to do. It's not easy to give up and this is what he'll see it as ..having to give up or give in. I think you might be surprised by him telling you he knew it was coming. We all have that sence of when things are not right. My blessing to you both

Teresa, no need for this display of gratitude, it was just a trifle and anyway, there's an element of showing-off in putting names to plants! Time to send this down the list of posts.