We sell food-grade diatomaceous earth here on the ranch. Diatomaceous earth is made of fossilized algae with silicon-based shells. It is mined in only a few places on Earth. Places where lakes or oceans used to be. The food-grade product comes from freshwater diatoms.
Also called "fossilized shell flour," it has no shelf life and it can be used for so many things! Mostly people know it as an organic pest control. We use it as a natural ant control on the ranch. Sprinkling a little on the ant mounds relocates fire ants out of our paths and play areas. We don't try to get rid of the ants; they are good partners in pest control, eating wasps and other undesirables.
Livestock owners in this area put diatomaceous earth in the feed. It not only cleans the animals' intestines, it passes through with the droppings and continue to help with pest control by killing fly. The Golden Blend Feed that we sell has diatomaceous earth as one of its regular ingredients.
Some people put a teaspoon of it water or juice daily for digestive tract cleansing, too. Make sure you look for food-grade. The saltwater product is processed and used for filtration in pools; it is not food-grade.
The cost of one of our 50-pound bags, which you can pick up here at the ranch is $27. We get deliveries every month. As always Bobbie or Fred for more information.