So I’ve definitely blogged about compost before. Oh, yes indeed. Ad nauseum, some might even argue. Today, whilst hosing down (and poking with a stick) my encrusted and fetid green bin, I was pondering the process by which food becomes compost. And my single, solitary word on the matter was “gross.” Yes, that matter is GROSS.
That said, of the 3 components one needs to stuff a box full of Mel’s Mix, compost is the only one entirely free of controversy. Compost is a “feel-good” venture (that is, when one is not actively engaged in hosing its early stages down: that is more like a “feel-like-barfing” venture). Vermiculite, as I mentioned in an earlier post, has had a brush with controversy, and it did not emerge entirely unscathed. However, it must be stressed that in and of itself, Vermiculite is, essentially completely innocuous.
Peat Moss (also known as Sphagnum), on the other hand, is considered by some to be the shady character of this entire lot. It’s a very simple debate, really, there are those who argue that it’s not a renewable resource, and those who argue that it most certainly is.
I know that some of you will follow these links, but for those who won’t, here are some quick comparisons:
The first site is a paper by Linda Chalker-Scott, Ph.D. (in Horticulture). She argues:
there is no economically realistic, environmentally friendly way to harvest peat moss. This is a natural resource that accumulates at the glacially slow rate of 0.5 – 1.0 mm per year, or about ¼ of an inch. Peat harvesting involves the removal of deep layers of peat that have literally taken centuries to accumulate. In fact, since harvesting implies sustainability, it is more accurate to describe commercial peat removal as mining.
Ouch. In fact, she classifies horticultural usage as “luxury,” since there are alternatives. Of course, she does concede that its usage in horticulture is excellent, but some of the substitutes perform as well, or better. The most damning argument (in my mind) is that peat mining releases massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere and therefore it should be considered a significant contributing factor to climate change. Double ouch.
Of course, if her take on things doesn’t sit so well with you, you can always check out the latter site by the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (who would, of course, not be biased toward hoping you’ll buy the stuff…). According to their handy FAQ section:
Canadian sphagnum peat moss is a sustainable resource. Annually, peat moss accumulates at more than 70 times the rate it is harvested. Harvested bogs are returned to wetlands so the ecological balance of the area is maintained.
I don’t know about you, but I do kind of wish I’d done my reading before we bought tons of the stuff. Even if you believe the latter site, there is an argument to be made for using other materials. And please Google more. I chose these sites because they seemed to be clear and concise, but there is a wealth of information out there.
One such material, Coir, is on sale at many places at this time of year. The link I’ve provided (to Veseys) says that “parts of Europe are banning the use of peat by 2010.” I guess if you want to use Peat Moss, you’d better act fast.
Yes, we bought it...we're sorry. We won't do it again. Promise.
Huh! I had never really given peat much of a thought I guess. We have Salad Acres just down the road, so peat just seems so easy and local and accessible.
What a great blog! I’m finding it highly entertaining. And educational. We just today built two boxes and mixed up our own mix with nary a thought to the controversy of peat moss. Oops. Since we’re at a similar stage, I’ll be watching your garden with interest. : )
(I found your site through Mr. Bartholomew’s - as a born and raised Nova Scotian I couldn’t resist).