Last updated on December 2nd, 2011
A very pleasant aspect of blogging is that one can write on any subject that crosses one’s mind. And today, while sifting leaf mold, my thoughts turned to Miracle-Gro, Pro-Mix, and other commercial horrors.
Packaged potting mixes are undeniably convenient. Still, we should do our best to avoid using them. Why? Because they contain sphagnum peat moss. Peat moss — regardless of what its proponents claim — is a non-renewable resource. It is mined from ancient boglands, which have their own, unique ecosystems. When bogs are razed by thoughtless profiteers (for the benefit, mostly, of amateur gardeners) the natural habitat of many rare and specialized forms of wildlife becomes threatened.
Furthermore, scientists tell us that peat bogs are among the earth’s important “coolers.” That’s because they trap one-third of the world’s carbon. When peat bogs are disturbed, guess what happens? Long-trapped carbon is released into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas. Global warming, anyone? Hail storms in June? Devastating ice-storms in December?
We can, of course, grow lovely gardens both indoors and out without using Miracle Gro or any other product containing peat moss. Tomorrow, we shall learn how.
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