I know peat moss is the ethical evil of evils...

[raroo]

Oh yes, I know that stuff! I forgot all about it, I worked at a hydroponics store a few years ago and they used to sell it in bricks form. I don't think I've seen it in big bags before, I'll have to check that out. Thanks for that!

I'm definitely going to see about that now! It'd be worth a try anyway.

 

[cinder_ella]

I wonder if you could use coir instead. It's totally renewable, super cheap, and has many of the same qualities as peat moss--absorbent, light weight, etc. It's basically the shredded up hair from coconuts, and a lot of nurseries and hardware stores sell it.

This stuff sounds cool...could someone tell me more about it...like is there a website or something?​

 

[Freebird]

FYI, peat bogs are not entirely non-renewable, at least not anymore. There are several canadian companies and government agencies that have been working for years to develope restoration techniques that apear to be working. Good news. They even have examples of bogs that are regrowing themselves, unaided, after harvesting was completed. Even without that, peat grows, right now, nearly 70 times faster than it is being harvested.

 

[flakey chick]

Coir, That's a good idea. I still have compressed blocks leftover from when I was dabbeling with hydroponics. Think I'll give it a try.

This year we decided on a raised bed garden and bought a huge bag of the peat moss to help us get started. We kept hearing about the green trend of people growing their own food and how good it was for the environment to reduce the food shipping burden. Then I reminded my husband we were shipping in our dirt from Canada instead of shipping our food in from Mexico. Maybe not so green after all.

It has been the best garden we've ever had. I had to fence the chickens out, but I'm just about to turn it over. I plan on parking their tractor there for a bit as soon as I harvest the last of the cucumbers and carrots.

 

[raroo]

Quote:
This stuff sounds cool...could someone tell me more about it...like is there a website or something?

I have to do more research on it myself.

The only thing I remember about it is that it came in the form of a brick and nobody bought it.

But I would definitely like to check it out more and take a closer look at it. I wouldn't mind a happy alternative to peat moss! The thing I'm wondering is if the coconut fibers would irritate the chickens in anyway. It sounds scratchy!

Freebird, that's interesting info! I'd like to learn more about that!

 

[cinder_ella]

I think I know now what it is if it comes in a brick....is it sometimes sold as a natural digestable substrate for reptiles?

 

[Im4dabirds]

You need to compost the poo before putting it on your garden. It will definitely burn your plants. Chicken manure is very high in nitrogen.

 

[raroo]

Quote:
Even if your dirt is shipped from Canada your garden will still be greener than vegetables shipped from Mexico because of the pesticides they use in commercial farming!

Plus once you get a good compost going you will eventually be able to use your own dirt.

Right now my garden is just potatoes, carrots, and red onions because my sandy soil won't grow anything else. I'm excited about using my chicken poo peat moss and compost soil on my next crop to grow more veggies!

I'm going to try a fall and winter crop too.

Im4dabirds, is it OK if the poo and peat moss is blended in with composted soil in a ratio? Like one part poo peat to three parts compost soil? Kind of like blending straight cow manure in with soil?

 

[Emzyyy]

Yea isn't Mexico still allowed to use DDT on their crops? that stuff that bald eagles almost died out from?

 

[Uppity Peon]

Quote:
High in Phosphorus and Potash too I have heard. Its is great, but add it to the compost heap and not straight to the garden, at least not in large quantities.