Sask. gardeners talk ditching peat moss and give other eco-friendly gardening tips

Elizabeth Bekolay has been gardening for many years. She has appreciated peatlands for even longer, however for years she did not understand how they are intertwined with yard gardening.

“I did not make the connection between these ecosystems and peat moss for a very very long time, and I did not make the connection between all potting soil and peat moss for a very long time both,” mentioned Bekolay, who’s a nature-based educator and creator in Saskatoon.

It is virtually unimaginable to search out store-bought backyard soil that does not embody peat moss, she mentioned. Peatmoss has been marketed as a key materials to assist folks develop crops.

However Bekolay found there are environmental penalties stemming from the product. She discovered this whereas researching a e-book set within the boreal forest and targeted on the ecology of sphagnum bogs, often known as peatlands. 

What is the take care of peat? 

“Peatlands globally sequester greater than twice as a lot carbon as all of the world’s forest mixed. They’re a powerhouse in relation to nature-based local weather options,” Bekolay mentioned.

Peat moss is fashioned from layers of decaying matter and takes hundreds of years to develop. Firms that course of peat moss on the market have to empty and clear-cut swaths of the peatlands to allow them to get attain the moss and take it away for harvesting.

Bekolay is a part of a growing movement of Saskatchewan individuals who need corporations to go away the peatlands undisturbed.

“It is a no-brainer. If we’re making an attempt to mitigate local weather change and account for local weather sinks and defending them, then defending peatlands is primary.” 

What to make use of as a substitute of peat moss 

Bekolay mentioned it may be so simple as wanting outdoor for alternate options. Individuals can use filth on their property, sterilizing it in an oven (on a pan at 180 to 200 F for half an hour) to keep away from pests or weeds. 

She mentioned this filth could be enriched with compost or damaged up leaves. Bekolay has been experimenting with vermicompost (meals composted with the assistance of worms) and coco-coir (a waste product from coconut processing) for her seed-starting combine.

Some folks argue coco-coir shouldn’t be sustainable as a result of it comes from so distant, she mentioned, however she believes it is nonetheless a greater different. 

“If  you take a look at the entire [supply] chain, it is a lot much less detrimental than draining out an entire wetland in an space that it’s important to construct roads into.” 

Different eco-friendly backyard ideas

Vanessa Younger agrees that ditching peat moss is an efficient step ahead, and mentioned this along with different small modifications can assist folks turn into extra eco-friendly gardeners. 

“Individuals ask me, why is it necessary to backyard sustainably? I ask you, why would you even trouble gardening every other approach?”

Younger leads the gardening on the College of Saskatchewan’s outreach schooling programming and can also be a horticultural therapist. 

Younger mentioned the act of gardening alone is already a step towards a extra sustainable life. 

“Gardening modifications your meals miles to meals steps. It modifications the packaging, it modifications the transportation routes, it modifications the meals high quality, it modifications your exercise stage. It modifications how probably you’re to eat greens. It modifications your conversations,” she mentioned. 

Turning into extra sustainable can save folks time and money in the long term, she mentioned, including it is about gardening smarter, fairly than tougher.

Mulch virtually like magic 

One key concern is water conservation, particularly throughout drought seasons. Rain barrels can be utilized to gather water within the yard and Younger mentioned mulch can assist steadiness moisture for crops. 

“It is not magic. It is the closest factor to magic, although,” she mentioned.

Mulch is utilized as a layer over prime of the soil round crops. The mulch can even provide weed management, moisture management and retention (it helps maintain water and prevents evaporation), and habitat for helpful bugs.

“The mulch additionally stops soil from splashing up on crops, which sounds beauty however [the soil] is definitely a vector for lots of plant illness.” 

Reusing what’s attainable, saving seeds, ditching pesticides 

Younger mentioned folks ought to take a look at reusing objects, so utilizing the identical trays, pots and even soil 12 months over 12 months. 

“[Gardeners] can reuse their potting combine from 12 months to 12 months … as much as 5 years,” she mentioned.

She mentioned folks can go surfing to discover ways to save their very own seeds for the following 12 months, and he or she inspired folks to cease utilizing pesticides and be proactive about prevention. She mentioned “issues” that come up within the backyard are sometimes signs of a bigger situation, and one pesticide for one pest will not deal with that situation. 

She inspired folks to shift their perspective on their gardens, viewing them as ecosystems, not manufacturing machines.

“If there’s a solution to repair one thing or stop one thing that doesn’t contain buying merchandise, that is what we’ll suggest.” 

She mentioned there are free assets accessible on-line for brand spanking new gardeners, together with on the Gardening at USask website, which presents free recommendation and workshops.