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As you prepare your garden this year, there's one type of soil conditioner that's doing more harm than good: peat moss.
Peat occurs naturally in peat bogs and has significant environmental benefits. In fact, peatlands store twice as much carbon as all the world's forests. However, once the peat is harvested for other uses, all the carbon is released.
Jil Strang, owner of the Dig My Earth Compost Facility in Dauphin County, says peat is a slow-growing substrate and won't recover quickly.
"As we use and consume these resources, it takes longer and longer to regenerate," he said. “It also releases carbon into the environment. So any benefit from having peat in its natural environment is lost if we harvest it to try to move it to other areas."
According to the United Nations, carbon dioxide emissions from dried and burned peatlands account for 10% of all annual fossil fuel emissions.
If you're looking for peat-based products in general, there are alternatives you can use.
"We definitely prefer leaf composting because we can do it, and we recycle leaves from the city to make leaf compost," Strang told FOX43. "Its use does not harm the environment. Thus, the benefits of peat are reflected on a large scale without harming the environment.
This isn't just a Jil Strang initiative, it's part of an emerging industry.
A company based out of Pittsburgh called PittMoss is helping to bring about this change by developing and selling peat-free potting soil nationwide. They also appeared on the sixth season of Shark Tank.
PittMoss created peat-free potting soil from locally sourced, recycled organic paper. This makes for an environmentally friendly product that still serves gardeners well.
If you want to make your own soil supplement, Strang says composting is a great place to start at home. She also recommends testing your soil to make sure you know what you're starting with and what it might take to do your best.
There is an international discussion about banning peat products. The UK wants to stop selling peat compost in bags by the end of 2024.
There is currently no ban on peat products in the United States; Still, it's something Strang said is coming soon.
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