permaculture

[Scott Vlaun <scott@moosepondarts.com>]

I've heard that some coir-based products contain excessive amounts of 
salt and have created problems for some growers. Seeds of Change is 
selling a product called gro-coir which is marketed by Earth Fire, the 
same people that sell Earth Juice organic fertilizers. We've had good 
success with it but it doesn't exactly replace peat moss "one to one" 
in potting and seed starting mixes. For seed starting I've had good 
luck mixing it one to one with perlite and hydrating it with dilute 
earthjuice for nutrition. The Seeds of Change research farm uses a mix 
of 3 parts coir, 1 part vermiculite, 1 part perlite, 1 part sand, 1/2 
part sifted compost, and a small amount of kelp powder and alfalfa 
meal.

Scott Vlaun
editor@seedsofchange.com


On Feb 19, 2003, at 6:16 PM, ERDA Institute wrote:

> Here in Australia there's a product called Cocopeat available - just 
> as good
> as peat moss, it's made from the fibres of coconut husks, a totally
> renewable resource and a way to support sustainable industry in third 
> world
> tropics.
> Robyn
>
> on 21/2/03 12:18 AM, mIEKAL aND at dtv@mwt.net wrote:
>
> > Around here coir is treated as a yuppie alternative & the price is 
> > thru
> > the roof.  On the other hand Ive heard that they are essentially strip
> > mining the peat bogs just north of where I live.  Any other options 
> > for
> > a base for potting medium?
> >
> >
> > On Thursday, February 20, 2003, at 07:09 AM, CindraZone@aol.com wrote:
> >
> > > Keith,
> > >
> > > Thanks so much for the info, I had no idea it was that slow to
> > > regenerate.  I'm going out in search of a coir brick today.    
> > >
> > > George,
> > >
> > > Coir is a byproduct of the coconut industry.  It is the fine fibers
> > > that remain on the husks after the longer ones have been removed for
> > > coir rugs.  Apparently there are mountainous supplies of it in Sri
> > > Lanka, just sitting around.
> > >
> > > It has similar properties to sphagnum peat moss, its light, has
> > > greater water retention lasts longer, is in plentiful supply and is
> > > renewable.
> > >
> > > Cindra
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > permaculture mailing list
> > > permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> > > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > permaculture mailing list
> > permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture
>
> _______________________________________________
> permaculture mailing list
> permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture