permaculture

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <venaurafarm@bellsouth.net>]

On 4/6/2011 5:41 PM, Robyn Francis wrote:
> Here we don't encourage the use of peat in any form as much of it is
> extracted from fragile ecosystems and is a non-renewable resource. The
> horticulture and nursery industries have decimated ancient boglands, moors
> and other sensitive environments around the world.
>
> We use coir or coco-peat as a substitute in our potting mixes, which is made
> from the fibres of coconut husks, a renewable resource processed from a wast
> product of harvesting coconuts for food.

A more than acceptable substitute for peat is:

HAY
---
grasses
clovers
grassy perennial weeds

scythe it and pile it to rot then turn it at intervals
bale it: square or round, form them into windrows and leave to rot

you will be able to use it in varying stages of decomposition for:

1 nutrient-rich organic matter to add to potting and seed starting mixes
2 OM garden soil amendment

when it is decomposed enough for the strands of material to break apart 
into smaller pieces it can be used in a potting mix - it will absorb and 
hold considerable amounts of water, add valuable microorganisms to the 
mix and decay in situ to provide plant seedling-available nutrients
- it might be advisable to add a little molasses to the mix to jump 
start microbial action to further break down the hay and add still more 
nutrients to the mix, this might reduce the need for nitrogenous 
amandments, i.e. fish or crab meal, bloodmeal or dehydrated aged manure,
alfalfa meal or pellets could possibly be added as well.

at this stage it might possibly be used in a soil block mix but when it 
has decayed further and darkened in color it definitely can

when it has completely broken down into black humus it can be mixed with 
rock phosphate, quarry rock dusts, greensand and azomite and used as a 
top dressing to fertilize garden beds