Jamie Oliver - Forums / Peat free compost

valerieclare · Fri 31 Aug 12 5:36pm

I make it a principle not to use peat in the garden, so I was disappointed to find that Jamie's Grow Bags contain quite a high proportion of peat. Given that peat extraction is so damaging to the environment, I wonder if there are any plans to use only peat free compost in Jamie Oliver products?

Pakman · Sat 01 Sep 12 2:01pm

Just so people can have an interest in the scope of the topic
http://www.naturallifemagazine.com/0712/asknlpeat.html
http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Sustain … nvironment

I'm pretty sure JO doesn't know about this use. I'm sure it's a corporate JO oversite.

valerieclare · Sat 01 Sep 12 2:48pm

Thanks for these links. I hope that you are right and that Jamie is not aware of the use of peat in his products - which was my purpose in bringing the topic to this forum. Hopefully other forum users will agree that we should avoid using peat, which will then encourage suppiers of these products to find alternatives. BTW, I did find some reasonably priced peat free compost from B&Q - so JO lost that sale, unfortunately!

mummza · Sat 01 Sep 12 3:28pm

http://www.jamieoliver.com/forum/viewto … 63&p=1

This has been discussed previously .

I have to say that this is the reason that I did not buy the Jamie Oliver Grow bags . I try to avoid using peat or buying products that are sold in those little peat pots.

MsPablo · Sat 01 Sep 12 4:23pm

There are various eco-friendly alternatives to peat pots on the market.

valerieclare · Sat 01 Sep 12 6:04pm

Thanks for the link to the previous forum discussion on peat free compost - I guess that this is a subject that bears repeating.

lizstansbridge · Sat 01 Sep 12 9:02pm

Well, the peat-free composts look like woodchip, AND THE SEEDLINGS LANGUISH!
Got an answer to that???????????

MsPablo · Sat 01 Sep 12 11:49pm

I usually add leaf mold compost and composted manure, depending on what and where.

For acid-lovers, a good organic fertilizer like Hollytone applied yearly is good for hollies, azaleas.

Last edited by MsPablo (Sat 01 Sep 12 11:53pm)

mummza · Sun 02 Sep 12 6:57am

lizstansbridge wrote:
Well, the peat-free composts look like woodchip, AND THE SEEDLINGS LANGUISH!
Got an answer to that???????????

Owch lizstansbridge , you have come along to the forum full of anger !
Not all peat free composts look like woodchip .

The reason I try to avoid using peat it this..
The peat bogs are a valuable area on our Planet , they help absorb Carbon di Oxide and as such help with the greenhouse gas effect . Once these peat bogs are damaged the carbon di oxide that has been trapped in them for millions of years starts to release back into the atmosphere.
Once damaged these peat bogs will retrospect but at an incredibly slow rate .

Yes peat is wonderful for growing things in, but at a high cost to the planet.
I successfully grow seedlings in other composts , not all are like wood chip , it depends what you buy.
I successfully grow tomatoes in big bags of compost ( not peat ) .
I also make compost at the end of my garden with 2 large compost pots , all I do is tip all vegetable peelings into the composted and after a while it breaks down and either gets used in the pots or bags for growing strawberries , flowers or tomatoes or it gets spread back on the garden to feed it .

You don't have to use peat based products , yes I will agree that they do work wonderfully well , but at a huge long term cost to the environment .
You can use alternatives that work equally well and are kinder to the environment .
( sorry Mr Oliver I don't buy your grow bags )

MsPablo · Sun 02 Sep 12 2:39pm

What's available depends on where you live, but the sterile seed starting potting mix we get is a nice loam with vermiculite - sterilized and works quite well. If making your own, sifting your homemade compost soil well through a homemade screen sifter is helpful and of course, you want soil that has truly composted and reached a temp that kills weed seeds and some pathogens. One author recommends cooking it in the oven, but I haven't had the nerve to do that. He warns it will stink up the house!

Blogs and forums

forum: Food, Wine and Gardening

#1 Fri 31 Aug 12 5:36pm

valerieclare

Peat free compost

#2 Sat 01 Sep 12 2:01pm

Pakman

Re: Peat free compost

#3 Sat 01 Sep 12 2:48pm

valerieclare

Re: Peat free compost

#4 Sat 01 Sep 12 3:28pm

mummza

Re: Peat free compost

#5 Sat 01 Sep 12 4:23pm

MsPablo

Re: Peat free compost

#6 Sat 01 Sep 12 6:04pm

valerieclare

Re: Peat free compost

#7 Sat 01 Sep 12 9:02pm

lizstansbridge

Re: Peat free compost

#8 Sat 01 Sep 12 11:49pm

MsPablo

Re: Peat free compost

#9 Sun 02 Sep 12 6:57am

mummza

Re: Peat free compost

lizstansbridge wrote:

#10 Sun 02 Sep 12 2:39pm

MsPablo

Re: Peat free compost