tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3981695242465576319.post8552015774801730601..comments2023-03-24T04:25:59.335-04:00Comments on Wild Flora's Wild Gardening: Alternatives to PeatWild Florahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879469366372645504noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3981695242465576319.post-71495246691886839832008-07-25T16:35:00.000-04:002008-07-25T16:35:00.000-04:00When I started this blog, I never imagined that I ...When I started this blog, I never imagined that I would have readers as far away as Egypt. I do love the Internet!<BR/><BR/>Thank you for your comment Ashraf. I think it's interesting that you're experimenting with using sand, a local material, instead of peat. FYI, I was reading just the other day that rock is being used very successfully as a mulch around trees in desert climates. Evidently the tree is planted two feet deeper than it ordinarily would be, and the top two feet of the planting hole are filled with rocks. Water condensing on the rocks in the early morning helps to keep the tree watered, and later in the day the rock is an effective mulch to help retain moisture in the soil. I never ceased to be amazed at the inventive ways we can learn to work with nature, if we just put our minds to it.Wild Florahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12879469366372645504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3981695242465576319.post-50807860042993371962008-07-22T04:53:00.000-04:002008-07-22T04:53:00.000-04:00Yeh, I strongly believe in using local stuff when ...Yeh, I strongly believe in using local stuff when it comes to gardening and farming. Not only does it save cost and is better for the environment, but I believe it is better for the garden or farm itself. Local stuff tends to be more in harmony with its surroundings and create better balance when used, specially if you're growing organically.<BR/><BR/>This is the reason why I'm now starting to experiment with using sand as a main ingredient in my potting mix, as I live in Egypt which is mostly covered with sand with only a relatively thin vertical line in the map which is fertile silt based soil. Peat moss is not harvested in Egypt and all the peat here in Egypt is imported, hence I believe I should aim for using less of it and hopefully do away with it all together. Yet till now I find it superior for germination, perhaps I'll find a good alternative for germination as well in the future.Ashraf Al Shafakihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13813620764143070326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3981695242465576319.post-46382868374797733352007-04-04T18:03:00.000-04:002007-04-04T18:03:00.000-04:00Thank you, dear WF, for your kind words and your w...Thank you, dear WF, for your kind words and your wisdom about peat. I've been away today, run off my feet and now doing the deadline dance tonight, so haven't had time to do a lot of personal email. I really like the idea about the manure and alfalfa, and agree with you that native gardeners don't often have to bother much with peat. One thing that irks me is that people think adding it to a garden will acidify the soil sufficiently for ericaceous plants, etc. That's not what the people in the know tell me. (who are plant breeders and nurserypeople.) I no expert, I just know lots of people who have taught me things and continue to do so. Including you. That's the beauty of gardening; we're all in this together and can learn from each other, on a daily basis even. :-) <BR/><BR/>cheers, jodi <BR/>bloomingwriter.blogspot.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12107236871193698777noreply@blogger.com