I came across a section about peat moss in the book I’m reading. It mentioned the fact that peat bogs and wetlands are slowly being destroyed to provide peat to the horticulture industry. In college one of my professors mentioned that they were basically producing peat as quickly as they could harvest it. So is peat environmentally good or bad?

If my professor was right, I can buy my potting soil without having nagging guilt about destroying endangered environments. Replacements like coir, that are inferior to peat (see this), can sit on the store shelf. But it seems like common knowledge that harvesting peat is destroying environments that are irreplaceable. I’m a little confused…

With further research, I realized that this is a very complex question. It appears that in some locations, they are farming away at peat bogs and are taking away a unique, irreplaceable environmental. But others have become aware of this situation. The Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association and International Peat Society were formed to help find ways to sustainably harvest peat. New methods have been researched, and it turns out that peat doesn’t have to be a finite resource if managed properly.

Harvesting peat does impact the environment. It is no different than any other farming practice. But after harvesting peat, restoration efforts can be put in place to restore the land back to what it was. I’ve come to the conclusion that both my book and professor were right. There are places where harvesting peat is destroying a unique environment. But elsewhere, they realize the environmental impact and take steps to counter it. Canada is one such area leading the movement to create sustainable practices while harvesting peat.

Next time I go to buy potting soil or peat moss, I won’t look for alternatives.  As said in this article, “Peat moss still can be considered a safe, environmentally friendly growing medium.”