Category Archives: garden compost & composting

Peat-Free Compost: A User’s Guide

Posted on April 5, 2012 by John Walker

In this article, republished courtesy of Kitchen Garden magazine (May 2012), I reflect on lessons learned from my 2011 gardening trial of some good, bad and ugly peat-free composts, and offer advice for anyone setting out on the peatless path. … Continue reading →

Posted in environment, garden centres & gardening industry, garden compost, garden compost & composting, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost, published articles | 1 Comment

Choosing and Using Peat-Free Compost

Posted on March 23, 2012 by John Walker

Are you looking for a dependable peat-free compost that gives consistently good results? In this article published in The Organic Way (205, Spring 2012), I reflect on some lessons learned from my initial trials with 16 different peat-free composts, and … Continue reading →

Posted in climate- & earth-friendly gardening, garden compost & composting, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost, published articles | 1 Comment

Peat-free Compost on Trial: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Posted on January 24, 2012 by John Walker

Inspired (if that’s the right word) by dodgy and persistent claims that all ‘peat-free compost is rubbish’, I’ve set out to find out for myself. Since spring 2011 I’ve been putting around 20 different makes of peat-free compost through their … Continue reading →

Posted in blog, garden compost & composting, greenwash, peat & peat-free compost, published articles | 6 Comments

The Carbon Conundrum

Posted on December 4, 2011 by John Walker

There’s a hands-on horticultural way to mitigate climate change – but it will only make a real difference if our gardens aren’t also part of the problem. By John Walker. Published on the Hartley Botanic website, 4th December 2011. Something … Continue reading →

Posted in carbon emissions, carbon footprint, climate change & global warming, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, energy use, environment, garden compost & composting, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost, published articles, renewable gardening, soil | Leave a comment

Considerate Cultivation: Running Your Garden on Truly Renewable Fuels

Posted on October 21, 2011 by John Walker

Going peat-free is all-important in an earth-friendly garden, but there’s more: the compost you use needs to be a truly renewable fuel. By John Walker. Published on the Hartley Botanic website, 21st October 2011. Coaxing a steep, bracken-riddled bank of acidic, nutrient-poor … Continue reading →

Posted in climate change & global warming, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, ecological sustainability, environment, garden compost & composting, gardening footprint, green gardening, greenwash, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost, published articles, renewable gardening | 2 Comments

Drought of Good Sense

Posted on September 15, 2010 by John Walker

Are gardeners really the ‘victims’ when hosepipe bans are announced – or are we just the unwitting pawns of a gardening industry running dry on ecological consciousness? By John Walker. Published in Kitchen Garden, September 2010. Victimised, threatened and dealt … Continue reading →

Posted in climate change & global warming, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, container gardening, ecological sustainability, energy use, environment, food & kitchen gardening, garden centres & gardening industry, garden compost & composting, greenwash, organic gardening, published articles, rainwater harvesting, soil, water & 'water footprints' | Leave a comment

The Peat Delusion

Posted on June 15, 2010 by John Walker

As gardening spin urges us to keep buying peat compost, science is telling us that the safest place for peat is in the ground. By John Walker. Published in Kitchen Garden, June 2010. “If you are concerned about green issues, … Continue reading →

Posted in carbon emissions, climate change & global warming, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, environment, ethics, fossil fuels, garden centres & gardening industry, garden compost & composting, greenwash, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost, published articles | Leave a comment

Ahead of the Carbon Curve

Posted on December 15, 2009 by John Walker

Keeping food waste from landfill, bins full of thrashing composting worms, mindful soil stewardship and less digging can all help ensure a brighter future for our biosphere. By John Walker. Published in Kitchen Garden, December 2009. You know, I’m sure … Continue reading →

Posted in carbon emissions, climate change & global warming, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, environment, food & kitchen gardening, garden compost & composting, no-dig gardening, organic gardening, published articles, soil | Leave a comment

Going With My Guts

Posted on November 15, 2009 by John Walker

It’s time to stop using our heads when wrangling over the pros and cons of growing food organically, and trust more in the visceral. By John Walker. Published in Kitchen Garden, November 2009. The next thousand words or so are … Continue reading →

Posted in climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, environment, food & kitchen gardening, food miles, garden compost & composting, green gardening, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, pesticides in the garden, published articles, soil | Leave a comment

Organics on the Edge

Posted on September 15, 2009 by John Walker

On a visit to Hough Garden, near Alderley Edge in Cheshire, I discover a decorative organic kitchen garden infused with lessons from nature. By John Walker. Published in The Garden, September 2009. Countless cups of tea, careful observation of nature and … Continue reading →

Posted in eco gardening, ecological sustainability, environment, food & kitchen gardening, garden compost & composting, good life, green gardening, nature & the natural world, no-dig gardening, open gardens, organic gardening, published articles, soil | 2 Comments