Category Archives: peat & peat-free compost

Is Gardening Really ‘Green’?

Posted on December 15, 2015 by John Walker

Exploring the reality behind gardening’s widely touted but increasingly unconvincing claim that ‘gardening is green!’ By John Walker. First published in The Garden, magazine of the Royal Horticultural Society, December 2015 Writing about gardening is a solitary game. But using the pen to place gardening … Continue reading →

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How to Succeed in Your Garden With Modern, Reliable and Nature-friendly Peat-free Sowing and Potting Compost

Posted on October 11, 2014 by John Walker

Gardeners have never had it so good when it comes to nature-friendly, peat-free composts for sowing seeds, potting up plants, filling pots and containers, or for simply improving our garden or allotment soil.  By John Walker. Published in The Telegraph, 11th October 2014. … Continue reading →

Posted in allotments, ecological sustainability, environment, ethics, food & kitchen gardening, garden compost & composting, gardening footprint, green gardening, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost, published articles, renewable gardening | 4 Comments

Sustainable Sowing

Posted on March 31, 2014 by John Walker

Instead of giving any more time to the myths about sowing in peat-free composts, put them to the test. You’ll find they do the job as well as peat – without the ecological price-tag. By John Walker. Published on the Hartley … Continue reading →

Posted in carbon emissions, carbon footprint, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, ecological sustainability, environment, ethics, garden centres & gardening industry, garden compost, green gardening, greenwash, media, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost, published articles, renewable gardening | Leave a comment

Added Values

Posted on November 20, 2013 by John Walker

The way we garden reveals a lot about our outlook on the world. It comes down to whether we feel gratitude to planet Earth – or think it owes us. By John Walker. Published on the Hartley Botanic website, 19th … Continue reading →

Posted in allotments, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, environment, ethics, garden centres & gardening industry, garden compost & composting, green gardening, media, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost, published articles, renewable gardening | Leave a comment

Snowball Effect

Posted on October 7, 2013 by John Walker

Some of the drivers behind the peat-free roll-out are surprising and not all are admirable – but that doesn’t detract from the benefits to the gardener and the natural world. By John Walker. Published on the Hartley Botanic website, 7th October 2013 There’s a … Continue reading →

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

Cheat Your Wheelie Bin

Posted on March 15, 2013 by John Walker

Much of what goes into our ‘wheelie’ bins can be transformed into food for your soil. In this 3-page article republished courtesy of Grow It! magazine (March 2013), I explain how you can cheat on both your bin and your local landfill … Continue reading →

Posted in allotments, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, food & kitchen gardening, garden compost & composting, green gardening, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost, published articles, recycling, renewable gardening, soil | 1 Comment

Weedkiller’s Winning Ways: My Article on Clopyralid Compost Pollution Bags Garden Media Guild Environmental Award 2012

Posted on December 5, 2012 by John Walker

Last week I was chuffed and humbled to win – for the third time – the British Garden Media Guild’s Environmental Award for my article ‘Gardening’s own goal’, which was published by Hartley Botanic in August 2012. This is a real … Continue reading →

Posted in blog, environment, ethics, garden centres & gardening industry, greenwash, peat & peat-free compost, pesticides in the garden, politics, pollution, weedkiller residues | Leave a comment

Grow Organic With Manchester’s Bud Garden Centre

Posted on November 7, 2012 by John Walker

One of the most engaging ‘twitterships’ that I’ve struck up in the flourishing world of gardening social media is my occasional exchanges with Brenda Smith, co-founder of Bud Garden Centre, in Burnage, Manchester (@BudGardenCentre). We share plenty in common, both … Continue reading →

Posted in blog, climate- & earth-friendly gardening, eco gardening, environment, ethics, food & kitchen gardening, garden centres & gardening industry, garden compost & composting, green gardening, nature & the natural world, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost | Leave a comment

Reporting on Garden Weedkiller Pollution is as Damaging as the Pollution Itself

Posted on October 30, 2012 by John Walker

Recent reporting on the threat of pollution by the weedkiller clopyralid leaves gardeners without the full facts about both peat-based and peat-free composts. By John Walker. Published on the Guardian‘s website, 27th September 2012 Twisted, buckled and puckered leaves, bulging … Continue reading →

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Gardening’s Own Goal

Posted on October 12, 2012 by John Walker

Found in some lawn weedkillers, the chemical clopyralid is a ticking time bomb – but we could defuse it right now if we learnt from past mistakes. By John Walker. Published on the Hartley Botanic website, 28th August 2012. Winner … Continue reading →

Posted in allotments, environment, ethics, garden compost & composting, organic gardening, peat & peat-free compost, pesticides in the garden, politics, pollution, published articles, renewable gardening, soil, weedkiller residues | Leave a comment