I use the compost produced at a local nursery, must admit I have no idea if it's peat free. I get it because it's good quality and it's from a local supplier.
I've just read this very interesting article. Not about peat-based compost, but about peat bogs in Ireland. I've heard it said that there's no point gardeners stopping their use of peat while Ireland is burning it, but now they're stopping, at far greater sacrifice to themselves than us opting for peat-free. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201203-peat-the-decline-of-the-worlds-dirtiest-fuel
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
That's a really interesting article - thanks, @LG_.
We've had some fascinating conversations with our builder. He's in his 50s, one of 10 children. His dad made a meagre living cutting and selling turf (peat for burning on domestic fires) to support his family; now the builder recommends air source heat pumps to his customers (his plumber installed one for us). He clearly feels a level of regret at the need to abandon their traditional way of life, whilst recognising that it must be abandoned. Old habits die hard, though - just as petrol stations in Britain sell bags of coal, here in rural Ireland they sell nets of peat blocks.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Interesting to hear how closely your conversations with your builder reflect what the article was saying. Old habits do indeed die hard, and I can well imagine that it's not just a fuel but an evocative, and emotive, set of memories. Garages and garden centres are only supplying what people will buy, and much as I wish they would take the lead and stop selling, it's really up to everyone to stop buying.
'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
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“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'
https://dogwooddays.net/2019/09/18/save-our-rainforests-the-peat-free-nurseries-list/
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201203-peat-the-decline-of-the-worlds-dirtiest-fuel
We've had some fascinating conversations with our builder. He's in his 50s, one of 10 children. His dad made a meagre living cutting and selling turf (peat for burning on domestic fires) to support his family; now the builder recommends air source heat pumps to his customers (his plumber installed one for us). He clearly feels a level of regret at the need to abandon their traditional way of life, whilst recognising that it must be abandoned. Old habits die hard, though - just as petrol stations in Britain sell bags of coal, here in rural Ireland they sell nets of peat blocks.