Peter Seabrook: environmental edicts must be logical, says Peter
Not all environmental plans are beneficial, says Peter
IFEEL that many recommendations coming from environmentalists make no sense and appear to defy logic/common sense. I am advised to wrap my sandwiches in grease-proof paper, but where does the grease come from? And if my lovely ripe tomatoes split, the juice comes through the paper, anyway! Using the polythene bag that AG used to come in for my sandwiches (and washing after each use) gave several recyclings, and when holed it could go clean in the local council recycling bag.
Currently, the Irish peat producers can no longer get licences to cut horticultural peat, when only 0.4% of Irish peat lands are harvested for horticulture. The abandonment of these peat workings, and no-one left to control water levels, will mean oxidisation and more CO2 release than would be the case with the harvesting.
Most (if not all) of the alternative materials for potting composts are more expensive, not as good, and little or no better in environmental terms.
Sphagnum can be grown as an agricultural crop on re-flooded cutaway bogs – so why are we not hearing more about this?
Black plastic flower pots, washed after use, can be (and have been) recycled, while coloured plastic has to be washed more cleanly and is not as easily recycled. Staying at home gardening, cultivating a plot with plenty of plants for wildlife (and us) is surely one thing we can do to improve the environment? At the end of last month, I had a round-up and was surprised by the produce still coming from my modest-sized suburban back garden. All the obvious winter roots, apples, pears, courgettes, cucumbers, melons and runner beans… to mention just some of them. Cabbages have been planted for winter greens and hearted spring cabbage, winter salad leaves are well up, and over-wintering lettuce sown, ready to plant under cloches and in a cold frame.
“0.4% of Irish peat lands are harvested for horticultural use”