@Rinaldo75

Thank you for the boost and for your comment. I totally agree. There was some recent good news for Greater Prairie Chicken conservation--a recent acquisition of 2000 acres of high-quality habitat in the heart of what remains of their Minnesota range. Gift article: https://www.startribune.com/conservation-groups-add-nearly-2000-acres-to-protected-minnesota-prairie/601846667?utm_source=gift

Excerpt: "Prairie chickens were once so common that their flocks formed black clouds in the sky, casting shadows on the grasslands. But as the prairie was destroyed and converted into cities and farmland, the prairie chicken population has dwindled to about 5,000."

Here's another clip from my cold morning in the lek blind: https://videos.trom.tf/w/1Cdx3zTGdpd4qUaRgfwbg8

#birds #conservation #BirdPhotography #PrairieChickens #PrairieChicken #grouse #nature #NaturePhotography

So, even if some peat (Canadian peat) is allegedly harvested *sustainably*, I'm thinking this article lays out the problems with using #Peat succinctly and without the hype!

#CornellCooperativeExtension - #PeatMoss and #Sustainability

Excerpt: "Besides #overharvesting, #PeatBogs, #Fens and #PeatSwamps are threatened by climate change, habitat and nearby developments that can change the nature of surrounding areas. They are sensitive to disturbance. There is research that suggests that harvesting of peat bogs adds to climate change by releasing carbon stored in these bogs.

"Peat bogs and fens in America are where #CarnivorousPlants, like #sundews, #bladderworts and #PitcherPlants, and #BogOrchids live side-by-side. The acidic nature of bogs/fens and humidity create the perfect environment for peat moss, orchids and carnivorous plants. #Peatlands are also home to other species that rely on their composition. #Turtles, birds such as #PalmWarblers and #EasternTowhees, #snakes and #grouse, to name a few.

"There are alternatives to peat moss that are more sustainable. #CocoCoir is a material made from the fibers of the coconut husk. When dried, it is packaged into bricks. Once re-hydrated, it can be used in garden containers to both absorb water and keep the soil from drying out. It can be used in the potting mix or on top of the soil instead of mulch. #RiceHulls can be used for drainage in container plant pots. Both coco coir and rice hulls are sustainable. Additionally, #compost can be used in place of peat moss. Coco coir, rice hulls and compost can all be used alone or mixed in with a commercial potting mix to make using peat moss more sustainable."

Learn more:
https://cce.cornell.edu/orleans/peat-moss-and-sustainability

#SolarPunkSunday #PeatAlternatives #PottingSoil #Sustainability #Gardening #GrowYourOwn #CoconutCoir