Re: Peat filtration.

[Doug Brown <debrown@kodak.com>]

>debrown@kodak.com writes:
>
>> only the top few millimeters of peat moss are harvested from peat bogs
>>  (using giant vacuums), so what you buy in the stores is "young" peat often
>>  estimated at 8% or so decomposed.
>
>Really?  Would the stuff down deeper be more effective for our purposes, or
>simply too far gone?

An interesting question. It would almost certainly be more effective (at
least to some degree) as with more decomposition you'd get more acid groups
which would in turn soften the water more and provide more acidity.

The reason for harvesting only the surface (I meant to say top few inches,
see explanation below) is allegedly ecological. It is estimated that what
they harvest is replaced naturally in 5-10 years. Another factor to keep in
mind though is supply and demand. I have seen reports that estimate Canada
could easily provide as much as 100 times as much peat as they currently do
using their current operation with the same system of harvesting then
returning the bogs to wetlands to recover.

>Bob Dixon
>PS... I've seen the stuff growing on the ground, but never in trees.  I've
>seen other mosses in trees, but not sphagnum.

You are completely correct. I plead insanity. I'm buying a house and am
hallucinating from the "excitement". Sphagnum moss grows on the ground, on
the top of peat bogs in fact!

-Doug Brown
debrown@kodak.com



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