"Alys Fowler advocates for prioritizing the environment in all our considerations, discussing the significance of peat bogs and animism"
Alys Fowler, a well-known gardener and author, is embarking on a new journey – a PhD at Keele University focusing on human and more-than-human relationships, with a specific interest in how we talk about ecosystems and their agency in the era of late-stage capitalism. Her research will delve into the importance of not taking a colonizing approach to peat extraction, even if the practice is ending in the UK.
Fowler's latest book, "Peatlands: A Journey Between Land and Water," published by Hodder Press for £20, is a love letter to bogs. It discusses the critical importance of peatlands and the need for a shift towards peat-free gardening. The book is not about how to garden without peat, but why it's essential to do so.
Peat extraction for gardening has significant environmental, historical, and societal implications. Environmentally, harvesting peat releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming because peatlands are major carbon sinks, storing up to twice as much carbon as the world's forests combined. Peatlands also serve as natural water reservoirs, controlling floods and supporting rare ecosystems with unique plants and wildlife. Historically, peat has been used for horticulture for about 70 years and as fuel in some regions, but large-scale extraction has degraded peatlands severely, with 80% degradation in the UK and Ireland and around 50% in Europe overall.
Societally, peat extraction impacts Indigenous peoples, especially in places like Canada, where much peatland overlaps traditional Indigenous territories and where extraction faces resistance. There are growing societal movements and regulations, such as the UK’s upcoming ban on horticultural peat, promoting peat-free gardening due to these environmental concerns.
To promote peat-free gardening, several strategies are emerging. These include using alternative soil amendments like composted bark, leaf mold, leonardite humic acid, and other organic materials, encouraging nurseries and growers to transition fully to peat-free growing media, promoting awareness of peatland ecosystem services, and supporting policy measures like bans or restrictions on peat extraction and increased investment in peatland restoration efforts.
Despite these efforts, Fowler expresses frustration with the slow adoption of peat-free gardening. She believes we need to move beyond saying "I'm peat free" and work together to make everyone peat free. Fowler acknowledges that weeds can tell us about our soil and shares her gardening failures, such as her inability to grow carrots due to issues with spacing, light competition, and rambunctious neighbors in a polyculture.
In her new garden in west Wales, Fowler is growing perennial vegetables with low-nitrogen requirements in a small nursery. The garden is finding its rhythm and looks wild, with edibles and more "weeds" than usual. Fowler's fascination with non-fiction deep dives into subjects she doesn't know much about, such as deep space, medicine, and sports writing, is evident in her approach to gardening and her new PhD research.
As Fowler embarks on her PhD journey, her love for peatlands and the need for sustainable horticulture remain at the forefront. Her book serves as a plea to the horticultural industry to care about these critical carbon-rich ecosystems, which not only store carbon but also control floods, support biodiversity, and provide unique ecosystem services. By promoting peat-free gardening, Fowler hopes to contribute to the protection of these valuable ecosystems and the mitigation of climate change.
References:
- BBC News
- The Guardian
- Royal Horticultural Society
- Garden Organic
- Friends of the Earth
- Alys Fowler, a renowned gardener and author, is pursuing a PhD in human and more-than-human relationships, with a focus on ecosystems' agency in the era of late-stage capitalism, shining light on the importance of horticulture science.
- Fowler's latest book, "Peatlands: A Journey Between Land and Water," highlights the critical role of peatlands in the home-and-garden lifestyle, discussing the urgency of transitioning to peat-free gardening to combat climate-change.
- Fowler's research and advocacy for peat-free gardening have led her to promote alternatives like composted bark, leaf mold, and other organic materials, as well as support policy measures to protect and restore peatlands.
- The environmental, historical, and societal implications of peat extraction call for environmental-science awareness and action, as peatlands function not only as carbon sinks but also serve vital roles in flood control and biodiversity support.
