@blossomandbranchfarm: Embracing a sustainable approach in gardening is more important than ever before. Reducing plastic use is a vital step in this journey, as the persistence of microplastics poses significant risks to soil health and the broader ecosystem. Microplastics, stemming from plastic waste, can infiltrate the soil, disrupting the delicate balance of the environment and the soil microbes vital to the health of our soils. Opting for alternatives like soil blocking or utilizing wooden trays emerges as a more eco-friendly choice. Soil blocking involves using compressed soil to form seed blocks, eliminating the need for plastic pots. This method not only curtails plastic waste but also enhances seedling health by allowing roots to grow freely. But if your goal is reducing plastic waste you also need to think about the tray you are using to hold them—fiberglass lasts around 50 years and is recyclable, unlike plastic which emits an insane amount of microplastics during the recycling process and is more prone to leaching toxins than virgin plastic. But fiberglass can be expensive and out of reach for many who want to take this journey! Wooden trays, on the other hand, is affordable and offers a biodegradable option that reduces the environmental impact associated with traditional plastic trays. The use of such alternatives promotes a harmonious coexistence with nature, ensuring that our gardening practices align with the principles of sustainability. We’ve been going down this path of investigating plastic use and coming up with alternatives for years and I’m excited to be trying wood trays this year. They’re nothing new (after all, this is what was used in gardens pre-plastic), but they are certainly new to me! If you want to learn more pop over to our YouTube page (linked in bio) to follow along! Are you trying a plastic-free alternative for seed starting this year? #sustainable #garden #regenerativegarden #cottagegarden #cottage
Blossom and Branch Farm
Region: US
Wednesday 24 January 2024 19:27:21 GMT
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Mama in Yoga pants :
You know what would be cool is if there was a way to make those soil compactors accessible to all.
2024-01-25 16:53:46
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taryn ꩜ :
I’ve been waiting to pull the plug on a soil blocker but love the way you did it with a garden tool instead!
2024-01-28 15:37:07
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ani.stalli :
I use egg cartons that I get from friends and family and have trays I've reused for years, but this will be great when those finally get recycled
2024-01-24 22:45:37
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HomesteadingBarefoot :
soil blocking is too time consuming for me. I like bootstrap farmer trays. They’re extremely sturdy and can be re-used for many years.
2024-01-27 06:07:04
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user4273501091847 :
I am a landscaper and it’s crazy how much plastic is associated with plantings
2024-01-31 00:56:46
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andchaosbegins :
How about drainage?
2024-01-24 20:49:25
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Tactically homeless :
Micro plastics will plague us for centuries if we ever escape from the damage at all.
2024-04-06 07:57:27
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Julia Nanette Ellis :
Ok but can I use my Great Pyrenees’ hair for this? 😂😂😂
2024-01-25 18:22:11
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thehouseholdofGod :
I got 12 acres i am hopefully growing in to a community food forest in MN. I want to do a creator week/end planting fest. interested in helping?
2024-02-09 06:27:37
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mrclean :
wood is so expensive tho
2024-02-10 18:46:06
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John :
As long as you buy sturdy plastic ones that don’t just break, you can sanitize them and reuse them over and over.
2024-02-18 00:20:54
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rowanmckerihen :
How do you handle bottom watering for really tiny seeds with this method? I grow a lot of flowers and the trays really help me water everything properly depending on what they need!
2024-01-28 20:17:05
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mivvi72 :
If anyone is throwing away plant pots take them to your nearest b&q where they get sorted by colour and sent to recycling plants :)
2024-01-26 17:40:03
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Mapoftx1 :
I couldn’t find ANY terracotta pots at Home Depot the other day… had to go to Michael’s for a non plastic pot :/
2024-03-02 00:55:08
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AmongstMoss :
:) love soilblocking too! Not to mention it saves SO much money in the long run! Those plastic pots are expensive, where as the 1 time purchase of a-
2024-01-25 00:38:14
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sweetsalty :
How did it go soil blocking in the wood frame like that? I have a bench scraper and spare lumber. Just pack soil in a frame and separate in to blocks?
2024-01-24 20:30:19
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FancyRainBoots :
love this! I'm trying wool pots this year for seedlings too 😊
2024-01-24 23:50:36
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OneRec_DBaylor :
amazing I am getting tired of the plastic I do keep reusing but they always crack apart eventually! thank you for making a difference!
2024-01-27 03:52:44
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marina harter :
Thank youuuuu! I refuse to use plastic when growing my plants. I'm trying to get away from toxins, why would I plant in microplastic heaven?
2024-01-25 05:54:45
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HomesteadwithAbby :
Love my soil block!!!
2024-01-25 20:48:43
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jazx575 :
You can fold paper into seed starters, I do it with my newspaper. It drys out faster tho
2024-01-25 05:02:20
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Hortencia Alvarado :
Thank you for sharing.
2024-02-17 18:36:36
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