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ozzysmygod
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Sustainability of vermiculite?
#14932682 - 08/16/11 04:31 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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I was wondering how sustainable vermiculite was? I think its mined and then heated, which would leave a massive C02 footprint, and also if its mined, its a limited resource and areas will be destroyed in order to extract it.
Are there any other alternatives to vermiculite in bulk substrates such as coir or horse manure based bulk subs?
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Javadog
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Re: Sustainability of vermiculite? [Re: ozzysmygod]
#14934554 - 08/16/11 10:42 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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You are right. I have had the same thought about peat. There is a finite amount of these things.
I know that we will find something new though. (probably should leave a few peat bog environments in place too)
Take care,
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
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ozzysmygod
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Re: Sustainability of vermiculite? [Re: Javadog]
#14935623 - 08/17/11 03:36 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Yeah. I guess if I wanted to avoid verm I could go the straw route.
Any other people got any input?
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donrjuan
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Re: Sustainability of vermiculite? [Re: ozzysmygod]
#14935882 - 08/17/11 06:28 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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I wonder what the process is for extracting verm? It is so soft I can not imagine that they blast like ore. I live near tons of coal and ore mines and they are always blasting dirt and dust into the air. And all of the trucks up and down the hill.
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RogerRabbit
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Re: Sustainability of vermiculite? [Re: donrjuan]
#14939171 - 08/17/11 08:09 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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There's a lot of info on it on the thermorock website. www.thermorock.com
I don't see any evidence that it's in short supply, or any reason not to use it on environmental grounds. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat "I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work." Thomas Edison
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Aleon
The Power of Our Origins
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Re: Sustainability of vermiculite? [Re: Javadog]
#14939770 - 08/17/11 10:06 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
Javadog said: You are right. I have had the same thought about peat. There is a finite amount of these things.
I know that we will find something new though. (probably should leave a few peat bog environments in place too)
Take care,
JD
Hey i thought id chime in about the peat moss since ive done a some research and had a little talk with the head horticulture director of MSU who highly suggests its use... Peat moss can be harvested in a sustainable and renewable manner. With proper practices and techniques sustainability is achieved. But even now we use less peat moss than grows back each year, which means every year there is more peat moss. Its pretty much a specialized compost/humus. This is a biological/organic product that is in my opinion sustainable.
-------------------- Mushroom medicines available at: www.swordandshieldwellness.com
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Javadog
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Re: Sustainability of vermiculite? [Re: Aleon]
#14940002 - 08/17/11 10:45 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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That is hopeful news. Thanks for sharing.
JD
-------------------- Boyd Rice told my brother that life is a corny pack of freesakes Myco-tek.org
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ozzysmygod
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Re: Sustainability of vermiculite? [Re: RogerRabbit]
#14941035 - 08/18/11 06:00 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
RogerRabbit said: There's a lot of info on it on the thermorock website. www.thermorock.com
I don't see any evidence that it's in short supply, or any reason not to use it on environmental grounds. RR
My reasoning is all my other supplys can be produced locally, keeping carbon emmisions low, IE straw, Manure and coffee (not strictly speaking local produce, but its recycling a used product so I can live with that) However to my knowledge no vermiculite is mined or produced in the UK, so I assume its all travelling across the world by boat, leading to higher carbon/pollution output.
I just want to strive to get Mushrooms produced from locally sourced/recycled materials, with minimal polloution as a result
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Aleon
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Re: Sustainability of vermiculite? [Re: ozzysmygod]
#14941255 - 08/18/11 07:57 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
ozzysmygod said:
Quote:
RogerRabbit said: There's a lot of info on it on the thermorock website. www.thermorock.com
I don't see any evidence that it's in short supply, or any reason not to use it on environmental grounds. RR
My reasoning is all my other supplys can be produced locally, keeping carbon emmisions low, IE straw, Manure and coffee (not strictly speaking local produce, but its recycling a used product so I can live with that) However to my knowledge no vermiculite is mined or produced in the UK, so I assume its all travelling across the world by boat, leading to higher carbon/pollution output.
I just want to strive to get Mushrooms produced from locally sourced/recycled materials, with minimal polloution as a result
IMO verm is not needed. I never use it, not for edible, and for medicinal just use sterilized rye grain or past. straw with no casing. Makes harvesting/cleaning so easy. The damn organism is so productive that even if no casing gives sightly lower yield, the ease of growing without it offsets the time, mess, etc of putting it on.
Good post by the way, ozzy
-------------------- Mushroom medicines available at: www.swordandshieldwellness.com
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ozzysmygod
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Re: Sustainability of vermiculite? [Re: Aleon]
#14941529 - 08/18/11 09:30 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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I dont use casings, I use it in horse manure to fluff it up and provide an airy substrate.
Thanks for the compliment aleon, we studied sustainabilty in A Level Geography, it really interested me. Im big into efficency and sustainabilty!
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just me
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Re: Sustainability of vermiculite? [Re: ozzysmygod]
#14950318 - 08/19/11 11:54 PM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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perlite works well in manure based substrate if theres no local perlite "mills" then thats probably out of the picture really does work great tho great as in each fruit comes harvested with its own piece of perlite
-------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -pEaCeLoVeGoDbLeSs- "The Downfall of Mankind; is Believing He Has Limitations."
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ozzysmygod
Late Night PC'ing Enthusiast
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Posts: 835
Last seen: 9 years, 5 months
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Re: Sustainability of vermiculite? [Re: just me]
#14951328 - 08/20/11 07:00 AM (12 years, 7 months ago) |
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Again, Perlite is mined abroad and requires vast amounts of heat to produce it.
Thanks for the input though
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