There was once a time in my early gardening days when I believed peat moss was essential. It was right there on every shelf in the garden center, tucked inside fancy soil bags and DIY mixes, promising to make my garden “light, fluffy, and full of life.”

And for a while, I didn’t question it. I just scooped it up, mixed it in, and hoped for the best. That is, until I took a step back and asked the one question that always gets me back on track in the garden:

What would nature do?

That simple question led me to say goodbye to peat moss for good. Here’s why I stopped using it—and what I now use instead to create rich, living soil that grows a wildly productive kitchen garden.

What Is Peat Moss, Really?

Peat moss is the partially decomposed remains of sphagnum moss, which is harvested from peat bogs—wetlands in cool climates like Canada, Russia, and parts of northern Europe. These bogs form incredibly slowly as layers of mosses and plants decompose in the cold, oxygen-poor water over thousands of years. 

Peat is praised for its porosity, its water-holding capacity, and its ability to create light, airy soil mixes. Peat can hold 20 times as much water by weight as its dry weight. It's basically a natural sponge, which is great for thirsty plants.

But there's a big problem.

The Problem with Peat Moss

Peat is not a renewable resource.

Peat builds up at a rate of just 1 millimeter per year. So once a peat bog is harvested, it takes hundreds, if not thousands, of years to regenerate. That means each scoop of peat we pull from the earth is one we can’t replace in our lifetime—or our children’s. 

Harvesting peat also means destroying entire ecosystems. Peat bogs are home to unique species of plants, birds, and insects that can’t survive anywhere else. The peatland itself also acts as a giant sponge to filter water and prevent flooding.

Even more concerning? Peatlands are some of the planet’s most important carbon sinks. That means they store massive amounts of carbon, far more per acre than forests do. When peat is harvested and exposed to air, that CO2 is released back into the atmosphere, contributing directly to climate change.

So every bag of peat moss soil isn’t just unsustainable; it’s a withdrawal from one of nature’s most important carbon savings accounts.

Why Peat Moss Doesn't Belong in an Organic Garden

Peat moss has long been a popular ingredient in seed starting mixes, potting soils, and garden soil thanks to its ability to hold moisture and improve texture. But if you're trying to garden organically—with sustainability and soil health in mind—it's time to rethink peat.

Once I learned how peat is harvested, I realized I didn’t want my garden—the space where I connect with creation—to come at the cost of creation itself.

Plus, when I stepped back and really started paying attention to soil—not the kind sold in bags, but the kind beneath our feet—I realized something simple but profound:

Nature builds soil without peat.

The healthiest, most vibrant soil systems in the world—old-growth forests, native prairies, even wild meadows—aren’t amended with peat moss. They’re built over time by layers of decaying leaves, broken-down roots, insect castings, animal manures, fungi, and minerals. They’re created slowly and organically, with just the right balance of aeration, drainage, and nutrients.

So if nature didn’t need peat to make fertile soil… why did I? "It doesn't do anything that's crucial for plant life," Linda Chalker-Scott, author of The Informed Gardener, says. "Otherwise, there wouldn't be any plants except right around peat bogs." 

Alternative to Using Peat Moss in Organic Garden Soil

I started experimenting. I looked closely at the soil in my own garden. What kind of soil helped plants thrive? What felt like the right “texture” for plant roots to dig deep and strong. I thought about how water moved through it. How it held its shape. How it smelled when it was full of life.

And that’s when I found the secret.

At its core, organic gardening is about working with nature, not against it. It’s about building soil, protecting ecosystems, and minimizing harm. Using peat undermines those goals.

Fortunately, there are peat-free alternatives that are just as effective—and a lot more eco-friendly. 

Compost & Coarse Sand 

It turns out the very same porosity and drainage we rely on peat to provide can be achieved with two natural ingredients, one of them more than renewable: compost and coarse sand.

Compost creates pockets of air, while coarse sand improves drainage and prevents compaction. Together, they create a structure that mimics nature’s best soil—without tapping into fragile peatlands.

Compost is a rich, crumbly material (sometimes called "black gold") that actually improves your garden soil over time. It's packed with nutrients, beneficial microbes, and organic matter that help your soil come alive. Plus, compost can be locally made (maybe even in your own backyard); it's fully renewable and regenerative. It recycles kitchen scraps, garden waste, leaves, and other organic materials that would otherwise end up in landfills. That means every time you use compost, you're not just feeding your plants—you’re reducing waste and closing the loop in your home ecosystem.

Compost also supports a thriving soil food web, feeding worms, fungi, and bacteria that, in turn, support plant health. It doesn’t just hold moisture like peat—it creates soil that manages water better over time.

In short, compost does everything peat can do—and so much more—without damaging the environment. It’s the ultimate organic garden amendment: abundant, affordable, and sustainable.

Once I realized the power of compost and coarse sand together, I came up with my well-known garden soil recipe, called the 103 Blend.

My Go-To: The 103 Soil Blend

My 103 Soil Blend is a simple, powerful mix of:

• 1/3 topsoil

• 1/3 compost

• 1/3 coarse sand

And a tiny extra 4% made up of earthworm castings or another natural fertilizer to give your plants a little head start.

I started using this blend in every raised bed I built. I watched my herbs flourish, my fruiting plants thrive, and my roots reach deep and strong. And I never looked back. Nowadays, this mix is what I use in every single garden I create for clients. It’s what I teach inside my book Kitchen Garden Revival, and it’s the foundation of my newest course: Gardenary Soil School.

If you’re ready to create a garden that grows more, lasts longer, and works with nature—not against it—I invite you to explore the 103 Soil Blend and discover just how powerful your garden can be without peat.

Alternative to Using Peat-Based Potting Soil

Peat has long been used in potting mixes so that the soil drains well enough to prevent root rot but still holds some moisture for plants. If you're looking for a bagged potting mix, you can find options that don't use peat moss by checking the labels. You'll find mixes that contain plant-based peat alternatives like coco coir (more on coco coir in a bit), recycled paper fibers, and compost.

My recommendation is to fill pots and containers with the 103 Blend. It works just as well in smaller spaces as it does in larger beds. It's what I fill all my containers with, even when I'm not growing edible plants.

Another option would be to buy a peat-based potting mix and supplement it with compost or homemade leaf mold, to make it go further. Leaf mold is a slow-decomposing material made from fall leaves that improves water retention and soil structure.

Peat Moss Alternative for Seed Starting Mixes

Peat moss is typically the number one ingredient in seed starting mixes to create a light, fluffy medium that vegetable seedlings can push their tender little roots into. My favorite alternative to peat in seed starting mixes is coco coir, a fibrous byproduct of the coconut processing industry. It has a similar texture to peat and is fully renewable.

I will say that coco coir isn't without negatives. Since coconuts are grown in tropical and subtropical areas near oceans, coco coir has to be washed thoroughly with fresh water to remove all the salt, which would be harmful to your seedlings.

Something you realize when you really look into how things are sourced is that everything causes some kind of environmental harm, whether that's in its production or long transport to consumers or both. (Perlite and vermiculite, in case you're wondering, both use furnaces to process and have to be shipped long distances.)

I use these compressed seed starting bricks made of coco coir for my seedlings. Once a brick breaks apart in water, I mix in a dash of earthworm castings to give my seedlings a nutrient boost as they get started. I've had great success with this. I like that coco coir turns lighter in color as it dries, so you can see when you need to add water for your seedlings.

(Learn more about seed starting mix options, including my top recommendations.)

Ready to Ditch the Peat and Build Better Soil?

If you want to grow a garden that’s truly organic—not just in name, but in practice—skip the peat. Choose renewable materials that build your soil and protect the planet. Small choices in your garden can add up to big impacts for the Earth.

Get the full recipe and step-by-step setup for the 103 Soil Blend in Kitchen Garden Revival, and take your knowledge even deeper with me inside Gardenary Soil School—where we turn plain dirt into soil, sustainably.

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Sources

Better Homes and Gardens

The New York Times