Our Favorite Peat-Free Composts (And Where To Buy Them)
In the ever-ongoing efforts to reduce our impact on the environment, and decrease carbon emissions, we’ve decided to exclusively use peat-free compost, soil, and fertilizer in our gardens. The environmental impacts of harvesting peat are threefold: the less peat there is in peatlands, the less carbon it can store from the atmosphere; the harvesting process actually releases that carbon back into the air; and finally, peat grows slowly enough that it’s classified as a non-renewable resource. Needless to say, we’d rather let peat continue doing its thing! And thankfully there are climate-happy alternatives for use in your garden.
Things Worth While editors endorse products we’ve personally researched, tested, and genuinely love. Learn about our methodology and business model here.
PittMoss
We love this soil-less soil blend for so many reasons. The paper fiber they incorporate into this blend is from local recycling facilities, and the rest of the blend is from coconut coir. This is a nutrient-heavy, no weed seeds, no heavy metals product, and it can be used to fortify all your indoor and outdoor plants. You can order directly from their website for delivery to your door!
Why We Love Them | Upcycled materials, organic soil, sustainable efforts
Where to Purchase | Online
Price | from $35.20
Rosy Soil
Earth Positive Indoor Potting Mix
This soil mix is wonderfully eco-friendly; they’ve entirely nixed ingredients like peat, coco coir, petlite, and vermiculite, replacing them with biochar, nutrient-rich compost, and fungi that your plant’s roots will love! Best of all, Rosy Soil has a net-negative carbon footprint. Purchase directly from rosysoil.com, or search for local shops on their site too.
Why We Love Them | Net negative carbon footprint, responsible packaging
Where to Purchase | Online, select local retailers
Price | from $24.99
Soil Blend
Soil Blend’s super compost is a certified organic compost chock-full of nutrients for your garden. It’s odor-free, safe for kids and pets, and friendly to our precious bees and butterflies. We love that it’s also approved & recommended by the American Vegetarian Association, so it’s a great option for those on plant-forward diets. Made without peat, this is our recommendation for boosting your garden’s growth without harming the environment.
Why We Love Them | Accessibility, certified organic, great value
Where to Purchase | Walmart, Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe’s
Price | starting at $30
Charlie’s Compost
Charlie’s Compost is an organic fertilizer, locally-produced on a Kentucky farm, and made without the addition of peat. Their ingredients are just what you’d want: recycled chicken manure, biochar, grasses, and organic agriculture remnants. Just as grandpa would have composted! The brand is also a member of the US Composting Council.
Why We Love Them | Accessibility, locally-produced, certified organic
Where to Purchase | Amazon, local retailers
Price | starting at $22