Leaf mold is a climate-friendly alternative to peat moss that could be sitting in your backyard.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It has been a joy to receive all your reader feedback and questions.

I recently received this email from Ruth in Mentor: “In your recent discussion about how best to fill your raised beds you mentioned that peat moss was falling out of favor due to being a nonrenewable resource. What I’ve learned from watching the UK program Gardeners’ World is that it is much worse than that. Extracting peat releases carbon, contributing to the climate change mess we now face. The gardeners on the program never miss an opportunity to say the phrase ‘peat-free compost.’ It is difficult to find a product without peat, at least in the Cleveland area, and my guess is most Ohio gardeners are unaware. Please, use your column to educate on this topic.”

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