Discussion forum for environmentally-friendly alternatives to replace synthetic chemicals and fertilizers.
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April 27, 2010 | #1 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: West Coast, Canada
Posts: 961
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Safety of Using Newsprint for Gardening
Seems it is not just the ink, but the chemicals used to process the newsprint, that are bad news for organic gardens ......
I'm a newbie at a nearby organic community garden, offering my knowledge on growing tomatoes in containers. When I suggested using newspapers to help with weed control, this new to me concern was mentioned ...... thought it worth a mention here ......... Here's a related article. Anyone have more info on this topic? Here's the link: http://www.valleyreporter.com/index....2458&Itemid=60 Quote:
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April 28, 2010 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Danville, VA
Posts: 7
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Thanks for posting. I was just getting ready to lay down about 40 issues of the Wall Street Journal and our local paper as mulch.
Guess I'll just do like I did last year and go to my city yard waste collection site and pick up a truckload of their free mulch. |
April 29, 2010 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: California Central Valley
Posts: 2,543
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Depends on the newspaper. Call your local paper to find out if their inks are soy- or petroleum-based.
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April 30, 2010 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: WI, USA Zone4
Posts: 1,887
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It used to be that newspapers would give away the end roll with some paper left on it for free. If they still do, that would eliminate the ink issue.
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April 30, 2010 | #5 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: West Coast, Canada
Posts: 961
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It's not the ink, but the paper itself that is of concern ....
Quote:
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April 30, 2010 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: WI, USA Zone4
Posts: 1,887
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D, I need to read more carefully late at night. I never used newspaper for mulch, so I have no regrets.
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May 9, 2011 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: bald hill area thurston county washington
Posts: 312
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I use newspaper as mulch then cover with rabbit poo to hold it in place. I will continue to do so. I would say the risk of soil/personal health problems from this practice are nil.
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May 9, 2011 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NW Indiana
Posts: 1,150
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I'm sure that inks and paper vary from paper to paper, but this is really good information to have - thanks for posting.
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May 10, 2011 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Dallas
Posts: 344
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The bleaching process that is used to make paper used to produce small amounts of dioxin. They continue to try to improve the bleaching process.
The only thing I'll tell you is that nightcrawlers love the stuff. I put in into a bed and wait 6 months and the bed is full of them. |
May 10, 2011 | #10 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Cranberry Country, SE MA - zone 6?
Posts: 353
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Quote:
JMO, Tom
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May 11, 2011 | #11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Pleasure Island, NC 8a
Posts: 1,162
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I'd venture more dioxins are in cold water fish & fish oil supplements than what one would ultimately eat from newspaper mulched vegetables... just sayin'... rather newsprint than any more aminopyralid in my gardens EVER!
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May 12, 2011 | #12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Littlerock, CA
Posts: 218
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For the safety of the workers at the newspaper the ink was regulated. They are exposed to thousands of times more than you would be even if you built your whole garden on newsprint. You could use newsprint in your compost and worm beds, pots which you then bury, till in shredded to improve drainage, and use inches as mulch, and not get anything close by eating the plants that the workers get when making the newspaper. The regulations have been to make these highly exposed workers safe.
The newspaper printers are going to say they do not recommend use in gardens to cover themselves in any future liability. It could be that someday someone sues them even for cellulose(wood pulp) powder being inhaled and causing cancer. I noticed that the lumber aisles now have prop 65 signage about sawdust causing cancer. |
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