Mother, I have never heard of peat being used as a mulch.
I think all of us would be opposed to inhumane treatment of animals, whether farm or pets. Of course, one could argue that ANY farm animal is treated inhumanely if it is grown to be slaughtered............
Look at it from the animal's point-of-view.
I am not quite sure what the chemical companies have to do with the loss of our family farms, but I trust there must be a connection somewhere.
