Scotts Miracle-Grow Sues Terracycle?

I just caught wind of a very interesting story via Hugg! Apparently our friends at Terracycle are being sued by Scotts Miracle-Grow, the very well-known line of (primarily inorganic) fertilizers.

The hugg post links to an article on the ‘Sustainable is Good’ blog, which outlines some of the key components of the the lawsuit filed by Scotts Miracle-Grow.

Here is a blurb:

Scotts claims that TerraCycle’s use of yellow and green in its packaging too closely resembles its star Miracle-Gro® product line.

In addition, the 177 page complaint filed in the US District Court of New Jersey alleges false advertising for claims the company made saying its product is “superior and safer” to that of competitors.

The complaint filed by OMS Investments & The Scotts company also alleges violations of “Trade Dress Dilution, New Jersey Fair Trade Act and Unjust Enrichment”

TerraCycle denies Scotts claims and has created a website: www.suedbyscotts.com to showcase its side of the story. The website contains a PDF file with photos of over 80 similar fertilizer products that use yellow and green in their packaging.

It appears from looking at the complaint and the numerous other brands currently on the market which use a yellow and green color scheme that the real issue here is Scotts concern over protecting its new Organic Choice (TM) brand of Miracle-Gro products. The real issue here seems to be competition for market share in a rapidly growing industry – organic plant and lawn fertilizers.

Here is a link to the full article: Scotts Miracle-Gro Sues TerraCycle

Be sure to check out the Sued By Scotts website as well. It provides a really interesting (and amusing) comparison of the two companies, aptly referred to as “David and Goliath”! It also lists more than 100 other products that use similar packaging to Miracle Grow.

I will be sure to provide any new updates as they become available. This whole thing sounds pretty far fetched to me! I think Scott’s is simply bitter that Terracycle has really been gaining ground in the fertilizer market, and is hoping to stamp them out before they get too big!

All I can say is thank goodness for the internet! The place where the ‘little guys’ can fight a big fight!

Technorati Tags: terracycle, compost tea, worm poop, miracle grow, scotts, fertilizer

Written by Bentley on April 25th, 2007 with 2 comments.
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That’s How I Roll

Over the years I’ve developed my ‘eye’ for compostable materials. If it’s biodegradable at all there is a decent chance it will end of in the bin (with the exception of those items earmarked for the recycling bin).

Cardboard in particular is a favourite material of mine. I tend to recycle coloured cardboard (ie cereal and cracker boxes etc), but anythying brown or gray get’s shredded and used for bedding. Worms seem to absolutely love it and it definitely helps to maintain balance in the bin.

One source of cardboard that I think most people overlook are cardboard rolls – typically associated with toilet paper and paper towels. I highly recommend you start collecting these in your household – I think you will be amazed by how many of these things can pile up over several months.

Not only will you be reducing the amount of organic waste that goes to the landfill, but you will also have yourself a great carbon-source for the bin. Admittedly, cardboard rolls are not as ideal as corrugated cardboard or the gray cardboard from egg cartons or drink trays (since they are not nearly as absorbent), but thats ok! Simply snip them up and mix them in with your other bedding materials.

The next time you hit the end of the roll, don’t be so quick to toss that tube! Your worms and the environment will thank you for it!

Technorati Tags: worm bin, carboard, composting, vermicomposting, worm composting, C:N ratio

Written by Bentley on April 25th, 2007 with no comments.
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Pesky Worm Bin Varmints – Fruit Flies

There is one thing I need to get off my chest right away – I’m far from perfect when it comes to vermicomposting! Despite my best efforts (or due to laziness) I often run into some of the same issues as most people new to the hobby.

There I said it!

In a lot of ways I just don’t “sweat it” when it comes to a slightly out of balance bin. Worm composting is not meant to be “perfect” according to human standards – it is already a demonstration of the perfection of nature itself. If conditions in the bin change, the ecosystem inside typically changes in response. Sometimes this results in new populations of different critters.

A perfect example of a ‘critter’ that can make an appearance in your bin from time to time is the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster). Not surprisingly, fruit flies and other flying ‘varmints’ tend to annoy worm bin owners more than most bin creatures because they easily escape when the bin is opened. Add to that the fact that fruit flies can easily survive the conditions outside the bin (an exception to one of the rules in this post), and it’s no wonder people are frustrated by their presence.

Well have no fear, there are some solutions!

One simple practice that tends to help a lot is making sure to maintain a thick layer of bedding material over top of the main composting zone. This alone will go a long way towards eliminating fruit fly infestations. Also, it will definitely help if you bury your food scraps rather than placing them on the surface.

If you seem to still have recurring fruit fly problems in your bin or around your house in general I would definitely recommend using fruit fly traps. These are very simple in principle – basically, they are made up of an enclosed reservoir of some tempting liquid (apple cider vinegar is ideal), with a downward funnel and small hole where the fruit fly can crawl through. Once inside, it is virtually impossible for the flies to escape.

Out of curiosity a number of years ago I purchased fruit fly traps (see above picture) and have been very happy with them. The vinegar inside will eventually evaporate away, but you can simply refresh the supply by pouring some in through the hole.

You don’t have to buy traps though. This morning I attempted to make one myself (pictured to the right) – while it certainly doesn’t look pretty, it is very easy to make your own using a cup and a piece of tin foil (perhaps an elastic as well). The advantage of the homemade design is that you can take off the funnel and periodically clean out the contents.

So there you have it! Fruit flies in your worm bin can certainly be annoying at times, but there are definitely ways to fight back!

Stay tuned for more posts in my “Pesky Worm Bin Varmints” series!

Technorati Tags: worm bin, fruit fly, fruit flies, fruit fly traps, worm composting, vermicomposting

Written by Bentley on April 25th, 2007 with 1 comment.
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