I'd love to see that bowl...wow...black peat moss? Where do you find that! My peat is a medium to light brown color and fluffy so it just "peeks" out of the grey tufa here and there. Maybe you have found the secret to coloring tufa black, naturally. Is your black bowl all cured and dry and still black?
Jo

I have used the 3cft bales of spaghnum peat, and then switched to cheap potting soil. Both have given me the lighter color hypertufa. Shop around

Kimberly,

Wait until it cures for a month and you'll be amazed at how much it lightens up. 'Tufa is very dark when it's green.

Deb

If you like green tufa you can buy your sand and fine peatmoss already mixed in a bag.
Golf courses use it to fill divots.:)

another newbie,with question.do you "sift" the peat?or just pick sticks out? thamks in advance,patricia

Personally, I would sift it. That would make a finer grain. OTOH, if you like the larger voids created by lumps, leave them in. Try it both ways, and see which one you like best.

Sue

Kimberly,
I strain mine through a fine wire collandar when I want to pick up a lot of detail, such as leaf castings. I just pick out the sticks and roll it between my hands for containers where I like the extra brown when initially cured and the larger voids as it decomposes. Each consistancy fills a purpose! Experiment and enjoy!
Leigh

thanks to both sue and leigh. only hope to get even close to being as good as you both.i don't think i'll sift quite as well next try.
patricia

Another way to get fine peat moss is to buy an old blender at a garage sale (mine cost $3) and blend the peat moss after removing large twigs.

Malkie (lurker)

I couldn't live without my riddle.
It has three screens and is terrific for sifting peat, gravel, sand, lumpy portlands cement, etc.
An excellent investment for the Tufateer!

Here is a link that might be useful: Riddle me this!

I bought a large plastic collander at the 99 cent
store with very small holes and it does real
good.

Gemfire