Why is Scotts Miracle-Gro^®
Afraid of 'Worm Poop'?

TerraCycle plant fertilizers are made with worm castings and packaged in re-used soda bottles.

With more than $2.6 billion in annual sales, a near-60% share of the lawn and garden fertilizer/pesticide/herbicide market, and a 100-year brand legacy, it seems odd that Scotts Miracle-Gro^®, would concern itself with a $1.5 million company that's selling organic fertilizers made out of "worm poop" and sold in recycled soda bottles.

You may be familiar with TerraCycle's organic plant foods, which are sold in our catalog and web site. TerraCycle Plant Food is an all organic, OMRI-listed fertilizer made from 100% worm castings. TerraCycle is the brainchild of two young college classmates, who wanted to bring a totally green product to market. And green it is: the fertilizer is produced by worms, which eat organic waste and excrete worm castings. The castings are then liquefied and packaged in recycled soda bottles that are collected by school kids. TerraCycle's recycling program for charities is called the Bottle Brigade. In the program more than 3,400 schools and other community groups earn 5¢ for every used bottle they send to TerraCycle.

Gardener's Supply began offering TerraCycle plant food in January of 2007. As longtime organic gardening advocates, we are well aware of the power of worm castings— one of nature's most potent, yet gentle, natural fertilizers. For those who don't have the room or the time to be generating worm castings with their own worm composter, the Terracycle product is an excellent option.

Scotts Miracle-Gro^®, the largest consumer fertilizer company in the world, is suing TerraCycle, one of the smallest, for "trade dress infringement." Basically, Scotts is claiming that TerraCycle's products look "confusingly similar" to Miracle-Gro and might confuse consumers. Considering the wild-and-crazy packaging of TerraCycle's product line, it's difficult to see how anyone could confuse it with Miracle-Gro^®. But that's just our opinion.

1. Tell your friends about TerraCycle products and the current legal battle.

2. Order TerraCycle from our catalog or web site to help the company offset legal costs.

3. Consider writing Scotts to tell them your thoughts on the suit. You can e-mail their PR department manager, Su Lok, at su.lok@scotts.com.

We are supporters of TerraCycle because more and more gardeners and homeowners are avoiding the use of chemical fertilizers and pest controls, which are heavily promoted by the "big boys," and are instead choosing organic lawn care services and organic garden fertilizers.

If you'd like to give TerraCycle a try, click here to learn more about the product and place an order on our web site. If you'd like more information about the TerraCycle-Scotts Miracle-Gro^® lawsuit, or about the TerraCycle story and full product line, go to www.terracycle.net.