seed composts

Having use peat based composts for germinating seeds all my gardening life, I though I'd try to be greener this year and use somthing different. Recycled municipal green waste has done me proud for mulching and soil conditioning when I've needed it so I bought a bag of high grade stuff, with added nutrients sold a s a compost for cuttings seeds and potting. The bits of glass I found in it were a minor irritation, but when the surface slightly dried and became hard like concrete, I realise either the product was unsuitable ot I just wasn;t using it right.
Any experiences? What do you guys use in the States for seed sowing. What's the best peat-free alternative?

I have not used it personally, but have heard good things about Coir, from coconuts. Kathy in Texas

Green to me,just means natural,organic,biodegradable.Peat fits the bill.Why try to reinvent the wheel?It works and it works well,I am sticking with it.Other mediums? I dunno? vermiculite,perlite or sand.Edge

Yes I must try coir, though I suppose the environmental question over that is the distance it has to travel from Sri lanka or somewhere.
In UK there is a lot of concern over peat, I think because it is a non-renewable resource and important habitat is destroyed in harvesting it, so I wanted to find a local waste product that could be used instead but it clearly doesn't do the job, so I went out and bought some good ol' fashioned peat based compost yesterday cos I know what I'm doing with it. I know now I'll be alright for germinating seeds this spring and next year I'll try coir.
Thanks you guys for your answers

I'm with ya, on the declining availability of peat. I've been using the coir - it came in bricks that you soak and they expand. When you put the coir in trays, you will probably notice how fibrous it is - it kinda looks hairy. But it seems to bother me much more than the seeds, they are doing just fine!

I also use coir/ Lovely to work with - do dirty hands, and the seeds seems to love it. They grow lovely healthy roots that fills the container in no time. It is a bit more expensive than the potting soil we get here (no seed starting mixes available here), but definitely worth it.

Elsa

Where do you get coir? I've not seen it offered here in any of the local stores or nurseries.
Elsa...soaking the Canna seeds now...can't wait to see how they turn out!

I'm holding thumbs. Did you nick your seed before soaking? I found they germinate quicker that way.

"Wonder Soil" is a brand of coir that I've seen in stores around here. You can also order it online (and probably other brands as well). It comes in very lightweight bricks that you wet and they expand, so it's not expensive like shipping regular potting soil would be.

This is the cheapest I have found it: http://www.kalyx.com/store/proddetail.cfm/ItemID/766252/CategoryID/12000/SubCatID/2470/file.htm