The cover of this notebook was made by L’Algue d’Or, an artisanal papermaking workshop in L’Isle-Verte (Québec), using the ancient “rag paper” technique. It is made of recycled cotton and sphagnum moss, a plant that accumulates in peatlands and forms peat. Peat is harvested to produce horticultural substrates used for home gardening as well to produce vegetables, flowers and trees in greenhouses. The sphagnum moss used incorporated into this paper has the particularity of coming from an experimental sphagnum farming site, where it is produced in a cyclical and sustainable way.

The Lower St. Lawrence, and particularly the Rivière-du-Loup region, is the cradle of the horticultural peat industry in North America. Since decades, local companies have positioned themselves as leaders in the sector. The horticultural substrates produced in the region support horticultural and vegetable production across the continent. The industry is also developing methods and best practices to make their operations as sustainable as possible, including the application of restoration techniques at the end of industrial operations. These companies are considered international leaders in terms of responsible peat resource management.

This notebook, which brings together local materials and ancestral know-how, symbolizes the synergy between the regional actors of the Rivière-du-Loup region who participated in its creation: the Peat and Substrates Cluster, the Centre local de développement de la région de Rivière-du-Loup and Tourisme Rivière-du-Loup.

The horticultural peat industry is one of the Rivière-du-Loup region’s symbol and pride. Based in the area, the Peat and Substrate Cluster’s mission is to work with the peat industry on common issues in order to support companies in their development, at the regional, national and international levels.

The mission of the Centre local de développement de la région de Rivière-du-Loup is to support businesses by providing them with advice and financial assistance, by helping them recruit and retain workers, and by ensuring consistent development on the territory.

Proud promoter of the region, Tourisme Rivière-du-Loup works to promote the heritage, nature and culture of Rivière-du-Loup as an exceptional tourist destination.