Saving Used Coffee Grounds for Gardening

photo by Steven DePolo

Why coffee grounds? How can they enhance the growth and well-being of plants? Isn't coffee too acidic for the soil? Used coffee grounds are in fact an excellent organic material for gardening. They are a rich source of nitrogen. This element feeds beneficial microbes which break down other organic matter, and supplies nutrition to plants. They make a safe, natural substitute to manure for compost piles, as they are approximately two percent nitrogen by volume.

Researchers have also found that the presence of the grounds in compost piles helps sustain higher temperatures. These temperatures are ideal for preventing potentially harmful pathogens and kill seeds from surviving. Old coffee grounds have also been shown to improve soil structure and attract earthworms. As most of the acids are leeched out into your cup of coffee while brewing, the grounds are actually close to neutral, with an average pH ranging from 6.5 to 6.8. With a knowledge of proper use, used grounds are an ideal substance for growing better plants.

To use coffee grounds effectively they must be broken down before being placed around plants. Before composting, they have a carbon to nitrogen ratio of twenty to one, which is about the same as animal manure. In this state they can potentially stunt the growth of plants. Composting transforms the grounds into a beneficial source of nitrogen.

How to compost the used grounds? One easy way is to spread them on the top of soil weeks or months before planting, and cover with a layer of leaves or bulk mulch. You can also simply toss the used coffee grounds into your existing compost pile. This will allow the material to break down over time. It can then be mixed into the soil as a nitrogen fertilizer or added to houseplants.

Not only are used coffee grounds great for gardening, but this practical use is good for the environment as well. Coffee grounds are thrown away, eventually ending up in landfills. As they decompose in the waste stream they actually contribute to greenhouse gas emissions by emitting methane. While your daily consumption of coffee may not be that high, the amount of coffee grounds thrown away every day by coffee shops is enormous. By making connections with local cafés, asking for their used grounds, you are supplying yourself with free, natural fertilizer and reducing waste and greenhouse has emissions.

Organic Gardening at Home

photo by Steven De Polo

What is organic gardening? What are the 'rules' that a home gardener has to follow to practice this more eco-friendly version of an already environmentally-friendly past time? What are the benefits of practicing organic home gardening rather then sticking with more conventional methods?

Organic gardening at home is fun, really easy and very rewarding. Where commercial farmers face many challenges in converting to organic, sustainable methods, the home gardener has it easy. With a few simple changes and some patience you can have your own organic garden and organic vegetables, fruits and herbs to enjoy.

Essentially organic gardening is simply growing plants without the use of anything synthetic. Instead of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, eco-friendly alternatives are used such as homemade compost to nourish and improve the soil and techniques such as companion planting to help manage pests. Everything that is put into the earth or used to encourage growth is natural, beneficial and never poses any risk, such as tainting the soil with chemicals.

The result? Produce is also free of toxins (unless there are still some chemical residues in the soil from previous years or even from nearby pollutants). Fruits, vegetables and herbs are fresh and full of flavor. You don't have to pay extra to have organic produce in your kitchen — the organic home gardener grows it themselves. Also, the soil quality is improved for the future.

Fertilizers such as compost, manure, bone meal and other natural substances add nutrients to the soil and beneficial microbes and improve soil texture. Natural mulches such as organic coir, pine needles, straw and compost also act as a source of nourishment. Techniques such as companion planting and crop rotation serve to encourage optimal growth and maintain nutrient balance and sustainability. Basically, organic home gardening is all about being positive. Everyone wins, the gardener, the soil and the environment. With proper techniques and your own home compost pile there isn't even the need to spend more money to go organic.

While organic gardening is much more than a few simple changes, in fact it is more of a philosophy, to step into the world of eco-friendly gardening practices you really don't need to leap that far.

Growing Cooking Herbs at Home

photo by Lizard

Part of living a greener lifestyle is doing things yourself. An easy, fun eco project is to start growing your own cooking herbs. You can easily grow enough plants in small pots, making it feasible to have fresh herbs growing all year round even if you are limited on space.

Growing herbs yourself you will reduce what you need, reducing the negative effects of processing, packaging and transportation, while increasing your ability to produce for yourself and even share with others. You'll also save a little money and may even be inspired to cook at home more.

Which are the best herbs to grow indoors? How exactly does one start an indoor herb garden? First make sure you have what you need — suitable pots, potting soil and a sunny location in the home such as a windowsill. You can use almost anything for planting containers, although they must be clean (don't use previously used containers that held cleaning products or anything with chemicals) and you need to be able to poke small holes or a hole in the bottom for drainage. Recycle plastic milk jugs or soda bottles if you want. Simply cut off the tops and poke small holes in the bottom. You can always purchase three or four small pots. If you enjoy gardening you will get plenty of use out of them. Size does matter. Usually for herbs smaller pots are suitable, such as a four or six inch container, at least six inches deep.

Fill with potting soil, not dirt from outside, leaving about two inches of space from the top of the soil to the top of the container. If possible use organic potting soil. You can also make your own if you have access to compost. Use 2 parts of compost with 1 part garden soil and 1 part sand.

Which herbs are easy to grow indoors? Try:

• Thyme
• Sage
• Basil
• Chives
• Mint
• Oregano
• Rosemary

Start from seed or visit your local nursery for small plants. How to care for your herbs? Lots of sun and not too much water. The soil shouldn't remain moist. Once you've mastered growing cooking herbs you can start your own indoor vegetable garden.

How to Compost Kitchen Scraps for Your Organic Garden

photo by Andrew Taylor

The warm weather is moving in, the soil is thawing — time to fold in a rich layer of organic compost to improve the quality of your soil. If you don't already have a compost pile sitting out back, filling with decomposing organic refuse, now is as good a time as any to start.

An easy to way begin is by using kitchen scraps for compost. This way you can reduce your own personal contribution to the waste stream and at the same time provide nourishing, bioactive matter for your growing plants. Instead of tossing citrus peels, broccoli stalks and tea bags in the trash, gather them together throughout the day and then move them to your compost bin or pile outside.

To make composting kitchen scraps more efficient, and less messy, use a compost pail to store scraps in between trips to the outdoor pile. They are relatively inexpensive, they can be stored under the kitchen sink and they have a lid to hold in decaying vegetable scrap odors.

What kitchen scraps can you use for your compost pile? All,

• Fruit rinds, peels and cores
• Vegetables
• Sea greens
• Grains, cereals and pasta
• Egg shells
• Tea bags
• Coffee grounds 

photo by Steven DePolo

which have not been processed, cooked in oils or salted. Animal products, oils and fish are not good compost scraps. Stick with the fresh, unadulterated, natural, plant-based foods. Also, if you want to keep your garden organic and chemical-free, try to minimize non-organic kitchen scraps as much as possible.

Knowing how to compost kitchen scraps you can really take advantage of your own waste and take a step in the sustainable direction. Be patient with your decomposing pile, turn it every three to four days at first and then once a week and don't forget to add your yard clippings once the grass starts growing.