Plant, Grow, Pick, Cook, Save, Reuse, Grow, Pick..... The cycle of life is so beautiful, and you can create that cycle in your life. Save your kitchen scraps and help the growth of a new plant. You don't even need a compost bucket to do this. While compost buckets are great, there are other ways to this without having a compost bucket. One way is by creating a fertilizer with your scraps to help the growth of your garden. Most fertilizers contain three main chemicals that help with the growth of plants: Potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. These same chemicals can be found in certain foods and plants that we eat. By saving these foods and scraps, you can create your own fertilizer that contain similar nutrients/chemicals that are in the fertilizers sold at stores. Which foods have these growth giving chemicals? Well, we have created a list of a few food scraps to save, and how to use them properly so you can create that beautiful cycle of life in your own backyard.
1. Coffee grounds- Coffee, that drink that gets you going in the morning, can also get a plant growing! Coffee contains nitrogen, a key element in fertilizer. It also has nutrients like calcium and potassium. To use the grounds, you first need to dry them out so mold doesn't grow. Then you can sprinkle it around the ground and let those plants grow.
2. Banana Peels- Banana peels are packed with potassium, one of those three main chemicals for fertilizing. Meaning, it is great for helping your plants grow. You can either take the full banana peel and stick in an inch in the ground and let it decay there, or you can chop up the peel and spread it around the ground. Either way will create a great fertilizer.
3. Egg shells- If you eat eggs, you can save that shell and use it as fertilizer. One nutrient that aids plant growth is calcium and egg shells are almost fully made of calcium. To do this, you first will need to wash the inside and let the shells dry. You can do this in the oven by letting them roast for a few minutes. Then, from there, grind the shells and add to the ground.
4. Old Nuts and Seeds- This isn't used for adding chemicals but it does still help the plant growth. Nuts and seeds are great for retainer moisture in the soil. They also allow air to ventilate through the soil which will help the roots grow stronger and larger. For this, wash off any salts or seasonings, let the nuts and seeds dry off, and then place around the ground. NOTE: Certain nuts and seeds should not be added because they contain toxins that will kill certain plants. For example: Do not add walnuts. Just be sure to check the seed or nut before using it as fertilizer.
5. Orange Peels, Lemon Peels, and Grapefruit Peels- These citrus peels help add phosphorus, calcium, nitrogen, and more to the soil to aid in the growth of your garden. An added bonus to this, is they also deter bugs, like mosquitoes. There are a two ways to do use these peels. Your first option is just placing the peels as they are straight into the ground or around the ground. And your second option is you can dry them out and then grind the peels to create a powder. Sprinkle the powder on the ground and let the plant grow. Both ways will work to create your homemade fertilizer.
Each of these foods contain different nutrients to add to plants, so if you know your plant or soil is lacking in a certain chemical or nutrient, you can use these foods to make sure your plants get the "food" they need to grow. There are more than just these five options, but these first five will help you get started on this cycle of life in your garden and your life. If you are just starting a garden and are wondering what to plant first, you can check out our A GARDENING GUIDE: FALL 2021 blog post. And if you are looking for more ways to be eco-friendly in your life, check out our blog post, A STARTING GUIDE TO USING LESS PLASTIC. We hope you have a wonderful day and some glorious gardening.
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