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How To Improve Your Garden Soil Without A Compost Heap

February 20, 2017 by Sara 255 Comments

A compost heap is a great way to recycle kitchen waste and improve your garden soil for free. However not everyone has the space needed and depending on where you live, you may want to deter any unwanted furry visitors.

It’s not always necessary to compost kitchen waste before adding it to your soil. So here are a few tips on how you can improve your garden soil without a compost heap using three kitchen scraps you’d normally throw away.

How to improve your garden soil

3 Kitchen Ingredients That Improve Your Garden Soil

EGG SHELLS

  • Rinse out any egg shells you have and allow them to dry for a few days in a bowl on a sunny window sill or by a radiator. When they are dry they crush very easily. This will help them to break down quickly when added to the soil.
  • Crushed eggshells improve drainage and the addition of  the calcium is excellent for promoting plant growth and preventing blossom end rot in tomatoes and squash plants. If you have an old coffee grinder or food processor this will make short work of it.
  • They are also a good deterrent for slugs and snails.  Scatter a generous barrier around any young seedlings to keep the pesky molluscs away. Apparently this is the human equivalent of walking barefoot on broken glass.

COFFEE GROUNDS

  • Coffee grounds can also be added directly to the soil. They act as a general fertiliser, adding organic matter, improving drainage, water retention and soil aeration. As they break down they will continue to add nitrogen which is so good for plant growth.
  • Used coffee grounds will not affect the PH level of your soil unless used in very concentrated amounts. However unused coffee grounds or leftover coffee is always such a wonderful pick-me-up for acid loving plants.
  • Coffee grounds also work very well as a mulch around plants. This keeps earthworms very happy as they seem partial to a little caffeine hit too!
  • Don’t worry if they look a bit mouldy, this is just part of the natural breaking down process and a sign that it’s working.
  • If you’re not a coffee drinker, tea bags are good for the soil too – check out this post!

BANANA SKINS 

  • Adding banana skins is another excellent way to improve your garden soil. They can also be added directly to the ground as long as they are cut up into very small pieces. They’ll break down faster and offer all the micro-organisms in the soil lots more surface area to work their magic.
  • This creates plenty of new organic matter resulting in a light, well drained soil which is full of lovely earthworms. Once the banana skins have broken down they will add a powerful cocktail of nutrients; calcium, magnesium, sulphur, phosphates, potassium and sodium, all of which help plants to grow well and develop their fruit.

Related Posts

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  • Harvest MinestroneHarvest Minestrone
  • Roasted Tomatoes with Garlic and BasilRoasted Tomatoes with Garlic and Basil
  • How To Multiply Your Tomato PlantsHow To Multiply Your Tomato Plants

Filed Under: Gardening Tagged With: Grow your own veg, recycling, upcycling

« Oregano Oil – Health Benefits
Things To Do With Used Tea bags »

Comments

  1. Amy Carnrick says

    September 23, 2018 at 7:44 pm

    This is so great, and so easy. Thanks for the tip!

    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100016962030360 https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-carnrick-9b162a142/

    Reply
  2. Kristin Spears says

    May 25, 2018 at 9:40 pm

    Hi. I’m new and a little lost. Where do you store old banana peels? I started saving coffee grinds and will now save eggshells but where should banana come in and what to do with all 3? Thank you for any additional advice.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      July 5, 2018 at 2:11 pm

      All 3 of these recycled ingredients are good for feeding plants and improving your garden soil. You can apply them separately or mixed together, it really doesn’t matter.
      personally, I let the banana skins dry out in the sunshine simply because they become odourless and more pleasant to handle, but you could dry them out on a baking sheet at the bottom of your oven if that is easier, or just finely chop them straight away and use them fresh. I collect the crushed egg shells, coffee grounds and banana skins up together in a large screw top storage jar, and when it’s getting too full I use it as a fertilising mulch around the base of my runner beans, tomato plants and courgettes – and it makes them all very happy!

      Reply
      • Hans says

        September 21, 2018 at 5:55 pm

        Is iT also good for house plant

        Reply
        • Sara says

          September 21, 2018 at 6:12 pm

          No, I wouldn’t use it on my house plants as it might smell a bit. But I do give my house plants a drink of the cold tea left in the tea pot! (without any milk!)

          Reply
    • Celeste Stroblas says

      November 18, 2018 at 12:35 am

      You can keep banana peels in the freezer. They turn black but that’s ok.

      Reply
    • francis says

      December 9, 2018 at 10:53 pm

      In a jar of water

      Reply
  3. Jan Hanson says

    March 21, 2018 at 8:49 pm

    Sara,
    Is there a reason you rinse the egg shells? I have been using egg shells in my garden the last few years but I just put them in an open container to dry then crush them in a zip lock bag. I add to the soil in the spring while I’m tilling.
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      March 24, 2018 at 4:08 pm

      Hi Jan, I was always told that it’s best to rinse out the eggs so they don’t get smelly and don’t attract the rats! So it’s something I have always done. But if the shells are properly dried and crushed, I’m sure that wouldn’t be a problem anyway – it’s just a precaution.

      Reply
    • Susanne says

      April 5, 2018 at 11:53 pm

      The best way is an oven proof container to store egg shells in and when your oven is next on pop them in with whatever else you’re cooking. It kills off any bacteria and salmonella etc.

      Reply
  4. Ging says

    January 31, 2018 at 3:07 pm

    Hi, I’m just about to start growing plants from seeds. Can I use any of these when I start or should I wait until they sprout to start adding any of these?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Sara says

      March 24, 2018 at 3:56 pm

      Hi, When you’re sowing seeds, it’s always best to use a good seed and potting compost, to give your seeds the best chance at successful germination. Then you can use these soil amendments to hel feed the plants later on when they really start growing.

      Reply
  5. Alan says

    October 15, 2017 at 2:56 pm

    Garden soil can be much improved egg shell and coffee mix.

    Reply
    • verna says

      November 19, 2017 at 7:24 pm

      can decaf coffee grounds be used?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        November 20, 2017 at 6:17 pm

        Decaf coffee can still be used, but for the organic purist the swiss water method is best. This uses carbon or charcoal filters rather than the more commonly used chemical solvents. Although these do mostly evaporate during the roasting process, they might still leave tiny traces behind. It depends how organic you want to go – but decaf grounds would still rot down and integrate into the soil in the same way bringing a lot of good nutrients too.

        Reply
        • Rita says

          May 8, 2018 at 8:54 pm

          Os it ok to sprinkle around flower plants in garden?

          Reply
          • Sara says

            May 22, 2018 at 10:33 am

            Yes definitely Rita! Your flowers will love it!

  6. Fitzgerald Logoi says

    September 22, 2017 at 3:13 am

    This is a very nice website and I like this because I am doing a science project about banana peels,eggshell,and tea bag

    Thank you

    Reply
  7. James says

    January 29, 2017 at 7:16 pm

    I use coffee grounds to make soil. Along with egg shells bananas and other kitchen waste. Yes coffee grounds mold. If find that they do that is the grounds aren’t dry before adding to soil. I remember senior women who put egg shells in a gallon milk jug and added water. This was the water they used for the house plants. None of those plants were intended to be eaten.
    I have egg shells roasted with fish carcass over a open flame. But that is just me

    Reply
    • Lynda says

      February 12, 2017 at 11:28 pm

      My Mother used to take everything from her kitchen compost jar and grind it up in the blender with a little water to make it liquid but thick. She would then take the thick liquid out to her garden and pour it around her plants and dig it in so it was tilled under. She had beautiful plants and plenty of Veggies that were gorgeous!

      Reply
      • Sara says

        February 12, 2017 at 11:38 pm

        What a great way to improve the soil and feed the plants! I bet her garden was beautiful!

        Reply
      • Ada says

        March 17, 2017 at 3:44 am

        I like this idea! I’m going to try it this spring, thanks for sharing!:)

        Reply
      • Meghana says

        April 18, 2017 at 1:37 pm

        Hi there,
        I have started to do the same in my garden but have realised that I am getting a lot of fruit flies. May I request you to ask your mom what to do?

        Reply
        • Sara says

          April 18, 2017 at 4:03 pm

          Hi Meghana, Yes, fruit flies can be a problem if the weather is warm (not a problem for us here at the moment though!) It helps if the banana skins are dried out first before and make sure that they are dug in, and covered by the soil.

          Reply
      • Hospicia says

        September 26, 2017 at 4:38 am

        Ihad geraniums looking weay with yelowish leaves. I tried what I did in the philippines before I came to the US.
        I put 1 banana peel in each pot of my plants where no one can see and have them rot there then add every time I have available.
        It worked really good and the blooms of my geraniums are big and sturdy.

        Reply
      • Karen Robertson says

        October 12, 2017 at 10:40 am

        That is a great idea, I will be trying this method, thank you for posting

        Reply
    • Mary says

      February 14, 2017 at 11:28 am

      I keep an old pan in the oven & throw rinsed egg shells & coffee grounds in it. After shutting off the oven, I put the pan back in to dry out the egg shells & grounds. Once it’s cool (or I get around to it) I toss them into a zip top bag in the freezer all winter. In the spring I grind them in the blender. I put a handful into the planting hole with a plastic teaspoon of Epson salt and had the best producing crop of tomatoes & peppers ever, last summer!

      Reply
      • Sara says

        February 14, 2017 at 1:50 pm

        That’s an excellent idea, much better than my habit of drying out the eggshells balanced on the vent at the back of my oven!!

        Reply
        • Ron says

          July 17, 2018 at 3:51 am

          I dry many things using Pottery, (wax air freshing bowl) sitting on a (Coffee) Cup warmer which dries contents, Then I pack them in Used Mixed nut containers until used. Once dried completely they do not mold.

          Reply
          • Sara says

            September 21, 2018 at 6:04 pm

            That’s a great idea! Much better when it’s completely dried out.

  8. Snowies says

    January 13, 2017 at 2:51 pm

    I tried adding eggshells and coffee grinds to my indoor plants and that turned out to be a HUGE mistake ><…..They ended up turning my soil moldy 🙁 I want to try it again since my plants would love the coffee, but I'm scared it will do the same thing 🙁

    Reply
    • Sara says

      January 13, 2017 at 7:06 pm

      Oh dear! What happened? Did it start to smell? I think I’d just stick to the coffee grinds inside!

      Reply
    • Nasim says

      January 15, 2017 at 1:20 pm

      Mine turn mouldy as well, any Suggestions

      Reply
      • Sara says

        January 15, 2017 at 4:51 pm

        Hi Nasim, Mould is just part of the nature breaking down process, this is a good sign that the soil is active and that the natural bacteria is doing it’s work. If it looks unpleasant, just dig it into the top layer of soil with a trowel.

        Reply
    • Mom says

      January 29, 2017 at 5:57 pm

      Dont be discouraged by this . Till the soil to mix them up. Mold helps decimpose organic material.

      Reply
    • dawn says

      February 2, 2017 at 4:25 pm

      Did you dry the egg shells first?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        February 2, 2017 at 6:57 pm

        Yes Dawn, I find they crush up much more easily if they are properly dried out first.

        Reply
  9. alison says

    December 28, 2016 at 6:50 pm

    Only organic banana peels should be used; non-organic bananas are very heavily sprayed with insecticides that are extremely toxic to bees, butterflies, etc.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      December 29, 2016 at 6:26 pm

      This is a very good point Alison. Of course it is always best to use organic fruit and veg wherever possible.

      Reply
    • jeff says

      January 12, 2017 at 3:04 am

      @alison Local banana maybe not used insecticide
      My exp local banana in Indonesia not used insect sprayer because in Indonesia find bunch weight not find clean skin.

      Reply
    • Joe says

      February 4, 2017 at 8:24 pm

      If I buy Organic bananas I eat the Banana peels also . That’s where most of the nutrients are

      Reply
      • SUDHAKAR CHAVALI says

        May 31, 2018 at 2:35 pm

        LOL, somebody is with me in this tiny world 🙂

        Reply
    • Char Baylor says

      March 5, 2017 at 1:53 am

      Thanks for the reminder!

      Reply
  10. jannatul hadika says

    November 15, 2016 at 1:29 pm

    hello , what is the meanning of COFFEE GROUNDS..?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      November 17, 2016 at 9:59 am

      Hi, Coffee grounds are the used ground coffee beans that you normally throw away once you have brewed the coffee.

      Reply
  11. Sue says

    October 24, 2016 at 10:48 pm

    Hi

    House plants love coffee and eggshell water
    Just put your left over coffee or coffee ground in gallon jug, add egg shells and let sit for a few day. If i have just a little coffee left in my cup (no cream). I will just pour it on my plants. I use this on all house plants but especially on Boston Ferns. They love it and stay a nice rich green and grow so well. Also adding tea bags to the water jug is great if you are a tea drinker
    I use a gallon pickle jar with a lid as liquid does have a smell but not once pourd on plants

    Reply
    • Sara says

      October 25, 2016 at 1:30 pm

      Hi Sue, yes I’m sure your house plants love their coffee and egg shell health boost! And it’s a great way to recycle kitchen waste – so it’s a win win!

      Reply
      • JC says

        October 26, 2016 at 6:24 pm

        Hey this is JC I WAS WONDERING IF can the egg shell ,banana,fresh coffee ground mixture to soil be a natural way to start our poppy garden most of them will be annuals hopefully some perennials not positive just yet it’s fall on Long Island right now and next week I’m getting my cedar to build a raised garden bed due to my soil in that area is pretty much soaked after the rains in early spring as well as being a little “not much ” above sea level hence the raised flower bed? So this is the very first time we’re attempting too grow poppies,Peony poppies,etc…
        We just want to be sure we set up especially the soils the best and right way! THIS IS SOMETHING MY FAMILY HAS FALLEN IN LOVE With THESE INCREDIBLY BEUTIFUL AND COLORFUL WILDFLOWERS!!!
        Please anyone if your familiar with these blossoms can you throw some information this way?
        Warm Regards,JC and Family

        Reply
        • Sara says

          October 27, 2016 at 11:09 am

          Hi JC, I totally agree, wildflowers are wonderful, but they don’t need a particularly rich soil, as they would naturally grow in meadows and fields. Just till the earth so it is free of stones and weeds and sow the seeds in the freshly turned soil. They do of course like plenty of sunshine and rain but don’t need much feeding. You can alway use the coffee grounds/eggshells and banana skins to improve the texture and organic matter in your soil over the years – when you have some just dig the mixture into small holes in-between your plants.

          Reply
        • Paula mc cann says

          April 19, 2017 at 6:11 pm

          Sara, I share your family’s love of Poppy’s, I started with a plant which was given to me. Thank goodness it done well. Since then I’ve easily decided it with a spade. Chopped it in four and they seem to be popping up nicely now. My soil is poor, but they don’t seem to mind, good luck

          Reply
      • Freddy says

        December 5, 2016 at 5:10 pm

        Old grandma trick. Grind dry egg shells to a powder and take a bit. It’s a great source of calcium.

        Reply
        • Carla says

          March 16, 2017 at 4:36 pm

          I understand it is well absorbed by the body the same way calcium carbonate tablets are not absorbed. It’s the same form of calcium.

          Reply
      • Margaret says

        March 4, 2017 at 2:12 pm

        Hi can Earl grey tea be used as well ?

        Reply
        • Sara says

          March 5, 2017 at 10:39 am

          Hi Margaret, Earl Grey tea is flavoured with extract of bergamot and as this is only a tiny amount and a natural substance it won’t do any harm. But it is important to be aware that tea & coffee are acidic, so alkaline loving plants won’t be too keen while acid loving plants like Roses, Camelias or Blueberries will thrive.

          Reply
  12. farhad says

    October 21, 2016 at 1:33 pm

    hi dear
    we can mix all these three and than apply direct to soil ? or put to plant roots

    Reply
    • Sara says

      October 21, 2016 at 2:24 pm

      You can do either; use it to top-dress the soil as a mulch, or mixed into the soil by digging into a small hole in between the plants in your border.

      Reply
  13. Jill Gross says

    September 26, 2016 at 5:47 pm

    Can you use the whole egg? Or just the shells?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      September 26, 2016 at 6:28 pm

      For this method I would only stick to the egg shells to avoid attracting any unwanted visitors. You can use a whole egg to feed plants, but they should be buried deep when you are first planting out your plants.

      Reply
  14. tais calil says

    September 22, 2016 at 2:06 pm

    Hi Sara,

    I mixed all with a liitle water and put on the soil. But I noticed some flies around, is that ok?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      September 22, 2016 at 3:44 pm

      If the flies are a nuisance just try to bury the mixture slightly, by covering it over with a little earth, that should put them off!

      Reply
  15. Nate says

    September 18, 2016 at 4:41 pm

    Can this be used on succulents?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      September 18, 2016 at 10:20 pm

      I must admit I don’t grow succulents, but I do know that they like a very well drained soil – a mixture of equal measures of standard potting soil, sand and perlite is ideal. They don’t like a rich soil or need a lot of moisture, so no coffee grounds and banana skins, but ground up egg shells would be good. .

      Reply
  16. Worx Aerocart says

    July 27, 2016 at 10:15 am

    Great tip! I will use it on the next compost change! It`s easy to change the soil by using Worx Aerocart, the perfect ally in gardening an house jobs. Check it out : http://www.worxaerocart.net/worx-aerocart-8-in-1-wheelbarrow/.
    Keep up the great job & tnx 🙂

    Reply
  17. Stacy says

    July 14, 2016 at 5:05 pm

    Great article! Can you add compost to a container garden? No earthworms on the 3rd floor lol

    Reply
    • Sara says

      July 14, 2016 at 6:04 pm

      Yes indeed! The beauty of this method, is that because the egg shells, coffee grounds and banana skins break down so easily, you can add them straight to the soil. It would probably work best for you to dry out the banana skins and egg shells either in the sun or oven, and grind them up together – to make a nutritious powder you can add to the coffee grounds and then just top dress your pots and tubs.

      Reply
      • Dena says

        August 7, 2016 at 9:08 am

        I was told that planting a banana peel with a rose Bush helps it start out good.not sure

        Reply
        • Sara says

          August 8, 2016 at 10:10 am

          Yes Dena, it will give your roses a very good start, but you can also add them dried and chopped up at any time to the top soil around the plants too. They will increase the organic matter which encourages the earthworms, and add calcium, magnesium, sulphur, phosphates, potassium and sodium, all of which will help the plants to grow well and develop their fruit and flowers.

          Reply
          • Atef says

            August 23, 2016 at 8:28 pm

            Is it possible to put that mixture to the the rose cuts to stimulate the buds
            Thank you

          • Sara says

            August 23, 2016 at 9:48 pm

            Yes Atef, Roses love this mixture, especially the banana skins!

  18. Allison Henry says

    June 22, 2016 at 12:25 am

    I keep a container next to my regular compost in the freezer for coffee grounds, egg shells and banana peels. No fruit flies around the kitchen and you can process for the garden in one batch.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      June 22, 2016 at 10:51 am

      That’s good tip! Thanks Allison 🙂

      Reply
      • Janet Fraser says

        July 4, 2016 at 4:39 pm

        Hi Sara,
        do you have to clean the egg shells?. Can i just let them dry then crush them?

        Thanks Janet

        Reply
        • Sara says

          July 4, 2016 at 5:30 pm

          Hi janet, I always rinse them out first before drying them out, otherwise they might smell unpleasant after a while.

          Reply
          • Karen says

            September 14, 2016 at 8:30 pm

            I have never rinsed my eggshells & have had no problems. I have a small flip-tip garbage can that has removable container (Family Dollar). I toss all vegetable peels, egg shells, & grounds in & pitch into flowerbed. No issues.

          • Sara says

            September 15, 2016 at 6:50 pm

            That’s great Karen! It’s good to know you don’t need to wash them – I was afraid it might attract rats! But your system sounds very trouble free!

          • Maria H. says

            October 2, 2016 at 11:17 am

            I nuke them for 2 minutes to sanitize and crisp at same time. Washing would be next best thing to keep nasty bacteria from taking over your kitchen when storing and crushing shells.

          • Sara says

            October 2, 2016 at 11:48 am

            That’s a good idea! Microwaves are such useful things!

          • Krister says

            January 4, 2017 at 8:52 pm

            I drop used egg shells into a large glass container Without rinsing them, never have had an odor problem. They dry out sitting by the stove on the counter. As the pIle builds up I crush them in my hand and/or reduce them to powder in my mortar, then seal in zip lock baggies for next growing season. I use it for all suggestions mentioned. Slugs dry out when their belly is cut by the shells. They don’t have to be powder form to work and still provides plants nutrients. I love gardening. Better veggies you can’t beat them for their flavors. Background; I helped my parents and Nana garden from age 7-17. Every chance I got I grew my own garden. Today at 64 in a new house I am now planning my 2017 spring garden

        • Beth says

          July 5, 2016 at 2:59 am

          What about orange peel or other citrus peel?

          Reply
          • A says

            August 8, 2016 at 8:37 am

            Oranges take forever to break down. I save mine in the freezer and use them when cleaning my cast iron pots or the sink.

        • Betsy says

          July 13, 2016 at 3:00 am

          I microwave my eggshells, speeds up the drying. And, when I crush them, I make a batch that’s crushed really fine and add that to my bird feeder. They can use the calcium for their eggs, and little bitty bodies. They get about a 1/2 cup a month. The rest goes into my plants. Also, you can give your empty cartons to the folks who sell eggs at the local farmer’s market. They appreciate it as their chickens lay eggs but refuse to make the cartons! Ingrates:)

          Reply
          • Sara says

            July 13, 2016 at 10:36 am

            Hi Betsy! I love your recycling tips! And I bet the little wild birds in your garden do too!

          • Merlin says

            April 3, 2017 at 7:25 pm

            I have to laugh about you calling the chickens ingrates…too funny. I rinse my egg shells and set them on the back of the sink to dry over night. I then toss them into a glass jar under my kitchen sink and when the jar gets full, crush them in the jar. I also keep a bag in my freezer for my “stinky” garbage and when it’s full add it to my big freezer after I knock it down to size. When spring rolls around I generally have plenty of stuff for my spring garden.

    • Robbie says

      August 3, 2016 at 5:51 pm

      I was just about to ask if I could freeze them. Thanks

      Reply
    • gwen says

      August 23, 2016 at 6:44 pm

      Do banana peels dry out in freezer?

      Reply
      • Kathy says

        August 30, 2016 at 12:48 am

        I read that I could mix all three: banana peels, coffee grounds and eggs shells in my blender. Add a little water then put on my plants!

        Reply
        • Julie Hamann says

          September 26, 2016 at 12:36 pm

          What a wonderful tip, many thanks!

          Reply
  19. Emily says

    May 23, 2016 at 1:11 pm

    Highly recommend this. Thanks for sharing this to the world! Proud to have green thumb here! 🙂

    Reply
  20. Kezzie says

    May 22, 2016 at 10:34 pm

    It’s funny you should say that about coffee grounds because I always chuck mine in my olive tree pot- he seems happy!
    I also heard that roses love them so, since my new garden has dozens of rose bushes, I decided to chuck them on them today!
    The egg shell idea is genius! I am up for doing ANYTHING to thwart the snails and slugs!

    Reply
    • Jane says

      June 10, 2016 at 4:33 pm

      I have a Keurig coffee maker and throw away lots of pods of coffee a day. I’m trying to grow Hydrangeas. Would the grounds help them?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        June 11, 2016 at 12:45 am

        Hi, Hydrangeas do like coffee grounds as they increase the acidity of the soil, when it reaches ph.5.5, the flowers will turn blue. But it would also increase the soil richness and drainage. Is it possible to cut the pods open to release the grounds?

        Reply
        • Terry McMillin says

          June 28, 2016 at 11:05 am

          I cut the mesh part of the pods off and the dried coffee grounds just fall out. Easy Squeesy

          Reply
          • Sara says

            June 28, 2016 at 2:54 pm

            Excellent! It would be such a shame to throw it away!

      • Leisa says

        June 18, 2016 at 3:54 am

        You could fill a 5 gallon bucket with water and soak your pods to make a brew, then pour the coffee water near your plants

        Reply
        • Sara says

          June 18, 2016 at 9:35 am

          Excellent suggestion Jane! Check out my Compost Soup post for more details! http://wholefoodhome.com/compost-soup/

          Reply
      • Jennifer says

        June 26, 2016 at 2:48 pm

        Yes. Absolutely. I put the Keurig grounds in my hydrangea garden every day. They are so healthy and a beautiful blue.

        Reply
        • Sara says

          June 26, 2016 at 3:12 pm

          Your hydrangeas sound beautiful Jennifer!

          Reply
  21. Irvine H. @ local garden maintenance says

    May 20, 2016 at 10:47 am

    The eggshells could not improve the soil’s Ca that much, but it is good to throw them there whenever you can, true. Banana peels on the other hand, are a very nutritious addition the soil. I literally used to use small pieces on my indoor house plants as well, because they would give magnificent results… A good read, I approve.

    Regards, Irvine

    Reply
    • Yvonne says

      May 26, 2016 at 11:46 pm

      Do the banana peels have to be dried out before adding them to the soil?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        May 27, 2016 at 12:08 am

        Hi, I’ve found that they do break down more quickly if they are dried out first but I do sometimes put them in straight away, just make sure they are cut up into small bits, and they’ll soon disappear.

        Reply
        • Pat Hoffman says

          July 4, 2016 at 5:20 pm

          I freeze my banana peels and other vegetable peels before burying them in my garden. That way they can break down faster.

          Reply
          • Sara says

            July 4, 2016 at 5:31 pm

            Yes Pat, that’s a very good tip! I have heard this before, but forget to do it!!

  22. Madison says

    May 19, 2016 at 6:02 pm

    Yes, these are very effective alternative for your compost heap. I learned this from my sweet granny green thumb. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  23. Maria says

    May 6, 2016 at 2:43 pm

    Can you put the coffee grounds and the eggshells on grass to help it grow or to keep it healthy?

    Reply
    • Sara says

      May 6, 2016 at 5:04 pm

      Hi Maria,

      If it the egg shells are ground up fine, you could scatter it on your lawn, but depending on your rainfall, I think it might sit on the surface, rather than sink in, and you would want to bury it in small holes. So I suggest you make your own liquid lawn feed as describe in this post :- http://wholefoodhome.com/compost-soup/ Coffee beans are rich in nitrogen, and egg shells are basically calcium, so that should keep your lawn happy! 🙂

      Reply
      • Ivan says

        July 4, 2016 at 11:46 am

        I put mine in a blender comes out nearly like dust I store it in large jars until needed

        Reply
        • Sara says

          July 4, 2016 at 1:30 pm

          It’s so great to use eggshells in this way, returning them to the soil to provide nutrients for your plants – so worthwhile!

          Reply
      • Mary Ann says

        May 18, 2018 at 11:06 pm

        I chop up my banana peels and crush my eggshells and toss them on the lawn. When we mow they get munched up.

        Reply
        • Sara says

          May 22, 2018 at 10:32 am

          That’s a great idea Mary Ann! I bet your lawn is healthy!

          Reply
    • Ted says

      May 7, 2016 at 3:44 pm

      Yes. You breakup the eggshells.

      Reply
    • claire says

      May 20, 2016 at 9:07 am

      Its also great for birds!!! Seriously, birds need calcium from external sources for the health of their own eggs.

      Reply
  24. Dawn says

    May 1, 2016 at 5:13 pm

    Hi..I was thinking of using these tips for my flower garden but I was wondering about the use of the coffee grounds. You mentioned that they are great for acid loving plants, so do I have to be careful about what I plant in the garden if I use the coffee grounds. Actually, is it the same for a vegetable garden? I was going to try my first attempt at a small veggie garden this year, do do I need to use care at what I grow if I use coffee grounds? Thank you for any tips you could give me!

    Reply
    • Dana says

      May 2, 2016 at 11:25 pm

      I have used coffee grounds on everything in my garden. I’ve read that the grounds become less acidic (more neutral) after being used to make coffee. Have not done a pH test, but have had great results on roses, lilies, tomatoes, zucchini, kale, collards, petunias.

      Reply
  25. Mama licc says

    April 25, 2016 at 9:51 pm

    Hello, how do u handle the banana peels.. I get the small pieces part, but do u save banana peels and add to garden when there enough for the whole thing or just do it as we eat the bananas? I just feel like saving egg shells and coffee grounds isn’t quite the same as banana peels… Thanks

    Reply
    • Sara says

      April 25, 2016 at 11:36 pm

      Hi, Yes, we just add the banana skins as and when we have them. It doesn’t matter too much if you have more of one ingredient than the other, they all break down quickly and improve the soil and your plants will be very happy!

      Reply
      • Jessica says

        April 27, 2016 at 12:25 am

        Thank you!!! How often is too often? Is it possible to overdose them or is it just going to keep helping no matter how often

        Reply
        • Sara says

          April 27, 2016 at 9:38 am

          Hi Jessica, When I add these ingredients directly to the soil I normally dig a small hole every few days in between the plants and flowers, and add a handful or two to each. I start off at one end of the garden and try to work my way systematically across until I reach the other side. By the time I come round to where I started again, there is no sign of any of the additions, everything has broken down. All you find is crumbly soil and happy worms 🙂

          Reply
      • diana says

        August 25, 2016 at 6:11 pm

        i love this idea. i would be inclined to sun dry. do banana skins repel aphids?

        Reply
  26. Michelle says

    April 21, 2016 at 12:48 pm

    Some of the coffee ground mulch I placed around the base of my plants is turning moldy. Is this a normal phenomenon or am I doing something wrong? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      April 21, 2016 at 1:29 pm

      Hi Michelle,
      It’s perfectly natural for the coffee grounds to go mouldy, it’s just part of the composting process and means that it is breaking down into your soil. It’s certainly won’t harm your plants, but if you don’t like the look of it then just dig it into the surrounding topsoil and refresh with new grounds next time you’ve got some.

      Reply
  27. Linda says

    April 1, 2016 at 3:43 pm

    Has anyone tried to use a food processor or chopper to grind up the food waste and add it directly to the garden? Even if you had to add lost of water, I would think if you could make it into a pulp like substance that would be very easy to add to the soil. I tried with an old blender, but it wasn’t powerful enough to grind it down. I don’t have a food processor, but wondered if it would be worth investing in on.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      April 1, 2016 at 5:57 pm

      This would be fantastic for making the compost material break down super quickly Linda, especially if you have an old spare food-processor that you can designate for the job rather than your good one!

      Reply
    • Lulu says

      April 6, 2016 at 1:21 pm

      A food processor is the only way i crushe egg shells. It turns them into a finely crushed product easily spread by hand over the garden and do the safe with coffe grounds. I dont dry the coffe grounds out at all, just sprinkle straight on.

      The banana skins i throw on the garden whole. They compost down quickly and are soon blended in with the soil.

      Ive been doing this for years on new and establised gardens and vegie gardens with great results.

      Reply
      • Sara says

        April 6, 2016 at 1:33 pm

        Yes Lulu – the old ideas are always the best!

        Reply
      • Diane says

        May 4, 2016 at 11:07 am

        An old electric coffee grinder works really good to crush the egg shells too. I picked up a really good one at a yard sale for $0.50 cents about 5 years ago and it is still working great!

        Reply
        • Sara says

          May 4, 2016 at 12:22 pm

          That’s great Diane! What a bargain!

          Reply
        • Suze says

          February 12, 2017 at 1:55 am

          I ended up with three of those..great for chopping herbs,eggshells, etc! For larger quantities of eggshells simply crush, place on paper towels,nuke for a minute or two,fold the paper towel and crush with a rolling pin. These get fed back to my hens,birds and soil?

          Reply
    • Sherry says

      April 13, 2016 at 2:27 pm

      I’m sure you can find a used one…check close.5 or offer up, I see them all the time. My roses love the banana skins! I put the egg shells around my tomato plants at last count I have 13 new tomato’s!

      Reply
      • Sara says

        April 13, 2016 at 6:20 pm

        Wow! You’ll be making lots of tomato sauce 🙂

        Reply
      • diana says

        August 25, 2016 at 6:13 pm

        do the skins repel aphids?

        Reply
    • Brandon Bruce (USN) says

      April 16, 2016 at 3:35 am

      I use my ninja to blend food scraps for my worm bin which then turn into vermacompost and it works great.

      Reply
      • diana says

        August 25, 2016 at 6:14 pm

        do the ingredients to be dried first?

        Reply
        • Sara says

          August 25, 2016 at 9:25 pm

          Hi Diana, It doesn’t matter if you don’t dry them, they will still work, but the smell might attract rats if you leave them lying on top of the soil. I believe that aphids hate the potassium in bananas, so they do act as a deterrent, but you have to top them up regularly.

          Reply
          • Susie says

            March 12, 2017 at 3:24 am

            Will any of these help keep Japanese Beetles away from my raspberry plants. They destroy the leaves!

          • Sara says

            March 12, 2017 at 9:53 am

            Hi Susie, I’ve never have problems with Japanese Beetles here on the south coast of the UK, perhaps they don’t like our climate, but here’s an interesting article with lots of clever ideas to get rid of them. http://theherbgardener.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/what-you-need-to-know-about-getting-rid.html

    • maary says

      May 15, 2016 at 8:33 pm

      for these older items check out the garage sales or second hand stores, Goodwill or Salvation Army is a good place to start, I use an old blender which if done in batches works well. Good Luck

      Reply
    • Linda S says

      May 29, 2016 at 9:25 am

      Coffee grinders work great to process egg shells.

      Reply
      • Shirley Orecchio says

        May 29, 2016 at 12:07 pm

        A coffee grinder is pretty small, wouldn’t it take a long time to process the egg shell?
        What if you want to use bananas, egg shells and add it to coffee grinds? How would you process that?

        Reply
    • Gijanedoe says

      June 19, 2016 at 1:44 pm

      Yes, I did exactly that when I first started composting. My husband objected to the kitchen waste, so I stored them In an old blend by the sink. Then I would ad some water to it and made compost soup. Then I would dig a small hole in the garden’s poor soil, then cover it. That year I grew artichokes from seed in that spot! I got two big artichokes that year!! It is a fabulous way to do it, if you have a blender just for that.

      Reply
    • Christy says

      June 19, 2016 at 6:39 pm

      I have been burying my kitchen scraps in the garden for years with great results. I don’t bother with a food processor. I just dig a hole, add the scraps, including shrimp shells, chop them up with the shovel and cover with soil. It works great!!
      CC

      Reply
    • Krister says

      January 4, 2017 at 9:04 pm

      Get one from a Salvation Army, Goodwill or other thrift store, yard salle, Ollie’s, etc. Will be cheap to buy.

      Reply
  28. Karen P says

    March 24, 2016 at 9:29 am

    Hello,
    Can you mix all three together and spread it in your dirt or do you need to add each ingredient one at a time with some time in between? And how often can you add these ingredients to your soil? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      March 24, 2016 at 9:53 am

      Hi karen,
      Yes I usually collect up the three ingredients together in a pot or large jar, cutting up the banana skins and crunching up the egg shells, and when the jar is full I just dig a small hole between the plants wherever there is a space. When the hole is full I cover it over with soil and let the earth do the work! Then just move on to another spot. It’s a good idea to start at one side of the garden and work your way across, so you know where you’ve been, or you could always leave a marker. It all breaks down really quickly in the summer months.

      Reply
      • Dana says

        April 12, 2016 at 1:58 am

        I like this and I have had great results with shrimp shells.

        Reply
        • Sara says

          April 12, 2016 at 9:39 am

          That’s a good tip Dana, Thanks! I am always so delighted when you can put something to good use, other than just throw it away 🙂

          Reply
        • Shona Perese says

          September 11, 2016 at 1:38 pm

          I will try prawn shells, so they can go straight in the compost bin..

          Reply
    • Christy says

      March 30, 2016 at 3:59 am

      I collect all kitchen scraps except meat, bones, and dairy products in a kitchen compost bucket and once a week when it is full, I go to my garden where I will plant veggies later and dig an 8 inch (or deeper) hole. I dump the scraps in, chop up with the shovel and fill with the dirt. I stamp it down hard and if critters are around, I sprinkle dried blood meal (from the garden store ) on top. This keeps critters away and adds a lot of nitrogen to the soil. I do this all around the are where I will later plant veggies. They absolutely love it, as do the earthworms.

      Reply
      • Sara says

        March 30, 2016 at 9:31 am

        Wow Christy! I bet your garden soil is fabulous! Thanks for sharing your tips!

        Reply
  29. Dave says

    March 14, 2016 at 12:45 pm

    I tend to give my kitchen waste a rough chop before storing it in gallon sized freezer bags until the bag is full, then thaw it for a bit before adding to the compost pile. The freezing ruptures the cell walls & causes it to break down faster in the compost.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      March 14, 2016 at 3:15 pm

      That’s an excellent idea! I’ve always noticed that the contents of the compost bucket often mushes down much quicker after a frosty night outside by the back door!

      Reply
    • Laurie says

      March 16, 2016 at 7:51 am

      I’m concerned about attracting rodents; first it was rats, then we graduated to raccoons in the crawlspace of the 100 y.o. house I bought 6 mos ago. I can only assume my garden will need to be amended – somehow didn’t get a chance to plant while unpacking – but I don’t want to lay treats out for the n’hood critters. So guess I’d skip the wet-ish bananas but other suggestions as replacements would be grand.

      Reply
      • Sara says

        March 16, 2016 at 9:18 am

        How exciting to have a new house! I bet you’ll be busy in the garden this spring! If you’re worried about attracting unwelcome visitors, just make sure you bury any amendments under the top layer of topsoil. I learnt this tip from my Father-in-law, who was a fantastic gardener – he improved all his soil in this way and his garden was magnificent.

        Reply
        • Kayla says

          April 7, 2016 at 3:07 am

          Try dehydrating the banana peels and then crushing them up.

          Reply
          • Sara says

            April 7, 2016 at 9:13 am

            Hi, In the summer I leave them to dry in a sunny spot for a day or two, they dry out really quickly and the plants love them!

      • Lee says

        April 4, 2016 at 6:25 pm

        Hi Laurie,
        I used to worry about the same thing but I used human hair from a very busy full range salon so get a lot of chemically treated hair it’s an excellent barrier for the critters but you will want to set it out about 5-10 feet from the plants and once you get going eventually you can get by with just the perimeter of your yard

        Reply
  30. Carole @ Garden Up Green says

    February 4, 2016 at 2:37 pm

    It’s neat to see this old idea catching on. My Grandma taught me this when i was a kid because i thought the idea of a compost bin was repulsive. We called it “Direct Compost” Check out how it was introduced to me back in the 70’s. A tip left over from the foundation of this country.

    >>http://www.gardenupgreen.com/2014/02/direct-compost.html

    Reply
    • Sara says

      February 4, 2016 at 4:39 pm

      I loved your post Carole what a wealth of knowledge you inherited from your Grandmother – I’m sure she would be delighted to know you are passing it on!

      Reply
      • Rosemarie says

        February 13, 2016 at 1:51 am

        I read that egg shells need to be boiled first, is that true?

        Reply
        • Sara says

          February 13, 2016 at 9:53 am

          Hi Rosemarie, I always wash egg shells thoroughly and then allow them to dry out in a warm place. After a day or two they crush up so easily and then they are ready to use in the garden.

          Reply
          • Vernie Pace says

            February 23, 2016 at 10:38 pm

            After I wash and dry them, I put then in my Vita-Mix and grind them to a fine powder then scatter them over my beds.

    • Pam Lobb says

      March 19, 2016 at 3:50 pm

      I just read ur love story about your grandmother. Brought tears to my eyes,because I had a grandmother who taught me so many things about gardening also. I always considered myself so lucky, just like you do.

      Reply
      • Sara says

        March 20, 2016 at 1:22 am

        We learn such wonderful things from our Grandparents, things that stay with us for always 🙂

        Reply
    • Bea says

      March 20, 2016 at 8:28 pm

      Thank you so much for sharing that. I never had grandparents to learn from. Planet earth holds many secrets that are lost to all these new technology generations. (myself include) I’m NEW to gardening. I don’t know a thing about it!! I just know that I want to grow organic foods because it’d be cheaper… {as long as the chem trails don’t spray above my house, I should be ok? not sure.)……and I love learning what helps to not be wasteful. But I also don’t want an organic garden accompanied with rats! Thanks for the link…will go check it out 🙂

      Reply
    • Latayne Smith says

      March 26, 2016 at 6:29 pm

      Thank you so much for sharing your Granmas photos and tips. I, too, had a Grandmother who loved her gardens, both veggie and flowers and even though we all spent the summers with her, we never thought about learning those things from her. Looking back I have no doubt she did the same things. How I wish she were here now to teach me. She was also in Texas.

      Reply
    • Shirley Orecchio says

      May 1, 2016 at 10:14 am

      This was a great story and I think I will give it a try.
      Thank you.

      Reply
  31. Robin says

    December 21, 2015 at 9:34 pm

    I just throw the eggshells between the rows. After a day or two my granddaughter will come over and it is her job to step on them. They crush into tiny pieces and will eventually get worked into the ground. She loves her “job” and she is more careful walking in the garden because she is always looking down for more egg shells.

    Reply
    • Sara says

      December 23, 2015 at 10:50 am

      That sounds like fun! What a great little helper! 🙂

      Reply
    • Sara says

      December 26, 2015 at 12:29 pm

      What a great idea, and I bet your granddaughter loves her job!

      Reply
    • Stephanie Zeigler says

      January 21, 2016 at 9:25 pm

      This is a wonderful “job” for the younger grandkids! I have 8 grands ranging from 13 down to 4 months old, and I am always looking for things that they can do to feel included in Gramma’s garden. I am sure that the oldest two 13 & 8 will be wanting to run the tiller this year so I have to find other things for the younger 6 to do to help! Thank you for posting this!

      Reply
  32. debra says

    September 18, 2015 at 12:10 am

    I take all three and keep them in a coffee can till full. My family all knows that it is my garden brew. After a few weeks I pour it out onto my garden soil and trowl it in the soil. My tomato plants love this brew. Just be prepared for a very ripe fragrance whening pouring it out.

    Reply
  33. John says

    August 9, 2015 at 5:27 pm

    Some great advice. I alternate between adding these things to my compost bin and just adding them straight to the garden.

    Reply
  34. Earthworm Technologies says

    July 27, 2015 at 3:17 pm

    Hi Sara – nice short article with 3 great food waste items you can use directly in your soil. Just to add specifically – the banana peels can be buried specifically under rose bushes – they LOVE banana peels. Also it’s not a repurpose for the garden but epsom salt for magnesium works wonders on tomatoes as well!

    We’re doing this concept on a grander scale by taking food scraps out of the system (instead of allowing them to go to landfills). We then create a potent plant food capsule called EarthPods that has all these amazing ingredients (and million of beneficial plant root microbes as well). Check out our products if you have the chance and let us know what you think! 🙂

    Reply
    • Sara says

      July 27, 2015 at 4:36 pm

      Thanks! I will check your EarthPods they sound very interesting 🙂

      Reply
      • Earthworm Technologies says

        August 12, 2015 at 1:54 am

        Great – let me know what you think. We also recently added a new item as well. Customers kept asking us about an easy way to make compost tea with our plant food so we have compost tea packets now too! 🙂 drop them in your watering can for 24 hours and feed organic nutrients as you water.

        Reply
        • Sara says

          August 12, 2015 at 10:29 am

          Thanks! I love the sound of your compost teabags! what a great idea!

          Reply
  35. Adriana A. Harris says

    July 16, 2015 at 1:07 pm

    I’ve been trying to do this but I always forget to collect banana skins and egg shells.. I was reminded by your post I saw it on my pinterest account.. Thanks.

    Reply
  36. Tori says

    June 25, 2015 at 12:16 am

    I put my banana skins, coffee grounds and egg shells in the blender and blend them up with some water, then add that to a larger 2 gallon pitcher with water and water my plants with them. Roses love it!!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      June 25, 2015 at 9:16 am

      What an excellent idea! I make my liquid feed from seaweed as we live by the beach, there’s no need to buy it is there!

      Reply
    • Paula Wynne says

      July 15, 2015 at 10:47 am

      Great idea ~ I was wondering how to use the banana skins because either my Springer Spaniel will sniff it out and digg it up or it could encourage mice so blending it and using it as a natural fertilizer sounds like it could work. Going to give it a go.

      Reply
      • Sara says

        July 15, 2015 at 11:03 am

        If you’re worried about pets, just dry them out first (either in a gentle oven, or just in the sun) Some people grind up the egg shells and banana skins in a processor, but it’s perfectly ok to do it by hand, it breaks down into the soil really quickly anyway and you don’t make your processor dirty!

        Reply
        • Sara says

          July 15, 2015 at 11:04 am

          p.s I had a lovely springer spaniel not so long ago – I know what they can be like 🙂

          Reply
        • GothicGardenGirl says

          June 3, 2016 at 12:28 am

          I blended it all up and then dug a hole and covered it. I thought that would be better because my dog will eat ANYTHING! Boy was I wrong…. The next morning my dog threw up compost and dirt on the carpet!! So now I’ve started mixing it with water and that seems to work. He is still curious about the smell but I think he sees that there is no pieces to eat.

          Reply
          • Sara says

            June 3, 2016 at 10:21 am

            Oh dear! I had a dog like that too! And it does make it difficult to add things to the soil in this way, but I also use this method – http://wholefoodhome.com/compost-soup/ which makes a liquid feed for your plants instead. Make sure you keep a tight lid on it though, or he’ll drink it!!

    • melissa paulette says

      November 24, 2015 at 9:58 pm

      i was thinking of keeping a food processor in the tool shed just for this purpose. i have seen these at second hand stores for little to nothing !
      also, what do think about doing this for all kitchen stuff to speed up the breakdown for the com poster?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        November 25, 2015 at 10:25 am

        That’s an excellent idea if you can get hold of a cheap one. If you cut up all the kitchen waste into little pieces it will definitely speed up the composting process. 🙂

        Reply
      • Liz says

        December 24, 2015 at 10:45 pm

        I’ve had my very own food compost blender for years. At the end of each day I add a spoon of Epsom salt to the day’s bounty, add water, blend, toss around my flowers then rinse it out. Never use it for anything else.

        Reply
        • Sara says

          December 26, 2015 at 12:28 pm

          That sounds like a very good idea!

          Reply
  37. Thea says

    June 13, 2015 at 6:16 am

    Thanks for the tips. I usually ground the egg shells and mix it with the coffee grounds for my flower bed. I will try the banana peels too!

    http://www.thetravelingdyosa.com

    Reply
  38. Lauren Main says

    May 9, 2015 at 10:00 pm

    So glad to read this!! I am very new to gardening however– do I just sprinkle this right on top of the ground around the plants? Or do I dig, and to soil, and cover up?? How often do you add?? Can anyone give me a step by step? Thank you!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Sara says

      May 10, 2015 at 12:05 pm

      You can use the egg shells and coffee grounds scattered on top of the soil around your plants as this is also a deterrent to slugs and snails. But the banana skins are best cut up into little pieces and dug in just under the surface, although you can dry them out first in the sun or in a low oven and then grind them up to make a powder which you can then mix in with the other ingredients. These really help your soil richness and texture so it’s well worth doing!

      Reply
  39. Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai says

    March 29, 2015 at 4:52 pm

    We have used all three of these! They work great…and ants HATE coffee grounds! 🙂 Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty – we hope to see you again next week. 🙂

    ~Lorelai
    Life With Lorelai

    Reply
    • Granny says

      April 15, 2016 at 10:01 am

      Thank you so much for the ant tip!! Solved my problem with item I have in my kitchen. Amazing?

      Reply
  40. Elizabeth says

    March 21, 2015 at 9:14 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing your gardening ideas. I love to recycle products that get thrown away! Thank you, Elizabeth

    Reply
    • Sara says

      March 21, 2015 at 11:56 pm

      Yes I agree, it’s so satisfying to use up everything! Thanks for hosting!

      Reply
  41. Helen @ Witty Hoots says

    March 18, 2015 at 9:06 pm

    Some great ideas – ideal for window boxes/container planting too – especially when you do not have a huge garden space. Thank you for joining in with the #FrugalFamilyLinky – hope to see you joining in again soon!

    Reply
  42. Linda @ Apron Strings says

    March 11, 2015 at 1:57 am

    Thank you for sharing these tips! I’ve been dragging my feet getting started, just because it’s one more thing to think about. You’ve remineded me it isn’t all that difficult to compost our kitchen waste. I’m getting started right away!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      March 11, 2015 at 10:30 am

      This method is really so easy and it all breaks down really quickly. i’ve been doing it for a few years now, and the soil in my veg beds is a really rich and dark and crumbly!

      Reply
  43. Stephanie says

    March 10, 2015 at 1:44 am

    My great-grandmother swore by all three of those! I remember being little and seeing banana peels and egg shells around her roses and never understood why. Now that I’m a gardener myself, I completely understand. We are currently working on composting this year to see how it goes! Good luck with the new growing season! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty!

    Reply
    • Sara says

      March 10, 2015 at 9:31 am

      Thanks for hosting and stopping by, my grandparents were the same! Now we know how wise they were 🙂

      Reply
      • Helen Hebert says

        June 21, 2015 at 11:31 am

        Thank you for all this good advice! I collect coffee from the individual cup that we use in the Keurig machine! Amazing how much I collect in a short time! I keep egg shells also and before shredding them I put them in my watering can and water my plants! Love all the great advice!
        Thank you for sharing!

        Reply
        • Jenny says

          January 9, 2017 at 6:20 pm

          You can get used grounds from Starbucks.
          They save them for composters and they are free!

          Reply

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  12. O jardineiro espeta garfos no solo. O motivo é incrível! – 1001 Ideias says:
    May 27, 2017 at 4:04 pm

    […] image: wholefoodhome.com […]

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  13. How To Handle A Missed Bill Payment For The Last Time : The Saturday Weekend Review #218 - Canadian Budget Binder says:
    April 8, 2017 at 12:08 pm

    […] you don’t have a compost heap Whole Home Garden says you can still improve your garden soil by saving […]

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  14. 50+ Creative Garden Hacks & Tips That Every Gardener Should Know – The Best Garden and Yard says:
    April 8, 2017 at 7:02 am

    […] Make the most of the food and drink we buy rather than throwing it away! Recycling kitchen waste directly in your soil is both frugal and environmentally friendly. Check out more details via wholefoodhome. […]

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  15. 30 Creative Gardening Ideas You Need To Know - Crafts Booming says:
    March 26, 2017 at 2:50 pm

    […] Decomposing food may not be great for humans, but it still has a lot of good to offer. You can easily use kitchen waste to improve the quality of your soil by mixing it in as it decomposes, so that the dirt absorbs the nutrients the food still holds. via wholefoodhome […]

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  16. Great Ideas That Every Gardening Lover Should Know - IdeaStand says:
    January 19, 2017 at 4:05 am

    […] Decomposing food may not be great for humans, but it still has a lot of good to offer. You can easily use kitchen waste to improve the quality of your soil by mixing it in as it decomposes, so that the dirt absorbs the nutrients the food still holds. source […]

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  17. Unique Garden Hacks and Tips says:
    January 14, 2017 at 12:46 pm

    […] Make the most of the food and drink we buy rather than throwing it away! Recycling kitchen waste directly in your soil is both frugal and environmentally friendly. Check out more details via wholefoodhome. […]

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  18. 7 DIY Gardening Solutions - Make Life Interesting And Enjoyable says:
    January 9, 2017 at 4:26 pm

    […] Tutorial: wholefoodhome.com […]

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  19. 18 Garden Hacks That Everyone Needs To Know, They'll Make Your Life A Way Easier! says:
    January 8, 2017 at 11:37 pm

    […] Tutorial: http://www.wholefoodhome.com […]

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  20. How To Use Up Your Leftovers - Whole Food Home says:
    October 7, 2016 at 10:36 am

    […] How To Improve Your Soil Without A Compost Heap – If you can’t eat it, or preserve then make it work for you in the garden. You can compost in a number of ways, there is a method to suit everyone. It reduces unpleasant household waste and builds lots of lovely organic matter in your soil. […]

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  21. Everything You Need For The Garden Is In Your Kitchen says:
    September 7, 2016 at 2:03 am

    […] Forget the compost bin! Adding banana skins to your soil will replenish necessary vitamins to help plants flourish, according to Whole Food Home. […]

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  22. How To Enhance Your Backyard Soil With out A Compost Heap – Entire Meals House – XmasGive.com – DIY & Home Decor Ideas says:
    September 4, 2016 at 7:35 pm

    […] Previous Previous post: Mason Jar Match Dispenser – DIY Craft’s House Decor Search for: […]

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  23. How To Improve Your Garden Soil Without A Compost Heap – Whole Food Home – XmasGive.com says:
    August 6, 2016 at 9:30 pm

    […] Previous Previous post: How To Build Your Own Pergola, 4 DIY Ideas and Tutorials | Handy & Home… Search for: […]

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  24. So Many Great Ideas That Every Gardening Lover Should Know - Noted List says:
    July 31, 2016 at 2:53 pm

    […] Decomposing food may not be great for humans, but it still has a lot of good to offer. You can easily use kitchen waste to improve the quality of your soil by mixing it in as it decomposes, so that the dirt absorbs the nutrients the food still holds. source […]

    Reply
  25. Elle plante des fourchettes de plastique dans son jardin, la raison est du pur génie! – BUZZic info says:
    July 13, 2016 at 3:01 pm

    […] (Crédit photo: Whole Food Home) […]

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  26. Elle plante des fourchettes de plastique dans son jardin, la raison est du pur génie! – My Blog says:
    July 8, 2016 at 4:27 am

    […] (Crédit photo: Whole Food Home) […]

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  27. Plantez un oeuf cru dans un pot à fleurs et voici l’incroyable says:
    June 4, 2016 at 12:13 pm

    […] la magnésium et le sodium. Ce sont là des nutriments important pour la santé des plantes.  Whole Food Home nous dit que la meilleur façon d’utiliser les pelures de bananes est de les couper en petits […]

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  28. Gardening Ideas On a Budget | Pioneer Settler says:
    May 23, 2016 at 7:01 am

    […] image via Whole Food Home […]

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  29. 10 Gardening Trends That Will Hit Big In 2016 says:
    May 17, 2016 at 6:03 am

    […] Via Whole Food Home […]

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  30. 11 Truques Originais Para Ajudar A Cuidar Do Jardim » Dicas da vida says:
    April 17, 2016 at 4:38 am

    […] image: wholefoodhome.com […]

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  31. Improve Gardening Without A Compost Heap – A Website For All The Ideas You Will Ever Need says:
    April 14, 2016 at 1:14 pm

    […] Alot of people dont have the room ar home for a compost heap as they do take up alot room. Well there is a solution to this probelm, gardening without a compost heap, its been proven compost is the best way to get the best grow but you can also do this without a compost heap. Take a look how to do this Improve Gardening Without A Compost Heap […]

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  32. She Places Plastic Forks In The Soil For An Incredible Reason I Wasn't Even Aware Of says:
    April 10, 2016 at 3:38 am

    […] Forget the compost bin! Adding banana skins to your soil will replenish necessary vitamins to help plants flourish, according to Whole Food Home. […]

    Reply
  33. She Places Plastic Forks In The Soil For An Incredible Reason I Wasn’t Aware Of | Various Things You Didn't Know says:
    April 6, 2016 at 8:50 am

    […] Forget the compost bin! Adding banana skins to your soil will replenish necessary vitamins to help plants flourish, according to Whole Food Home. […]

    Reply
  34. Pone tenedores de plástico en el jardín y consigue algo genial | Casas Increibles says:
    April 6, 2016 at 7:38 am

    […] Whole Food Home […]

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  35. 14 Amazing DIY Garden Ideas to Make Gardening Even More Fun says:
    April 5, 2016 at 2:19 am

    […] wholefoodhome.com […]

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  36. 5 Tips to Grow Your Perfect Garden - Coupon Connections says:
    March 15, 2016 at 1:30 am

    […] Photo: Whole Food Home […]

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  37. 28 Spring Garden Projects To Welcome A New Year says:
    March 8, 2016 at 8:44 pm

    […] Source […]

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  38. How To Improve Your Garden Soil Without A Compost Heap - More Feed says:
    March 7, 2016 at 2:32 am

    […] Source: wholefoodhome.com […]

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  39. How To Improve Your Garden Soil Without A Compost Heap | russell75walden says:
    January 27, 2016 at 2:48 pm

    […] Full Article : wholefoodhome […]

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  40. How To Improve Your Garden Soil Without A Compost Heap | diego75wise says:
    January 21, 2016 at 7:39 am

    […] Full Article : wholefoodhome […]

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  41. How To Improve Your Garden Soil Without A Compost Heap | brendadhollingsworth says:
    January 16, 2016 at 2:48 am

    […] See More :  http://wholefoodhome.com/how-to-improve-your-garden-soil-without-a-compost-heap-2/ […]

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  42. 35+ Simple and Cheap Garden Hacks That Every Gardener Should Know | WaaDIY says:
    January 13, 2016 at 4:02 am

    […] Make the most of the food and drink we buy rather than throwing it away! Recycling kitchen waste directly in your soil is both frugal and environmentally friendly. Check out more details via wholefoodhome. […]

    Reply
  43. 35+ Creative Garden Hacks & Tips That Every Gardener Should Know - Hative says:
    January 13, 2016 at 1:54 am

    […] Make the most of the food and drink we buy rather than throwing it away! Recycling kitchen waste directly in your soil is both frugal and environmentally friendly. Check out more details via wholefoodhome. […]

    Reply
  44. How To Improve Garden Soil Without A Compost Bin - Info You Should Know says:
    December 21, 2015 at 5:52 pm

    […] noobs what, compost bins are a pain in the ass and they smell like crap. Our friends over at “Whole Food Home” have given us some really great information to help anyone improve the quality of their soil […]

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  45. How To Improve Your Garden Soil Without A Compost Heap | micheal45steele says:
    November 21, 2015 at 2:07 am

    […] Full Article Here : wholefoodhome […]

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  46. Awesome Home Improvements You Never Knew Were Possible | John Abbott Channel says:
    November 20, 2015 at 3:06 am

    […] Read Related Article Here: How To Improve Your Garden Soil Without A Compost Heap […]

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  47. How To Improve Your Garden Soil Without A Compost Heap | malcolmmichaud says:
    October 31, 2015 at 11:14 pm

    […] Full Article Here:wholefoodhome […]

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  48. How To Improve Your Garden Soil Without A Compost Heap | brendadhollingsworth says:
    October 23, 2015 at 9:26 am

    […] Full Article: wholefoodhome […]

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  49. HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR GARDEN SOIL WITHOUT A COMPOST HEAP | Dexter McCoy says:
    October 15, 2015 at 9:50 am

    […] Read Full Article: How to Improve Garden Soil […]

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  50. Coffee Fest this Saturday at KakaakoFM! - FarmLovers Farmers' Markets says:
    September 30, 2015 at 4:14 am

    […]    recipe here Espresso Coconut Ice Cream      click for recipe click to learn […]

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  51. How To Improve Your Garden Soil Without A Compost Heap | merlinbyrne says:
    July 13, 2015 at 4:00 pm

    […] Read More: http://wholefoodhome.com/how-to-improve-your-garden-soil-without-a-compost-heap-2/ […]

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  52. How To Improve Your Garden Soil Without A Compost Heap – Whole Food Home | OneMomsTips says:
    July 12, 2015 at 3:35 pm

    […] How To Improve Your Garden Soil Without A Compost Heap – Whole Food Home. […]

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  53. Nature Around the Net says:
    May 30, 2015 at 12:24 pm

    […] – How to Improve Your Garden Soil Without a Compost Heap […]

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  54. How To Improve your Garden soil without a compost heap - An easy way to recycle kitchen waste directly in your soil. - DIY Craft's Home Decor says:
    May 18, 2015 at 8:37 pm

    […] Source: wholefoodhome.com […]

    Reply

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