Nothing beats a fresh cup of coffee in the morning to start the day, but don’t forget to pour another cup for the plants.
Yes, plants need coffee just as much as people do. Believe it or not coffee helps grow healthier and more sustainable gardens.
Using coffee grounds as a source of fertilizer is a great way to organically substitute for other fertilizers that may contain chemicals, but it’s also just a great way to make use of a substance that would most likely just end up as waste in a landfill.
Georgia Southern Laboratory Supervisor, Andrew Michaud, has already taken note of using coffee grounds to help his garden flourish.
“ If you go outside to my garden it smells like Starbucks,” Michaud says.
Michaud collects up to 7 five-gallon buckets filled with used coffee grounds from the on-campus Starbucks every 2 to 3 weeks for his garden.
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| One of the buckets Michuad collects his grounds in. |
“ I’m 100 percent organic with my gardening, so I wanted to find something organic without any chemicals that would help my garden grow. I’ve researched different methods but using coffee grounds have been the most successful for my garden,” Michaud says.
Michaud is currently using the coffee to help grow his garden filled with: broccoli, purple cabbage, and Brussels sprouts.
With the soil in this region of Georgia being predominantly sandy and dry it makes it more difficult to garden since it doesn't hold nutrients very well. With organic materials, such as coffee grounds, it helps hold the nutrients for the plants are able to absorb it.
The nutrient profile of the coffee grounds lands on a 3 on the nitrogen scale, says Michaud, meaning it is higher in acidity. This helps break down nutrients for the plants faster and organically.
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| The Nitrogen Scale |
The benefits of using used coffee grounds are visible in the garden, but what might not be quite as visible is how much better it is for the environment.
Most non-organic fertilizers cause more damage to the environment that actually help plants, crops, and gardens.
Fertilizers can affect the environment through chemical runoff which leads to water pollution. It can also alter the true quality of the soil making it less fertile.
By using coffee grounds as a source of fertilizer and compost is not just putting more nutrients back into the environment, but prevents more waste to head to landfills.
So pour up fresh cup of coffee for to start the morning off right, but don't forget to pour another cup for the garden too.
For more information on how to brew your garden Click here
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