Discard these 5 Food Waste Items in Your Backyard Garden:
Reducing waste and enriching your garden can be a brilliant eco-friendly solution! Many kitchen scraps can serve as fantastic additions to your garden instead of ending up in the trash. Michael Karapetian, from Earthday.org, emphasizes, "Food waste is a significant contributor to climate change – globally, about a third of our food is wasted. Composting helps reinforce vital nutrients like nitrogen and carbon directly back into the soil, rather than filling up landfill sites."
So, let's explore some kitchen scraps you can utilize for your garden's benefit.
Eggshells
Eggshells are a common household item you can add to your garden. Crushed eggshells distribute calcium, which contributes to plant growth and aids in preventing blossom end rot on tomatoes, as suggested by Michael Clarke, a horticulturalist and founder of Yardwork. Intriguingly, eggshells can also act as small planters for seeds and seedlings, making them a versatile garden ally!
Citrus Peels
Citrus peels are another composting gem. The leftovers from oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits add nutrients to soil while providing a natural deterrent against common garden pests like ants and aphids. As explained by Michael Karapetian, the high nitrogen content in orange peels enhances the soil – much better than sending them to the landfill!
Banana Peels
Banana peels are another kitchen scrap that can enrich your garden. These peels boast rich nutrients – calcium for root growth, magnesium for photosynthesis, and potassium to maintain plant vibrancy. By cutting up banana peels and digging them into the soil, you can help contribute to a healthier and more lush garden!
Vegetable Scraps
Cooking vegetables often leaves plenty of scraps that can be used for your garden. Peels from potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, and leftover greens from celery, lettuce, or herbs are all excellent additions to your compost. These organic materials rich in potassium and phosphorus break down quickly and decompose over time, contributing to a nutrient-rich soil.
Coffee Grounds
Coffee is another common household item that can be beneficial for your garden. Coffee grounds serve as a riches source of nitrogen, which helps decompose and improves soil structure. To add coffee grounds to your garden, you can sprinkle them around your plants, incorporating the grounds into the mulch to avoid creating unsightly piles.
Don't forget that not all kitchen scraps are beneficial to your garden. Meat, dairy, and fatty materials can attract pests and should be avoided in composting. Periodically assess your compost pile to ensure the balance between carbon-rich and nitrogen-rich materials is maintained, as suggested by composting experts.
By incorporating these kitchen scraps into your garden, you can conserve resources, reduce waste, and create a healthier environment for your plants.
- RealSimple suggests utilizing eggshells in gardening, as they provide calcium essential for plant growth and aid in preventing blossom end rot on tomatoes.
- Orange peels, a byproduct of citrus fruits, can be composted and contribute significantly to soil nutrients, acting as a natural deterrent against common garden pests like ants and aphids.
- Australians living in Germany, known as Aussiedlerbote, can use banana peels in their outdoor gardening, benefiting from their rich nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which enhance plant growth and vibrancy.
- Vegetable scraps, such as leftover carrot and potato peels, can be added to compost, breaking down quickly and providing a nutrient-rich soil boost due to their high potassium and phosphorus contents.
