Reduce and reuse!
In Georgia, approximately 12% of municipal waste is food, although composting is an excellent way to reduce the amount of food sent to landfills, there are also a variety of ways to reduce and reuse food scraps for your garden! These only take a few minutes out of your day but can make a considerable change in your garden.
Examples of reused food scraps that are beneficial for for your garden:
- Coffee Grounds
If your morning routine begins with a warm cup of coffee, then you have got your first project. You can use the fresh coffee grounds as a direct fertilizer for your soil and they are mostly beneficial to plants that thrive in acidic soils like radishes or blueberries. - Banana Peels
Banana peels are an excellent source of minerals for your garden. An easy way to take advantage of their nutrient content is to make a tea. All you have to do is place your banana peel in a mason jar filled with water for 48 hours. After the 48 hours, remove the banana peel and cut it into small pieces. You can use the water left in the mason jar to spray your plants and the banana peel pieces can be mixed into your soil to keep aphids away! - Egg Shells
Crushed eggshells are a great source of calcium for your soil. if you have plants in pots or containers, you can add crushed eggshells to the bottom. Not only will they provide a crucial mineral to plants, but also keep slugs away. - Leftover Pasta Water
Pasta is full of carbohydrates and nutrients that your plants will find beneficial. The carbohydrates help with healthy bacterial and fungi growth in your soil while the nutrients will promote growth!
The list can go on and on, however with just these small steps you will be providing nutrients to your soil as well as reducing pests in your garden without the need of chemicals. Remember that a wholesome garden starts from the ground up. Reduce and reuse food scraps and use organic fertilizers to keep your soil healthy and your plants will thrive!
