| My use of coffee grounds in three prime locations—the hot composter, the wormeries, and the bokashi units-is not just a personal choice. It’s a conscious effort to recycle an ingredient that might otherwise end up in a landfill, contributing to a more sustainable environment. By using coffee grounds, we are not only enriching our soil but also reducing waste and making a significant environmental impact. I’m aware that some gardeners use them for the nutrients and pest-control abilities they possess, but for me, it’s a fabulous way of reducing waste and enriching the soil. I’ll cover all avenues here – however, l’ll start with my uses. 1] Composting Ingredient If you add too many coffee grounds to your compost pile, you could risk making the heap too acidic; however, if you work on adding around 15% coffee grounds to the mix, this would make for a nice nitrogen insertion. Whilst coffee grounds aren’t directly acidic, it would help if you exercise caution with the balance. Remember, it is classed as a green material. If you work with layers when creating compost, think of it like this: layer one is green waste, layer 2 is brown waste—leaves or shredded paper—and layer 3 is coffee grounds. Think in thirds. Coffee grounds hold around 1.5% nitrogen and are classed in compost as green material. Many composters have also suggested that adding coffee grounds to kitchen waste in the compost pile increases the overall nutrient content compared to simply having kitchen and garden waste. Adding coffee grounds can also help increase the heat of a hot compost pile and sustain higher temperatures for longer. Coffee grounds keep the heat longer than some manures do. I know this firsthand. Last winter, I added a slightly off and out-of-date tin of coffee to the compost pile, and the heat was impressive. Coffee grounds will take roughly a month to break down in the compost pile, but it will take a couple of weeks or turns if you run a hot compost pile compared to a warm compost pile. 2] Feeding the Wormeries Not everyone loves coffee grounds; slugs and snails might give different answers on opinion surveys, but strangely enough, earthworms seem addicted to caffeine! Like anything new in the feeding regime, introduce it slowly so the worm farm residents can acclimate to it. Some worm farmers rate the grounds so highly they use them as worm chow treats! I plan to sprinkle the grounds above the surface of the farms when I feed. 3] Adding to the bokashi bin I run five bokashi units here. Two neighbours give me their food waste weekly, in addition to the kitchen waste produced here at home. I fill a bokashi bin once every ten days. I use bokashi juice or tea as liquid fertiliser, drain unblockers, or compost accelerators. I add a bit of fermented waste to the compost once every five turns or fifteen days. So, any surplus coffee grounds I have that are not being sprinkled into the worm farms as a feeding treat or added as a third layer to the compost heap will be placed into the bokashi unit. Here, they will be treated like any other waste commodity, covered with bran, and allowed to brew and ferment. This process is crucial for the breakdown of the coffee grounds and their transformation into a nutrient-rich compost, a knowledge that makes us resourceful gardeners. The first three are my main uses for the grounds, but their versatility doesn’t end there. For those interested, there are numerous other creative uses waiting to be explored, making coffee grounds a truly versatile and inspiring resource for sustainable gardening. The possibilities are endless, and it’s this versatility that inspires us to think creatively in our gardening practices. 4] Gardening Coffee grounds can be used as mulch, a practice that offers several benefits. When spread thinly, coffee grounds can help retain moisture in the soil, suppress weed growth, and provide a steady release of nutrients as they decompose. Additionally, the introduction of coffee grounds as mulch can encourage earthworms to the surface, which will consume and burrow down, aerating the soil and improving its structure. The soil’s microorganisms will also break down the grounds, further enriching the soil. This method not only conserves water but also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, making it an eco-friendly gardening practice. Coffee grounds are an excellent deterrent for slugs and snails. Recent studies have examined the toxicity of caffeine to them. Thin layering only; otherwise, the grounds will set like concrete, removing the ground’s ability to breathe in oxygen and not allowing water to seep in. Too much of a good thing will cause issues, so think of sprinkling around a half inch on the soil. Coffee grounds will not destabilise the PH of your soil as they neutralise as they decompose. The other bonus is that you can also compost the paper coffee filters, strip them up, shred them, and add them to the bokashi or your worm farm. You could always try growing mushrooms on coffee grounds if none of the above appeals. Coffee grounds are considered an ideal growing medium for what many think is challenging when growing fungi. To do this, you can mix the coffee grounds with mushroom spores and keep them in a dark, moist environment. This method not only recycles the coffee grounds but also provides a unique and sustainable way to grow your own mushrooms at home. It’s versatile in my books and packed with benefits, too. |
Maximizing Coffee Grounds: Composting, Feeding Wormeries & Bokashi
Earthly Comforts 
Great information, Rory! Thank you for sharing.
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Pleasure Betty 🙂
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😊
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