To be honest you probably won’t find many Eco-warriors hanging around Starbucks drinking over priced coffees. But I’d like to try and make an important point if I make, about how we simply do not make enough use of the resources we have. There is a reason that probably one of the most important mantras of the ‘green’ movement is – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. It is important because if everyone applied this to their own lives it would have a simply stunning effect on the resources we use on this planet.
So what’s with this Starbucks example and how does it help my carnations?
The answer is simple – it lies in a waste product produced by any coffee shop – coffee grounds.
They are extremely rich in nitrogen and can provide a huge boost for any garden soil. Normally coffee is far too acidic to put on the soil but the brewing process actually removes this. In fact the coffee grounds are almost neutral having an average pH of about 6.9 depending on the type of beans used. They also have a carbon nitrogen ratio of about 20 – 1. 
You can apply these grounds directly to your garden but they are especially useful when put around nitrogen loving plants. There are many gardeners who suggest that using coffee grounds produces wonderful carrots, melons and vegetables too. In fact there won’t be a problem using on almost any plant in your garden as long as you don’t over do it.
Another use, although I have to admit I have never tried this is to use coffee grounds to deter slugs and snails. Many gardeners swear by this so it might be worth a try. The idea is though, coffee grounds sound like waste but in reality they have as much value to a gardener as buying an expensive bag of compost or fertilizer from your local garden center.
So save your coffee grounds, reuse them in your garden. Next time you’re having a coffee somewhere ask the proprietor what he does with his coffee grounds. If he throws them away remind him of the garden benefits, you could even suggest that he uses it as a promotional tool. Give away bags of used coffee grounds when you buy a coffee, should help attract more customers and help the environment too.
If you search around the internet you’ll find much, more detailed information on what sort of plants and vegetables benefit from the nitrogen high coffee grounds.
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