GARDEN HOTLINE | The java garden: Repurposing your coffee

In our damp corner of the world, coffee flows much like the rain from the lingering clouds. But after the morning cup is done, what to do with all of your leftover coffee paraphernalia? 

Burlap, coffee grounds, used coffee filters and even old mugs are major outputs that can be reused to benefit your garden and so much more. Take advantage of the wealth and reuse, reuse, reuse!

Coffee grounds  

A rich source of nitrogen, coffee grounds are a great addition to your garden to build soil and feed your plants and seed starts. Their pH is essentially neutral — usually between 6.5 and 6.8 — so you can use them on any area of your landscape, especially your vegetable plot. 

If you raise red wigglers in a worm bin, rest assured that your vermicomposting friends absolutely adore coffee grounds. Yum! Plus, mixing in the grounds helps neutralize odors, which, in turn, will keep the fruit flies at bay. 

Because of the high nitrogen content, consider coffee grounds a “green” material for the compost pile, much like grass clippings or manure. You will need to add a carbon-rich material such as dried leaves, cut-up twigs and the like to balance out decomposition and make for efficient, less-stinky compost!

Thanks to their rough texture, coffee grounds sprinkled thickly around the base of your vegetables can be a helpful line of defense against slugs and snails. Increase the efficacy by mixing grounds with crushed eggshells. Cats also don’t often appreciate the aroma and texture of coffee grounds, so sprinkle liberally in feline-prone beds.

Other than in the garden, here are some other create ways to use coffee grounds, according to Jennifer Stimpson, in This Old House magazine:

•Deodorize your fridge;

•Clean tools and dishware;

•Hide dark-wood furniture scratches;

•Give paper an antique look;

•Exfoliate hands when washing, especially after cooking with aromatic ingredients, like fish or garlic; and

•Reduce dust from fireplace ash.

Burlap

Made from skin of the jute plant and other vegetable fibers, burlap is a biodegradable fabric and makes a great mulch for the garden. 

There’s no need to pull it up each time to plant, either! Simply cut holes in the fabric where a new plant is going to be placed. 

Put your fall vegetable garden to bed by either covering the area with leaves and laying a thick layer of burlap on top or by stuffing burlap with leaves or disease-free plant material and laying the bags on the bare soil. This will help prevent weeds from popping up and keep the area from turning into a muddy mess. 

In the spring, burlap spread as a mulch directly upon the soil surface will keep moisture in the soil and help keep weeds down. 

These rough brown bags can also be used to craft a temporary vertical garden. Consider filling with potting soil and planting directly in the top. Perhaps even cut holes in the sides for small annuals to fill out. Of course, because burlap is biodegradable, try not to get too attached to your quaint pocket of flowers.

Potatoes are especially fun to grow in burlap bags. Start by filling the bag a foot-or-so deep with potting soil, rolling the top of the bag down to that your potatoes can photosynthesize. As the potato greens get taller, roll up the burlap and add more soil on top. Repeat until the bag is unrolled completely and full of soil. Throughout the summer, you can cut holes in the bottom of the bag to harvest “new” potatoes, or wait until the plant has died completely back to slice the bag open and easily gather your tubers.

Burlap bags can also be dried and made into all kinds of useful materials. How about a handmade farmer’s market bag or a Christmas wreath? Search “burlap crafts” on Pinterest.com to find a crafty idea that suits your needs.

Coffee filters

Other than composting, used filters can be rinsed, dried and reused for a number of purposes, from DIY crafts to household cleaning. Here are a few ideas from Becky Striepe at www.care2.com to whet your palate:

•Make coffee-filter flowers;

•Polish shoes;

•Assemble a mini notebook;

•Make tea bags for loose-leaf tea;

•Use as cupcake liners;

•Make a sachet;

•Make a spice bouquet for soups;

•Dust glass;

•Make oil blotters for facial skin; and

•Protect breakables when packing.

Well-loved coffee mugs

You’ve sipped from that one special, sardonic coffee mug every day since college, until yesterday it slipped and broke in the sink. Or maybe it’s been loved for so long that cracks are developing along the inside. You just can’t bear to throw it in the garbage! Never fear: Try planting succulents. A handful of potting soil and a scattering of Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum spp.) and it becomes a low-maintenance potted planter for your coffee table. 

You might also use the mug to store blank plant tags to label your seedlings. And don’t forget the black Sharpie pen! 

Or, if it has a handle, you could even use the mug to scoop potting soil out of the bag.

Valve bags

Reuse coffee bags with sealable valves for your garden seeds. Valve bags are designed to keep air out so they make perfect bags to store seeds. Well, coffee beans are seeds aren’t they? 

Collect and dry garden seeds per your favorite seed-saving resource, pour them into valve bags and store in the freezer over winter. Thaw seeds just before use to prevent moisture condensing on seeds.

For more information about recycling and reusing coffee-related items in the garden, call the Garden Hotline at (206) 633-0224 or submit your question at www.gardenhotline.org. 

MELISSA McGINN answers the Garden Hotline for Seattle Tilth (www.SeattleTilth.org).