Free compost material

Tetsuko

This might have been posted before but as the nice weather for gardening slowly approaches I thought it might be worth mentioning for people who might not know.

Starbucks coffee shops give their old coffee grounds away for people to use on their gardens/compost heaps. It's high in nitrogen apparently.

http://starbucks.co.uk/en-GB/_Our+Stores/_Community+Programs/Grounds+For+Your+Garden.htm

In our local they put them in bags by the doorway so you can just help yourself on the way out. If they don't put it outside your store it's probably still worth asking

Thought it would be good to tell people who might not know about it. I know not everyone visits Starbucks for ethical reasons but I think its good that they give these away rather than just bin it all.

upferret

Also If anyone is in the greater manchester area who wants a huge amount of horse manure free, let me know! Anyone who wants to come and fill their trailers from the muck heap is very welcome.

judderman

Perhaps this would be better off in the greenfingered board??

Tetsuko

But then it might only get seen by people who specifically use that board

gazhawkins

Very shrewd - must save starbucks a small fortune in landfill costs.

newmommyjen

This was meantioned last year.


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=206846&highlight=starbucks
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=264119&highlight=starbucks

newmommyjen

"" Grounds for Your Garden

Coffee grounds can provide a valuable source of nutrition for your garden.

Let Starbucks help your garden grow Coffee grounds can provide a valuable source of nutrition for your garden if used properly. The proper amount to be used depends on the condition of the soil and, more specifically, what you are growing in your garden. Check with your local gardening expert to see what is best for your situation. Here are a few general tips.


Applying coffee grounds directly in the garden Coffee grounds can be applied along with other materials as a side dressing for vegetables, roses, and other plants. Coffee grounds are high in nitrogen, but are also acidic. Adding brown material such as leaves and dried grass to the mulch will help keep a balanced soil pH.

Mixing coffee grounds in your compost Coffee grounds act as a green material with a carbon-nitrogen (C-N) ratio of 20-1. They make an excellent addition to your compost. Combined with browns such as leaves and straw, coffee grounds generate heat and will speed up the composting process.

Using coffee grounds in a worm bin: Worms fed with coffee grounds combined with other materials will flourish.""

Footpather

Have also heard that slugs and snails don't like it so may help to ward of the little beggars!

granretire

The Starbucks in Birmingham and Solihull tell me that no one wants the coffee grouts now and they have stopped saving them When I ask they empty the machine specially for me. It often doesn't contain much. I also asked in Costas. They told me to ask near close of business and I could have it then as it was just thrown away

Busybody

upferret wrote:

Also If anyone is in the greater manchester area who wants a huge amount of horse manure free, let me know! Anyone who wants to come and fill their trailers from the muck heap is very welcome.

I live in Hazel Grove Stockport are you anywhere near there?;)

Tetsuko

Footpather wrote:

Have also heard that slugs and snails don't like it so may help to ward of the little beggars!

Oh I soooooo hope that is true. Since moving about ten years ago I haven't been able to grow much here without the slimey devils eating everything. Even having a pond full of frogs doesn't seem to help. I notice the snails never help me out by eating the weeds though