I don't compost, but I do keep my eggshells and once I have a big pile full I put them in the blender….
…and turn them into powder to spread out in the garden.
If you try this, be forewarned...
…you will have egg dust comin' at you when you remove the lid...
…and it really doesn't smell that pleasant.
Do you put anything in your garden such as
eggshells, leaves, or coffee grounds to help the soil?
eggshells, leaves, or coffee grounds to help the soil?
I now have a compost bin! I am so excited by it - egg shells, raw kitchen waste and leaves go into it. I have wanted one for ages and it is part of my vegetable growing plan.
ReplyDeletePerhaps I am odd for being excited by compost!!
We put our eggshells in the garden, too. Do you dry yours in the oven first or just let them dry naturally? This year we put straw down in our garden. It made a huge difference in weed control and keeping the roots cool and moist. At the end of the season, my husband just tilled it under. It will provide more organic matter as it decomposes this winter. I'd love to start composting, but we don't really have a place for that at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI save my eggshells and bake them for about 20 minutes, then rough crush them and they get fed to the chickens. This helps in the development of hard shells.
ReplyDeleteCool. I just put them in the compost. But this works, too.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from the Barn Hop. How wonderful! I tried to compost the shells once but they didn't break down. Grinding them in the blender - brilliant! Thank you for sharing. I am definitely going to try this. I always feel guilty putting them in the garbage disposal, as I was always certain there must be some use for the.
ReplyDeleteI've never thought about putting them in the oven. I usually just keep a plate or a zip lock bag in the kitchen with the shells and they dry out naturally.
ReplyDeletehuh. Good to know!!! I've never thought of putting them directly in the garden.
ReplyDeleteI save mine up in a paper bag, then crush them in the bag. The multiple sizes, in theory, help them function in a time release manner....otherwise, it will all wash away at the same time.
ReplyDeleteHmm..that makes sense. I wonder though if it doesn't rain won't the powder have time to seep into the soil?
ReplyDeleteWhen you boil your eggs throw the cooking water into your garden too! The calcium from the shells leeches into the water so its all infused and awesome for your plants!
ReplyDeleteAwesome tip! What about potato water?
ReplyDeleteGreat tip! I already knew the egg water, never thought about the shells though. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI am your newest GFC folloer. I have never put them in my garden before, but extra calcium is good anywhere. We have very poor soil.I am trying to add all my compost to the are I want to use as a garden this coming spring. I am laying down newspapers for a weed barrier and soon to lay down some hay for added nutrients. I didn't do anything last year and I didn't have a very healthy garden. We will try round two this spring.
ReplyDeleteAmy @ Pounds4Pennies
Never thought about using the blender...! We keep a bucket (with a lid) on the kitchen counter, and all our compostable material goes in it. When it's full, I add a little water, crush it all up and stir at the same time with a potato masher, and tell the kids to take it directly to the fallow garden. We pile it in one spot for a bit, and then after several weeks choose a new spot. Works for us b/c we aren't consistent enough with regularly turning a compost bin, but we will work/prepare our soil in the spring and mix all that matter in!
ReplyDeleteI have used eggshells is 3 ways: crushed and fed to my chickens (too little and soft eggs, too much and eggs that are hard to crack), in between chicken feeding I top dress the garden with them (the slugs are not crazy about crawling over sharp objects but they do disappear, the birds also like them) and into the compost (no they don't compost fast but they do leach clacium into the soil which is good).
ReplyDeleteWe feed our egg shells back to our chickens to help the production of the forthcoming eggs! LOL. Years ago before we had chickens, we too would do like you, feed the to our garden!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
This past winter I've been feeding them to my dog--- the calcium really helps in his diet. But when the spring comes I am happy to start adding them to my garden... love all the tips!
ReplyDeleteHi! I stumbled onto your site via a friend. I'm so glad to know I am not alone. My fam can eat a dozen eggs a day. I'm saving the powdered egg shells for the garden. I also sprinkle it lightly in my worm compost as it stimulate reproduction. So many egg shells and so much calcium! I also keep left-over coffee grounds for the garden.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you do this too! Well, I don't garden, but we have our own chickens and it is recommended to crush the shells and mix them back into their feed, to keep their calcium levels healthy. We've been doing this for a while, and our hens lay the thickest shelled eggs you've ever had to crack through, I guess that means they are healthy, right?
ReplyDeleteI have used eggs in compost for many years, though I haven't composted in awhile, been moving so much didn't seem practical. But I put my used teabags (plain natural tea, no additives) in my planters and have had fantastic results. Sometimes when I think a seed hasn't taken, will put a teabag on top of it and water through it. Works wonders.
ReplyDeleteAny time I boil veggies, I let the water cool, then pour that water on the veggie or flower garden. There are still nutrients in the water that are beneficial as well.
ReplyDelete