Coffee is good to drink, but coffee grounds and the skins that come from roasting coffee can also be used in your own garden or in flower plantings on your balcony. Here is a compilation of a few different uses!
Let's give the floor to Greenhome's gardener Eija Johansson :
Used coffee grounds
Did you know that you can use used coffee grounds in the garden?
They act as a good soil conditioner. When they decompose, they turn into humus and release minerals and nutrients into the soil, which increases the fertility of the soil.
Coffee grounds are suitable in moderate amounts for all plants, including vegetable soil. Coffee grounds have a slight acidifying effect, so this is a good idea to consider if spreading larger amounts of coffee grounds in the garden.
They are therefore especially suitable for plants that thrive in acidic conditions, such as peonies, hydrangeas and rhododendrons.
Another bonus is that no protective equipment is needed when applying these, and when handling coffee grounds, the gardener also gets a nourishing hand scrub at the same time.
Coffee has also been used as a spray to control snails, so coffee grounds can be used instead of a ready-made coffee drink for the same purpose.
Coffee bean chaff as a soil conditioner
In Lehmus Roastery's production, a thin skin, known as chaff, is removed from the surface of the coffee during roasting. It also works well in the garden as a soil conditioner when mixed with soil. In this case, it improves the composition and airiness of the soil.
Chaff can also be used for mulching plants, as it binds moisture and seems to keep pests, such as snails, at bay.
Chaff, or the outer skin of a coffee bean, as a covering
Chaff is light and easy to handle. Lehmus Roastery's new bark sacks include a jute sack, a sturdy waste sack, and a bag of chaff.
Spread the bark evenly over the desired area in a layer of a few centimeters. Water the covered area thoroughly so that the light bark binds better to the soil.
Jute sack as a cover or as a styling tool when planted
Lehmus Roastery roasts nearly a thousand bags of coffee annually. Jute bags are an important part of the economy of coffee-producing countries, as they cannot be reused. On the other hand, the production of coffee bags often supports women's employment in coffee-producing countries.
Jute bags can be used with planter bags, for example: pull a jute bag over a plastic planter and you'll make your neighbors jealous.
Jute sacks work like chaff as a cover, especially when you need to cover larger areas. They also work great in the garden, for example as a cover for newly planted apple trees or similar young trees that need watering. The jute sack binds moisture and prevents moisture from evaporating from the roots of the tree on a hot day. The jute sack also blocks the growth of weeds in the basin.
Why does this matter?
Although the side streams generated by Lehmus Roastery's production are relatively small on a global scale, every act that helps nature and the climate matters. By continuing to use the bark, we can extend the life cycle of this part of the production, which we consider a by-product, continue its carbon sequestration, and in this respect do not have to release carbon into the atmosphere.
In addition, the husk contains at least some nitrogen, and if the husk is used instead of purchased fertilizer or mulch, we also save on the need for new production. The same applies to the continued use of jute bags: if jute bags can be used to avoid buying mulch, we will participate more strongly in the circular economy in this regard as well. It is also a good idea to reuse the strong garbage bags used to protect the beans, for example, for transporting garden waste, so there is no need to buy new garbage bags.
Buy coffee husk sacks for pickup (including a jute sack, a strong garbage bag approx. 150l and a bag of chaff (approx. 70l or approx. 3 kg) or just jute sacks from Lehmus Roastery's online store.
Text: Eija Johansson
Photos: Arttu Muukkonen