DIY Network

Unique Composting and Fertilizing Unique Composting and Fertilizing From "Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean" episode DQOC-108

Another way to be earth friendly is by making friends with red earthworms. Not only are the creatures beneficial in the garden compost, but they can also be used as an effective indoor compost bin. They have no odor and live on vegetable scraps.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Simply add vegetable peelings to a container of soil and worms (figure A). Allow the worms to digest the scraps completely before you refeed them. The castings made by the worms are an excellent additive for indoor and outdoor plants (figure B). The minerals in the castings have trace elements that are water soluble and easily taken up by the plants.

Fertilizers

Here are a few unexpected sources of nutrients for your plants:

• Water from cooked pasta is filled with nutrients and starch, making it a great additive for house plants (figure C).

• Used coffee grounds are high in nitrogen and can be worked into the soil around plants.

• Eggshells are high in sulfur. Crush and mix into soil around plants.

There are many environmentally friendly ways to take out the trash. Our planet and our backyard environment will benefit if we all do our part.