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Coffee grounds make a great, nitrogen rich addition to your compost.

Most of the acid in coffee is removed in the brewing process. When combined with other composting materials, any residual acidity will be balanced out to neutral. However, you should limit coffee grounds to 25% total of your compost material (which is more than likely only a probably for cafes).

If you are not a coffee drinker yourself, you can always leave a bin for your co-workers to dump communal grounds into. Otherwise, try neighborhood cafes who in most cases would be happy to see their grounds put to greener use. Starbucks, in many areas, actually actively encourages customers to pick up used coffee grounds for the purpose of composting and will frequently advertize this project in the springtime.

You can separate the grounds for some light sprinkling around plants prior to watering. This produces the effect of releasing nitrogen at slow pace.

You can also mix in with the soil of houseplants and gardens.

Vermi-posters swear by coffee grounds, claiming worms adore them. Otherwise, you can simply add your grounds to your regular compost. Filters can be thrown in, too, as they breakdown fast in your compost.

For composting novices, here is a simple way to use waste as a rich fertilizer for your garden.

In a plastic or wooden bin, add leaves, deadheads, and other trimmings from your yard. Then add non-animal kitchen scraps and coffee grounds, and mix it up. Aerating your mixture, and keeping it moist, will help aid the decomposition process. You can also compost directly on the ground, provided you arerate the soil and remove the weeds first. Compost likes cool locations in hot climates, and well ventilated place in cooler locations. A layer of sticks or brush at the bottom will help to create better air circulation, providing pockets that react to your compost.

Depending on these conditions, and the overall size, your compost should be ready in a few months to a year.

Make sure to keep an eye on your compost while you wait for the treasure of rich soil to be produce. Stir, aerate, and make sure your compost doesn't get too hot (it can combust, and if near dry grasses or trees can start a fire).

Grass clippings can speed the process up, too, so feel free to dump them in every time you mow your lawn.

Above all, enjoy your compost project and feel proud of going green!

Learn more about this author, E.D. Cameron.
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