If you're in the backwoods, far far away from nosty neighbors and asshole HOA types, you can do this and make cheddar off some natural charcoal
~Living Off The Land/Werk thee ground - Tools & Tips~
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Great thread, OP
Here's how to make a rolling egg factory. Spread fertilizer around, trim grass, and get eggs. All at once!
Here's how to make a rolling egg factory. Spread fertilizer around, trim grass, and get eggs. All at once!
gasoline and fumes the difference - YouTube
Published on Mar 28, 2012engines were not made to run on liquid gasoline what a waste, converted my other lawn morrow over to vapor and cut my lawn on about 5 cents worth of gas
Published on Mar 28, 2012engines were not made to run on liquid gasoline what a waste, converted my other lawn morrow over to vapor and cut my lawn on about 5 cents worth of gas
Short-On-Space Potato Growing Tips
100 Pounds Of Potatoes In 4 Square Feet!
Small space gardening is both efficient and convenient.
Being able to produce food without a large area is a truly useful skill for any urban homesteader.
Learn how to grow 100 pounds of potatoes in 4 square feet with these easy, cheap potato boxes.
Read on and think about all the great food you could make with the pounds of potatoes you’ll grow using this easy tip. If you’re short on space, these potato growing tips are all you need.
Supplies:
6 2×6″ boards, 8 ft long
1 2×2″ board, 12 ft long
96 2 and 1/2″ wood screws
How To Build The Potato Box:
The first step is cutting the 2×2 inches board into pieces of 33 inches in length; four pieces will be enough. Then, take the 2×6 boards and cut those into 12 lengths of 21inches and 12 lengths of 24 inches. Make some screw holes in these and attach the bottom row on the 2×2 boards. Place this part of the vertical garden over the soil, fill with mulch and plant potatoes about 4 inches deep. Remember that each layer which you plant must have its sides boarded up. Now, let them grow a bit. When the vines reach some 12 inches above the soil, it’s time to add another set of boards and fill the space with dirt. Make sure you don’t cover more than a third of the plant. Do the same for each layer until you finish the box. In order to harvest your potatoes, take out the screws from the bottom board. With your hands reach in the box and grab your potatoes. Replace boards and soil and the layer is good to go again. After the necessary time, remove the second board and have yourself a handful of potatoes. Read some more off the internet about planting potatoes to make sure you do it right.
100 Pounds Of Potatoes In 4 Square Feet!
Small space gardening is both efficient and convenient.
Being able to produce food without a large area is a truly useful skill for any urban homesteader.
Learn how to grow 100 pounds of potatoes in 4 square feet with these easy, cheap potato boxes.
Read on and think about all the great food you could make with the pounds of potatoes you’ll grow using this easy tip. If you’re short on space, these potato growing tips are all you need.
Supplies:
6 2×6″ boards, 8 ft long
1 2×2″ board, 12 ft long
96 2 and 1/2″ wood screws
How To Build The Potato Box:
The first step is cutting the 2×2 inches board into pieces of 33 inches in length; four pieces will be enough. Then, take the 2×6 boards and cut those into 12 lengths of 21inches and 12 lengths of 24 inches. Make some screw holes in these and attach the bottom row on the 2×2 boards. Place this part of the vertical garden over the soil, fill with mulch and plant potatoes about 4 inches deep. Remember that each layer which you plant must have its sides boarded up. Now, let them grow a bit. When the vines reach some 12 inches above the soil, it’s time to add another set of boards and fill the space with dirt. Make sure you don’t cover more than a third of the plant. Do the same for each layer until you finish the box. In order to harvest your potatoes, take out the screws from the bottom board. With your hands reach in the box and grab your potatoes. Replace boards and soil and the layer is good to go again. After the necessary time, remove the second board and have yourself a handful of potatoes. Read some more off the internet about planting potatoes to make sure you do it right.
The Groundfridge: the best solution for off-grid food storage
Posted 1 days ago by designer
Nowadays people have become overly dependent on modern appliances and would probably find it hard to imagine that they can refrigerate food and beverages without any electrical power. Floris Schoonderbeek is a designer and entrepreneur originally from the Netherlands. He developed the Groundfridge which is an underground storage unit under his brand Weltevree. This brand also sells outdoor products such as ovens, hot tubs, and furniture.
There is an article published in The Contemporist website which gives more details about the spherically-shaped cooling unit. The whole design was inspired by the root cellar, being isolated underground, where the groundwater provides a cooling effect. The underground storage is insulated with 3.5 foot layer of excavated soil, keeping the constant annual temperature between 10 and 12° C. Basically, it’s the perfect environment to store food and beverages, keeping them fresh and healthy on the wooden shelves. Another advantage is related to its volume, which is equal to twenty conventional fridges. Actually, the Groundfridge has been nominated for the Dutch Design Award in 2015, a confirmation of its quality and usefulness.
Check out the video bellow to find more about this awesome design.
Posted 1 days ago by designer
Nowadays people have become overly dependent on modern appliances and would probably find it hard to imagine that they can refrigerate food and beverages without any electrical power. Floris Schoonderbeek is a designer and entrepreneur originally from the Netherlands. He developed the Groundfridge which is an underground storage unit under his brand Weltevree. This brand also sells outdoor products such as ovens, hot tubs, and furniture.
There is an article published in The Contemporist website which gives more details about the spherically-shaped cooling unit. The whole design was inspired by the root cellar, being isolated underground, where the groundwater provides a cooling effect. The underground storage is insulated with 3.5 foot layer of excavated soil, keeping the constant annual temperature between 10 and 12° C. Basically, it’s the perfect environment to store food and beverages, keeping them fresh and healthy on the wooden shelves. Another advantage is related to its volume, which is equal to twenty conventional fridges. Actually, the Groundfridge has been nominated for the Dutch Design Award in 2015, a confirmation of its quality and usefulness.
Check out the video bellow to find more about this awesome design.
DIY Trellis & Raised Garden Box Combo
Posted 4 days ago by designer
Most of the times people are discouraged from growing their own garden because of the size of their yard. This definitely shouldn’t be a setback. On the contrary! The solutions available for a person who has a small outdoor space but a big determination to grow a garden are plenty. One of these solutions is embodied by trellis and raised garden box combo. The method suggested thoroughly in the next webpage has proved efficient, particularly for vegetables that climb, like cucumber, green beans, tomatoes. Unlike a large open-spaced garden, the combination we suggest has the great advantage that it allows you more harvest with less effort. You pick vegetables from outside and inside the trellis, easily visible through the system installed. Gather the following materials: nine pieces of 2″ by 8″ by 8′ Douglas Fir Timber, two pieces of 4′ by 16′ Cattle Farm Panels, some U-Nails, star bit and deck screws. Grab a hammer, drill, circular saw and roll up your sleeves. Follow the instructions provided and build that garden you always wanted.
Posted 4 days ago by designer
Most of the times people are discouraged from growing their own garden because of the size of their yard. This definitely shouldn’t be a setback. On the contrary! The solutions available for a person who has a small outdoor space but a big determination to grow a garden are plenty. One of these solutions is embodied by trellis and raised garden box combo. The method suggested thoroughly in the next webpage has proved efficient, particularly for vegetables that climb, like cucumber, green beans, tomatoes. Unlike a large open-spaced garden, the combination we suggest has the great advantage that it allows you more harvest with less effort. You pick vegetables from outside and inside the trellis, easily visible through the system installed. Gather the following materials: nine pieces of 2″ by 8″ by 8′ Douglas Fir Timber, two pieces of 4′ by 16′ Cattle Farm Panels, some U-Nails, star bit and deck screws. Grab a hammer, drill, circular saw and roll up your sleeves. Follow the instructions provided and build that garden you always wanted.
How to make a Trellis & Raised Garden Box Combo
January 14, 2016 • By DaNelle Wolford
Garden trellises.
They’re the stuff of dreams, man.
Well, gardener dreams at least.
A few days ago I woke up with a plan. And like normal, I gathered the family into the living room and presented my case for that day’s spontaneous project, complete with sketches.
They weren’t impressed. At first.
But as soon as we got to work, they realized this was a really EASY and FUN project and it would solve a lot of problems for us in our garden space.
See? Mom knows what’s up.
The biggest culprit in our garden is the abundance of bermuda grass that infiltrates the north side each summer. We live in Arizona and we water our entire acre of land with irrigated water that comes out from the canal at the back of the property.
It’s a great, cheap resource for us here in the desert. But it also brings in a lot of weeds and makes our bermuda grow like, well, a weed. (Bermuda is actually a weed instead of a grass.)
I always hesitated putting a large raised garden box in this area because I just knew the influx of bermuda would take over each year and cause mayhem. Even black fabric isn’t enough to stop it.
I needed a growing area that would stay primarily off the ground.
And this trellis & raised garden box combo is just the solution for us!
We only will have to water in the raised box area and as long as we don’t water too far down those boxes, it shouldn’t be a water source for the bermuda.
We also plan on packing a good foot of leaves and wood chips around the arch to keep the bermuda at bay.
Plus, it’s purdy. (Psst, that’s farm talk for pretty)
And for a gardener, that’s important!
Trellis & Raised Garden Box Combo
Step 1) Gather your supplies
The overall size of the structure is 57 inches wide x 8ft 2 inches long x 6ft 4 inches tall
The size of each box is 1 ft wide x 8 ft 2 inches long
Step 2) Cut and drill pilot holes in the short end of the boxes.
Since the boxes are double-deep, this means you’ll be making FOUR boxes, TWO on each side.
Take one (2inx8inx8ft) plank of wood, and cut it into 1 ft. sections. This will give you all the short ends you need for each of the boxes.
Next, mark the holes and drill pilot holes with the 1/8th inch drill bit into the ends of each 1 ft. section.
(TIP: This is a great job for kids!)
Step 3) Put together your raised garden boxes
Using the star bit and wood deck screws, go ahead and screw your boxes together!
You’ll be making FOUR boxes total, TWO on each side.
Step 4) Stack the boxes and attach them to each other
Stack one box on top of another and attach. Do the same to the other side.
The easiest way to do this is to drill a screw at an angle hitting each box.
Step 5) Bend the cattle panels into an arched trellis.
We found the best way to bend these 4 gauge cattle panels is to grab a log or a piece of wood and hold that down as you bend it over.
Step 6) Now it’s time to attach the trellis to the raised garden boxes
We used u-nails and a hammer and tacked the trellis easily to the raised garden boxes.
NOTE: We placed the trellis about 4 inches below the top of the boxes because we had our cattle panels cut to 12 feet long. If you left them at 16 feet, you can attach them at the bottom of the boxes.
Whew! Not too bad, right?
Okay family, you can take a break now.
That is, until my next project…
January 14, 2016 • By DaNelle Wolford
Garden trellises.
They’re the stuff of dreams, man.
Well, gardener dreams at least.
A few days ago I woke up with a plan. And like normal, I gathered the family into the living room and presented my case for that day’s spontaneous project, complete with sketches.
They weren’t impressed. At first.
But as soon as we got to work, they realized this was a really EASY and FUN project and it would solve a lot of problems for us in our garden space.
See? Mom knows what’s up.
The biggest culprit in our garden is the abundance of bermuda grass that infiltrates the north side each summer. We live in Arizona and we water our entire acre of land with irrigated water that comes out from the canal at the back of the property.
It’s a great, cheap resource for us here in the desert. But it also brings in a lot of weeds and makes our bermuda grow like, well, a weed. (Bermuda is actually a weed instead of a grass.)
I always hesitated putting a large raised garden box in this area because I just knew the influx of bermuda would take over each year and cause mayhem. Even black fabric isn’t enough to stop it.
I needed a growing area that would stay primarily off the ground.
And this trellis & raised garden box combo is just the solution for us!
We only will have to water in the raised box area and as long as we don’t water too far down those boxes, it shouldn’t be a water source for the bermuda.
We also plan on packing a good foot of leaves and wood chips around the arch to keep the bermuda at bay.
Plus, it’s purdy. (Psst, that’s farm talk for pretty)
And for a gardener, that’s important!
Trellis & Raised Garden Box Combo
Step 1) Gather your supplies
The overall size of the structure is 57 inches wide x 8ft 2 inches long x 6ft 4 inches tall
The size of each box is 1 ft wide x 8 ft 2 inches long
- 9 (2inx8inx8ft) planks of wood. We like to use Douglas Fir wood for our raised garden boxes. You can read more about the best material recommended for raised garden boxes here.
- Star bit (where to buy) and accompanying deck wood screws (where to buy)
(We like using the star bit, it makes it a lot easier to drill) - 1/8th inch drill bit (where to buy)
- 2 (4ftx16ft) cattle farm panels (where to buy) – we had them cut to 12 ft. long, but later on we realized we could have kept them the full length and attached them to the bottom of the boxes instead of at the top.
Step 2) Cut and drill pilot holes in the short end of the boxes.
Since the boxes are double-deep, this means you’ll be making FOUR boxes, TWO on each side.
Take one (2inx8inx8ft) plank of wood, and cut it into 1 ft. sections. This will give you all the short ends you need for each of the boxes.
Next, mark the holes and drill pilot holes with the 1/8th inch drill bit into the ends of each 1 ft. section.
(TIP: This is a great job for kids!)
Step 3) Put together your raised garden boxes
Using the star bit and wood deck screws, go ahead and screw your boxes together!
You’ll be making FOUR boxes total, TWO on each side.
Step 4) Stack the boxes and attach them to each other
Stack one box on top of another and attach. Do the same to the other side.
The easiest way to do this is to drill a screw at an angle hitting each box.
Step 5) Bend the cattle panels into an arched trellis.
We found the best way to bend these 4 gauge cattle panels is to grab a log or a piece of wood and hold that down as you bend it over.
Step 6) Now it’s time to attach the trellis to the raised garden boxes
We used u-nails and a hammer and tacked the trellis easily to the raised garden boxes.
NOTE: We placed the trellis about 4 inches below the top of the boxes because we had our cattle panels cut to 12 feet long. If you left them at 16 feet, you can attach them at the bottom of the boxes.
Whew! Not too bad, right?
Okay family, you can take a break now.
That is, until my next project…
Keep it coming I appreciate the thread. This is something our people truly need.
Last edited:
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Gardening With Raised Beds
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Gardening With Raised Beds
Gardening with raised beds is raised bed garden plans | home design ideas gardening with raised beds. fruit raised garden bed inspiration gardening with raised beds. 8x8 garden raised garden bed kit | free shipping gardening with raised beds. making raised beds for our vegetable garden | the modern gardener gardening with raised beds. 10 inspiring diy raised garden bed ideas,plans and designs | the self gardening with raised beds. raised bed gardens gardening with raised beds. photo details side view raised beds wide shot garden entrance garden gardening with raised beds. garden designed entirely from raised beds in bridgewater, nj (winter gardening with raised beds. 18 easy to make diy raised garden beds gardening with raised beds. gorgeous raised bed vegetable gardens gardening with raised beds. raised vegetable garden bed like this one is perfect gardening with raised beds. gardens ideas, rai beds gardens, raised gardens, raised beds gardening with raised beds. box gardening gardening with raised beds. raised bed rabbit fence gardening with raised beds. raised bed garden design organic gardening miami gardening with raised beds. raised bed vegetable gardening : vegetables to plant gardening with raised beds. share on facebook share this on twitter gardening with raised beds. vegans living off the land: raised bed garden ideas & using free gardening with raised beds.
There's way to keep snakes away...I don't fuck with them either....
Shit giving me the creep thinking about them as I typed that shit
Helluva post
How To Build a Coke Can Stove for Hiking and Camping
Posted September 27, 2015 1:03am UTC by designer
This next idea is so great and very easy to implement in case of emergency or when camping. The tutorial is going to teach you how to make a small stove out of a soda can in just a few minutes. Aluminum is the lightest of metals and due to its flexibility and strength it’s most often used to manufacture everyday products such as beverage and food containers. So by trying this project, you can also reuse your containers of soda and contribute to the reduction of environmental pollution. If you follow the steps from the link you can build (with few materials and minimal skills) a portable stove for travel or cooking in case of energy blackouts.
The supplies you are going to need are: 2 aluminum cans of any soft drink, 1 marker, a pair of scissors or cutter, 1 small sandpaper, 1 nail, alcohol and fiberglass. The step by step tutorial can be found on the link below. Happy crafting!
Finaly, this is the fire from your Stove for Hiking and Camping made out of Coke / Beer Tin Cans..
Posted September 27, 2015 1:03am UTC by designer
This next idea is so great and very easy to implement in case of emergency or when camping. The tutorial is going to teach you how to make a small stove out of a soda can in just a few minutes. Aluminum is the lightest of metals and due to its flexibility and strength it’s most often used to manufacture everyday products such as beverage and food containers. So by trying this project, you can also reuse your containers of soda and contribute to the reduction of environmental pollution. If you follow the steps from the link you can build (with few materials and minimal skills) a portable stove for travel or cooking in case of energy blackouts.
The supplies you are going to need are: 2 aluminum cans of any soft drink, 1 marker, a pair of scissors or cutter, 1 small sandpaper, 1 nail, alcohol and fiberglass. The step by step tutorial can be found on the link below. Happy crafting!
- Cut 2 coke tin can into 2 bottom parts
- Make holes in 1 of them
- The next step is to nest the two halves together, top into the bottom.
- Fill the concave cavity with fuel
Finaly, this is the fire from your Stove for Hiking and Camping made out of Coke / Beer Tin Cans..
How to Build A Treadle Chicken Feeder
Posted April 16, 2015 3:59pm UTC by designer
Raising chickens might be expensive for many people, not only in cost but in terms of work put into and results yielded. You have to provide shelter, clean after and feed your chickens if you want them to grow healthy. Every trick or invention that might relieve a bit from the lot of work you have to make is good news. That’s why we thought the treadle chicken feeder is a great thing you should know about and learn how to build. The structure isn’t rocket science, so you could raise one even if you’re not an engineer. And it’s also neat that the result is achieved with using 1/2 sheet of 1/2 feet plywood. You can see from the video provided that it’s very easy for chickens to use the treadle feeder. They learn to step and receive the food. Pests are no longer an issue because the food is kept safe and you can stress no more on a daily basis about supplying the chicken coop with food. Take the building plans and follow the schematics there in order to make a treadle feeder for your own chickens. Good luck!
Posted April 16, 2015 3:59pm UTC by designer
Raising chickens might be expensive for many people, not only in cost but in terms of work put into and results yielded. You have to provide shelter, clean after and feed your chickens if you want them to grow healthy. Every trick or invention that might relieve a bit from the lot of work you have to make is good news. That’s why we thought the treadle chicken feeder is a great thing you should know about and learn how to build. The structure isn’t rocket science, so you could raise one even if you’re not an engineer. And it’s also neat that the result is achieved with using 1/2 sheet of 1/2 feet plywood. You can see from the video provided that it’s very easy for chickens to use the treadle feeder. They learn to step and receive the food. Pests are no longer an issue because the food is kept safe and you can stress no more on a daily basis about supplying the chicken coop with food. Take the building plans and follow the schematics there in order to make a treadle feeder for your own chickens. Good luck!
How to Make Your Own Greenhouse Using Hula Hoops
Posted April 22, 2016 5:37pm UTC by designer
Would you like to keep your plants protected and take care of their well growth? Is the project of a greenhouse scaring you? How about trying to build a greenhouse with hula hoops instead? Building a DIY greenhouse isn’t as scary as it may look at first sight. Actually, the DIY project detailed in the next link is recommended for beginners in gardening but suitable for all skill levels. Even though it looks like a mini greenhouse, it acts more like a shade box and bug-preventer. It is a greenhouse but the name hoop house is more accurate. Watch the video to find out more about the entire process. When you’re done building the entire thing, post the pictures online to share with the rest of the gardening and DIY community!
Posted April 22, 2016 5:37pm UTC by designer
Would you like to keep your plants protected and take care of their well growth? Is the project of a greenhouse scaring you? How about trying to build a greenhouse with hula hoops instead? Building a DIY greenhouse isn’t as scary as it may look at first sight. Actually, the DIY project detailed in the next link is recommended for beginners in gardening but suitable for all skill levels. Even though it looks like a mini greenhouse, it acts more like a shade box and bug-preventer. It is a greenhouse but the name hoop house is more accurate. Watch the video to find out more about the entire process. When you’re done building the entire thing, post the pictures online to share with the rest of the gardening and DIY community!
living_offgrid:We've got Rabbit feed! We have found a great way to make organic feed. Mix up any organic dried grains you want, add mineral salts, dried flax meal, dried kelp, and nonGMO wet molasses. Mix up and lay flat or make into rolls, then dry the batch until they are rock hard. No messes of rabbit feed being wasted! It's a perfect concept! The rabbits love their healthy diet!
Dried up Stevia leaves! You can home process the sweet leaf yourself! Just soak them in vodka for 36 hours, and voila. Strain the black/brown juice and simmer for 20 minutes until thick, which takes off the alcohol!
After soaking the Stevia leaves for 36 hours in vodka, I simmered off the alcohol and added the liquid to medicine droppers, to be used as sweetener at anytime. This is not processed and more natural than store bought!
14 Genius Ways To Recycle Used Coffee Grounds
Coffee is good for more than just waking you up in the morning! Take a look at this list and find the perfect recycling tips and tricks so you can enjoy your coffee again – even after you’ve finished enjoying your morning cup of Joe!
You’ll never throw your away your used coffee grounds again after seeing just how many things you can do with them!
How To Use Old Coffee Grounds In the Garden:
1. Pest Repellent
Sprinkle used coffee grounds around your plants to protect them against destructive garden pests like ants, snails, and slugs. It has even been said that old grounds mixed with dried orange peel will keep away some small mammals like cats (though Felix can be a tough customer. If coffee and orange peel doesn’t work, try rosemary oil instead!)
2. Fertilize Your Garden
If you grow azaleas, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, camellias, roses, or other acid-loving plants, then used coffee is the fertilizer for you! Mix your old grounds with dead grass clippings, brown leaves, or dry straw to neutralize some of the acidity, the spread them around your plants. Used coffee grounds add nitrogen and potassium to the soil (the first and third numbers in the fertilizer formula: N – P – K) as well as a boost of magnesium which all plants need to stay healthy.
Just remember that this fertilizer lacks phosphorus and calcium so it isn’t ideal for encouraging blooms and fruiting. You’ll need to add lime or wood ash to the mix if you want to create a complete fertilizer using old coffee grounds.
3. Compost It for Later
If you don’t have a use for coffee ground fertilizer right away, go ahead and throw it on the compost heap. Coffee grounds make excellent “green” matter as they are rich in nitrogen. Also, beneficial worms may be attracted to your compost with the addition of old coffee. Just be sure to limit the amount of grounds that you add to your pile so that you don’t throw off the ratio of “green” to “brown” matter. Check out this great guide for keeping your compost balanced.
(Also, for more composting ideas: Check out these 35 Unexpected Things To Add To Your Compost Pile!)
Further Reading: Composting 101: How To Create Compost That Works Like Rocket Fuel For Your Garden
4. Caffeine for… Carrots?
If you love carrots and you love coffee, then you’re in business! Your carrots will love you back if you share your old grounds with them at planting time. Before you sow carrot seeds, mix them with some old dried coffee grounds to give them an energy boost right from the get-go. You’ll get bigger and better produce with the added bonus of deterring pests that want to eat your carrots before you do.
(Further Reading: 17 Foods You Can Regrow From Scraps – Including Carrots!)
How To Use Old Coffee Grounds Around the House:
5. Absorb Food Odors
Used coffee grounds can be used much like baking soda for absorbing food odors in the refrigerator and freezer. Just load up a small open container with your old grounds, place it in the back of the fridge, then forget about it for a couple of weeks while you collect more grounds. As an added bonus, after you remove smelly old grounds from the refrigerator or freezer, you can then toss them on the compost pile or use them for fertilizer!
(Further reading: 7 DIY Ideas To Make Your Home Smell Amazing)
6. Natural Abrasive
Sprinkle old coffee grounds onto an old cleaning cloth and use them to scrub away stuck-on food from counters or dishes. While used grounds are abrasive, they aren’t so harsh that they will damage the surfaces in your kitchen. (Just be sure not to accidentally scrub grounds into cracks where they might leave behind stains!)
(Further reading: 7 Natural Cleaning Cheats That Will Rock Your World)
7. Beautiful Golden Dye
If you’ve ever spilled coffee on a white shirt, you know the “Beautiful Golden” color to which I am referring. Turn that pesky coffee stain around and use it to your advantage. Re-wet old coffee grounds and use it to dye everything from feathers and cloth to Easter eggs. Used coffee grounds soaked in a bit of water can also be used to turn boring white paper into ‘antique’ parchment. (Here’s the How-To.) This faux parchment can then be used for all kinds of arts and crafts including some very interesting and beautiful gifts!
(Further reading: 112 Incredible DIY Gift Ideas)
8. Homemade Candles
If you love the smell of coffee, why not turn your old grounds into all-natural homemade candles? For this fun up-cycling project you will need a small paper coffee cup, a paper towel, about a cup of wax candle ends, a wick, scissors, a small sauce pan for melting the wax, a small glass mixing bowl, and of course some used coffee grounds. (Check out this link for the How-To.)
(Further reading: 10 Beautiful Homemade Candle Ideas)
9. Clean Out the Fireplace
No, used coffee grounds won’t do all of the work for you. However, they will make the process of cleaning out your fireplace much easier and less messy. Gently scatter old used coffee grounds over the ashes to weight them down and prevent the huge clouds of smoke that often arise when performing this arduous task. Not only will shovelling the ashes be easier than ever before, you also won’t have to wipe down every horizontal surface in the room when you’re done.
How To Use Old Coffee Grounds For Health & Beauty:
10. Exfoliate Skin
Coffee grounds make an excellent exfoliating body scrub! Just add used grounds to a bit of warm water or your favorite all-natural oil (coconut oil works great!) Then scrub your skin from head to foot to remove all of those icky dead skin cells.
(Further reading: 23 Stunning Scrub Recipes)
11. Rejuvenating Facial
Just as it works as a body scrub, coffee makes an excellent facial. Mix two tablespoons of used coffee grounds with an equal amount of organic cocoa powder. Add three tablespoons of whole milk or heavy cream and top it off with a heaping tablespoon of honey for the perfect all-natural alpha-hydroxy and antioxidant facial.
12. Caffeinated Soap
Did you know that you can actually absorb caffeine through your skin? You can and the multitude of caffeinated soaps available around the internet are testament to how well it works. For an all-natural alternative, why not turn your old coffee grounds intohomemade soap so you can get one more good caffeine kick in the morning before work?
(Further reading: 10 Amazing Homemade Soap Recipes)
13. Coffee for Your Hair
If you use a lot of hair styling products, or if you’ve recently switched to a natural shampoo and conditioner, your hair is probably weighted down by residue. Remove that build-up using old coffee grounds to give your hair a lift and restore its natural healthy shine. Before you shampoo, simply grab a handful of used grounds and massage them into your hair. The coarse texture is enough to break apart the product residue, but it’s also gentle enough that it won’t damage your locks.
(Further reading: 7 Natural Oils For Healthy Beautiful Hair)
14. Cellulite Treatment
Poor diet, frequent or extended periods of sitting, smoking, or genetic predisposition – cellulite has many causes and for every cause there are at least a dozen “cures” which may or may not actually work. Well, here’s one that does: used coffee grounds.
There are probably hundreds of recipes on Pinterest alone for cellulite-reducing coffee scrubs. However, a simple mix of used coffee grounds and warm water will also do the trick. Use this scrub for ten minutes twice per week on any areas affected by cellulite. Results should start to become apparent within four weeks of steady treatment.
Coffee is good for more than just waking you up in the morning! Take a look at this list and find the perfect recycling tips and tricks so you can enjoy your coffee again – even after you’ve finished enjoying your morning cup of Joe!
You’ll never throw your away your used coffee grounds again after seeing just how many things you can do with them!
How To Use Old Coffee Grounds In the Garden:
1. Pest Repellent
Sprinkle used coffee grounds around your plants to protect them against destructive garden pests like ants, snails, and slugs. It has even been said that old grounds mixed with dried orange peel will keep away some small mammals like cats (though Felix can be a tough customer. If coffee and orange peel doesn’t work, try rosemary oil instead!)
2. Fertilize Your Garden
If you grow azaleas, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, camellias, roses, or other acid-loving plants, then used coffee is the fertilizer for you! Mix your old grounds with dead grass clippings, brown leaves, or dry straw to neutralize some of the acidity, the spread them around your plants. Used coffee grounds add nitrogen and potassium to the soil (the first and third numbers in the fertilizer formula: N – P – K) as well as a boost of magnesium which all plants need to stay healthy.
Just remember that this fertilizer lacks phosphorus and calcium so it isn’t ideal for encouraging blooms and fruiting. You’ll need to add lime or wood ash to the mix if you want to create a complete fertilizer using old coffee grounds.
3. Compost It for Later
(Also, for more composting ideas: Check out these 35 Unexpected Things To Add To Your Compost Pile!)
Further Reading: Composting 101: How To Create Compost That Works Like Rocket Fuel For Your Garden
4. Caffeine for… Carrots?
If you love carrots and you love coffee, then you’re in business! Your carrots will love you back if you share your old grounds with them at planting time. Before you sow carrot seeds, mix them with some old dried coffee grounds to give them an energy boost right from the get-go. You’ll get bigger and better produce with the added bonus of deterring pests that want to eat your carrots before you do.
(Further Reading: 17 Foods You Can Regrow From Scraps – Including Carrots!)
How To Use Old Coffee Grounds Around the House:
5. Absorb Food Odors
Used coffee grounds can be used much like baking soda for absorbing food odors in the refrigerator and freezer. Just load up a small open container with your old grounds, place it in the back of the fridge, then forget about it for a couple of weeks while you collect more grounds. As an added bonus, after you remove smelly old grounds from the refrigerator or freezer, you can then toss them on the compost pile or use them for fertilizer!
(Further reading: 7 DIY Ideas To Make Your Home Smell Amazing)
6. Natural Abrasive
Sprinkle old coffee grounds onto an old cleaning cloth and use them to scrub away stuck-on food from counters or dishes. While used grounds are abrasive, they aren’t so harsh that they will damage the surfaces in your kitchen. (Just be sure not to accidentally scrub grounds into cracks where they might leave behind stains!)
(Further reading: 7 Natural Cleaning Cheats That Will Rock Your World)
7. Beautiful Golden Dye
If you’ve ever spilled coffee on a white shirt, you know the “Beautiful Golden” color to which I am referring. Turn that pesky coffee stain around and use it to your advantage. Re-wet old coffee grounds and use it to dye everything from feathers and cloth to Easter eggs. Used coffee grounds soaked in a bit of water can also be used to turn boring white paper into ‘antique’ parchment. (Here’s the How-To.) This faux parchment can then be used for all kinds of arts and crafts including some very interesting and beautiful gifts!
(Further reading: 112 Incredible DIY Gift Ideas)
8. Homemade Candles
(Further reading: 10 Beautiful Homemade Candle Ideas)
9. Clean Out the Fireplace
No, used coffee grounds won’t do all of the work for you. However, they will make the process of cleaning out your fireplace much easier and less messy. Gently scatter old used coffee grounds over the ashes to weight them down and prevent the huge clouds of smoke that often arise when performing this arduous task. Not only will shovelling the ashes be easier than ever before, you also won’t have to wipe down every horizontal surface in the room when you’re done.
How To Use Old Coffee Grounds For Health & Beauty:
10. Exfoliate Skin
Coffee grounds make an excellent exfoliating body scrub! Just add used grounds to a bit of warm water or your favorite all-natural oil (coconut oil works great!) Then scrub your skin from head to foot to remove all of those icky dead skin cells.
(Further reading: 23 Stunning Scrub Recipes)
11. Rejuvenating Facial
Just as it works as a body scrub, coffee makes an excellent facial. Mix two tablespoons of used coffee grounds with an equal amount of organic cocoa powder. Add three tablespoons of whole milk or heavy cream and top it off with a heaping tablespoon of honey for the perfect all-natural alpha-hydroxy and antioxidant facial.
12. Caffeinated Soap
(Further reading: 10 Amazing Homemade Soap Recipes)
13. Coffee for Your Hair
If you use a lot of hair styling products, or if you’ve recently switched to a natural shampoo and conditioner, your hair is probably weighted down by residue. Remove that build-up using old coffee grounds to give your hair a lift and restore its natural healthy shine. Before you shampoo, simply grab a handful of used grounds and massage them into your hair. The coarse texture is enough to break apart the product residue, but it’s also gentle enough that it won’t damage your locks.
(Further reading: 7 Natural Oils For Healthy Beautiful Hair)
14. Cellulite Treatment
Poor diet, frequent or extended periods of sitting, smoking, or genetic predisposition – cellulite has many causes and for every cause there are at least a dozen “cures” which may or may not actually work. Well, here’s one that does: used coffee grounds.
There are probably hundreds of recipes on Pinterest alone for cellulite-reducing coffee scrubs. However, a simple mix of used coffee grounds and warm water will also do the trick. Use this scrub for ten minutes twice per week on any areas affected by cellulite. Results should start to become apparent within four weeks of steady treatment.
Permaculture is the way to go
Urban Gardens
This week my friend Cami gave me a jar of Sauerkraut. Usually this wouldn’t be cause for excitement, but a) I love sauerkruat and b) she made it herself from a giant cabbage she grew this summer. I’m a huge fan of urban gardening, especially in a place like Anchorage where it is so simple to do. Essentially every friend of mine had a garden this summer, regardless of whether they lived in an apartment or in a house with a yard. My “garden” consisted of a 10×10 strip of grass and large bins full of dirt I placed on the communal sidewalk. I lived in an apartment complex in Bootleggers Cove, perhaps the most “urban” of Anchorage’s neighborhoods. Despite this location and lack of truly cultivatable land, I managed a fairly successful operation. Due to good soil and 24 hour sunlight, I never had to buy greens at a store May-September. I even manged to grow tons of tomatoes and bell peppers outside, something that usually takes a greenhouse. I loved my little garden and found it super rewarding. Moreover, I enjoyed the “gardening culture” of Anchorage. There were probably at least 4 other gardens within 100 feet of my building and throughout the summer I spent a good deal of time in my friends’ gardens all over town. I even ventured into the community gardens along C Street and learned a whole host of new plants and techniques from the Hmongand Somali women who gardened there. Let me tell you, those women had a full scale operation going and made my little hobby look like a pile of mulch. I love that there is a “gardening culture” here, which spans neighborhoods and community groups. This summer, I attended a number of political fundraisers, concerts, charity events, art galas, and other events about town, and 9 times out of 10 I could start up a lengthy conversation about gardens. We may live in a city, but the self reliance and living off the land ethos of Alaska is still very much alive and well.
This week my friend Cami gave me a jar of Sauerkraut. Usually this wouldn’t be cause for excitement, but a) I love sauerkruat and b) she made it herself from a giant cabbage she grew this summer. I’m a huge fan of urban gardening, especially in a place like Anchorage where it is so simple to do. Essentially every friend of mine had a garden this summer, regardless of whether they lived in an apartment or in a house with a yard. My “garden” consisted of a 10×10 strip of grass and large bins full of dirt I placed on the communal sidewalk. I lived in an apartment complex in Bootleggers Cove, perhaps the most “urban” of Anchorage’s neighborhoods. Despite this location and lack of truly cultivatable land, I managed a fairly successful operation. Due to good soil and 24 hour sunlight, I never had to buy greens at a store May-September. I even manged to grow tons of tomatoes and bell peppers outside, something that usually takes a greenhouse. I loved my little garden and found it super rewarding. Moreover, I enjoyed the “gardening culture” of Anchorage. There were probably at least 4 other gardens within 100 feet of my building and throughout the summer I spent a good deal of time in my friends’ gardens all over town. I even ventured into the community gardens along C Street and learned a whole host of new plants and techniques from the Hmongand Somali women who gardened there. Let me tell you, those women had a full scale operation going and made my little hobby look like a pile of mulch. I love that there is a “gardening culture” here, which spans neighborhoods and community groups. This summer, I attended a number of political fundraisers, concerts, charity events, art galas, and other events about town, and 9 times out of 10 I could start up a lengthy conversation about gardens. We may live in a city, but the self reliance and living off the land ethos of Alaska is still very much alive and well.
Just got relocated at work, now I'm working with a fellow from Antigua, he was telling me this how his brother made a living.
I believe it. Imagine walking down an Antiguan beach all littered with DRIFTWOOD. People might see trash but if you know how to turn WOOD into CHARCOAL, that beach is littered with GOLD!!!
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