Speed Up The Composting Process With Coffee Grounds & Fixing a Nitrogen Carbon Imbalance

[@tammyhanson7843]

I’m disabled and can’t get to my compost as often as most of you. Note... my pile doesn’t get super hot like I’d like. I use coffee grounds too, and my compost is rather slow I’ve got beautiful compost. So don’t give up people if you are unable to be on top of your compost for whatever reason, breakdown will happen. Do the best you can and your garden will benefit. 🦋💜

[@hosoiarchives4858]

See if you can use more grass.

[@heikesiegl2640]

Cold composting is a thing and works :) it just takes longer

[@createartmarxs7705]

Yaaasss! I love this comment! I am disabled also and I do what I can and just happy I can do it. It’s takes longer but that’s okay. 😃

[@valeriesanchez3074]

I mix my coffee grounds with crushed eggshells and use in soil so it feeds plants all the season. Working good so far.

[@oscarpretell5738]

I did an experiment with two Air-Pot potted Avocado trees of the same age, about five years old. One I added our morning coffee grounds the other one no. That year the one that got the coffee ground blossomed and give us fruit. There other one didn’t. This year I gave the other one coffee grounds and that thing turned in to a mutant and has blossomed like it had something to prove. So at least for avocados I say coffee grounds work great.

[@OakKnobFarm]

I've been using coffee in my compost for a decade. I drink an absurd amount of coffee (nectar of the Gods), which helps in this regard :) A constant, daily application. If you use paper filters buy the brown ones, not the white ones. The white filters are bleached, which makes them decompose very slowly, but the natural ones decompose in weeks. Then you can neatly dispose of your grounds by chucking the whole filter right into the compost bucket.

[@Donna_G]

When I was living with my parents decades ago, my dad let me start a compost pile in the corner of the back yard. Once a week, he would bring home a large coffee can filled with used coffee grounds so that I could put them in the compost pile. I've never even considered asking Starbucks for used grounds. This video was useful.

[@mindy779]

Great information. My dad used to pee on his compost pile to get it to heat up. I know it sounds gross but he swore that the uric acid in urine would help break down the compost quicker. He was right. 👍

[@bretcompton8518]

urine is high in nitrogen, makes a great fertilizer

[@acs197]

Reminds me of my old Australian shepherd. He would pee on posts we had along our 100+ foot driveway in the winter. By early spring the grass around the posts was growing like crazy! The grass right against the post was dead though. Too much fertilizer there, lol.

[@jimwilleford6140]

Melinda Schneider The uric acid might or might not help. I don’t know. However urine is sterile, and diluted 1 part urine to 6 parts water, is an excellent fertilizer.

[@VACatholic]

Stefan sobkowiak (owns a permaculture orchard) tells a story of a family who couldn't figure out one of their trees was dying. Turned out on of them would use that tree to urinate on and didn't realize how much nitrogen they were adding and killing the tree. So yeah, spread the love:)

[@TheShrimpdoctor]

Actually the main source of N in human urine is urea (about 2%) not Uric acid which is only 0.03%

[@RickMitchellProvenanceAndRoots]

Nice shirt! Coffee grounds are a staple in my compost pile. Getting them from a coffee shop can be daunting unless you explain how much you need to them. I worked with a local shop to get grounds once, and before i knew it, I was overwhelmed with grounds they saved for me. LOL

[@bcbassfisherman437]

Awesome video as always! One thing people using horse or cow manure need to watch out for if the animals might have accidentally ingested grass that had been sprayed as it passes through the animal and into the manure. That will contaminate the manure and ruin your compost pile, and you wont know until you use it and it kills your plants.

[@doloresreynolds8145]

I have found that I like horse manure better than cow manure in the garden. I believe it is because horses get a higher quality diet than most cows do. I love using grass clippings for mulch (my compost runs out quickly otherwise), but they do heat up the compost pile if put there. I have been known to drive around nearby towns on the evening before their yard trash pickup day, and grab bags of grass clippings for my compost pile. I love those clippings! 😁

[@cheribenfield5967]

Luke, thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us, with the world. Love your videos, love your seeds! Trying to grow big at home. 😉

[@judylee1860]

Woe grounds for gardens. That is great. I do put my coffee ground in the compost pile. If I expand the garden I’ll check out the coffee shops for the free used grounds. Thanks!

[@DeadeyeJoe37]

Called into the local Starbucks & Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at 9 am and asked if I could get their coffee grounds. Came by at 1 PM and had about 80 lbs of coffee grounds. My 2 compost piles are nice and hot now!

[@sweetvuvuzela4634]

DeadeyeJoe37 glowing hot 🔥🔥

[@wobblybobengland]

Great video. I'm following the no dig method, largely inspired by yourself and Charles Dowding, I'm growing veg on around 300 square feet. This means I have to find a huge amount of compost to mulch the beds with between 2" and 3" per year. My lawn was old and the soil is very heavy clay so was transformed from a mudbath after heavy rain to concrete in the hot dry summers we get here in Southern Germany, so the lawn really needed biomass to improve it's water holding properties and composition. I figured that the best thing to do would be to use coffee grounds from my workplace, here I get about a gallon a day which would otherwise be thrown into landfill. Like you say, in autumn (fall) there is far more carbon so I set the coffee grounds up straight into the compost to counteract the mass of leaves available. After the end of November I put the coffee grounds straight into the lawn up until March and this (along with another couple of free additives, wood ash and bio char) is bringing on the lawn soil well. I read that caffine inhibits growth and that the nitrogen from the coffee grounds would take time to break down and so be available through the lawn growing season in summer if I stopped around March (my wife doesn't like the smell of grounds on the lawn in summer either). After March I then divide the coffee grounds up between direct input into the compost, using them as a general thin layer over the veg to inhibit slugs and snails, and feeding hazel trees, rods from which I use for bean frames in early spring and then eventually return shredded to the compost as a great source of carbon after a season. Theory is that the coffee grounds alone will offer me a good source of nitrogen and compost balance, coffee grounds, green grass cuttings and carbon from the shredded hazel (alongside leaves and our food/garden scraps) this should give me a great lawn and good veg!

[@lindagraves3250]

Why not take a piece of rebar, thrust down from top through center of the pile, rotate in large circle, & dump coffee grounds through center of pile?

[@terrychrist535]

Thank you. I use coffee grounds for house plants too. 🌹😀🙏

[@sutil5078]

do you use it directly on plant or does not to be in compost, I have a dying jazmine I realize it is from lack of nitrogene.. could you answer me fast, so I can use it today!

[@YolklahomaRocks]

Coffee grounds and tea bags! We keep an empty coffee container (we keep them after we use it all) on our counter. We add everything we will compost into it. When it's full we put another one in its place then empty the full one in the compost bin. It's a win win. Great video.

[@markemyshibukawa9254]

I noticed that our local McDonald's is giving out their coffee grounds as well.

[@ZE308AC]

Do they have bags like the ones Starbucks give out?

[@aceshigh235]

Would you really TRUST mcDonalds coffee grounds from the king of selling gmo non-food trash?

[@alexandervarga8090]

Nothing wrong with GMO you fool

[@Bamboo4U2]

Luke, thanks for the video. However, I'd like to know your source for that "golden" 5:3 nitrogen/carbon ratio. Seriously, I've seen these ratios ALL OVER THE PLACE. Some say 3:1 carbon/nitrogen and I've even seen/read (now these are all from accredited universities and other accredited sources) say 30:1 (no, that's not a typo) carbon/nitrogen. I guess at the heart of it is this: if it smells, that's too much nitrogen--add carbon. If it's not composting and it's too dry, wet it more. If it's still not composting, add nitrogen. At the end of the day, there is no real practical way to measure your compost pile's ratio. In a lab, you'd do it by weight so you'd shred up all the carbon (the leaves, papers, grounds, etc) and equally shred/blend up all the nitrogen in a food processor and weigh it but I STILL cannot get a consistent ratio from any source. Your thoughts? Thanks in advance.

[@sutil5078]

good post, are you sure about the "if it smells, that's too much nitrogen" ?It makes sense I notice that especially when I start new compost. So did you read or by experience! thanks again for your post.

[@marilynbook4211]

Glad to know I have been doing it right all these years, all hubby's coffee grounds and my tea bags all go into the composter.

[@midsouthhomestead9180]

Thanks for your information on COFFEE GROUNDS! Love the shirt! Rhonda

[@gaylelucas5909]

I'd love to see the finished product. Having fresh grass clippings and leaves and such would be wonderful! I have just the opposite problem - finding enough carbon material for my compost pile. But the coffee grounds...now I have no problem finding those! We go through coffee pretty quickly and they go to either my worms or my compost. Good info, as always!

[@nancywebb6549]

Gayle Lucas I shred all my paper instead of putting it in recycling. That includes cereal box type of cardboard. Lowe’s has tons of cardboard that you can use. Amazon furnished lots of cardboard too.

[@cherylnorise57]

Thank you very much. Just as you said before coffee grounds. This is. Exactly what I'm doing. Have an awesome day.

[@Zeyeco]

I got a dumb question: these are post-brew coffee grounds, right?

[@brow276]

Zeyeco yes

[@gauthamrallapalli150]

yeah and yeah

[@giggiwidit5638]

Would it be possible for Migardener to do a video about coffee grounds, and what they CAN AND CANT be used for/on ? because I've watched lots of videos, and they are all telling me different things (for e.g. 1 said that they are great for strawberries, and then the next video said don't use them on strawberries etc.) and I'm getting really confused, and I don't want misinformation to kill my plants, and, because I trust this channel, to give me the correct information, I was wondering if a Coffee Grounds video DO's and DONTS could be made ? =)

[@GretaBeth]

If I’m willing to eat the food/drink the first go around, I’m certainly willing to eat it’s by products again via my compost! I compost everything I can, rather than send to a landfill.

[@mrsesta1119]

I'd rather compost than synthetic chemicals and mystery ingredients, any day. 👍

[@gregorov14]

I see the compost squash got composted. Seems about right. I'm on wave 2 of pumpkins from my compost pile volunteers. Harvested 5 from 2 vines and now have at least 4 more growing. Hopefully have enough time for them to grow and ripen by Halloween.

[@rose5566]

“I love free”. 😂. So cute. I love free too and I love my coffee.

[@dunestaniszewski2300]

I have a worm bin, and I love it! It gives me very, very rich soil, and they eat all food scraps that people don’t eat. Also, they reproduce very quickly and can be given to chickens.

[@bsdbryn]

The Starbucks nearest me doesn't prepackage the grounds but when I've asked they'll save up a couple garbage bags full for me.

[@aritzia816]

yea, mine would just give me their current garbage bag, and i would just sort out their plastics myself

garbage bags full!!?! sweet

[@CustomGardenSolutions]

I've used compost piles and compost tumblers and I prefer compost tumblers. I use leaves and food scraps and have finished compost in 30 days. Also with compost tumblers you don't have food scraps on the ground where animals can be attracted to them. Compost tumblers are also a lot less work you spin them about once a day and you're done. I use a lifetime 80 gallon compost tumbler. I totally agree with Luke that you should have two piles or two tumblers so you have one that has finished compost and one that has unfinished compost.

my pile is 6 foot + tall though .. turn it with a manure fork

[@natureboy6410]

Some dirt farmers are also dirt poor.

[@ThatGardener]

Hi Luke I saw my beautiful hot steaming compost today after lot of practice with thanks to you for inspiration and tips!!

[@meowmeow7895]

The local Starbucks doesn't have bags but they will give you coffee grounds if you provide a waterproof container such as a plastic bin...you deliver it and pick it up the next day for free

[@Trevor_Lane]

Loving the new intro! And the shirt!!!

[@TiffanyL50]

I love your shirt in this video!

[@churinvideo]

Nice work man. Good job staying on point.

[@salliebeard1899]

Thanks, I just put my coffee grinds in my garden under my azaleas are rhododendrons acid loving plants. But I also save banana peels, and dry them somewhat then add Epsom salt and grind those together. I'm sure my neighbors think I'm crazy. Thank you

[@ambersykora352]

Sallie Beard. well screw your neighbors. I think it's awesome.

[@jakesarms8996]

I started composting in 1991 when our city banned leaf burning. They made us bag them in paper bags. I don't make a big deal out of it , just large heaps. I don't turn it much and throw it on top of fresh leaves every fall.

[@AnnD2023]

Coffee is a high pesticide crop though?

[@davidbabcock1231]

I am starting to compost in a 32 gallon trash barrel, my materials aren’t heating up yet. I started it over a week ago. What ratio should I be putting into the barrel?? Basically I use the same bucket for the greens and browns in the right ratio right??

[@colinwilson389]

I had my doubts that Coffee grounds would be a good source of available nitrogen, because seeds like Coffee beans are primarily stores of carbohydrates - meaning carbon. Also, any soluble nitrogen would surely have been leached out during the brewing process. So I did a little research. Sunset did a scientific analysis and found that while there is some nitrogen in Coffee grounds (slightly more than 2%), it is not available until after bacterial processes break down the organic matter. This is their findings: "The availabilities of nitrogen, calcium, zinc, manganese, and iron are quite low and in some cases deficient. Thus, the coffee grounds will not supply appreciable amounts of these essential plant elements when used as a mineral soil amendment." Thats not to say it isn't a good thing to use. It will help build soil structure and will act like a slow release fertilizer. But from what I have read it wont immediately fix a nitrogen deficiency in a compost pile.

[@RiverPlaid]

Thanks Luke😄

[@davidschmidt270]

That Starbucks idea 💯💯💯💯👏👏👏👏

[@pamharkins4601]

Love the shirt!

[@BretHutchison]

Hey Luke, Can I spread coffee grounds just on the dirt of my garden and turn it in over the winter to add Nitrogen to my soil and have it decompose that way?

[@threelanternsgarden9780]

Any plans for a rain catching system? Garden maintenance, behind the scenes video might have some nuggets.

[@ccorbin83]

I heard that hair contains nitrogen. I eyed the clippings on the floor when I took my grandson to the barbershop. Was thinking about asking for the clippings on the floor.

[@emmamemma4162]

It does, but hair breaks down really slowly. I do put our dogs hair in the compost but a really large amount all at once would probably form a clump that dries out more than it breaks down.

[@AndreaS-oq7sw]

I'm going to start collecting this and put it on my wood chips back to Eden Garden. I've had the wood chips down for a year and it's started to break down but I'm getting antsy to plant so I'm going to put coffee grounds on my wood chips

[@joetarpey3483]

@MIgardener Is it better to use fresh coffee grounds or used coffee grounds?

[@jackiebetty1344]

Thanks for this info. I am a beginner

[@dunestaniszewski2300]

Also, quail manure is EXTREMELY high in nitrogen. I have to clean out my quail and pheasant cage very often, because it’s so high in nitrogen the quail can get respitory infections.

[@maeJoyBwithU-ux3fn]

gr8 shirt.... i'm wondering what your thoughts might be about adding ammonium sulfate onto a cold "hot compost"...

[@DovidM]

A neighbor has a pond in his garden. Whenever he is short of nitrogen for his compost pile, he skims the surface of the pond for duckweed and algae.

[@zmblion]

I use just one pile.. and notice your using 2... What are your takes on 3 like most suggest? I use the bottom when I use it and dig in under the dirt and let the compost fill the hole.. I'm assuming it's leached in.. also it's bomb looking dirt.. that's what I do with 1. But what are your takes on 3? And keep it in stages? I've got way more room now so just trying to learn. I'm just like you I like to research and learn all new things.. I have had mine hot and I love to see that but I almost prefer it to be cold.. idk why it's just seems more natural.

[@pancakeday4866]

We only drink half-caf K-cups. Can I use half-caf? Or decaf for that matter?

[@blueupgreendown6402]

Without flavor!

[@scoobybrew7915]

A great video, as always. Thank you for that.

[@drawthings1699]

Nice vidio bro inspiring, informative, good Thanks for the tip

[@markwalker9107]

Great video again thanks for doing this videos

[@opinion8ed]

We have a local brewery that lets me have free spent brewery grains for composting and that works well for us,

[@jimwilleford6140]

I asked locally run , very busy breakfast and lunch house when there for breakfast today,.Amazingly, no one else had bothered to ask, so, I need to pick up MWF, Sat and Sunday....Happily they are 5 minutes away, don’t hesitate to ask,

[@cbwhitedove]

Hey Luke, love your videos,I do have a question, I live on land now that was used over 13 years ago for growing cotton. I just started out with gardening here last year, wasnt very succesful. Im wondering if I should have soil tested or should it be ok to just start building beds and plant. Im fairly new so any advice would be great!! Thank you😉

[@candyackley1255]

He has some great videos on how to build and start raised beds. Soil, seeds, etc. should be able to start a raised bed anywhere and use good soil, should do well 👍🏻👍🏻

[@JohnDoe_88]

Yessir I grab those coffee grounds

[@TheLowLandGardener]

Luke how often do you flip your pile. Could you do a demo?

[@aaliya1083]

How about used tea granules raw washed egg shells droed banana peels dried lemon peels will it work. Really enjoyed your video simple and straight

[@michelleb3096]

If it’s not. Organic coffee are you adding in glycophsate? I’ve always wondered that. And about actually drinking it too....

[@lauranilsen8988]

Michelle B I don’t know about glyphosate but I do know non-organic coffee is pretty high in pesticides. I don’t think I’d use it.

[@Frazzlenodazzle]

I love compost and I love coffee. win win!

[@D.A.Hanks14]

I get my grounds mid-morning, so it's still in the clear garbage bags. I just mixed about fifteen pounds of Charbucks with about 12 gallons of sawdust. Will water it with urine (I use that s**t on everything), and being in a Tote, it should almost catch on fire, LOL. It will give me a quick, fine-textured compost to use indoors in a couple of weeks.

[@hobbies6396]

How bo you know of the imbalance

[@sweetvuvuzela4634]

Your so clever thanks for sharing 👌🏼

[@missourigirl4101]

Great vid!

[@jackiehorsley9263]

thanks for all your information that well be very helpful In the future

[@TheGardenAndWormLady]

Nice video 👍🏾

[@mikelfrazier]

How long does it take for a compost bin complete it’s cycle so that you may use it in your garden. I’m new at trying to do a compost bin.

[@montano0222]

I know this might have been answered but can I use coffee from brands like Folgers or Nescafe?

[@Sg4809]

Is there a reason for a compost bin or area rather than just throwing everything directly on the garden?

[@katieegge699]

I'm digg'n the shirt sir!

[@emilybraley5252]

Are decaff. grounds as effective?

[@barryzahurance310]

Great info., thanks!

[@savantofillusions]

Have you thought of luffa as a growing medium for hydroponics? I want to close the loop on a hydroponic system other than the containers, tubes, etc, but I’m really into the idea of self siphoning systems which don’t seem popular yet.

[@Dyynamo]

Great video as usual, but I'd like to question what you said about tea bags. I dont know about in the USA but here in the UK the bags are at least partly synthetic, which means they dont rot. By all means put tea leaves in the compost, but be careful with the bags, unless you're happy to fish them out when the compost gets used.

[@lauranilsen8988]

Dyynamo it does seem like I recently heard tea bags were now being made of plastic. Hopefully not my organic tea!

[@lindakitts4304]

How do you keep the rats out of your compost pile if you put scraps in it?

[@abecedarians]

5:11 3 parts carbon to 5 parts nitrogen?

[@mikemorton954]

I picked up a massive bag of coffee grounds at IKEA in the UK.

[@PaulSaxbyPhotography]

Be careful how much extra water you add or you will kill your compost pile. Too much water will prevent oxygen from being available to the bacteria to allow them to break down the material in your pile. You had plenty of green grass clippings which will hold more than enough water to keep the pile moist. Put a lid on your heap to prevent the sun from drying it out and it will work fine. If you want to see how proper compost is made visit Charles Downing’s KZbin channel.

[@dallastaylor5479]

Ok, you are in michigan. How are you not blood drained by mosquitos right now? I really need to turn my compost pile but we got a horrible flush of sqeeters. Just throwing stuff on the pile and running away comes at a price of a dozen bites.

[@naevana8905]

I read an article that you SHOULDN"T put coffee grounds in your compost. Which is it?

[@hacksaw5800]

Luke, i have been saving coffee grounds in a large sealed plastic container. My ised coffee grounds are covered in a greenish gray mold. Can i still use the grounds? Love your channel, thanks for all the great info!!

[@SuperTGTV]

Yes

[@TimGriess]

What about adding nitrogen like blood meal?

[@charlesdotwin]

Huh, based on their appearance and texture, I had always assumed that used grounds were high carbon/low nitrogen. Thanks!

[@dogbugler]

Ssu hey from N.TX. love ur channel. Great content and right to the point. Awesome, thank you sir. Regards, dog bugler

[@debralauesen4225]

Luke or anyone who knows...can I add bagged compost to my compost bin?

[@yvencia1150]

Love its!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ellenhosein2008]

Luke am not sure Starbucks does that here give away their coffee grounds will have to find out but great info thanks man

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

Ellen Hosein I’m pretty sure they do it everywhere. I have to ask for them at some Starbucks (they are always quick to oblige) and some have it in a basket where you can just grab a bag.

[@RubbingPotatoes]

I heard that coffee grounds arent good especially for seedlings as it can temporarily reduce nitrogen levels from that same process sequestration or whatever. One guy actually did a soil test to confirm this.

[@christopherpcreation]

I use my pet snapping turtles dirty water for nitrogen it's pure gold in the garden.

[@cjgarner07]

Oh? Would fish tank water be as good? Didn't know this, why is it high in nitro? Ty

[@christopherpcreation]

@@cjgarner07 I'd rinse the filters off in a bucket that's the good stuff

[@cjgarner07]

@@christopherpcreation right on thank you i will try this!

[@zingymantella590]

@@christopherpcreation aquaponics

[@christopherpcreation]

@@zingymantella590 no they are in the dirt I just dump some at the base of each plant

[@tedscott1478]

What's tha highest temperature worms can cope with. I've got them in my tumber composter so if it gets too hot they can't go underground.

[@billgray6752]

I have been saving coffee grounds for some time to use in the garden and I just noticed a lot of mold has appeared. Is it safe to use when lots of mold present?

[@PrairiePlantgirl]

Bill Gray yes. Mold is part of decomposition. That’s what you are trying to accomplish. Mix it in and all those good bacteria will love it.

[@michaelgraham768]

What about a pile of only coffee grounds? Wouldn't it heat up very well and break down even faster because of the small particle size?

[@aroyale15]

Michael Graham you still need carbon source. I use about 75% coffee grounds for my nitrogen and wood chips for carbon source.

[@michaelgraham768]

I understand that, however I put a bag of coffee grounds (same one Luke had in the video, from starbucks) directly on plain clay ground and it broke down really well over about a week and a half. Of course the coffee on top took longer but I didn't turn it at all.

[@burtonblazekbb]

No It'd be anaerobic and fungal dominated

[@michaelgraham768]

But does it matter if you get humus at the end? It's still technically compost since compost is just decayed organic matter used as olant fertilizer (according to google) it's still technically a really fast compost

[@robtdougherty]

If you had a big pile and you watered it and turned it it would probably work just fine HOWEVER! with that much nitrogen it would get EXTREMELY hot and therefore you would have to turn it daily to keep it under control of you might run the risk of it catching fire. yes thats right catching fire. like a wet haybale... try it and let us know!

[@VQ1whales]

I wonder if the worms get buzzed up on the caffeine

[@wheebke]

Hey Luke! How do i know that i have a imbalance? And im a Little confused - your compost Looks like there is looots of Grass clippings (nitrogen) and only Little leafs (carbon). Now you are Addict more nitrogen through the coffee- isnt there now much to high nitrogen?

[@florecita619ify]

You can tell he really loves that shirt cause he’s worn it in two videos already lmaooo