Community Engagement

October 1, 2023
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F: Going Green at 70

Hello Green Beans,

Today, let’s get into re-using stuff. Re-using, re-purposing, re-inventing is one of the best things we can do for the environment.

We need to stop throwing things out and the first step to achieving that goal is to be prudent when we buy. Think before you buy.

Jeanne Armstrong · CBC News · Posted: Aug 20, 2023 a story about Jim Allison, a woodworker from New Brunswick who was asked by a friend if he wanted their old piano. He agreed, thinking there would be some good wood he could use. That turned into transforming old pianos into jewelry boxes, miniature furniture, and even musical instruments.

That’s a cool story but I’m sure there are many more stories so before you toss something in the bin or take it to the dump – stop and think, could anybody use this. How many times do we need to hear - one person’s trash, is another person’s treasure!

Let’s get a little more basic. I started saving bottle caps to use as irrigation – just toss a bunch in the bottom of a plant pot (obviously a small pot) and then fill the pot with soil.

Or how about all the things you can do with coffee. I know I mentioned One Good Thing by Jillee before but she’s worth re-mentioning. I look forward to her emails every morning. Recently she offered the following ideas on coffee:

Dry out the coffee grounds in the oven, once dry put them in a bowl in your refrigerator or freezer to tackle odours. I use a French Press coffee maker so it’s easy to get those grounds.
I started putting coffee grounds at the base of my hydrangea; I’m a bit of an optimist but I think the blooms are bigger. Also good for azaleas and rhododendrons.
Enrich your composter with phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, and copper; all in coffee.
If you have ants, try sprinkling old coffee grounds in discreet areas or sprinkle them directly on ant hills themselves. They can also repel snails and slugs, too.
This one I will try – I have some lovely neighbourhood cats who like to use some of my shrubs as their own personal litter box. Mix used coffee grounds with chopped orange peels and sprinkle the mixture liberally around your garden and flowerbeds. Seems the scent of coffee grounds and citrus might well send them back to their own bathrooms.
I don’t have a dog so can’t vouch for this one. After shampooing your dog’s fur, rub 1 to 2 cups of coffee grounds into the fur and rinse well. Apparently, it will help kill any fleas that may be hiding in their fur, and they’ll feel silky smooth afterward! Again, no dog has confirmed this result with me but it might be worth a try! Do it outside though, coffee grounds can clog your drain.

Never lose a holy curiosity. Stop every day to understand and appreciate a little of the mystery that surrounds you and your life will be filled with awe and discovery to the very end.  —Albert Einstein

Stay tuned for future ideas on how to re-use ― we’re just getting started!

Stay Green