Reusing ~ do not throw food scraps into the trash bin! (part 3)

 For plant lovers

Eggshells are also very useful. When you use eggs to prepare meals, do not throw the shells. Wash them thoroughly and let them dry. Then, crush them. Either you may crush them to a dust-like consistence or you may crush them into small pieces and sprinkle around your plants to keep worms away. In any case, it acts as a fertilizer and helps to aerate soil (the same as coarse sand does). Eggshells provide calcium, which helps plants to absorb nutrients and prevents rottening in tomatoes.

WE ARE THE EXENNIALS

 We were born in the 50-60-70’s.

We grew up in the 60-70-80's.

We studied in the 70-80-90’s.

We discovered the world in the 70-80-90's.

We went to the ‘disco’ in the 70-80-90's.

We venture into the 80-90’s.

We stabilize in the 2000s.

We got wiser in the 2010s.

 

And we are moving firmly through 2020.

It turns out some of us have lived through more than EIGHT different decades! (We are not today’s elderly though)

 

TWO different centuries… 

TWO different millennia...

 

We have gone from telephones with an operator for long-distance calls to video calls to anywhere in the world, we have gone from slides to YouTube, from vinyl records to online music, from handwritten letters to email and WhatsApp.

From ‘living’ the football matches on the radio, to black and white TV, and then to HD TV.

We went to the Video Club and now we watch Netflix.

We got to know the first computers, punched cards, diskettes and now we have megabytes and gigabytes on our cell phones or IPads.

We wore long pants, oxfords, Bermuda shorts, baggies, skinny jeans…

We dodged infantile paralysis, meningitis, H1N1 flu and now COVID-19.

We rode skates, tricycles, invented cars, bicycles, mopeds, and gasoline or diesel cars and now some of us ride hybrids or 100% electric.

Yes, we have been through a lot but what a great life we have had!

 

They could describe us as exennials; people who were born in that world of the 50-60-70’s, who had an analog childhood and a digital adulthood.

We are kind of Ihaveseen-it-all.

Our generation has literally lived through and witnessed more than any other in every dimension of life.

Our generation has literally adapted to CHANGE.

 

A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF A VERY SPECIAL GENERATION, WHICH WILL BE UNIQUE.

 

SOURCE: the Web ~ translated and made a few changes to suit my generation

Reusing ~ do not throw food scraps into the trash bin! (part 2)

 For plant lovers – You can use some of your food scraps to fertilize your plants.

Take banana peels, for example. They are rich in potassium, iron, various vitamins, nitrogen, phosphorous, manganese and copper. Plants love it! And earth worms, too!

You can make banana tea by boiling three or four banana peels in water (make sure you are using water that does not contain chlorine, tap water usually does. You have to let it in the sun for a day and it is ready to use) for fifteen minutes. Let it cool, filter using a strainer and a piece of cloth and use it in 50/50 mixture with water (remember not to use tap water directly) to water your succulents. I store the banana tea in bottles to use when I need it. You can also water your veggies and flowers. Banana peels favor the formation of flowers and fruits. I water my succulents once a week using it. The string of hearts flowers all year round.

You can also put the peels in the oven and roast them until burnt. Then, you have to crush them until they are dust-like. I use the food processor. I mix the banana powder with soil I use to pot plants and in the cans where I have earthworms. They say it is aphrodisiac for them.

Reusing ~ do not throw food scraps into the trash bin! (part 1)

 Did you know you could reuse most of your food scraps to produce things you usually buy ready-made? It sounds too good, does not it? I will show you some tricks I have learned in the last few years.

Do you have plants? Either flowers, succulents or veggies, you can get some of their favorite soil free, using food scraps. Does any food serve this purpose? The answer is NO. Only vegetable scraps. Animal and byproducts from animal origin are not used and you must discard them separately.

As a rule, everything from vegetable origin can go into the compost pile. You can arrange it in your backyard by making a hole and putting all scraps there or you may use bricks or wooden boxes to contain the scraps. Even if you live in a flat, you may use a wooden or plastic box (they are selling plastic containers, which are far more elaborated). In case you use a plastic recipient, it must have some holes at the bottom to let the liquid get out. If not, the compost will smell terribly and will go bad. You can collect the liquid and use it as a fertilizer. After about three-four months, the food scraps have turned into compost, a soil-like matter. How does this happen? By the action of microorganisms. These little beings decompose the food scraps and turn them into the nutritious soil you buy in garden centers. You will save money and resources, recycle the waste you produce, enrich your soil and have beautiful and healthy plants.

TOWARDS WASTE ZERO ~ HOW TO START AT HOME

 We all know that we are producing more waste than ever before and it is becoming a HUGE problem. If you are one of those people who think big companies should start doing something, read on.

Three years ago, we started recycling food scraps instead of throwing them into the garbage bin. We pile all the veggies and fruit scraps and make compost. It is great for plants, a rich spongy soil full of nutrients. We dry eggshells and crush them to add to soil; make banana tea (to water succulents); roast banana peels in the oven, once roasted, I crush them, earthworms love it! We have greatly reduced waste. With citric peels, we prepare a cleaner we use to clean windows and furniture. We stopped using fabric conditioner and replaced it with vinegar (white vinegar). That is our little contribution to a better life. 

And you? Have you already started composting?

This is how food scraps looks like after 3-4 months

See the earthworms? They decompose the scraps and enrich the future compost

This is how compost looks like once strained

And those were the hard workers that made it possible (together with pill bugs and other insects)