A friend recently told me that Starbucks has a Grounds for you Garden program and I found it is true. I have gone to about 5 different Starbucks and asked for the used grounds....I have been given anywhere from 2 pounds to 25 pounds of used coffee grounds which I have mixed into my garden soil which need lots of organic matter....clay and sand. I usually order a small coffee when I go in and all the people in the stores have been great, even taking it out to my car for me if they are not too busy. I am not sure how much benefit the grounds will do but I don't think it can hurt. If anyone has any comments about the use of coffee grounds as a soil additive, please let me know. Thanks.
Grounds for your Garden
It is true - I have also sound that most places will save their tea bags for you if you leave a little bucket or bag and are faithful to pick them up (cannot take a week off or they forget!)
sweetarlene, my experience has been exactly as yours with respect to starbucks. I do make it a point to buy something, to make it a tit-for-tat kinda thing, lol.
Maybe it's happening in your area too. In mine, new Starbucks-like coffee places are popping up all over the place. I plan to hit them up for some grounds as well.
Oh yeah they are happy to give them to you.
Don't drink coffee here...but my daughter requires IV feedings to wake up for school and work--I've asked her a million times to ask them for grounds since she goes there nearly every day--she looked at me as if mortified by the thought. I guess swiping bags of leaves is one thing but apparently I went beyond the line in the sand when I asked the 17 year old to ask for coffee grounds.....
Debbie
The Starbucks up here (Frisco area) only collect & bag grounds during the "growing" season. I asked for some for my compost pile back in December & was looked at like I was nuts.
Debbie - that is TOO funny about the drip for your daughter. My oldest is the same way.
sanditx, ocassionally you will get some surly teenager with that attitude. Next time you go ask again, a different person, and I bet you'll get results.
vossner, I actually got that response from several back during winter. We're getting a Starbucks here in Little Elm, so I'll make sure they're trained from the start. :)
We have Starbucks here, I need to make a coffee stop and ask them.
Coffee grounds release nitrogen into the soil.
Also, they are great for all your acid-loving plants -
hydrangeas, azaleas, all your evergreens...
Cutworms hate them and won't cross them, grubs
don't like them either. Worms LOVE them.
That's all I know. I'm off to Starbucks. Thanks.
At some Starbucks, you don't need to ask (or feel as though you have to buy a cup of coffee in return), they leave them bagged up in a metal bucket near the door. Sometimes, when I'm lucky, there will be 3-5 bags waiting for someone to pick up. Not all do this, but some do. It's a fast and easy way to get free grounds.
Carla
Woohoooo! I stopped at the Starbucks behind my subdivision on the way home last night and, to my delighted surprise, found four 10lb bags of used espresso grounds neatly bagged and waiting for pick up. My flowerbeds will be sooooooo happy. Thank you, Starbucks.
Carla
Wow, that's a neat idea! Thanks for sharing it!
Right Carla,
I was going to say they have a specially made bag to give them out in. They will have a bucket they keep the extras in, but all you need to do is ask if it is empty and they will bag some for you. I don't think they throw any away unless they get really backed up. They are fine, really rich and smell so wonderful too!!!