Coffee Ground

Coffee ground can be used as a fertilizer. Coffee grounds can be added almost like a mulch around the plants in your garden. Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, plus they add organic matter to the soil, aerate it, and help with water retention. After brewing your coffee, simply add a few spoonfuls of grounds directly to the top of the soil around your plant. (Don't use grounds that haven't already been brewed-- these are too acidic and can hurt your plants).

Eggshells

Eggshells are packed with calcium, which is essential for plants. 

You can simply crush your shells over your soil (the sharp edges of the shells can also deter some snails and slugs.) or if you have a mostly intact eggshell, you can use it as a biodegradable seed-starter "pot." Gently fill it with dirt and a seed of your choice, then plant it in the ground once it's sprouted (bonus points if you use an old egg carton as a holder).

Banana Peel

Bananas are the gift that keeps on giving if you have a garden.

The peels can add nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium to the soil, making them a potent fertilizer. They can also help repel pesky pests like aphids. 

There are several ways to use banana peels in the garden: 

• place them directly around plants

• dry them and grind them up

• cut them up and bury them 1 to 2 inches below the soil

• roughly chop your banana peel, then soak it in water for at least five hours. Strain this mixture through a sieve and use the nutrient-packed liquid you get to water your plants.

Cooking Water

Boil or steam some vegetables? Cook some pasta?

Don't dump the water down the drain; you can actually use it to water the plants in your garden (or in your home). When you boil foods, some of their nutrients leach into the water. Nutrient-rich foods like vegetables can leave nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium and more in your cooking water. Using this to water your plants in your garden is a two-for-one: your plants get the hydration they need, plus some nourishment. And it gives a use to water that would be otherwise wasted.

Make sure to let the water cool down prior to watering your plants...