Square Foot Gardening Forum
[table bgcolor=#000000 height=275][tr][td]
Coffee Grounds C or N? Toplef10Coffee Grounds C or N? 1zd3ho10

Hello Guest!
Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum.
There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.

Coffee Grounds C or N? I22gcj10Coffee Grounds C or N? 14dhcg10

[/td][/tr][/table]

Join the forum, it's quick and easy

Square Foot Gardening Forum
[table bgcolor=#000000 height=275][tr][td]
Coffee Grounds C or N? Toplef10Coffee Grounds C or N? 1zd3ho10

Hello Guest!
Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum.
There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.

Coffee Grounds C or N? I22gcj10Coffee Grounds C or N? 14dhcg10

[/td][/tr][/table]
Square Foot Gardening Forum
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.
Search
 
 

Display results as :
 

 


Rechercher Advanced Search

Latest topics
» Onions. Walk on?
by OhioGardener Today at 9:25 am

» Bokashi
by OhioGardener Today at 8:13 am

» New to SFG and in Virgina
by sanderson Today at 1:38 am

» Compost bins: Open vs. closed
by Scorpio Rising Yesterday at 10:38 am

» Recommended store bought compost - Photos of composts
by sanderson 3/26/2024, 5:56 pm

» 6 metal trellis frames
by docachna 3/25/2024, 4:31 pm

» N & C Midwest: March and April 2024
by Scorpio Rising 3/24/2024, 3:01 pm

» What Have You Picked From Your Garden Today
by OhioGardener 3/24/2024, 1:28 pm

» Senseless Banter...
by OhioGardener 3/23/2024, 6:02 pm

» Joann's fabric bankruptcy
by neefer 3/23/2024, 12:33 am

» New gardener from Santa Fe NM
by CantersVary 3/22/2024, 7:50 pm

» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by KiwiSFGnewbie 3/22/2024, 5:07 pm

» Heat Mat Temperature Test
by OhioGardener 3/22/2024, 2:09 pm

» Victory Garden Reboot
by Scorpio Rising 3/22/2024, 11:53 am

» Mark's first SFG
by sanderson 3/22/2024, 11:43 am

» Commercial (bagged or bulk) compost question
by Mikesgardn 3/21/2024, 7:09 pm

» Think Spring 2024
by Scorpio Rising 3/20/2024, 10:34 am

» Fire Ring / Round Raised Bed Planter
by sanderson 3/19/2024, 4:51 pm

» Galvanized Fire Ring for Rhubarb Raised Beds?
by OhioGardener 3/18/2024, 10:34 am

» Happy St. Patrick's Day
by Scorpio Rising 3/17/2024, 5:54 pm

» Happy Birthday!!
by Scorpio Rising 3/11/2024, 10:28 am

» What are you eating from your garden today?
by Scorpio Rising 3/10/2024, 8:38 pm

» Why I love Oregano in the garden.
by OhioGardener 3/10/2024, 8:16 am

» Comfrey
by OhioGardener 3/9/2024, 6:07 pm

» Sealing Barrels Flowers Struggling-Need Ideas
by Turan 3/9/2024, 3:09 pm

» Hello again from a slightly different part of Central PA!
by sanderson 3/9/2024, 1:46 pm

» Chicken manure compost
by Oopsiedaisy 3/8/2024, 7:56 pm

» Chinese Broccoli
by sanderson 3/7/2024, 10:28 pm

» Heat Mat Lifespan
by Scorpio Rising 3/7/2024, 9:33 am

» Now is The Time To Take Seed Inventory
by OhioGardener 3/6/2024, 4:36 pm

Google

Search SFG Forum

Coffee Grounds C or N?

+3
camprn
llama momma
morganfam7
7 posters

Go down

Coffee Grounds C or N? Empty Coffee Grounds C or N?

Post  morganfam7 3/22/2012, 12:55 am

Are coffee grounds Carbon (brown) or Nitrogen (green)? My guess is Nitrogen.
morganfam7
morganfam7

Female Posts : 111
Join date : 2012-02-29
Location : Grand Prairie zone 7b/8a

Back to top Go down

Coffee Grounds C or N? Empty Re: Coffee Grounds C or N?

Post  llama momma 3/22/2012, 6:08 am

According to a composting book I have, "coffee grounds have a C/N ratio of 20/1, making them a worthy substitute for fresh grass clippings..."
llama momma
llama momma

Certified SFG Instructor

Female Posts : 4921
Join date : 2010-08-20
Location : Central Ohio zone 6a

Back to top Go down

Coffee Grounds C or N? Empty Re: Coffee Grounds C or N?

Post  camprn 3/22/2012, 6:57 am

A few carbon to nitrogen ratios

____________________________

43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost

There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books



Coffee Grounds C or N? WxBanner?bannertype=wu_clean2day_cond&airportcode=KEEN&ForcedCity=Keene&ForcedState=NH&zipcode=03431&language=EN
camprn
camprn

Forum Moderator Certified SFG Teacher

Female Posts : 14169
Join date : 2010-03-06
Age : 61
Location : Keene, NH, USA ~ Zone 5a

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-week

Back to top Go down

Coffee Grounds C or N? Empty Re: Coffee Grounds C or N?

Post  Too Tall Tomatoes 3/22/2012, 7:32 am

camprn wrote:A few carbon to nitrogen ratios

Hey....thanks for that link Coffee Grounds C or N? 3170584802
Too Tall Tomatoes
Too Tall Tomatoes

Male Posts : 1069
Join date : 2011-10-24
Age : 53
Location : Pennsylvania, Zone 6A

Back to top Go down

Coffee Grounds C or N? Empty Re: Coffee Grounds C or N?

Post  morganfam7 3/22/2012, 9:07 pm

campryn, thanks for the link!

I was taught 20+ years ago in a master composter class that anything that had just been growing (other than branches) was Nitrogen (greens)...so fresh grass clippings are N (green). Once it dried out it was more C (brown). That site lists grass clippings, like TTT says, just like coffeegrounds 20 C: 1 N.

High C:N ratios may be lowered by adding grass clippings or manures.

So, it appears that even though grass clippings are listed at 20:1 they are still a green..uh..right? Coffee grounds are then a green? I think I just need a list of greens. I think I've been talking about one thing and that site is talking about another thing. I think I should change my terms to greens and browns. If someone sees where I'm missing it, I would appreciate it.

What to add to the compost now to get it to heat up? Coffee Grounds C or N? 601593

I started with big mulch:

Coffee Grounds C or N? 6844594640_e362131981

added a case of rotten pears, our kitchen produce waste, some goat manure and bedding (half a kitchen trashbag), about 10# coffee grounds, 1/4 c molasses, a black trash bag of fresh mown grass, a box of moth infested cornstarch, egg shells..am I lacking carbon or nitrogen? Here it was on the 17th:

Coffee Grounds C or N? 6991489539_a5606d7d4c

and tonight:

Coffee Grounds C or N? 7007216863_07dfeb29a1

here's the leftovers pile tonight (for reference against the above picture - all mixed at the same time and filled the tumbler half full):
Coffee Grounds C or N? 7007215723_44df80fea0

We continue to add kitchen scraps and tumbling. It's apparently breaking down, but I've never found it hot yet. It doesn't smell bad, but it doesn't smell finished either.

Should I just ignore the mulch and add more coffee grounds and hair from the barber shop? Or just the hair?

Coffee Grounds C or N? 109486
morganfam7
morganfam7

Female Posts : 111
Join date : 2012-02-29
Location : Grand Prairie zone 7b/8a

Back to top Go down

Coffee Grounds C or N? Empty Re: Coffee Grounds C or N?

Post  camprn 3/22/2012, 9:15 pm

I hate to tell you this, but it looks like mulch. I suggest that you could screen all the large chunks out, set those aside and start over. My feeling is this would be less frustrating in the long run.

____________________________

43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost

There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books



Coffee Grounds C or N? WxBanner?bannertype=wu_clean2day_cond&airportcode=KEEN&ForcedCity=Keene&ForcedState=NH&zipcode=03431&language=EN
camprn
camprn

Forum Moderator Certified SFG Teacher

Female Posts : 14169
Join date : 2010-03-06
Age : 61
Location : Keene, NH, USA ~ Zone 5a

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-week

Back to top Go down

Coffee Grounds C or N? Empty Re: Coffee Grounds C or N?

Post  morganfam7 3/22/2012, 9:23 pm

Ok, well, I guess I will do that. Thanks!

I'll leave it in there and keep doing what we're doing now until I can gather the other ingredients. I can't get to any manure until things dry out. Should I add paper and cardboard to the hair and coffee grounds to build a hot pile?

I really wanted to incorporate the mulch in compost as much as possible because it's the easiest to get and it's free. I don't mind screening. I'm going to keep noodling around with ideas for the mulch while I make another pile. Thanks again!
morganfam7
morganfam7

Female Posts : 111
Join date : 2012-02-29
Location : Grand Prairie zone 7b/8a

Back to top Go down

Coffee Grounds C or N? Empty Re: Coffee Grounds C or N?

Post  camprn 3/22/2012, 9:29 pm

Here, take a look at the home composting section of these Cornell Composting Fact Sheets. Very Happy

____________________________

43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost

There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books



Coffee Grounds C or N? WxBanner?bannertype=wu_clean2day_cond&airportcode=KEEN&ForcedCity=Keene&ForcedState=NH&zipcode=03431&language=EN
camprn
camprn

Forum Moderator Certified SFG Teacher

Female Posts : 14169
Join date : 2010-03-06
Age : 61
Location : Keene, NH, USA ~ Zone 5a

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-week

Back to top Go down

Coffee Grounds C or N? Empty Re: Coffee Grounds C or N?

Post  morganfam7 3/22/2012, 9:30 pm

I just found this and it helps clear up some things for me:

Normal compost has a C:N ratio ranging from 25:1 to 30:1. This is considered the origin or dividing line for all organic materials.

Any organic matter that a C:N ratio smaller than 30:1 is considered a GREEN.



Any organic matter that a C:N ratio larger than 30:1 is considered a BROWN.

How do I know the difference between greens and browns?

There is a lot of good information there (for me at least).

Thanks for all the help! I'm going to get a hot pile one way or another! lol
morganfam7
morganfam7

Female Posts : 111
Join date : 2012-02-29
Location : Grand Prairie zone 7b/8a

Back to top Go down

Coffee Grounds C or N? Empty Re: Coffee Grounds C or N?

Post  morganfam7 3/22/2012, 11:24 pm

Ooops, sorry for getting it wrong. LlamaMamma thanks for looking it up. It's good to know that coffee grounds and grass can be interchangeable.
morganfam7
morganfam7

Female Posts : 111
Join date : 2012-02-29
Location : Grand Prairie zone 7b/8a

Back to top Go down

Coffee Grounds C or N? Empty Re: Coffee Grounds C or N?

Post  llama momma 3/23/2012, 6:20 am

That's ok, I should have first answered your question as 'green' before expanding on that other information!
llama momma
llama momma

Certified SFG Instructor

Female Posts : 4921
Join date : 2010-08-20
Location : Central Ohio zone 6a

Back to top Go down

Coffee Grounds C or N? Empty Re: Coffee Grounds C or N?

Post  GWN 3/23/2012, 10:11 am

This is an interesting thread.
Thanks for that link morganfamily.
I never heard about adding something sweet, which I am going to try.
I have a tumbler that I completely over did it with greens over the winter.
Really just vegetable waste. But now have decided I had to get serious, and have put in lots of leaves that have dried out over the winter, dry grasses, shredded paper.
I am turning it every few days hoping it will start to warm up.
GWN
GWN

Posts : 2804
Join date : 2012-01-14
Age : 67
Location : british columbia zone 5a

Back to top Go down

Coffee Grounds C or N? Empty Re: Coffee Grounds C or N?

Post  kittykat 3/23/2012, 11:16 am

I got a tumbler last year, too - I think in maybe May or so... You know, I'm still adding to my first tumbler load... LOL... it's taking forever. It's working, but it's taking forever... I think I need to stop adding stuff - hehe...

I did get 4 worm tubes made and have ordered red wrigglers. If I can put the bulk of my kitchen scraps into the worm tubes, maybe that will give the tumbler a chance to finally finish a batch of compost for me. Other than that, I was considering adding another tumbler so I could alternate, but space is an issue.
kittykat
kittykat

Posts : 194
Join date : 2012-03-18
Location : Coastal Britsh Columbia

Back to top Go down

Coffee Grounds C or N? Empty Re: Coffee Grounds C or N?

Post  AesSedai 3/23/2012, 11:55 am

- Good thread and thanks for the links all.

- kittykat: Jealous of the worm tubes! Also, when I was given my first compost tumbler I remember being told eventually I should get more to be able to rotate piles. I'm short on space too but intend to get at least one more (I left enough room between my fence line and SFG's to move my tumbler along the fence line for mowing the grass.. so I should be able to squeeze one or two more back there as well).
AesSedai
AesSedai

Male Posts : 10
Join date : 2012-02-25
Location : Arlington, TX - zone: 8a

Back to top Go down

Coffee Grounds C or N? Empty Re: Coffee Grounds C or N?

Post  morganfam7 3/23/2012, 6:32 pm

Thanks LlamaMamma, I was all up in my head about it and couldn't make good sense. lol Laughing

I'm brainstorming how to make this mulch turn into compost...anyone try bokashi composting?

I'm thinking about add that to my pile. It's supposed to be a super activator. Downside is it looks like I will have to do something to get the bran. I'm sure that I won't buy it due to cost. I'll probably start another thread with Bokashi in the headline - asking if anyone else uses it.

Very interesting. It's anaerobic and breaks down meats and fats and even bones.

Bokashi Composting a Simple Step by Step Guide for Composting Kitchen wastes

Try Bokashi Composting

Making Bokashi

Here's a page with pictures:

EM Bokashi
morganfam7
morganfam7

Female Posts : 111
Join date : 2012-02-29
Location : Grand Prairie zone 7b/8a

Back to top Go down

Coffee Grounds C or N? Empty Re: Coffee Grounds C or N?

Post  Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum