by Nathan Steigman, St. Paul, MN

OK. Most of us would agree that recycling and "sustainable" lifestyles are steps toward saving the planet. Each in our own way, we are responsible for and can benefit from simple actions. For my small part, I recycle our plastic/paper/aluminum/glass; try to eat organic foods often and consider how much gas I use traveling from point A to point B. I’m not the best proverbial example of living simply, but I try.

Did I mention I enjoy Peace Coffee? It seems that I drink a lot of Peace Coffee or rather share a lot of coffee with my family, friends and neighbors. I like it a bit on the strong and flavorful side, which means I might use a bit more grounds than normal people. To give you an idea, most coffee shop coffee tastes like tea to me.

I was reading a while ago that used coffee grounds are a great way to amend your garden. For plants that thrive on acidic-soil - rodadendrum, yews, rhubarb, raspberry and blueberry bushes - used coffee grounds contain a residual amount of acid that breaks down nicely without much tiling in our Minnesota climate. I read this while drinking a cup of Peace Coffee. A great solution was actually in my hand.

Last summer, I was compelled to purchase one of the new stainless steel step-trash cans for my kitchen. When I purchased this new trashcan, that purchase also came with a miniature version of the tall parent. I considered that this baby can fit nicely into a lower kitchen cabinet and could be used to store my used coffee grounds. Why not give it a try?

Over nearly the past three seasons of home coffee consumption (fall, winter into spring), I’ve collected several pounds of used Peace Coffee grounds (Sumatran, Colombian, etc. – the full spectrum including specialized blends). I distributed my used grounds primarily over my blueberry bushes that I planted in the late summer of last year.

There are essentially 7 bushes (5 different varieties including Polaris, Northblue and Northernberry); I doubled up on a few in one corner of my yard. The understanding I had is that most of these blueberry bushes produce fruit in different months, but essentially I needed two different types in order to see them flower. Through the amending of the soil over time, layering chaff over the ground as additional and efficient mulch, I’ve prepped the bushes to produce a fair amount of berries and ensure positive growth this season.

Peace Coffee has always been a great ecological source for 100% Fair Trade beans. The organic and sustainable practices of the product and the people who work there are great reasons why I continue to drink Peace Coffee. The benefits to my garden are ever-growing and green. It shows!

Thanks to the fine folks at Peace Coffee!

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Nathan Steigman is a loyal Peace Coffee customer living in St. Paul.

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