IT’S said that the Sufi wise men of Yemen use coffee beans as a ‘food for the mind’ to stimulate their frenzied nocturnal devotions. I wouldn’t know – after 5 pm, I only drink caffeine-free herb tea (or neat gin), although I do use spent coffee as food for plants.
Mulching with coffee grounds isn’t new. Back in the 1980s, at a time when us Brits still thought Mellow Bird was a treat, I worked in a Bavarian hotel and regularly spread the moist black powder produced by coffee machines around the garden. For the Germans, proper coffee was the norm, as was recycling.
The cafes and kitchens recycled everything they could – glass, plastic, metal and even food waste went to feed the local pigs. And they would have hogged the coffee grounds, too, if I hadn’t snaffled them to use as a mulch.
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
Milady is a true beauty
Sow these asters now for a carpet of colour, says Ruth
Keeping cuttings healthy
Ruth pots them on and makes sure there are no problems
Multiple choice
For a quick way to get more from plants and save a packet, pick plants you can easily split into multiples, says Bob
Secret lives of bees
Val finds out some interesting facts from a new bee book
My favourite rare clematis
A handful of clematis varieties are immensely popular, yet there are many others that are equally beautiful though rarely seen. Christopher Lloyd picks out some of the best
Create a Mini Jungle
Have your borders hit the doldrums? Ever thought of creating a tropical theme in one of them? Anne Swithinbank has some great varieties for you to try
Appetite for destruction
Hungry herring gulls threaten Toby’s fish. Luckily, he has acquired a feathery plant that promises to save the day…
Be Tidy And Wildlife-Friendly!
Watching how gardens work as ecosystems is as fascinating as growing plants, but of course, we still want our outdoor spaces to look good.
Have Yourself A Rose-Tinted February!
Whether you want a gift for a loved-one or for your own patio, now is the ideal time for you to plant roses in containers, as Hazel Sillver explains…
Beginner's Guide To Growing Salad Leaves
Soup up your salads with lettuce and leaves that are easy, quick, tasty and cheap – a must for both novice and experienced veg growers alike, says Louise Curley
Visioning a Re-new-able Year
FLASHBACK: It’s December 31, 1999. Flushed from dancing, I’m perched on the steps of the Hilton Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, filled with anxiety about Y2K and the chaotic world around me.
CANADA OKS RETURN OF BOEING 737 MAX AIRCRAFT
The Boeing 737 Max can return to Canadian airspace beginning this week, officials said, concluding nearly two years of government review after the aircraft was involved in two deadly crashes that saw the planes grounded worldwide.
Built by Angels
My mother called to ask if I knew the story of the 11 churches carved from single stones in Ethiopia
APPRECILOVING THE HARMONY
DIVE DEEP INTO RASTAFARI PHILOSOPHY AND TRADITIONS AT THE RASTAFARI INDIGENOUS VILLAGE.
P-47 - This WW II warbird will make you an ace!
The P-47 Thunderbolt is one of the most iconic pursuit planes of WW II. Nicknamed “the Jug,” the Thunderbolt broke the mold when it first saw service. Crew members were astonished at the sheer size of the aircraft as it was much larger than other aircraft at the time. The P-47 swiftly became revered by both its pilots and the crew members that maintained it. It was an absolute hunting machine with eight .50 caliber machine guns and a maximum range of about 1,000 miles. It has been said that the P-47 is one of the best “heavy metal” warbirds to fly! Legend Hobby with Seagull Models offers the P-47 in several sizes, but this new 81-inch-span giant-scale version comes with a ton of scale features. I have always loved the P-47 and have wanted one in my RC hangar.
Salt Of The Earth
Salt has a life far beyond the dinner table. From land speed records to ancient lakes, this mineral is intimately tied to our lives and our land
Loretta Lynnos Brave Battle With Blindness
Country legend hit by glaucoma
Stevie Wonder Is Dying!
Fears kidney transplant won’t save music legend
New keg tracking solution for BGI's brewery in Ethiopia
Montelektro, a leading system integrator in the brewing industry,and 8Sigma, a premium MES provider delivered solution KegTNT (Keg Track&Trace) to a brewery in Addis Ababa.
ROOTED IN HISTORY
Winter is the best time to see the beauty of our ancient native trees. Here’s the story of these forces of nature, where to find them and how to preserve them