My Java Garden

I recently took my own advice and switched to a 'permanent' filter in my coffee maker. I thought I might try recycling the grounds in the garden and stop throwing old coffee and filters in the trash. Now, instead of filling the landfill, I was wasting water by washing out the permanent coffee filter.

My sister laughed and reminded me that if I wanted to add the old coffee to the garden, I could dump both the coffee and the paper filter there. Sure enough, when I walked out with the full, and wet, paper filter (unbleached, of course) it started to fall apart before I could bury it. I don't have much luck with composting, but coffee seemed to be an easy and plentiful organic material to handle.

I will probably be taking the permanent coffee filter out as one of my Green Short Cuts. It wastes water. Also, the paper filters are dirt cheap (sorry) when on sale, usually 2 for 1. I'll keep the permanent filter for the days when I run out of paper filters. And my garden is starting to smell really cool.