How Can I Reuse Food Scraps?

Reusing trash and recyclables is great for the environment, and frugal as well, but it can be difficult to know where to begin. In this series of articles, I will be examining the possibilities of reuse available for a number a different items, including crafts and other options.

Of course, food scraps aren't really considered a recyclable item, and most, if not all of them can be composted. Composting is important because even though many people might assume that anything that can be composted will rot and break down, not taking up much room in a landfill. This is often not the case, since trash bags usually prevent these natural processes from taking place. So, if you don't compost food scraps, you should start, but there are other options for reusing a number of them.

-Egg shells can be reused a number of different ways. They make good seed starting pots for small seedlings. The crushed shells can be put on top of the soil in potted houseplants for a boost of minerals and calcium. If you happen to have chickens, the shells can be fed back to them to help with they're calcium requirements. Of course, there's always the old stand by of dyeing or painting the shells to make beautiful decorations.

-Coffee grounds are great to use around plants like holly or blueberries that thrive in acidic soil. They can be mixed with the mulch on the ground around the base of the plant or turned into the soil at the time of planting. They can also scrub foul odors like onions and garlic off of hands and cutting boards. You could also use them to dye paper or fabric to give it an antique look to use in crafts.

-Citrus peels are wonderfully scented and very useful. Fill a jar with orange or lemon peels, cover it with vodka with a high alcohol content and remember to shake it well every other day or so. After a few weeks, you will have a very citrus scented liquid. Strain out the solids and use this liquid to flavor frostings or dips, mix it with water for a lovely body or linen spray, spray it on thresholds or under counters for a safe insect repellent, or add a few drops to a cup of tea for a special treat.

-Fruit and vegetable peels of all kinds are great for potpourri when dried in a dehydrator and mixed with flowers or other ingredients. Some, such as citrus, apples, and peach, add scent as well as pretty looks, but even those with less of an odor can still be used as pretty bulk, such as yellow summer squash, and carrot peelings.

-Clean vegetable peels and ends can be collected in a container in the freezer until there's enough to use for flavoring a stock. Things like carrot peels and trimmings, onion trimmings, garlic trimmings, and celery leaves and ends are ideal for this.

-Apple peels and cores can also be used to make jelly and vinegar as well. Please see my articles here and here to learn more about this.

Beyond composting, there are many uses for ordinary household food scraps in crafting, cooking, and around the house.