Sorry if this is slightly OT

My elderly Mother empties teapot down kitchen sink several times a day
claiming tea leaves clear the drain and that a slight gurgling after running
water is the sign of clear drains.She can offer no evidence on these
thoughts but has been emptying pots down for 40 years so she says must be
OK.

The reason I have posted this to the gardening group is my Mother is a keen
gardener and if I can convince her to use the tea leaves for compost heap or
garden she will use them for this purpose but says she will still put some
down sink to clear it !

Any thoughts on suitability for using tea leaves in garden etc or for
clearing sink drain ?

Thanks.

Martin

Martin22/3/04 5:51

Sorry if this is slightly OT

My elderly Mother empties teapot down kitchen sink several times a day
claiming tea leaves clear the drain and that a slight gurgling after running
water is the sign of clear drains.She can offer no evidence on these
thoughts but has been emptying pots down for 40 years so she says must be
OK.

The reason I have posted this to the gardening group is my Mother is a keen
gardener and if I can convince her to use the tea leaves for compost heap or
garden she will use them for this purpose but says she will still put some
down sink to clear it !

Any thoughts on suitability for using tea leaves in garden etc or for
clearing sink drain ?

Thanks.

Martin


"From Peet's Coffee and Tea

Using coffee and tea residues
Urban and rural farmers (and gardeners) are finding that organic residues
like used coffee grounds and tea leaves provide valuable nutrients and
soil-amending capability.
Practice and research has shown that:
Earthworms seem to have a particular affinity for coffee grounds; using
coffee grounds in your compost pile, worm box or as mulch will attract these
helpful creatures.
Coffee grounds and used tea leaves are acidic. Use them around acid-loving
plants, or mix with a little ground limestone for plants needing a neutral
or alkaline soil.
An excellent source of nitrogen, coffee grounds and tea leaves are
considered "green" sources in composting. Carbon sources such as dried
leaves and straw are considered "brown" and should be used in larger
quantities than the green materials. The nitrogen-rich coffee grounds will
kickstart the composting process.
Samples of our coffee grounds have shown a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 25:1,
which is the ideal range for composting.
Where appropriate, these residues can be used as a soil amendment. A soil
test (usually available from your local extension service) lets you know
what nutrient levels are too low or too high. Experiment with small
quantities of coffee grounds and tea leaves to bring your soil into balance.
The addition of coffee grounds can help loosen up heavy clay soil.
Coffee grounds are NOT recommended for container plants because of their
salt level.
Experiments with coffee and tea residues
We've been working with farmers and researchers to find new and innovative
uses for our coffee and tea residues.
A farmer near Davis, California has been tilling our used coffee grounds
into his heavy alkaline soil. The "acidic" grounds are lowering the pH and
improving the tilth of the soil. He recommends a soil test to determine the
pH of your soil.
A soil scientist has developed a fertilizer using coffee grounds as the
basic ingredient. Using our nutrient analysis, he was able to add other
plant-based material to come up with a balanced-nutrient blend.
A company that makes a compost catalyst uses coffee grounds and tea leaves
to enhance the final product. This catalyst speeds up the composting process
and makes it more efficient.
Gardeners are reporting that their roses, rhododendrons, azaleas, berries,
potatoes fare much better when coffee grounds are added to the soil. Start
with small quantities and experiment.
Commercial composters are picking up food scraps (including coffee grounds
and tea leaves) and composting them along with yard trimmings on a grand
scale in California's Central Valley. The compost is offered to local
farmers at a low cost. One composter offers a certain percentage of the
finished product free to local school and community gardens."





My grandparents always threw tea leaves onto the ground around their roses
and they did the same with soot. Tea leaves down the drain result only in
blocked drains, IME!
PS Banana skins are said to be good for roses, too.
--

Sacha
(remove the weeds to email me)

Martin22/3/04 5:51

Sorry if this is slightly OT

My elderly Mother empties teapot down kitchen sink several times a day
claiming tea leaves clear the drain and that a slight gurgling after running
water is the sign of clear drains.She can offer no evidence on these
thoughts but has been emptying pots down for 40 years so she says must be
OK.

The reason I have posted this to the gardening group is my Mother is a keen
gardener and if I can convince her to use the tea leaves for compost heap or
garden she will use them for this purpose but says she will still put some
down sink to clear it !

Any thoughts on suitability for using tea leaves in garden etc or for
clearing sink drain ?

Thanks.

Martin


"From Peet's Coffee and Tea

Using coffee and tea residues
Urban and rural farmers (and gardeners) are finding that organic residues
like used coffee grounds and tea leaves provide valuable nutrients and
soil-amending capability.
Practice and research has shown that:
Earthworms seem to have a particular affinity for coffee grounds; using
coffee grounds in your compost pile, worm box or as mulch will attract these
helpful creatures.
Coffee grounds and used tea leaves are acidic. Use them around acid-loving
plants, or mix with a little ground limestone for plants needing a neutral
or alkaline soil.
An excellent source of nitrogen, coffee grounds and tea leaves are
considered "green" sources in composting. Carbon sources such as dried
leaves and straw are considered "brown" and should be used in larger
quantities than the green materials. The nitrogen-rich coffee grounds will
kickstart the composting process.
Samples of our coffee grounds have shown a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 25:1,
which is the ideal range for composting.
Where appropriate, these residues can be used as a soil amendment. A soil
test (usually available from your local extension service) lets you know
what nutrient levels are too low or too high. Experiment with small
quantities of coffee grounds and tea leaves to bring your soil into balance.
The addition of coffee grounds can help loosen up heavy clay soil.
Coffee grounds are NOT recommended for container plants because of their
salt level.
Experiments with coffee and tea residues
We've been working with farmers and researchers to find new and innovative
uses for our coffee and tea residues.
A farmer near Davis, California has been tilling our used coffee grounds
into his heavy alkaline soil. The "acidic" grounds are lowering the pH and
improving the tilth of the soil. He recommends a soil test to determine the
pH of your soil.
A soil scientist has developed a fertilizer using coffee grounds as the
basic ingredient. Using our nutrient analysis, he was able to add other
plant-based material to come up with a balanced-nutrient blend.
A company that makes a compost catalyst uses coffee grounds and tea leaves
to enhance the final product. This catalyst speeds up the composting process
and makes it more efficient.
Gardeners are reporting that their roses, rhododendrons, azaleas, berries,
potatoes fare much better when coffee grounds are added to the soil. Start
with small quantities and experiment.
Commercial composters are picking up food scraps (including coffee grounds
and tea leaves) and composting them along with yard trimmings on a grand
scale in California's Central Valley. The compost is offered to local
farmers at a low cost. One composter offers a certain percentage of the
finished product free to local school and community gardens."





My grandparents always threw tea leaves onto the ground around their roses
and they did the same with soot. Tea leaves down the drain result only in
blocked drains, IME!
PS Banana skins are said to be good for roses, too.
--

Sacha
(remove the weeds to email me)

Martin22/3/04 5:51

Sorry if this is slightly OT

My elderly Mother empties teapot down kitchen sink several times a day
claiming tea leaves clear the drain and that a slight gurgling after running
water is the sign of clear drains.She can offer no evidence on these
thoughts but has been emptying pots down for 40 years so she says must be
OK.

The reason I have posted this to the gardening group is my Mother is a keen
gardener and if I can convince her to use the tea leaves for compost heap or
garden she will use them for this purpose but says she will still put some
down sink to clear it !

Any thoughts on suitability for using tea leaves in garden etc or for
clearing sink drain ?

Thanks.

Martin


"From Peet's Coffee and Tea

Using coffee and tea residues
Urban and rural farmers (and gardeners) are finding that organic residues
like used coffee grounds and tea leaves provide valuable nutrients and
soil-amending capability.
Practice and research has shown that:
Earthworms seem to have a particular affinity for coffee grounds; using
coffee grounds in your compost pile, worm box or as mulch will attract these
helpful creatures.
Coffee grounds and used tea leaves are acidic. Use them around acid-loving
plants, or mix with a little ground limestone for plants needing a neutral
or alkaline soil.
An excellent source of nitrogen, coffee grounds and tea leaves are
considered "green" sources in composting. Carbon sources such as dried
leaves and straw are considered "brown" and should be used in larger
quantities than the green materials. The nitrogen-rich coffee grounds will
kickstart the composting process.
Samples of our coffee grounds have shown a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 25:1,
which is the ideal range for composting.
Where appropriate, these residues can be used as a soil amendment. A soil
test (usually available from your local extension service) lets you know
what nutrient levels are too low or too high. Experiment with small
quantities of coffee grounds and tea leaves to bring your soil into balance.
The addition of coffee grounds can help loosen up heavy clay soil.
Coffee grounds are NOT recommended for container plants because of their
salt level.
Experiments with coffee and tea residues
We've been working with farmers and researchers to find new and innovative
uses for our coffee and tea residues.
A farmer near Davis, California has been tilling our used coffee grounds
into his heavy alkaline soil. The "acidic" grounds are lowering the pH and
improving the tilth of the soil. He recommends a soil test to determine the
pH of your soil.
A soil scientist has developed a fertilizer using coffee grounds as the
basic ingredient. Using our nutrient analysis, he was able to add other
plant-based material to come up with a balanced-nutrient blend.
A company that makes a compost catalyst uses coffee grounds and tea leaves
to enhance the final product. This catalyst speeds up the composting process
and makes it more efficient.
Gardeners are reporting that their roses, rhododendrons, azaleas, berries,
potatoes fare much better when coffee grounds are added to the soil. Start
with small quantities and experiment.
Commercial composters are picking up food scraps (including coffee grounds
and tea leaves) and composting them along with yard trimmings on a grand
scale in California's Central Valley. The compost is offered to local
farmers at a low cost. One composter offers a certain percentage of the
finished product free to local school and community gardens."





My grandparents always threw tea leaves onto the ground around their roses
and they did the same with soot. Tea leaves down the drain result only in
blocked drains, IME!
PS Banana skins are said to be good for roses, too.
--

Sacha
(remove the weeds to email me)