Alternatives to store-bought fertilizer are all around you

BY JESSICA DAMIANO

https://apnews.com/article/plants-gardening-homemade-fertilizer-e3271f22cc56d30bc525df9e2ec73a9f

As soil amendment costs rise, home gardeners are adopting cost-effective, nutrient-rich alternatives for their plants. Leaving grass clippings on lawns after mowing provides a natural source of nitrogen, although they shouldn’t be used in garden beds. Composting kitchen scraps like fruit and vegetable peelings enriches soil and improves its quality.

Fish-based fertilizers are beneficial but costly. Affordable alternatives include using whole fish, fish scraps, or homemade fish emulsion from byproducts. This can be sourced from fishing activities or at low cost from fishmongers. Nutrient-rich water from used fish tanks, boiled vegetables, and eggs can also be repurposed for gardening instead of being discarded. Grinding eggshells and banana peels provides a natural source of calcium and potassium for the soil. Finally, a homemade yeast brew made from bread yeast, sugar, and water, is an inexpensive way to release beneficial nitrogen, phytohormones, amino acids, and enzymes into the soil, promoting plant growth and soil health.

Discover the future of waste management with composting free technology

Handling organic waste properly can be challenging due to the unpleasant smell and dirty water produced during the composting process. Despite the availability of various composting technologies and equipment in the market, time and pollution remain significant concerns. However, a novel technology that combines patented equipment and enzymes offers a potential solution. This innovative approach can convert organic waste into fertilizer in just a few hours, and most importantly, without causing pollution.