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Old December 24, 2016   #2
habitat_gardener
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: California Central Valley
Posts: 2,539
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I've used coffee grounds to build soil, too. The main problem is that they repel water if placed more than a quarter inch thick, whether on the ground or in a compost bin. No problem if you mix them with soil etc as they're added. I got my grounds from coffee shops in big bags, and often they had lumps. I did spend time breaking up the lumps.

A permaculture garden I've visited used free coffee grounds and free hay or straw to build soil on a steep dry hillside, then planted fruit trees and vegetables. So if you have a lot of space and something to mix with, probably using lots is ok.

I mostly use rinse water (both from rinsing greens from the garden and occasionally from rinsing dishes) in the compost bin, but have used it on some plants if there weren't too many particles or bugs. I like to rinse the container we've made soy yogurt in and add that rinse water to compost -- a few extra microbes.
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