The Urban Farmer’s Almanac

Leaves, coffee grounds, and burlap bags -- hopefully the ingredients to a well-fed garden next spring.

I’ve mentioned a few times that we’re preparing the gardens for the winter these days. It is a process with a few steps, starting with some basic hunting and gathering. It starts down at Caffe Vita, the local hipster coffeeshop / roaster, who are glad to part with the burlap sacks their unroasted beans come in. (At least when the baristas know what I’m talking about). Another stop is Starbucks, where they conveniently bag up “Grounds for Your Garden.” You don’t even have to feel bad about not buying anything because it’s right by the front door. Then it’s down the street with my rake and a garbage can to do an anonymous good deed by raking up someone’s leaves from the street (and benefit by getting good mulch for my garden, especially since our plum tree is holding on to it’s leaves a little longer this year.)

I’ve been putting down a pretty thick layer of leaves over the dirt, then sprinkling on a bag of coffee grounds, and then covering it up with the burlap. Toss on a couple rocks or bricks to keep it in place for the winter, and you’re set to go. I don’t know if I should do anything else, like mix it all in to the top layer of soil, so I’m just going to let it be unless anyone has any ideas.