Use leftovers to make a soup
This is one of the most common ways to use food scraps, but there are a few things to remember about making stock. First, not every scrap is meant for stock, stick to food scraps like garlic, onion skins, carrot peels, herbs stems and the like; otherwise you run the risk of your stock having a dissonant flavour profile. Keep a bag in your freezer with all your stock scraps, once it’s full, make a pot; rinse and repeat this process forevermore!
Crush eggshells and feed your garden
People too often throw out eggshells, but instead, grind them in a blender or food processor and add to potting soil or sprinkle directly onto the garden. The eggshells offer a healthy dose of calcium in this powder form, which can even be mixed into human food for a mineral boost. Just be sure to grind the shells to a fine powder.
Grow Your Own
Often what we call scraps are the foundation of the new plant life; so instead of tossing romaine stems or scallion ends, put them in water and watch them sprout within days. Items like scallions and onions can be left in water and snipped directly for use in recipes; while items like romaine and avocado seeds should be started in water and then transferred to soil once they start to root. Citrus, pepper and squash seeds should be started directly in soil. FYI most of these seeds will grow into beautiful and fragrant houseplants, but with the limitations of the Canadian climate, don’t expect the plants to flower or produce fruit.
With that said, anything with a seed can be grown from scraps, where attention must be paid is on whether to start in water or soil.
Compost
WIth many people at home, cooking 50+% at home, many of us are noticing the amount of food that we waste; and while there are uses for a lot of the food we deem as “waste”, some stuff just isn’t plantable or make soup-able, so we compost. You can compost for your own planting needs, or you can compost within your municipality. When it comes to food waste, if it was once edible, it should NOT go in the garbage.
Gear Up For Growing Food At Home
LED Grow Lights (click for more info)
Grow Bulbs (click for more info)