From the page: The shell that turns into gold in the garden
Idea 1
Ground limestone fertilizer
Since grandmothers' home gardens, eggshells have been returned to the earth as a natural amendment. It works because the shell is made almost entirely of calcium carbonate, the same mineral as the limestone used in agriculture: it nourishes the soil and helps reduce acidity little by little, as it degrades.
What you need
- Clean, dry eggshells
- A mortar, crusher or old blender
- A lidded glass jar to store the powder
- Fine sieve (optional, for a more uniform powder)
How to make it
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1
Wash the shells right after using the eggs and let them dry in the sun or near the stove for one or two days, because moisture attracts mold and makes grinding harder.
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2
Bake the shells in a low oven for about 10 minutes or toast them in a skillet: this makes the mineral more brittle and easier to grind really fine.
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3
Grind until it becomes powder or coarse flour, because large pieces take months to decompose and release the nutrients very slowly.
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4
Sift if you want a finer result, ideal for small pots and delicate seedlings.
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5
Store the powder in the closed jar, away from moisture, and it stays ready to use for many months.
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6
Spread one tablespoon per pot, lightly mixing it into the surface soil, every 30 days or whenever you replant.
Finishing touches
A spoonful at the bottom of the hole when planting tomatoes and peppers helps prevent blossom-end rot, that dark spot on the fruit caused by lack of calcium.
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