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November 12, 2020 Sustainability

5 Creative Ways to Give your Scraps a Second Life

Photo: @alysonsimplygrows

At Plantd.co, nothing makes us smile more than sustainable plant-based recipes made from deliciously fresh veggies! While we always try our best to enjoy every bit of our produce, life can get busy, and sometimes a well thought out plan for a week of tasty produce can quickly lead to wilted herbs in the fridge or a very full compost bin. 

While composting your veggie scraps is an excellent way to keep your food-waste from entering landfills, not all food scraps should be tossed right away! 

Here are 5 creative ways to give your food-waste a second life:

1. Grow Veggies From Their Scraps

Photo: @ourecofriendlylife

Growing veggies from their scraps isn’t just sustainable, it also helps save money, AND is super fun! Give these 3 food scraps a try and you’ll always have fresh green goodness right at home.

Green Onions: Place roots/ bottom portion of the onion in a glass of water next to a sunny window. Replace the water regularly. Use green stems as they grow, or plant in the soil for a larger harvest!

Herbs: Snip herb at a node (the point where the sections of the stem merge). Place in water and replace with clean water every three days until roots emerge. Transplant to a pot or garden. 

Celery/Lettuce: Place the base of a bunch of celery in a shallow bowl with water. Replace water every couple of days. Once roots begin to sprout, transplant to the ground or a pot and watch it grow!

2. Make Your Own Veggie Stock

Photo: @plantedinthewoods

There’s nothing quite like a cosy bowl of soup made with homemade veggie stock. Use your wilted veggies or kitchen scraps to create the perfect pot of stock! Try a few of our favourite veggie scraps in your next batch:

  • Onions – skins, tops, bottoms
  • Celery – tops & bottoms
  • Carrots – skins, tops, bottoms
  • Mushrooms – stems
  • Garlic – skins, tops bottoms

Method: 

Place all scraps in a large pot and add enough water to cover. Bring water to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer (covered) for 1 hour. Turn off heat. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove solids and toss in your compost bin! Add stock to your favourite soups and rice dishes, and enjoy!

3. Dry & Store For Later

Photo: @simply.living.well

Herbs wilting in the fridge? Dry them! To dry low-moisture herbs like Rosemary and Thyme, simply tie up the stems like a flower bouquet, hang upside down in a cool, dry, well-ventilated spot. Drying time varies depending on herbs, but we recommend allowing  5 – 14 days.

4. DIY Body Scrub

Photo: @ourecofriendlylife

Want to pamper yourself or create a cute sustainable gift for your friends and family? Don’t toss out those used coffee grounds just yet! Add coffee grounds and a bit of coconut oil to an empty mason jar to make the perfect body scrub that will leave you smooth, energized, and waste-free!

5. Make Homemade Cleaners

Photo: @simply_sustainable_blog

Use your leftover citrus peels to create a sweet smelling, all-purpose cleaner free of all those chemical nasties! 

Steps:

  1. Place citrus peels in a glass jar
  2. Cover Completely with White Vinegar
  3. Screw on the lid and let sit in a dark cupboard for 1-2 weeks.
  4. Strain ingredients, transfer liquid to a spray bottle with equal parts water, and start cleaning!

Plantd Tip: Get creative with your scents! We love adding cinnamon sticks, cloves, and even essential oils!

For more sustainable tips & tricks, make sure to follow us on Instagram at @plantd.co!

Categories: Sustainability Tags: Compost, Food Waste, kitchen scraps, Sustainability, sustainable, waste free

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We make no warranties, express or implied, as to the completeness, accuracy, or appropriateness for any purpose of any information or content contained on this website.

Should you be seeking advice, we recommend consulting a Professional service provider or health professional.

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