Great uses for leftover Eggshells! Eco-friendly Tip of the Month.!

Eggshells have many uses that will surprise you.

First, let’s start on how to get them ready to use:

After cracking the egg, take the leftover shells one by one and wash them under warm water very well, removing any egg residual from them. Do not remove membrane since it contains important nutrients for the joints.

Place them near a window or outside so they can dry. They can be left for a day to dry completely. Or Place them in the oven for a quick solution.

Store dry eggshells in a container until ready for use.

Lets Use Eggshells:

1- At the Garden:

Are you trying to keep your garden always beautiful? Like nitrogen and phosphorus, plants need calcium to prosper. Calcium avoids stunted growth, twisted leaves and dark spots.

Eggshells can be tossed directly into your compost pile or put directly into the soil.

You may even want to do a soil test to see how much calcium your soil already contains if you do not want to overdo it.

Add shells to your soil in powdered form, they bind to the soil, becoming more readily bioavailable and altering the soil pH. Large pieces of shell break down too slowly to serve as an amendment or soil sweetener.

*Egg shells are an effective sorbent because of their high CaCO 3 concentration, which helps suppress heavy metals, fluoride, phenol and petrol from contaminated soil and water. This ability can be used in various industries but also by you at home.

2- Calcium for Chickens:

Feed eggshells back to your chicken flock to boost their calcium.

Take dry eggshells and crush them to make them unrecognizable as eggs. Very important*. You do not want your chickens eating your eggs later.

Offer them in a separate bowl near their feed so they can eat as they need OR mix it with their feed.=

3- Calcium for Humans:

Calcium is important for muscle contraction, nerve health, enzyme activity and cell formation. There are so many types of calcium, to be safe, we know that the best source is FOOD – the most easily accessible for the body.

High-quality eggshells contain 27 essential microelements, mostly composed of calcium carbonate, a form and structure that’s very similar to our bones and teeth.

Take dry eggshells and, using a coffee grinder preferably, turn them into powder. Store in a glass jar.

Take 1 tsp, add some warm water and mix it as best you can. Eat it, followed by water.

*1 tsp. contains approximately 800-1,000 mg. of calcium. Consume 3/4 to 1 tsp daily. Here you can see more options on how to take it.

4- Artistic Chalk:

Eggshell chalk
Materials:

4-5 Eggshells
Hot water
Flour
Food coloring
Mixing bowl
Mixing spoon
Paper towels (or paper napkins)

Process:

1..Wash and dry the eggshells. If you can, remove the thin membrane from inside the egg shells.

1. Crush the egg shells as finely as you can. A food processor works, but you’ll get the finest powder if you use a mortar and pestle or an old coffee grinder.
2. Mix one teaspoon of flour and one teaspoon of hot water in a small bowl. Mix it until it’s a paste.

Add one tablespoon of egg shell powder to your paste. Add a few drops of egg coloring if you would like.

1. Mix until everything is combined. If you can’t press the mixture into a log shape, add a bit more water.
2. Shape the eggshell mixture into a log shape.

Use one of these two methods to dry your chalk:

1. Wrap the log in a piece of paper towel and let it sit 3–5 days. If the chalk starts to crumble when you write with it, let the chalk sit for another day or two.
2. For a faster method, place the chalk on a small baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake the chalk on a very low setting—150°F—for 90 minutes. Let the chalk sit for 24 hours to finish drying.
3. Take your chalk outside and start drawing! Note: to prevent scratches, do not use this chalk on a chalkboard.

Do you know any specific recipes with eggshells? We will love to hear them on our social media pages !