Uses for Nut Shells
Do you love nuts and find yourself wondering what you can do with the shells besides throwing them away? Nut shells are inedible, but there are several other beneficial uses.
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Gardening
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Do you have a slug problem? Sprinkle broken up nut shells on top of your garden soil to keep slugs and snails away. They will not want to crawl on those jagged edges. Nut shells are also biodegradable and will eventually break down and add nutrients to your soil.
Potted Plants
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Include a thin layer of slightly broken up shells at the bottom of plant pots to allow for superior water drainage. Shells work just as well as rocks or pebbles.
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Soap
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Make a gritty hand soap that is great for washing off dirt, grime, grease and sap by smashing up nut shells that are not too tough, such as pistachio shells, into tiny pieces and mixing them with water and glycerin soap in a blender until the mixture comes to an even, grainy consistency.
Crafts
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Ornament your Christmas wreathe with empty walnut shells - as long as the halves are kept in tact. Drill or punch small holes in empty nut shells and string them together to create decorations for the Christmas tree. Add other elements such as cranberries or pine cones. Thread nut shells together to make necklaces or bracelets (if you are not allergic). Use a string of nutshells as an element in a wind chime. Kids can glue shells to paper to create a collage, similar to making a macaroni collage. Nut shells can even be painted. Seal them inside of a tin can or a cardboard tube to create percussion instruments.
Potpourri
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Create a beautiful, aromatic potpourri centerpiece by combining nut shells with any combination of cinnamon sticks, apple pods, cones, sweet spices, flower petals, leaves and fragrance oils. Make sure ingredients are dried and pest free before using. Homemade potpourri makes an excellent gift.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Fir0002: commons.wikimedia.org
