You’ve heard stories about our chickens before. We have a dozen of them, with a dozen silly names like Henny Potter, Daryl Hennah, Hermione Egger, Princess Layer, and Rainbow. Yes, I know the last one doesn’t quite fit the theme, but at the time names were chosen, Maddy was four and loved rainbows, so that was what she named one of the hens.

One of my favorite things about the chickens, besides their quirky personalities, is the color of their eggs. On any given day we collect eggs that range in color from baby blue to mahogany brown to terra cotta with dark speckles. After 3 years of raising chickens, I still delight in gathering eggs each day. With a dozen hens, we have become experts at testing out new recipes and finding fun ways to incorporate eggs not only into our meals, but also into our gardening. You’ve heard of Chicken Soup for the Soul, well we have altered it in our house to be Chicken Eggs for the Soil.

Eggshells are a wonderful source of calcium, which can aid in adjusting soil to a more alkaline level over time. Plants that prefer this type of sweeter soil will benefit from adding crushed, dried eggshells into their soil. Canna Lilies, Viburnum, Salvias, and some herbs such as Oregano and Thyme all do better in a more alkaline soil. And don’t forget Hydrangeas. Their flowers are basically a litmus test for your soil’s pH. They bloom pink in alkaline soil and blue in acidic soil.

Another benefit of sprinkling eggshells around the base of your plants is that it can help deter snails and slugs. These pests will be showing up in our gardens more frequently as rainy season approaches. The quiet destruction they do to a plant’s leaves often happens overnight when you’re sound asleep. By the time you see the damage, they have burrowed back into the soil to avoid the harsh sun and heat of the day. Eggshells are like glass to a snail or slug’s soft underside. It’s not pleasant to think about, but neither is having to watch your plants get eaten away.

So next time you’re cracking an egg, instead of tossing the shell in the trash, save it for your garden. When you’ve got a bowlful, follow these directions to create an easy-to-use home remedy:

• Collect your eggshells in an airtight container until you have enough to spread out on a sheet pan.
• Evenly spread eggshells on the pan and place in a 200°F oven for about 10 minutes.
• If you are using your shells to alter soil pH, pour the dried eggshells into a blender and pulse until they resemble powder.
• You can store the eggshell powder in an airtight container and keep them on hand to occasionally sprinkle over the surface of the soil where the powder can be watered in.
• If you are using your shells to deter slugs and snails, simply crush them up and sprinkle them around the base of your plants.

While you’re keeping an eye on your garden don’t forget to water all of those beautiful new plants that you’ve planted this spring. Our watering tips are found here. Water regularly, water deeply, and always water in the morning. Keep on gardening and enjoying your home.