We go through a lot of eggs. The shells are welcome in the nightcrawler bins up to a point. Then, I'm looking for other things to do with them.

Several years ago, I read about this formula. Gather enough eggshells to fill (without crushing) at quart jar or a gallon jar. Add water to the eggshell contents of the jar and leave for 24 hours. Then, drain the water and pour it onto plants.

This gave the plants an interesting little kick, but I had only used it on containers such as houseplants.

This summer, the neighborhood conversation about the locally sad condition of our watermelon growing efforts told us that our melon plants were crying out for calcium. Without more calcium than they were getting, the baby melons rotted and died a few days after setting on.

There are ways of adding calcium, but the eggshells immediately came to my mind. I had some saved up, so I put about two quarts of eggshell water on the base of the plant. That last, lonely little melon grew to be a fine treat.

Was my eggshell nectar partially responsible. We have no scientific way of knowing, but the melon plant and product improved remarkably after receiving the little calcium draught.

We've shared the melon with the grandchild who found it first. With the work of summer done, the vine still flourishes across the grassy area. A volunteer without nearby friends or ability to attract other vermin, the melon vine has grown beautifully, holding out for frost.

I have found that if a drenching with eggshell water is good once for a house plant, it does not follow that the plant will benefit from treatment more than once or twice a year. Too often can set a little mold fungus growing on the top of the plant 'dirt'.

The majority of the egg shells are crushed and scattered about the garden and flowerbeds. Eventually, they will be worked into the soil to share their calcium content and act as air spacers in the dense, clay soil. A small amount is pulverized and scattered over the nightcrawler beds. There is opinion that the calcium of the eggshells, in crumbs or whole, benefits the nightcrawler fertility. The fine dust makes a good resource for grit in the gullets of the diligent little composters.

Egg shells are indeed at the front of my list for gardening bits and wisdom.