From experience... Mix the UCGs with some of the mulch then leave it be. The worms will make their way up to eat it hence aerating the soil for you. You can remove a bit of the mulch and lay it back on top to provide a bit of shelter for them but it's not necessary. If spread to thick, UCGs may dry out and actually repel water, but if mixed this will not happen. Also, if you do this just before a rainfall or watering, again, less chance of the repelling factor kicking in. You are in a zone 8 so using plastic to warm things up for the worms is futile. They are already active in your soil and with time will come up to do their job - or your job for you. I have been gardening using UCGs as my main 'green' source in the compost for a few years. I bring home about 250 lbs. of wet UCGs weekly. Some of it is used in the compost, some on the lawn, and the rest is used to make mulch for the gardens which I apply year round. The mulch is basically a mixture of UCGs, shredded leaves, and pine needles. Here's a photo of a garden just mulched with the mix. As you can clearly see, the addition of UCGs to the gardens has no ill effect. :O) I do this yearly to keep the weeds down but also used to have crappy soil which now is kept up to par with this simple addition. If caffeine was detrimental to the gardens, I would have a major problem but I believe that most of the caffeine is probably removed from the UCGs in the brewing process so in essence it never is there to create a problem in the gardens. There was not a shrub nor a flower on this property when we bought it in late 2001. The lawn was yellow by mid-June. Following is a photo taken in 2003.

Ammonium sulfate. That's what you should use to acidify your soil. UCGs, evergreen needles and oak leaves will not achieve what you want. I have wild blueberries growing here and in placing compost and mulch for them I've managed to increase the PH which was naturally acidic in the first place. Due to my TLC I now have to amend the soil with a bit of AS to keep the blueberry crop going.

Heirloom J .... so your next step will be to say in your sweetest, most understanding, tone and demeanor "Oh, golly, I thought it was SB corporate policy to save UCG for the public. And as it is not possible for this store to do that, can you please direct me to the next higher-up who can help both of us with this glitch?" Remember, no hint of sarcasm in you tone .... just a reasonable "let's solve this mutual problem" tone of voice ... Time and again, I've seen this technique work with recalcitrant 1st-level managers .... and bureacrats ... I used to work for AT&T/PacBell ... a mother-lode of buck-passers and responsibility-avoiders.

The SB's in the city where my husband works will not 'save' grounds. He has called to see if they have any grounds so he does not drive across town for nothing...has given his name only to arrive to find they are 'out'. As far as finding things in the ucg; I found one of their stainless steel pitchers and we returned it, have found straws, cups, napkins, etc. BUT never have I found a filter. I'm not complaining, though. I'm building new raised beds and doing the composting right in the boxes. Mixed the SB UCG with cardboard, grass clippings, cornmeal, a. meal, etc. and it heated up right away and made some great stuff. Am planting in the first one now; #2 is starting to cool off and looks really good! Just finished loading #3 and started #4. I don't drink coffee but sure love what UCG's do for my gardens! Peggy