news and blog
Why Everything You Know About “Bad” Microbes Might Be Wrong
We’ve been taught that some microbes are “good” and others are “bad”. But in UK market gardening and regenerative horticulture, the reality is more complex. Soil microbes respond to context — oxygen levels, nutrition, chemical inputs and carbon flow. When we change the environment, we change microbial behaviour. This shift in thinking could transform how we approach soil health, compost quality and crop resilience.
The Hidden Universe Beneath Your Feet
We often judge soil health by what we see above ground — leaf colour, crop yield, plant vigour. But the real engine of resilience operates beneath our feet. Through soil microscopy, the Soil Food Web reveals itself as a structured, communicative ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes working in coordination. From plant-controlled rhizosphere biology to quorum sensing and spontaneous nitrogen fixation, this article explores five powerful insights that transform how we think about regenerative land management — and why learning to properly observe soil life may be the most important skill of all.
Wales’ First Hybrid Bokashi & Ridan School Composting System
Llanfoist Fawr Primary School has become the first school in Wales to implement a hybrid Bokashi and Ridan composting system, safely transforming cooked food waste, meat and dairy into nutrient-rich compost in just 90 days — creating a true seed-to-soil circular economy on site.
Anaerobic Digestion Isn’t the Only Future for Food Waste
Food waste has been treated primarily as fuel for too long. While anaerobic digestion plays a role, it often comes at the cost of lost nutrients and carbon. Bokashi fermentation offers a soil-first alternative, protecting nutrients before they are lost and returning food waste to soils where it can rebuild fertility and resilience.
Community Composting in England & Wales: What the Rules Actually Say (and Why They’re Not as Scary as They Sound)
Starting a community composting project?
The rules aren’t as scary as they sound. Schools, community gardens and volunteer groups can legally compost using free exemptions, with practical options like Bokashi and on-site systems making food waste easier than ever to manage locally.
CEC, Bokashi & EM: Building Soil Fertility from the Microbial Level Up
Healthy soil doesn’t chase nutrients — it holds them. By combining Bokashi fermentation with Effective Microorganisms, growers can build CEC, improve nutrient access, and avoid overloading already-full soils. This is long-term fertility built through biology, not quick fixes.
🎄 From Food Waste to Living Soil: A Christmas Story from Llanfoist Fawr Primary
As the year comes to a close, Llanfoist Fawr Primary School is showing how food waste can become a powerful learning tool. With support from Food Monmouthshire and Agriton UK, pupils are turning everyday leftovers into living soil — and discovering that caring for the planet can be practical, joyful, and fun.
World Soil Day: Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities (and Why Your Compost Bin Matters)
World Soil Day highlights a truth we often overlook: our cities depend on healthy, living soils. From flood prevention to food growing, soil is essential urban infrastructure. By turning organic “waste” into local compost and rebuilding soil life, we can create greener, healthier and more resilient towns and cities.
Still Throwing Away Garden Waste? December Research Says We’ve Been Doing It Wrong for Years
A major multi-year study shows that leaves, clippings and other “green waste” are not waste at all. Discover how the Bokashi method transforms landscape materials into valuable soil-building resources, and why this research is reshaping circular land management.
“Good Bacteria and the Dentist’s Chair” – Finding Balance Where You Least Expect It
A routine trip to the dentist turns into an unexpected lesson in microbial balance. From gum health to gut health, this personal story explores why oral care isn’t just about killing bacteria — it’s about nurturing the good ones too.