How We Help Regenerate Soil and Build Resilient Communities
Creating circular food systems IN BRISTOL
Generation Soil CIC is dedicated to creating sustainable circular food systems. By transforming food waste into nutrient-rich compost, we help reduce waste and enrich soil for agricultural use. Our innovative three-stage composting process ensures that organic matter is effectively recycled, contributing to a healthier environment. Join us in fostering circular food systems and making a positive impact on our planet.
we create circular food systems by transforming Food waste into living compost.
A circular food system mimics natural systems, so 'waste' doesn't exist but feeds the food system. Food 'waste' is transformed into compost to add beneficial microbes, organic matter, and nutrients back into our soils.
food waste collections
We provide Bristol households and businesses like yours with sealable buckets and bokashi bran flakes to break down your food waste via fermentation. We swap your bucket once it's full.
What happens next?
TRANSFORMING FOOD WASTE INTO LIVING SOIL
We collect Bristol’s food waste and transform it into nutrient-rich, microbe-active compost using bokashi fermentation and community composting. The result is living soil that restores gardens, nourishes crops, and fuels our two-acre food forest market garden.
three-stage composting
1. fermentation
2. in-vessel composting
3. compost maturation
This stage uses bran flakes inoculated with effective microorganisms (EM) to ferment your food waste before it reaches us. This process introduces beneficial bacteria to break down your food waste and supercharge the composting process.
In-vessel composting units prevent pests, creating ideal composting conditions, plenty of air and high temperatures, even during cold winter nights. We mix your food waste with wood shavings and biochar to add a source of carbon to our living compost.
The maturation stage allows for the compost pH to balance out and allows for additional beneficial microorganisms, such as worms, to come in and do their work. This process cuts composting time from over one year to around three months. Perfect!
CONNECTING COMPOSTING TO COMMUNITY ACTION
Composting isn’t just about waste reduction. It’s a catalyst for connection. Our local compost hubs bring neighbours together to learn, share, and regenerate Bristol’s soils while building stronger, more resilient communities.
living compost returned
We deliver living compost to enrich your soil.
What is living soil?
One teaspoon of healthy living soil contains over ten billion microorganisms, such as beneficial bacteria, nematodes, protozoa, and fungi.
These microorganisms make up the soil food web and are responsible for 95% of our food. They extract minerals from sand, silt and clay particles, making them available to plants.
They also create structure, reduce compaction, hold the soil together, and create habitat and space for water absorption and retention, reducing flooding.
BRISTOL FOOD FOREST: REGENERATION IN PRACTICE
Our two-acre food forest market garden is a living classroom for regenerative agriculture. From compost-powered soil restoration to agroforestry planting, it demonstrates how food, nature, and people can thrive together within a city.
EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF GROWERS
Through workshops, school sessions, and our Compost Clinic, we teach practical skills for composting, soil care, and sustainable food growing. By inspiring future growers, we’re helping Bristol cultivate a culture of regeneration from the ground up.
