stay up to date with our two acre agroforestry market garden

At Generation Soil CIC, we are thrilled to announce the announcement of our brand-new two-acre agroforestry market garden, a space where food, community, biodiversity, and soil regeneration come together. Nestled on the vibrant Roots Allotments Leigh Woods Meadows site, this pioneering garden is a key part of our vision for a truly circular, regenerative food system.

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What is an Agroforestry Market Garden?

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An agroforestry market garden blends traditional fruit and vegetable growing with trees and perennial plants in a carefully designed, regenerative system. By integrating food crops with trees, we will mimic natural ecosystems, increase biodiversity, improve soil health, and sequester carbon – all while producing nutrient-rich food.

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Our site is being designed using agroecological and permaculture principles, with layered planting, wildlife corridors, and organic growing methods. We’re building a resilient system that supports local food production, enhances ecological wellbeing, and actively restores the Earth.

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A Circular Food System in Action

 

This new market garden will be more than just a growing space – it’s the living heart of our circular food system.

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Between October 2024 and May 2025, we have collected over 13,000 litres of food waste through our Bristol Living Compost Project, turning it into living compost rich with microorganisms, fungi, and bacteria that feed the soil. This nutrient-dense compost is now being used to build healthy, living soil across the agroforestry garden – closing the loop between waste and abundance.

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By applying our living compost and integrating bokashi fermentation, wood chip, and natural soil inoculants, we’re creating fertile ground that will feed generations to come. The result? Healthier crops, improved water retention, stronger microbial life, and a system that supports nature instead of depleting it.

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What We're Growing

 

In our market garden, we plan to grow a diverse mix of seasonal vegetables, herbs, fruit trees, and perennial crops. Our agroforestry approach will ensure that plants thrive in harmony, with support from nitrogen-fixing shrubs, mulch-producing trees, and deep-rooted species that bring up vital nutrients from the subsoil.

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We’ll be producing:

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• Fresh, local vegetables for the Bristol community

• Culinary and medicinal herbs

• Fruit from young orchards of apple, plum, cherry, and more

• Tree crops such as hazelnuts and elderberries

• Companion plants for pollinators and pest control

 

All grown without synthetic chemicals, in alignment with soil biology, and with care for climate, health, and wildlife.

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Roots Allotments Partnership

 

Our garden is proudly hosted at Roots Allotments, a movement helping people grow their own food sustainably. This partnership allows us to integrate our regenerative approach with a wider network of growers, share resources, and inspire more people to reconnect with the land. Together, we’re growing a future that puts soil health, community resilience, and nature first.

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More Than a Garden, A Hub for Learning and Action

 

Generation Soil’s new market garden is also a space for education, engagement, and community building. We will offer:

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Compost Workshops

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Learn the science of living compost, bokashi fermentation, and regenerative soil practices with our hands-on sessions for all ages.

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Corporate Away Days

 

Join us for meaningful team days where your staff can get their hands in the soil, learn about sustainability, and make a real difference. It's a refreshing alternative to the boardroom, set in nature with purpose at its core.

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Living Compost Sales

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Our garden uses and sells fresh, living compost made from local food waste and woodchip – perfect for growers, gardeners, and allotment holders seeking to enrich their soil naturally.

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Bristol Living Compost Project

 

Our citywide food waste collection service diverts organic waste from landfill and returns its value to the Earth. Now, that compost is fuelling the growth of fresh produce in our agroforestry garden – completing the circular economy in action.

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Why It Matters

 

We’re facing multiple, interconnected crises: soil degradation, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, and climate change. At Generation Soil CIC, we believe the solution lies in the soil – and this garden is our response.

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Every tree we plant, every compost pile we turn, every vegetable we harvest is a step towards a regenerative, local food system that:

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• Draws down carbon

• Restores soil microbiology

• Supports community wellbeing

• Provides nutrient-dense, local food

• Rebuilds a resilient, circular economy

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This is about more than sustainability – it’s about regeneration, community empowerment, and healing our relationship with nature.

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Join the Movement

 

Whether you’re a grower, a chef, a teacher, a business, or a curious citizen – there’s a place for you in our garden.

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Come volunteer with us, attend a workshop, bring your team for a day on the land, or buy our compost and support regenerative growing in your own space.

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Together, let’s grow a food system that gives back more than it takes.​​