Despite the rain, we had a wonderful morning at Llanfrechfa Grange Walled Garden, joining their dedicated volunteers for a composting workshop. The weather may have been damp, but the enthusiasm certainly wasn’t!
We gathered under the shelter of their beautiful greenhouse to chat all things compost. Our goal was to support the volunteers in building on their brilliant work nurturing the garden’s green spaces and to help make their composting efforts even more effective.
We began sharing a bit of composting theory: what makes a healthy compost heap, the role of microorganisms, and the balance between green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials. It’s a science, but also a bit of an art. With a practical demonstration, we also discussed how to layer materials effectively, and why cutting prunings into small pieces helps them break down faster.
We also took some time to dive deeper into the topic of Bokashi bins – what they are, how they work, and why they’re such a brilliant addition to any composting setup. Bokashi bins use a special mix of bran and beneficial microbes to ferment food waste, including items like cooked leftovers and dairy that can’t usually go in a compost heap. The result is a nutrient-rich pre-compost that can be buried in the soil or added to a compost pile to speed up decomposition. It’s a great way to reduce food waste all year round, even in colder months when traditional composting slows down.
To help the garden put these ideas into practice, we were delighted to gift two Bokashi bins to the Llanfrechfa Grange volunteers. Hopefully, they’ll make a perfect compliment to the garden’s existing composting systems and help the team make the most of every scrap!
The morning was filled with great conversation, laughter, and shared learning. Despite the rain, spirits were high and it was heartening to see how passionate the Llanfrechfa Grange volunteers are about sustainable growing and community gardening.
We left feeling inspired by their commitment and can’t wait to see how their composting efforts continue to flourish!
A huge thank-you to everyone at Llanfrechfa Grange Walled Garden for welcoming us so warmly.
Want to learn more about composting? Check out our blog!
Root for Our Future
This event is part of Root for Our Future, a two-year project exploring food sustainability within Torfaen. Everyone is welcome to attend one of our events. They’re completely free! This project is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
