We’ve been a bit quiet about compost lately, but that’s because it’s where so much of our energy has been going.
Long before The Farm Shop, before the veg boxes, before the bigger conversations about food and farming, it all started with compost and soil. Pursuing a deep curiosity about what makes land function and come to life.
Compost is where ‘waste’ becomes nourishment, for our soil and in turn the plants and animals that engage with the land, and of course us.
It starts with the careful selection of sustainably sourced ingredients, local waste streams that are free from synthetics, often coming from places and people who care as much as we do. Green waste, manures, plant material, seaweed and more, each chosen for the specific value it brings to the mix.
We blend the ingredients in carefully defined recipes, that we playfully refer to as ‘Nature Lasagna’ to enable the magic of nature to do what it does best. Once a compost is constructed, we monitor closely, checking temperature, moisture, structure and smell, managing the material as needed to assist the microbes in doing their work.
Gone are the days of turning compost by hand, thankfully, it was time consuming and hard graft, but so valuable in helping us to refine our process, learning by observing and adjusting.
We’ve learnt a lot and have perfected the art of composting to achieve a consistent balance of minerals, nutrients and soil biology that help our soils function as they should. We have also invested significantly in the equipment necessary to enable us to build at scale so we can bring the product to the community.
Real compost isn’t made in a factory. It’s made by diverse microbial communities that regulate nutrient cycling through decomposition, mineralisation, and microbial exchange. Bacteria and fungi break down complex organic compounds, releasing nutrients in plant-available forms while stabilising carbon. This living system improves aggregation, increases nutrient retention, and supports resilient plant growth over time.
In short, we’re microbe farmers.
What we’re really growing is life. Billions of organisms working together to create a biologically complete material that feeds soil, not just plants. When you add this compost to your ground, you’re adding a living system that helps unlock nutrients, improve structure, retain water, resist pests and disease and support healthier growth from the roots up.
This is why compost remains an integral and fundamental part of our work, not just for our own fruit and vegetable production, but we can now share the product with everyone.
If you’re passionate about your garden, or if you are growing food, in beds, in an allotment, or on a farm, locally made biologically complete compost isn’t a nice to have. It’s a foundation. Your plants are looking for a broad, balanced diet, and living compost is how that nutrition gets delivered.
We’re extremely proud to be bringing this compost to the market. It carries years of learning, care and passionate belief in how soil should be looked after. You can choose from a range of products now available to buy from The Farm Shop and Guernsey Gardens, with bulk orders available on request.
Biocomplete Compost – 20 litre bags – £15
Ideal for general applications in gardens, beds, borders and anyone growing food who wants to start with living soil in raised beds, polytunnels or greenhouses.
Wet Aged Woodchips – 20 litre bags – £7.50
Ideal for mulching, moisture retention and supporting fungal life in the soil.
Worm Castings – 2 litre bags – £10
Nature’s own fertiliser. Providing a concentrated source of microbes and readily available nutrients to support healthy plant growth.
Bulk Bags on request
If you’re working at a larger scale, get in touch and we can discuss what you need, including delivery.
Learn more
If you’re reading this thinking, “I’d love to make my own compost”, we can help with that too. Compost isn’t something we believe should remain a mystery. If you want to learn how to make your own compost, to understand the biology, the balance of ingredients, what you need to get started and how to work with nature rather than against it, we can teach you. Reach out to express interest and we will keep you informed of our next workshop sessions.
Here’s to healthy soil, healthy food and a healthier community.
If you want to read more, check out our blog post ‘Compost, Flavour Starts Here’ on the new Farm Shop website.
