Building on the success of our popular compost tours, Heart of BS13 is now offering an in-depth one day course at our charity’s sustainable flower farm at Hartcliffe City Farm.

Healthy soil supports plant growth, retains water efficiently, and provides essential nutrients, making it the foundation of both productive gardens and resilient ecosystems – and essential for addressing climate change and food security.

One of the most effective ways to improve soil health is through composting. At Heart of BS13, our charity are turning local food waste into nutritious compost, which we use to improve the soil at our sustainable flower farm. We collect food waste from local houses, businesses, and even schools!

On our Essential Composting course, we will guide you through the process of turning food waste into compost, helping you understand the science behind decomposition, the key elements of an effective compost system, and practical techniques for maintaining a healthy compost pile.

The course will include:
– exploring the benefits of composting to wildlife, soil and climate health
– understanding different approaches and systems for composting
– building a wood chip bay from scratch
– loading our compost bays, including the Ridan food waste composter, and exploring a variety of different materials that can be composted
– turning and ‘doctoring’ a green waste pile – compost is never ‘wrong’ and can be helped to break down faster by adding different materials
– ideas for dealing with more challenging waste materials
– making some potting mixes
– each participant will take home a bag of potting compost

Whether you are a beginner looking to start composting at home or someone seeking to improve your composting skills, this workshop will provide the knowledge and confidence to turn organic waste into a valuable resource.

What to bring: a packed lunch, note book, pen, water bottle, and strong shopping bag to carry your potting mix home with you. Refreshments (tea/coffee/biscuits) will be provided.

When: 10am – 4pm Sunday 8 June 2025

Where: Heart of BS13 Flowers, Hartcliffe city Farm, Lampton Avenue, Hartcliffe, Bristol BS13 0QH

Cost:
£60 standard ticket
£80 pay it forwards ticket (this ticket helps others to attend)
£40 concession (these spaces are available to people who are in receipt of means-tested benefits only)
£10 concession (these spaces are available to BS13 residents who are in receipt of means-tested benefits only)