Sustainable Shrivenham is always looking for practical ways to support local people in growing their own food — and one of the most exciting initiatives currently underway is our Community Compost Project in partnership with the Defence Academy located in the next village.
This project transforms food waste from the Academy into nutrient-rich compost that is utilised to grow food onsite for use in their catering facilities. Rather than allowing this valuable resource to go to landfill or be incinerated, they’re harnessing it to build healthy soil and support sustainable food production and sharing the excess compost with the local community.
Here’s how it works: kitchen waste from the Defence Academy’s food preparation areas is collected and combined with green waste such as leaves and plant trimmings. The mix is carefully monitored and turned regularly to ensure it breaks down efficiently and safely. Over several weeks, the organic matter decomposes into a rich, dark compost — a natural fertilizer that’s full of nutrients and ideal for improving soil structure.
Not only does this reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle food waste at the source, it also provides a sustainable resource for their catering teams as well as local growers. Sustainable Shrivenham have provided a system for the compost to be made available to members of the community, supporting residents who are growing their own fruit, vegetables, and flowers — whether in a back garden, a balcony planter, or a shared allotment.
As a Community Benefit Society, Sustainable Shrivenham must reinvest any profits from our activities back into the local area. The composting project is a perfect example of that in action: creating environmental benefits, supporting self-sufficiency, and feeding into a healthier, greener community.
We believe that small, local actions can have a big impact — and we’re excited to keep turning waste into growth.
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