Turning Food Waste into Fertiliser

Soil health is everything when it comes to growing a productive allotment. A thriving plot isn’t just about what you plant—it’s about feeding the soil, supporting microbial life, and keeping nutrients cycling naturally. The very best way to do that? Home composting.

Here in our farm kitchen at Lower Blakemere, nothing goes to waste. There’s a worm farm in the kitchen, breaking down veg peelings into incredibly rich compost, and a Bokashi Kit in our porch, fermenting leftover scraps, cooked food, and dairy. This means every bit of food waste stays in the growing system, returning nutrients to the soil where they belong.

Taking home compost to the allotment is one of the most effective ways to improve soil structure, water retention, and fertility—without relying on synthetic fertilisers. It’s free, packed with life, and makes a real difference to harvests.

Bokashi: Compost Everything, Anywhere

Bokashi ferments food waste instead of letting it rot, meaning it preserves nutrients and breaks down quickly in the soil. It’s perfect for allotment growers because:

You can compost ALL food waste – including cooked food, dairy, and meat.
It’s compact and works anywhere – in the house, shed, porch, or even outside.
Bokashi-treated waste can go straight into the soil – speeding up composting and feeding microbes that improve soil health.

Beyond the Allotment: The Bigger Picture

Saves waste from landfill – A third of household waste is food, much of which could be composted.
Reduces carbon footprint – No need to buy compost, no waste transport emissions, and less methane from landfill.
Regenerates soil – Composting locks carbon into the ground, improves water retention, and creates healthier growing conditions.

Why Home Compost Transforms Soil Health

Brings soil to life – Full of beneficial microbes and fungi that improve plant resilience.
Slow-release nutrition – Provides a natural balance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, feeding plants steadily.
Improves soil structure – Helps sandy soil hold moisture and prevents clay soil from compacting.
Encourages earthworms – A sign of healthy, aerated soil that retains nutrients and water.

Worm Composting: The Best Soil Conditioner for an Allotment

Worm compost (vermicompost) is one of the richest soil amendments you can make. A worm farm works brilliantly indoors, but also thrives in a shed or greenhouse.

Worm castings are five times richer in nutrients than standard compost.
The liquid runoff (‘worm tea’) is a fantastic organic fertiliser—just dilute and water in.
Once set up, worms do all the work, turning food waste into incredible soil-enriching compost with almost no effort.

Easy Ways to Get Started

Bokashi in the house, porch, shed, or outside. Worms in the kitchen, greenhouse, or shed. A compost bin in the garden.

Taking homemade compost to the allotment is one of the best ways to improve soil health, increase harvests, and reduce waste.

Healthy soil. Bigger harvests. Less waste. Composting makes it happen.

With Worm Wishes

Heather at Wiggly Wigglers.

Turn Your Food Waste into the Best Fertiliser for Your Allotment