farming and processes
In order to achieve the highest quality organic produce it is essential for our soil to be of the highest quality and health.
Langmead Farms Composting Facility
We invested in a fully licensed green waste composting facility in 2004 to provide our organic farms with the best quality green waste. This site now underpins sustainable production at Langmead Farms. It does this by providing fertility and improving the soils in the organic system. The compost has a number of benefits to the crop, including improved yields, reducing disease pressure, reduced soil erosion, improved water retention and reduced pollution. These benefits are now being transferred to our conventional production systems as the site approaches its capacity.
In 2007 we completed a WRAP sponsored trial on spinach and wholehead romaine lettuce. It revealed that using green waste compost showed yield improvements of around 10%.
The Process
Each delivery of green waste is checked for contaminants, electronically weighed and coded so that the information on its progress and final destination can be retrieved and analysed later. The green waste is shredded within 72 hours and compost is produced by piling the green waste in long rows called windrows. The windrows are turned regularly to improve porosity and oxygen content whilst specialists monitor the moisture and temperature. Instructions are then given to mix in or remove moisture, and redistribute cooler and hotter portions of the pile as necessary to enable the most efficient decomposition and avoid odours. Finally the compost is screened for unwanted pathogens, contaminants and toxic elements.
Local Partnerships and the Community
We have formed partnerships with local green waste producers. Their waste along with that from our own farms is recycled into valuable product, thereby avoiding the need to landfill this waste. The composting facility clearly supports a number of factors of importance to us as farmers, to consumers and also contributes to a better way of doing things in the local community.