Sustainable partnership to help community flower farm

Kate’s Kitchen has teamed up with a south Bristol charity to recycle its food waste, turning it into nutrient-rich compost for sustainable flower farming.

Heart of BS13, founded in 1990, has been working to enable positive change in the local communities of Hartcliffe and Withywood through education, employment opportunities, and various activities.

Every Monday, Jenny from Heart of BS13 collects food waste from Kate’s Kitchen, which is then processed into compost using the composting machine at Hartcliffe City Farm. This compost is then used to grow flowers on the farm, ensuring a “closed-loop system” that returns food waste back into the soil.

Currently, the community farm recycles up to 50 per cent of Kate’s Kitchen’s food waste, with plans to increase this to 100 per cent in the near future. This waste is transformed into compost that helps nurture the flowers grown at the farm’s flagship flower operation.

The compost produced from the food waste collected from Kate’s Kitchen is used at a communal flower farm in Hartcliffe

Kate Ploughman, founder of Kate’s Kitchen, said: “This initiative is the equivalent of saving 508,244 miles driven by an average petrol-powered car. It’s a clear demonstration of our commitment to the environment. We’re incredibly proud to be part of this exciting new project.”

According to Kate, by diverting food waste from landfills, the initiative prevents the release of up to 60 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year (equivalent to saving 508,244 miles driven by an average petrol-powered vehicle) which sits well with their sustainability ambitions.

Speaking about the partnership, Heart of BS13 said: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Kate Ploughman and the team at Kate’s Kitchen to bring Closed Loop Systems to life. By converting local food waste into compost, we’re not only improving soil health but also supporting the growth of seasonal flowers on our sustainable flower farm.

“This partnership showcases our commitment to sustainability, reducing waste, and boosting soil vitality, all while contributing to a healthier planet. It’s proof that even small, thoughtful changes can have a big impact on the environment.”

Heart of BS13 currently picks up 50 per cent of Kate’s Kitchen’s food waste to be turned into nutrient-rich compost

Kate and the team recently participated in a food waste event hosted by Bristol Good Food 2030, where it was revealed that food waste contributes to 8–10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Heart of BS13 is a community-based charity in south Bristol, operating from Hartcliffe City Farm. The charity runs several initiatives, including a sustainable flower farm that grows seasonal flowers, provides vocational training, and offers ethical floristry services.

Under new regulations coming into effect in April 2025, all businesses will be required by law to arrange for the collection of their food waste. To find out more about local food waste collections, contact jenny.liggitt@heartofbs13.org.uk

All photos: Kate’s Kitchen

Read next:

• Kate’s Kitchen strengthens commitment to sustainability with tree planting initiative
• The charity helping people in south Bristol to thrive
• £100,000 needed to create South West’s ‘biggest new woodland in a generation’