OF&G :: The blog

Mainly a post “for the record” this. OF&G is delighted to be one of the newest members of The Composting Association. And just to prove it, here’s a pic of certification officer, Katie Owens, proudly displaying the certificate.

Composting is important to us in a number of ways, and not only because there are plenty of enthusiastic home composters among our ranks (we’ve been avidly discussing aerators today)!

More importantly, OF&G is now one of two organisations offering certification to the nationally recognised composting standards PAS 100 and the Quality Compost Protocol. We do this on behalf of The Composting Association.

You can find out more about the standards at TCA’s website but, in brief, the standards allow compost produced and certified to the guidelines to be classified as a product, rather than a waste. This definition is crucial because it controls how it can then be used and described. Certified compost is a beneficial product, so the creation and application of these standards are good for everyone and we’re delighted to be playing our part.

Even though our pedigree is in organic certification, our operation of composting certification is open to all composters and this is an important branching out of OF&G’s role which fits our environmental credentials nicely.

Our friends at Garden Organic, the UK’s leading organic growing charity, are flushed with joy at the moment with the expansion of their successful reed bed system which has been filtering their sewage for the past 15 years.

[Notes: I think that will be enough of the toilet humour and I have to hold my hands up to stealing Garden Organic's own headline - it was just too good not to use!]

Garden Organic has expanded the existing set up to cope with growing staff and visitor numbers at its headquarters in Ryton, Warwickshire:

The environmentally sensitive, wetland technology area disposes of all effluent generated on site with the help of gravity, a series of pools with graded aggregate filters and the purifying powers of the Common, or Norfolk Reed (Phragmites australis) to cleanse waste water without the use of chemicals.

But the best bit of all is that the entire reed-bed system has been allowed to develop into a broadleaf woodland conservation area covering more than two acres and turns what was nasty, noxious waste into a wildlife garden bursting with biodiversity.

Reed beds are a great concept - taking what is otherwise a potential pollutant and which has to be extensively cleaned or discharged into the landscape or ocean - and turning it into pure water and a wildlife habitat to boot!

You have to think (note lack of science or research behind that statement) that organic producers who have land available for such a system would be in the perfect position to create more reed beds in this country, taking their organic credentials to another level of commitment. Garden Organic are a great example and teacher.

Take a look at their site for more info…

The charity, Garden Organic, of which we’re very fond, has unveiled what it believes is the world’s first biodynamic garden.

It’s part of the charity’s existing ten-acre site in the heart of Warwickshire and has been created by top garden designer Andy Jones.

Find out more here.

Should be a fascinating place to spend some time in the summer…