Generation Soil is a Bristol-based community interest company on a mission to regenerate nature, build community, and provide fresh, nutritious food by creating a two-acre food forest market garden for the people of Bristol.
The CIC has been built by a team of urban farmers, compost experts, food justice advocates, and land regenerators. Each team member brings unique skills – from bokashi fermentation and soil science to food forest design.
Crowd-funder
Generation Soil has just launched a crowd-funder to raise £20,000 to establish a 2-acre food forest market garden for Bristol. Funds will be used to buy tools, a utility vehicle and a polytunnel, build compost bays and a watering system, and to plant native trees and seed the food forest.
Alex Montgomery, Founder and Director of Generation Soil said, “The Covid-19 pandemic reminded us how vital access to nutritious food and green space is for our health and well-being. But today, food insecurity continues to rise, with over 3 million people in the UK using food banks in 2024, up from just 26,000 in 2009. Meanwhile, supermarket food is getting more expensive and lower in quality.
“We’re offering a nature-based, community-led solution, and we need your help to raise £20,000 to bring it to life.”
What is a food forest?
A food forest is a diverse planting of edible trees, shrubs, and perennial plants that mimics natural ecosystems. It produces food while regenerating soil and supporting wildlife.
He said, “We’ve been given an incredible opportunity. Thanks to Roots Allotments, we’ve secured two acres at Leigh Woods Meadow, just outside Bristol. The soil is compacted and nutrient-poor, but we’re ready to show what’s possible with compost, care, and community.”
Generation Soil CIC plans to use the crowd-funder to pay for:
- Compost Bays – Turning Bristol’s food waste into living soil
- Native Trees & Shrubs – Including field maple, silver birch, wild service, and Scots pine to restore biodiversity
- Watering System – Sustainable irrigation for crops
- Seedling Nursery – For strong, healthy plants
- Tools & Storage – Essential for efficient, low-waste growing
- Polytunnel – To extend our growing season and feed Bristol all year
- Utility Vehicle – To transport produce and support on-site work
Montgomery concluded, “We’re building more than just a garden. We’re creating a resilient, local food system for Bristol – a biodiverse ecosystem above and below ground – an educational space to reconnect people with the land – and a thriving example of how communities can regenerate together.”
You can find Generation Soil CIC’s crowd-funder here
Image copyright: Generation Soil CIC