When people first hear that our living compost is priced at £10.50 for 8 litres, they often ask:
“Why does it cost more than the bags of compost in the garden centre?”
The answer is simple: our compost is not just a product, it’s a living system full of microbes, nutrients, and community value.
At Hay Regenerative Soils in Hay-on-Wye, we believe that every purchase of compost should regenerate soil health, support biodiversity, and strengthen our local food system. Here’s why our living compost is priced the way it is and why it’s worth every penny.
A Living Product, Not Dead Dirt
Most cheap bagged compost you’ll find in DIY stores has been sterilised, dried out, and stripped of life so it can sit on a shelf for months. Our compost, on the other hand, is packed and dispatched the same day to preserve peak biological activity.
That means when it arrives in your hands, it’s teeming with beneficial microbes, fungi, and bacteria that immediately start regenerating your soil. You’re not just buying compost, you’re buying a living ecosystem that supports soil fertility, plant health, and climate resilience.
Made from Locally Sourced Materials
Our compost is created using food waste collected and dropped off in Hay-on-Wye and mixed with locally sourced wood chips. By working with local materials, we reduce waste, cut transport emissions, and support the circular food economy.
This isn’t cheap mass-produced material shipped across the country. It’s community-grown compost, designed to restore the very soil beneath our feet.
An Innovative Three-Stage Composting Process
We don’t just throw food scraps in a heap and wait. Our compost is produced through an innovative three-stage process that ensures a perfect balance of carbon and nitrogen. This method creates compost that is rich in nutrients, biologically diverse, and safe for all types of plants.
The process takes time, skill, and careful management. By investing in high-quality composting methods, we create a product that’s far more effective than standard compost, meaning you need less of it to see results.
Small-Batch, Freshly Packed
Unlike large commercial operations, our compost is made in small batches and dispatched fresh. We don’t cut corners, dilute it, or bulk it out with fillers. Every bag is made with care to ensure it delivers maximum biological activity.
This freshness is part of what makes it so valuable. When you open a bag of our compost, you’re adding an active dose of life into your soil.
Supporting a Regenerative Mission
-
Composting tons of food waste and wood chips each year
-
Running our compost creation stations located at Digeddi Wildlife Campsite & Hay Castle
-
Supporting infrastructure costs, packaging, bokashi, workshop supplies.
-
Delivering educated workshops that teach all ages about soil, food systems, and system change solutions
Your purchase is more than compost; it’s an investment in a regenerative food future for rural Wales.
True Value vs. Cheap Compost
At first glance, £10.50 for 8 litres may seem higher than the big bags in the garden centre. But when you compare value, our compost comes out ahead:
-
Higher nutrient density → You need less for the same (or better) results.
-
Living microbes → Something you won’t find in sterilised compost.
-
Community benefit → Your money supports education, food growing, and soil regeneration.
-
Environmental impact → Locally made, zero peat, zero waste, zero greenwash.
Cheap compost is often bulked out with low-quality materials, shipped long distances, and is harmful to the environment. Our compost is ethically priced to reflect its true regenerative value.
A Healthier Start for Your Plants
Plants grown in our compost don’t just survive, they thrive. The living biology in every bag helps seeds germinate, roots establish, and crops grow with improved resilience. Whether you’re growing vegetables, flowers, or herbs, our compost gives your plants the best possible start.
When you buy our compost, you’re not just feeding your plants; you’re building the foundation for long-term soil health.
When you choose our compost, you’re not only growing more vigorous plants, you’re helping to close the loop, support local food systems, and regenerate the earth.
Mulch love & worm regards,
Sophie Ferrier & Daisy Ruse