Project Uses Nature’s Inspiration to Create Zero-Waste Farms
The ABLE project is a social enterprise based on a former landfill site in Wakefield in the U.K. The scheme combines the production of fish and horticultural produce with a unique outdoor learning facility, training young people in horticulture, aquaculture and environmental skills. Among other activities, the ABLE project is demonstrating a “closed-loop” no-waste agricultural system inspired by nature. It begins with waste cardboard, which is shredded and used as animal bedding. Once the cardboard bedding deteriorates over time it is added to animal manure and fed to worms, which compost the materials. The worms are in turn fed to fish which are harvested for human consumption. Worm-made compost is used to help grow crops on land that was previously unused for agricultural purposes.
The ABLE project is a social enterprise based on a former landfill site in Wakefield in the U.K. The scheme combines the production of fish and horticultural produce with a unique outdoor learning facility, training young people in horticulture, aquaculture and environmental skills. Among other activities, the ABLE project is demonstrating a “closed-loop” no-waste agricultural system inspired by nature. It begins with waste cardboard, which is shredded and used as animal bedding. Once the cardboard bedding deteriorates over time it is added to animal manure and fed to worms, which compost the materials. The worms are in turn fed to fish which are harvested for human consumption. Worm-made compost is used to help grow crops on land that was previously unused for agricultural purposes.