September is THE month of bumper harvests, where our gardens burst with crops at their peak: apples, runner beans, tomatoes and courgettes weigh the greenery down, while fat blackberries line the hedgerows.

This profusion of good stuff marks the beginning of Organic September, so naturally it’s always going to be one of our favourite months. 

Organic food is a subject close to the Madre's heart. Our range is certified organic by the Soil Association, but for us this certificate is way more than a label we can slap on our packaging. As far as we're concerned, organic food & processes tap into something fundamental about the Madre culture. 

This Organic September, we’re supporting some of the seriously exciting initiatives actively working to promote biodiversity, regenerate topsoil and resist climate change. 

Henrietta and Bridget of The Land Gardeners run a brilliant project we’re keen to highlight. Their Climate Compost inoculum is a solution that promotes soil health, both sequestering carbon from the atmosphere and increasing the nutrient density of the food we eat. 

Regenerative agriculture is at the heart of what they do, and their efforts produce soil that’s nutrient-rich, harbours fewer pests and pathogens, AND is more resilient to extreme weather (and boy, if there’s something this year’s taught us, it’s that extreme weather is coming our way…).

Growing plants that capture atmospheric CO2 and move it into the soil is still one of the most effective ways to remove greenhouse gases from the environment. With COP26 on the horizon, we all know now is the time to act, and act fast. Climate change waits for no (wo)man. Getting on board with organic food and soil health is a brilliant way to muck in. 

We’re all about mother cultures and community. The good cultures we nurture in our guts are a microcosm of the flora and fauna we grow to promote the health of the planet. We’re convinced that care for humans and the earth are tightly linked – we’d go so far as to say you can’t have one without the other.

BTW, Madres: Wicked Leeks is a brilliant resource for anyone wanting to find out more.