Meet Jess & Nat, co-founders of Seed the Ground

We don’t mean to startle you before your morning coffee… but what if we told you the Gold Coast sends around 14 tonnes of used coffee grinds to landfill every single week? That’s a whole latte waste. Thankfully, two local legends – Jess and Nat – are doing something about it.

Seed the Ground is a homegrown, female-founded not-for-profit that’s taking composting to the community – one bucket of old broccoli and cold brew grounds at a time. They’ve teamed up with more than 20 Southern GC businesses to turn food waste into nutrient-rich compost and keep it out of our already crammed landfills. And they’ve already diverted a whopping 110 tonnes. Yes, tonnes!

With International Compost Awareness Week (4–10 May) just around the corner, we caught up with the hilarious, big-hearted duo behind the movement to chat dirty bins, early morning coffee runs, and why they’ll never stop fighting for a cleaner, greener Gold Coast.

Spoiler: they’re absolute compost queens.

What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
Jess: The vibe and the lifestyle. Especially in our little pocket where we live in Miami. Everyone is getting outside, enjoying the ocean and there’s a real community feel.

Natalie: I love that the GC isn’t what you’d expect! There are many pockets of greatness! In 2017, I moved here for a 12 month work contract, never expecting to stay AND certainly not expecting to make such great mates like Jess and the arts community of the coast (yes, we have an awesome arts scene here)

Tell us a bit about yourselves.
Jess: I wear lots of hats….I’m a mum, a physio, a lover of exercise and I’m passionate about preserving our natural areas. I’m happiest when I’m either in the ocean or have my hands in the dirt, and it’s this connection to nature that on Seed the Ground.

Natalie: SOOO many caps/hats are worn by us and our team. When I’m not composting or hanging at Pizzey Park with my little daredevils, I am an arts projects producer and currently delivering SURFACE Festival with Miami Marketta & Solstice Brasil at HOTA. Jess & I randomly meet in 2017 in a playground at Talle Creek (little people playing often helps you make friends). Jess told me about The Yards 1/2 price coffees on Tuesdays, so we’d meet up there, spend very little money but talk big about our shared passion for sustainability and community connection.

What is Seed the Ground?
We are a female-founded not-for-profit, dedicated to getting our hands dirty for a clean cause! One of our main goals is to help our community of residents and businesses keep food waste out of landfill. We have set up several Compost Hubs on the Gold Coast. At these Hubs we turn the food waste from local businesses (mostly cafes and childcares) plus local residential food waste, into compost. We then gift-on or sell the nutrient-rich compost.

Why is a not-for-profit like Seed the Ground needed on the Coast?
As a NFP, our only focus is on ensuring the community benefits from our operations. Unlike other states in Australia, the Gold Coast does not have a green bin FOGO program (food organics, green organics). SOOO for most of our community, their food waste is going in the red lid bin and headed to landfill. Other than stinky bins and maggots, there are 3 significant issues with this:
1. Gold Coast’s landfills are FULL and will close in the coming decade.
2. Food waste in landfill generates methane emissions comparable to those from the industrial sector (we call it a toxic sludge sandwich).
3. Food scraps should be seen as a resource not a waste!

To date, we have kept 110 tonnes of food waste out of Gold Coast landfill through community composting initiatives. These low-cost, space-efficient hubs, located in Miami, Burleigh, Varsity, Robina, and Currumbin, offer a viable alternative to traditional commercial waste management where big trucks and lots of land is required.

What do your roles at Seed the Ground entail?
Jess: Every day is different, which is why I love it. My role as director involves getting dirty and composting food scraps at our hubs, as well as managing our grant funding and our accounts with cafes. I’m also involved in planning our educational programs……we have lots of planning and strategy meetings and a heap of fun making our social media content!

Nat: Many moving parts. Jess often says ‘Nat, we’ve got enough going on, no need for more projects.’ But I do dream of growing this company, to a point that our City Council sees us as an important as the picture for tackling our cities waste problems. Also, you’ll often find me at 5am in the bin stations of cafes, collecting buckets of used coffee grinds. At 15 kg/bucket it’s an awesome workout.

How does a cafe get involved with Seed the Ground?
We’re always keen to work with our local cafes! This city serves over 1 million cups of coffee weekly, which means approximately 14 tonnes of used/spent coffee grinds head to landfill. Cafes can head to our website to find out more about our collection service. Heading to our website to sign up or message through socials @seedtheground.com.au

How do GC locals get involved?
Locals can sign up to our Swap and Go service to keep their food scraps put of landfill, they’ll get a compost caddy to fill with their kitchen scraps and we’ll do the dirty work for them. We’re always looking for passionate volunteers to join the movement and help at our compost hubs as well. You can register to volunteer on our website.

What are your Gold Coast favourites?
We have a family of hospitality partners that we LOVE! but… for the purpose of this article…
Cafe: Jess: Holliday in Nobbys.
Nat: That’s Whyld for a good dose of laughter with your cold brew
Restaurant: Jess: Can’t go past the Pav for location & I love the wine list at Moustache.
Nat: Currently I’m do more dining at the Burleigh Farmers Markets than anywhere else! It’s our Saturday morning ritual.
Best beach: Jess: Crisp autumn arvos out the front at Miami. Come in from a fun surf and enjoy the sunset with a wine and good company.
Nat: Throw me in Talle Creek, just at the opening to the ocean and foot of the Burleigh Headlands.

How do you choose to spend your days off?
Jess: Coffee in the sun, surfing and then a lazy arvo reading a good book
Nat: I’m looking for performing arts events and shows! I don’t travel as much now, so I rely on great shows coming to the Gold Coast.