Cultivating horticulture in the Dyfi Valley

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Y Plas, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8ER, UK. phone: 01654 703965 e-mail: info@ecodyfi.org.uk

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5/07/2004

Ecodyfi and Farming Connect are working to get more vegetables and hardy crops grown in the Dyfi Valley.

This follows a suggestion from Charles Arch (a Pennal farmer and ecodyfi board member).

Local farmers' heavy reliance on livestock farming is vulnerable to changes in subsidy regimes and some landowners are interested in diversifying - if the right help is available.

There are other factors worth considering too:

Almost all of our fruit andvegetables are imported into the area - usually from outside Wales and often from outside the UK.
This transportation increases costs, consumes energy and results in pollution.
Produce has been grown for its keeping qualities and is not as fresh as it could be, to the detriment of taste and health.
There is also the consideration that our families lose sight of where our food is coming from and suffer from poorer diets containing more processed foods.
If we could keep the money spent on imported produce within the local economy it would support local jobs.

Charles Arch recalls how his family used to grow a variety of fruit andvegetables in Pennal, as did many farms in the valley, but now farmers have lost that knowledge in such a short period.

Last year discussions started with local people interested in this issue.

Ecodyfi then invited -

the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER),
the Welsh Institute of Rural Sciences,
the Welsh Development Agency,
Organic Centre Wales,
Glasu and
Farming Connect

- to join this discussion.

This led to a partnership between Farming Connect and ecodyfi and the establishment of a Dyfi Valley Horticulture discussion group.

The group invited a grower from West Wales to talk to a room full of local farmers and potential growers.

At this point interest had been established from both farmers and local consumers.

Through 2004 the group has organised a number of farm visits, the next of which is on Thursday 15th of July at Dolgerddon Hall, Rhayader about growing local provenance trees.

In late July or August there will be visits to Glynllifon Nursery and Dingle Nurseries.

Both days will focus on seed related issues, seed collection, treatments/storage and sowing.

Meanwhile, on the 29th July potential growers are invited to a mixed farm in Llanrhystud.

The farmer there keeps sheep and laying hens and grows field scalevegetables.

Anybody interested in coming should call Tom O'Kane at ecodyfi on 01654 703 965 or Gwen Lloydon 702481.

Having got this far, the group would like to establish an autumn training programme through LANTRA for a small number of local farmers who are willing to set up a plot ofvegetables on their land, or any other individuals interested in growing.

As an alternative to learning the skills themselves, some farmers are considering offering land for others to grow crops.

If there are willing participants the group will be able to make a study of the growers' progress over the season, with the intention of presenting the feasibility of growing in the valley to other farmers.

The group recognises that there are many factors, both physical and economic, deterring local farmers from growing vegetables.

Such a trial would be able to look more closely to find out exactly what those issues are and possibly find some solutions.

This will include helping to create ways to bring produce to market.

Gwen Lloyd is the local co-ordinator for Farming Connect.

"At present there is a push from both government and consumers (including visitors to our area) to produce and consume more local food," she said.

"The Dyfi Valley could be a leading example of how rural farming communities are able to diversify towards more local vegetable production and rebuild the connection between farmer and consumer."

If you are willing to get involved or even a little interested, then please get in contact with either Gwen Lloydon 01654 702481 or Tom O'Kane on 01654 703965.

Further information:

Andy Rowland, ecodyfi Manager 01654 703965

Charles Arch, ecodyfi Board member 01654 791292

Gwen Lloyd, Farming Connect co-ordinator 01654 702481