Volunteers Needed for Banc Organics

VOLUNTEERS are wanted for a community garden scheme in the Gwendraeth Valley – with the rewards of friendship, fresh air and fresh vegetables.

Banc Organics in Bancffosfelen wants to recruit volunteers to help it build up its service growing a wide range of organic vegetables which are sold as weekly boxes.

The volunteers can put in as much or as little time as they are able to offer meaning that those with busy lives can still join in.

Banc Organics has joined forces with Menter Cwm Gwendraeth to recruit new volunteers to the scheme.

David Saywell of Menter Cwm Gwendraeth said: “The volunteering opportunities at Banc Organics provide a great chance to socialise, to support the production of organic food, and to produce food locally for consumption locally. It’s also a great way to keep fit and healthy!

“This is an inspiring scheme to produce and distribute fresh vegetables locally and we are delighted to be able to work with Banc Organics to help the project develop.”

The scheme is in its second year and now distributes about 30 boxes of vegetables at a cost of £8.50 a week. Volunteers can put in anything from a couple of hours a week upwards as an ongoing commitment.

Banc Organics is a not-for-profit community supported agriculture scheme, operated through Tir Eithin Farm Ltd.

A number of local people were inspired to take action together, and started growing in January 2010 to meet a gap in production and supply of vegetables in the valley.

Tir Eithin secretary Tony Mathews said: “We offer our members fresh healthy local produce, freshly picked, and at a reasonable price. We also offer our members opportunities to be involved with its production, for example monthly farm days, and with the organisation, and we also arrange fun events.

The bulk of what we sell is produced by ourselves, with very little bought in. It is completely seasonal, and is grown both outdoors and under our polytunnel.”

Banc Organics is currently growing on two sites, one is a field at Tir Eithin Farm, and one is a field at Top Meadow.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact David Saywell on 01269 871600.