Grow and Swap - Communities Firstebbw Vale North & South

‘Grow and Swap’ - Communities FirstEbbw Vale North & South

Communities First is a flagship programme of the Welsh Government aimed at helping to improve the lives of people in communities across Wales. Since the Communities First programme began, a huge range of projects have been supported across Ebbw Vale from Food Coops to construction training schemes to healthy living projects to name just a few.

During 2011 the Communities FirstEbbw Vale North & South team ran a pilot project, ‘Grow and Swap’. The purpose of the project was to develop a community growing and swap project whereby local residents would grow vegetables and swap the produce with their neighbours. Other aims of the project were to increase knowledge and understanding of food growing, sustainable nutrition and improve health and well-being and social interaction.

Within the Ebbw Vale area there are three allotments societies, all of which are over-subscribed. Through the Grow and Swap project, a group of residents were encouraged to grow their own food and use the space they had within their gardens.

The project was advertised in the local newspaper. Following the article we were approached by a group of residents from a local street. All participants were then asked to sign up to the project and complete a registration form.34 people (17 couples) took part in project. All participants lived in the same street. Most were retired and were white and not disabled.

No training was required however all participants were offered additional training alongside the project. All participants were given pots, compost, plants, watering cans and gardening accessories.

At the start of the project an introductory session was planned and all participants were invited. The session was a chance for the group to all get to know each other. All participants were given an induction pack/starter pack which outlined the project, included growing advice, participant details swapping sheet, records of swap sheets and the variety of fruit & vegetables being grown by the group. The group also did their first planting session.Swap sessions were held every month. The sessions included cooking demonstrations, planting sessions and quizzes.

The ‘grow and swap’ project did face some barriers. It was difficult to encourage participants to attend the swap sessions. There was a lack of feedback from participants it was so difficult to get all participants together.

Another ‘grow and swap’ project will be started this spring. This time the project staff will ensure all participants complete the registration form before the equipment is distributed. They will also ensure all participants fully understand that they must attend the swap sessions to participate in the project.