About us
Sarn
Helen Community Garden began as a result of our local knowledge. We were
having difficulty in sourcing fresh produce for our café,
and if we were having difficulty how did our communities manage; we had
been presented with scary health statistics for the County and we were
given the opportunity to lease a three acre disused and very overgrown
allotment site that was owned by Onllwyn Community Council. So we took
a leap of faith and leased the land!
The allotments were so overgrown it took over 12 months to tame the area and start to build a productive garden. We now grow all the common vegetables and salad crops, supplementing them with local wholesale produce during the winter months. We operate a food co-op that delivers to 50 homes and a street vegetable round to ensure we are accessible to everyone regardless of their location and mobility.
We work with our local Communities First officers who deliver Get Cooking courses to young parents, people living on their own and people living on a low budget, the course is aimed at giving people the skills to prepare healthy and affordable meals. Our day nursery has its own raised beds for the children to plant and grow their own vegetables and learn about where their food comes from and we hold parent evenings that include talks on healthy eating and living.
We welcome trainees, volunteers and visitors to our garden. Our volunteers are very important to us, while they gain skills and benefit from a supportive environment, we benefit from having community members who take ownership of the project.
