A bold new farm pilot has broken the ground in Powis with the aim of proof that vegetables can be farmed agriculturally and commercially in Welsh soil.
Spanning SARN’s 36-acre Powis County Council-owned land, the initiative aims to grow produce for local urban markets such as Birmingham, schools across Wales, and potentially future clients.
All three growers are selected for detailed business plans and growing experiences, but from Powys or nearby border areas.
The plot is in place with local vegetable box schemes and various individual companies plans and is used jointly and independently.
These include selling organic vegetables to wholesalers, salad crops to local cafes, seeds, vegetables, herbs and tree seedlings to Welsh seed hubs.
Other plans feature workshops on fruit and egg sales, kimchis and chutneys for local markets, beehive buildings and food preparation.
Growers also incorporate methods such as wood chips and biochar production to improve agroforestry, small numbers of livestock, and soil health and manage pests.
The goal is to create a regeneration system with minimal reliance on external inputs such as compost and fertilizer.
The pilot is part of the Future Farms Partnership, bringing together Powys and Carmarthenshire County Councils, Food 1200 and Social Farms & Gardens.
It is also marked the initial application of the Powis County Council’s new planning guidance, which supports temporary housing for small horticultural businesses. Each farmer is based in temporary homes to promote year-round production and management.
“This work at SARN is a pilot who hopes to be replicated across the council and privately owned land across the county,” said Councillor Jake Berriman, leader of the Powys County Council.
“We want to see more fruits and vegetables grown here in Powis, so we can cut food miles, improve food security and, with that, create more work with a more resilient agricultural community.
“We are already excellent at Powis’ livestock and dairy farming, but we also have the potential to be excellent at growing vegetables and grains.”
Funding for the project is provided by the Welsh Government (£270,000) through the National Lottery Heritage Fund (£20,000) under local locations for the Asset Cooperation Programme, the UK Government (£341,000), the Shared Prospolitic Fund, and the Natural Capital Fund.
Duncan Fisher, director of our Food 1200, said:
“But up until now, the major barrier has been the lack of farmers’ housing that needs to be on-site full-time. With the council’s new planning guidance in place, the next step for Powys is to expand this with more land and more housing.
New farmers are supported by networks of organizations such as cultivation, routes to agriculture, and managerra, rantra, and agricultural connect.
