Bwyd Abertawe is a network of food system stakeholders within the City and County of Swansea
Bwyd Iach, Fforddiadwy a Lleol ar Gael i Bawb, er Lles Pobl a'r Blaned.
Healthy, Affordable and Local Food Available to All, for the Well-being of People and Planet.
BWYD ABERTAWE SOCIAL MEDIA
Big Meadow Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Gower
Bwyd Abertawe is a network of food system stakeholders* within the City and County of Swansea, including everyone who is interested in sustainable food for Swansea!
The broad structure includes a Steering Group, and wider Bwyd Abertawe network. As well as sub-groups formed by the Steering Group to fulfil specific tasks and projects under the Bwyd Abertawe action plan.
Scroll down if you would like to know about the:
Swansea Food Charter, launched March 2023
11 projects funded by BA small grants
How you can become a member of Bwyd Abertawe
*Food System Stakeholders includes: everyone with an interest (professional or personal) in Swansea’s food system, from farmers, growers and producers, to restaurants and retailers, citizens and community groups, to those working in health, poverty alleviation, procurement and other related fields.
Sign-up to Swansea Food Charter here
Click here and find out how to make a pledge
Click here and download your copy, display it where you would like others to see!
Cofrestru gyda Siarter Fwyd Abertawe
Cliciwch yma i gael gwybod sut i wneud addewid
Cliciwch yma i lawrlwytho eich copi, dangoswch ef lle yr hoffech i eraill ei weld!
Swansea Food Charter Pledges
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"Buy organic where I can"
Tina
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"I pledge to share my passion and experience with wild and foraged food, by offering workshops/opportunities, sharing on social media our food habits/experiments/systems, and learning more about my place of belonging and its natural food opportunities"
Tom
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"To embed sustainable and regenerative food growing techniques throughout our schools programme. To inspire young people into food growing employment"
Jessie (Cae Tan CSA Education Officer)
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"Promote growing organic food without the use of pesticides and herbicides"
Ray
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"Assist in promoting open-pollinated seed production locally"
Geoff
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"Work towards glyphosate free Gower, Wales, UK. Organic food. More nut trees; Sweet Chestnut, Walnuts and Pecans"
Karen
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"We pledge to educate and lobby for peri-urban fruit and veg growing, and to engage city based people in growing market garden sized enterprises to feed Swansea city and provide examples people can see and taste"
Jules (Climate and Community)
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"I currently volunteer for Climate and Community. On a personal level I grow a few fruit bushes and peas, beans etc"
Gina
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"Continue to buy FairTrade to support farmers overseas when local alternatives are not possible"
Delyth
Bwyd Abertawe projects funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2024
Growing Volunteers and Access to Local Produce
Connecting urban volunteers with growing projects in beautiful rural areas of Swansea. Join our team of volunteers to learn more about sustainable food production and community growing. We invite individuals and groups for practical training sessions on the field, and offer support on your volunteer experience. Ask about options for community transport and volunteer driving. Contact Saara: prosiect1.bwydabertawe@gmail.com
Staff and volunteers at Blackhills CSA get ready to add woodchip to vegetable beds
Mawr Agriculture and Farmer Engagement
Initial engagement and consultation with farmers and those working in agriculture to improve and strengthen connections with Bwyd Abertawe. To assist collaborations for shared aims and support in food production, including small scale family and community growing. To identify opportunities in using agroecological techniques for ‘future-proofing’ agri-businesses with emphasis on food production and assess need/s to support food production across:
Clydach
Llangyfelach
Llansamlet
Pontardulais
Pontlliw and Tircoed
Gorseinon & Penyrheol
If you would like to know more, or are involved or have key contact for agriculture and farming in these areas, please contact Mary: bwydabertawe@gmail.com
Bwyd Abertawe small grant funded projects 2023
The Welsh Government Sustainable Food Partnerships Fund provided Bwyd Abertawe with funding to make small grants available for projects supporting sustainable food in Swansea. You may have seen BA small grant promoted April 2023.
Bwyd Abertawe Steering Group had the very difficult task of allocating the funding, 36 expressions of interest were received for wonderful sustainable food projects, far exceeding the budget available. However, 11 organisations were funded including 4 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Updates about these projects will be shared via Bwyd Abertawe social media in due course.
We look forward to hearing how they progress during 2023!
Meanwhile please enjoy this introductory video from Swansea Community Farm, about their funded project Geifr Gwyr.
Cae Felin volunteers, getting ready to plant-in the community orchard
Big Meadow CSA : Pathway to sustainable independence. Grower salary, and winter veg storage.
Blackhills CSA : Start-up support for growing nutritious food for the local community. Increase food growing activity and accessibility to local grown food.
Cae Felin CSA : Development package. Promotional engagement events and workshops targeting low income individuals and families.
Cae Tan CSA : Trainee programme. As well as growing, trainees involved in weekly veg collection, events, theory and training with members and volunteers, and part of Cae Tan Grow from Home schools programme.
The Centre for African Entrepreneurship : Swansea Sustainable Cooking. Sustainable food cooking and awareness raising.
Gower College : Horticulture and Landscaping. Practical Horticulture Level 1&2 already offered, plan to introduce Level 3. Increase growing space for learners developing an organic kitchen garden, that will also engage local Food Bank.
Oystermouth Primary School : Ready Steady Grow! Start growing a 'pupil patch' garden, connect with food bank. Education and training which facilitates transition to circular economy and promotes food citizenship.
Swansea Community Farm : Geifr Gwyr. Goats and milking equipment for Goat CSA feasibility study.
Swansea Community Fridge : Tyfu Bwyd. Create a growing space to supplement food supplies for Community Fridge customers, and increase biodiversity in an urban environment. Small scale growing, and skill development for learners to grow at home.
Swansea Community Growing Network : Growing Together. Community Growing Skills and Networking Programme.
Swansea MAD : Roots of Change. Monthly food events, recipe video resources, sustainable food action plan and policy.
Bwyd Abertawe Steering Group
Is a monthly multi-sector meeting group, and during 2023 their focus is on:
Launching and promoting Swansea Food Charter 29th March
Overseeing administration of Bwyd Abertawe Small Grants
Coordinating delivery of Bwyd Abertawe’s Action Plan 2023
Coordinating development of a 5 year sustainable food plan for Swansea
Progressing membership of Sustainable Food Places, applying for Bronze during 2024!
Contact Bwyd Abertawe
Coordinator: bwydabertawe@gmail.com
Admin and Comms: cefnogi.bwydabertawe@gmail.com
Growing Volunteers: prosiect1.bwydabertawe@gmail.com
Social Media: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Youtube: @bwydabertawe
Bwyd Abertawe Membership and e-News
Sign-up as a member of Bwyd Abertawe, and receive our free quarterly e-Newsletter. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Recent issues of BA e-News:
Bwyd Abertawe has put Swansea on the Sustainable Food Places map! Get involved and be part of Swansea’s sustainable food journey.
Resources
Asset Map Links
The food standards agency map, showing all food related businesses they have assessed and their hygiene rating.
A map showing Health and Well-being resources in the Cwmtawe area of Swansea.
A map showing “pick your own” farms that work in collaboration with Tyfu Cymru.
A map by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species showing the location and survey status of traditional orchards.
A map used in Afallen and Swansea Council’s local food systems study. It shows the producers used by supplier Castell Howell.
List of the finalists of the 6th Wales Food Awards. Categorised by area and type of cuisine.
Swansea Council’s map of “Warm Hubs”.
A map showing CSA projects, searchable by type of food they produce, and area. Each farm has added themselves to this map.
A map by The Orchard Project showing the location of community orchards they have planted or restored.
A map used in Afallen and Swansea Council’s local food systems study. It shows all food related businesses in Swansea, and distinguishes rural and urban areas.
Information
Careers in Growing : Watch the video here
Food Waste Quiz: Download the questions and answers here
Swansea Sustainable Food Videos: Watch Swansea Community Farm’s “Geifr Gwyr” and others here
Free Food Hygiene training through Gower College Swansea
Training and Education in Growing:
Quick Food Quiz
Do you recognise these ethical and sustainable food standard logos?
Click on the logos to find out more…
Look for these logos when you shop
Bwyd Abertawe signed-up to Swansea Climate Pledge!
Activities Bwyd Abertawe promotes and we collectively work towards through the Swansea Food Charter, align with Swansea Climate Pledge. For example:
Shop locally and consume locally produced food
Reduce food waste
Create space for nature in my garden, and grow food
Grow food using nature friendly practices
Plants trees, especially fruit and nut trees
Connect with fruit gleaning projects to reduce fruit waste
It could be a small change you're able to make, or something you're doing already that supports sustainable food and climate movement. Make a change and pledge to Swansea Food Charter and / or sign-up to Climate Pledge Swansea.
Bwyd Abertawe is hosted by The Environment Centre,
and receive funding from:
Sustainable Food Places
Welsh Government Sustainable Food Partnerships Fund