Tyfu Dyfi Master Gardeners

Tyfu Dyfi was a Master Gardeners programme in mid Wales that trained volunteers to share skills and knowledge around organic growing amongst residents and communities in the Dyfi Biosphere.

Yn cymraeg

Tyfu Dyfi Master Gardeners are volunteers recruited, trained and supported by Garden Organic to help connect the public with nature for food and well-being, through organic growing.

About 🔗

Tyfu Dyfi was a Master Gardener programme in mid Wales, our most recent volunteer mentor network project in the country.

We were part of a consortium of like-minded partners led by local organization EcoDyfi which is delivering the Tyfu Dyfi project, funded by the Welsh Government.

Our role included sharing skills, knowledge and training around organic growing amongst residents and communities in the Dyfi Biosphere, a UNESCO designated area around Machynlleth and Aberystwyth. The project ran from 2021 to 2023.

Tyfu Dyfi increased the number of growing sites in the area in order to connect the public with nature, for food and well-being whilst establishing growing sites, involving the local community, and supporting the development of short supply chains.

Aims 🔗

The projects aims to achieve:

a boost to the local food economy
increased involvement of local communities in growing - more people, wider demographic
contribution to the sustainability agenda
a foundation upon which to build when the project is over.

Volunteers aim to:

Raise awareness of the benefits of growing your own food
Encourage more people to grow at home or on communal land
Support and advise people to grow at home or on communal land giving them every chance of success with their activities

Volunteers 🔗

Master Gardeners are volunteers with at least two years food growing experience and a passion for encouraging others to have a go. Organic growing techniques are part of your training so you don’t need to be an expert.

There are Master Gardeners from a wide variety of age, background and culture. This contributes to the effectiveness of the scheme – Master Gardeners can reach parts of a community that other activities cannot.

Master Gardener activities include talking to friends, family and neighbours and offering ongoing advice and support, attending village fairs or giving talks to local groups.

Most Master Gardeners spend around 30 hours annually in their volunteer activities. These 30 hours include all travel and preparation time. This figure however is not compulsory.