After 12 years with Banc Organics I’m leaving to focus on my family and my academic research, and I
just wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on what we’ve achieved – and to wish the new team
well in their endeavours.
How we’ve grown..
It is pretty much exactly 12 years since a group of us from Transition Cwm Gwendraeth and Ty’r
Eithin Farm stood in my small field at Top Meadow, Bancffosfelen and decided to start growing veg
for our community. That first year we were all volunteers, we had no machinery, no experience in commercial growing and no resources. We met twice a week and grew veg for the initial 15 or so
subscribers, several of whom are still members of Banc Organics today. All the work was done by
hand although a neighbour’s pig was drafted in to do some of the initial cultivation.
The following year we got a small amount of money from Burn’s Pet Food; invested in a polytunnel
and some equipment and began to grow the size of the scheme. Although the scheme stared paying
me a bit in that second year, the first few years were characterised by regular large work parties of volunteers doing the work. As time went on, we became more professional, I learned to become an efficient grower, we got
more polytunnels and a tractor, started using more land at nearby Ty’r Eithin Farm. Volunteers still
played a critical role and I was privileged to work with young people from all around the world who
came and stayed at the farm to volunteer.
More than a 9-5 job…
Although the role was my day-to-day job – it was so much more than that. It was my life and my
vocation – and an important part of my children’s life, particularly my son’s. They enjoyed helping out in the garden, particularly in the early days, all the different people around our home, the social events- garden days, volunteer days, meals and twmpaths that were a regular part of Banc Organics.
When Tony and Sue at Ty’r Eithin decided to retire at the end of 2019, we lost our umbrella organisation, many resources, land, premise and labour. I took the decision to build a new team and relaunch it as a Community Interest Company. By necessity it had to change and grow at this point. Over the last two years I have put together a new team of workers and found directors with relevant expertise to carry it forward. We have found new land and premises and upgraded our equipment and facilities.
During my time as grower, I have been particularly interested in improving the growing system to
optimise its efficiency and environmental impact in the somewhat challenging climate and soil conditions in this part of Wales. I have spent a lot of time learning from other growers, visiting their sites and reading widely.
My Growing Research…
I have also been active in researching and experimenting myself, both with small scale informal trials, but also for an MSc I undertook from 2015-2018 which radically improved my growing techniques – and the business in general. 2 years ago, when we launched Gwendraeth Organic CIC, I embarked on a serious and much larger research project for a PhD looking at the greenhouse gas emissions of the methods I use and how to optimise the global warming effects. This is long-term, ongoing research and publication project, with experimental work taking place on my fields at Top Meadow. The PhD is under Bangor University’s soil science team – and I’m fortunate to be studying under Wales’ top soil scientist Prof.
Davey Jones, and Prof. Dave Chapman.
Supporting the Environment
Doing a PhD is a huge commitment – let alone when you have 2 children! – so I’ve taken the difficult decision to leave Banc Organics this year. Not an easy decision to make – especially as I have put so much of my life into it – and working here always was and I’m sure will continue to be – so much more than just a job. But I greatly enjoy academic life and the challenge of research – and I know I can make a contribution to the environment and sustainable farming through my research, which was always the important bit for me.
Wishing the new team every success
I’m pleased to leave the business to a new, younger, dynamic team with lots of energy and enthusiasm to take it forward. I’m pleased to say, it now has better land, premises and equipment than ever before, is paying twice as many people and has more resources and twice the turnover.
There are still challenges and no doubt it will be hard work (it always has been). But, compared to where we were 2 years ago when just a handful of us took over from Ty’r Eithin without premises or much land and very little money – the position is much stronger. I wish them success and many more years producing good food, sustainably and contributing to the community. I also hope it isn’t quite as much hard work and better able to pay and support them properly.
Keep in Touch!
It’s really important to me to communicate what I have learnt and am learning through work, my PhD and research into sustainable horticulture, farming, nature and the environment – and I’m setting up some social media channels to do this. Follow me on twitter: @martin_samphire and I hope to set up a blog and do some videos to help spread the word. More importantly, many Banc Organics members and volunteers have become friends – particularly those from the days when we used to have a lot more member and volunteer involvement – but I’m still around and not going anywhere! So do keep in touch.
I’m proud that over the last 12 years I’ve grown a huge quantity of high quality food. I hope you’ve all enjoyed it.
Good luck Lauren, Alex, Sally, Andy and Rita- keep up the good work.
Ar ôl 12 mlynedd gyda Banc Organics rwyn gadael i ganolbwyntio ar fy nheulu a fy ymchwil academaidd, ac roeddwn i eisiau cymryd y cyfle i fyfyrio ar yr hyn rydyn ni wedi’i gyflawni – a dymuno’n dda i’r tîm newydd yn eu ymdrechion.
Sut rydyn ni wedi tyfu.
Mae bron yn union 12 mlynedd ers i grŵp ohonom o Transition Cwm Gwendraeth a Fferm Ty’r Eithin sefyll yn fy nghae bach yn Top Meadow, Bancffosfelen a phenderfynu dechrau tyfu llysiau ar gyfer ein cymuned. Y flwyddyn gyntaf honno roeddem i gyd yn wirfoddolwyr, nid oedd gennym unrhyw
beiriannau, dim profiad mewn tyfu masnachol a dim adnoddau. Fe wnaethon ni gwrdd ddwywaith yr wythnos a thyfu llysiau ar gyfer y tua 15 tanysgrifiwr cychwynnol, ac mae nifer ohonyn nhw’n dal i fod yn aelodau o Banc Organics heddiw. Gwnaethpwyd yr holl waith â llaw er bod mochyn cymydog wedi’i ddrafftio i wneud rhywfaint o’r tyfu cychwynnol. Y flwyddyn ganlynol cawsom ychydig bach o arian gan Burn’s Pet Food; buddsoddi mewn twnnel polythen a rhywfaint o offer a dechrau tyfu maint y cynllun. Er bod y cynllun yn syllu ar dalu ychydig i mi yn yr ail flwyddyn honno, nodweddwyd yr ychydig flynyddoedd cyntaf gan weithgorau mawr rheolaidd o wirfoddolwyr yn gwneud y gwaith.
Wrth i amser fynd yn ei flaen, daethom yn fwy proffesiynol, dysgais i ddod yn dyfwr effeithlon, cawsom fwy o dwneli polythen a thractor, dechreuais ddefnyddio mwy o dir ar Fferm Ty’r Eithin gerllaw. Roedd gwirfoddolwyr yn dal i chwarae rhan hanfodol a chefais y fraint o weithio gyda phobl
ifanc o bob cwr o’r byd a ddaeth i aros ar y fferm i wirfoddoli.
Mwy na swydd 9-5…
Er mai fy swydd o dydd i dydd oedd y rôl – roedd yn gymaint mwy na hynny. Dyma oedd fy mywyd a fy ngalwedigaeth – ac yn rhan bwysig o fywyd fy mhlant, yn enwedig fy mab. Fe wnaeth fe mwynhau helpu yn yr ardd, yr holl wahanol bobl o amgylch ein cartref, y digwyddiadau cymdeithasol –
diwrnodau gardd, diwrnodau gwirfoddoli, prydau bwyd a twmpaths ac oedd yn rhan reolaidd yn Banc Organics.
Pan benderfynodd Tony a Sue yn Nhŷ’r Eithin ymddeol ar ddiwedd 2019, gwnaethom golli ein sefydliad ymbarél, llawer o adnoddau, tir, rhagosodiad a llafur. Cymerais y penderfyniad i adeiladu tîm newydd a’i ail-lansio fel Cwmni Budd Cymunedol. O reidrwydd roedd yn rhaid iddo newid a thyfu ar y pwynt hwn. Dros y ddwy flynedd ddiwethaf rwyf wedi llunio tîm newydd o weithwyr a dod o hyd i gyfarwyddwyr ag arbenigedd perthnasol i’w gario ymlaen. Rydym wedi dod o hyd i dir ac adeilad newydd ac wedi uwchraddio ein hoffer a’n cyfleusterau.
Yn ystod fy nghyfnod fel tyfwr, mae gen i ddiddordeb arbennig mewn gwella’r system dyfu i wneud y gorau o’i heffeithlonrwydd a’i heffaith amgylcheddol yn yr hinsawdd a’r pridd sydd braidd yn heriol yn y rhan hon o Gymru. Rwyf wedi treulio llawer o amser yn dysgu gan dyfwyr eraill, yn ymweld â’u safleoedd ac yn darllen yn eang.
Fy Ymchwil Tyfu …
Rwyf hefyd wedi bod yn weithgar yn ymchwilio ac yn arbrofi fy hun, y ddau gyda threialon anffurfiol ar raddfa fach, ond hefyd ar gyfer MSc a gynhaliais o 2015-2018 a wellodd fy nhechnegau tyfu – a’r busnes yn gyffredinol.
2 flynedd yn ôl, pan lansiwyd CIC Organig Gwendraeth, cychwynnais ar brosiect ymchwil difrifol a llawer mwy ar gyfer PhD yn edrych ar allyriadau nwyon tŷ gwydr y dulliau rwy’n eu defnyddio a sut i wneud y gorau o’r effeithiau cynhesu byd-eang. Mae hwn yn brosiect ymchwil a chyhoeddi tymor hir, parhaus, gyda gwaith arbrofol yn digwydd ar fy meysydd yn Top Meadow. Mae’r PhD o dan dîm gwyddor pridd Prifysgol Bangor – ac rwy’n ffodus fy mod yn astudio o dan wyddonydd pridd gorau Cymru ’yr Athro Davey Jones, a’r Athro Dave Chapman.
Cefnogi’r Amgylchedd
Mae gwneud PhD yn ymrwymiad enfawr – heb sôn am gael 2 blentyn! – felly rydw i wedi gwneud y penderfyniad anodd i adael Banc Organics eleni. Ddim yn benderfyniad hawdd i’w wneud – yn enwedig gan fy mod i wedi rhoi cymaint o fy mywyd ynddo – ac roedd gweithio yma bob amser ac rwy’n siŵr y bydd yn parhau i fod – cymaint mwy na swydd yn unig. Ond rwy’n mwynhau bywyd academaidd a her ymchwil yn fawr – a gwn y gallaf wneud cyfraniad i’r amgylchedd a ffermio cynaliadwy trwy fy ymchwil, a oedd bob amser yn ddarn pwysig i mi.
Gan ddymuno pob llwyddiant i’r tîm newydd
Rwy’n falch o adael y busnes i dîm newydd, iau, deinamig gyda llawer o egni a brwdfrydedd i’w symud ymlaen. Rwy’n falch o ddweud, mae ganddo bellach well tir, adeilad ac offer nag erioed o’r blaen, mae’n talu dwywaith cymaint o bobl ac mae ganddo fwy o adnoddau a dwywaith y trosiant.
Mae yna heriau o hyd a heb os, bydd yn waith caled (bu erioed). Ond, o gymharu â lle’r oeddem 2 flynedd yn ôl pan gymerodd dim ond llond llaw ohonom yr awenau o Dŷ’r Eithin heb adeilad na llawer o dir ac ychydig iawn o arian – mae’r sefyllfa’n gryfach o lawer. Rwy’n dymuno llwyddiant iddynt a llawer mwy o flynyddoedd yn cynhyrchu bwyd da, yn gynaliadwy ac yn cyfrannu at y
gymuned. Gobeithiaf hefyd nad yw’n gymaint o waith caled ac yn gallu eu talu a’u cefnogi’n iawn yn
well.
Cadwch mewn Cysylltiad!
Mae’n bwysig iawn i mi gyfleu’r hyn rydw i wedi’i ddysgu ac rydw i’n ei ddysgu trwy waith, fy PhD ac ymchwil i arddwriaeth gynaliadwy, ffermio, natur a’r amgylchedd – ac rydw i’n sefydlu rhai sianeli cyfryngau cymdeithasol i wneud hyn. Dilynwch fi ar twitter: @martin_samphire ac rwy’n gobeithio sefydlu blog a gwneud rhai fideos i helpu i ledaenu’r gair. Yn bwysicach fyth, mae llawer o aelodau a gwirfoddolwyr Banc Organics wedi dod yn ffrindiau – yn enwedig y rhai o’r dyddiau pan oedden ni’n arfer bod â llawer mwy o gyfranogiad aelodau a gwirfoddolwyr – ond rydw i’n dal i fod o gwmpas a ddim yn mynd i unman! Felly cadwch mewn cysylltiad. Rwy’n falch fy mod i wedi tyfu llawer iawn o fwyd o ansawdd uchel dros y 12 mlynedd diwethaf. Gobeithio eich bod chi i gyd wedi mwynhau.
Pob lwc Lauren, Alex, Sally, Andy a Rita- daliwch ati gyda’r gwaith da.
Cyfieithiadau wedi’u wneud gan Silas Samphire