A group of gardeners from Ruthin have transformed their love for gardening into a thriving communal farm.
The Graigfechan Growers' Group, consisting of pensioners, were highlighted during the Climate Cymru Green Tour, part of the Great Big Green Week..
The elderly group grow fruits and vegetables using eco-friendly practices and DIY methods, such as a homemade comfrey mix potent plant feed.
Nigel Horrocks from the Graigfechan Growers' Group said: "You can be doing something that's productive and beneficial.
"It doesn’t have to be retired people."
The Graigfechan Growers' Group, visited by Climate Cymru (Image: The Climate Cymru Green Tour)
The group offers a mutual support system, providing financial and physical help.
Wales has seen a steady growth in the number of small-scale local food producers over the past ten years.
These producers are contributing towards community cohesion and economic resilience.
The Graigfechan Growers' Group's efforts have sparked collaboration with nearby communities.
The exchange of a bounty of products and knowledge has gone beyond simply growing food, cultivating satisfaction, sharing and value of deep community feeling.
Cardiff University's research shows that active participation in community gardening activities can help reduce stress levels and increase social interaction.
An example of such that is the Langton's Farm in the Brecon Beacons.
This family-run farm promotes an organic and regenerative approach towards farming, supplying fresh vegetable boxes to markets.
They envision Wales dotted with market gardens and aim to reconnect people with the source of their food.
Katherine, the owner of Langton's Farm, shared a heartwarming testimony of schoolchildren visiting the farm: "When we had school kids come and visit.
"They said that they didn’t like carrots, and after they picked them and tried them, they liked carrots!
"That’s just great."
Community initiatives such as these not only foster a sense of purpose and belonging but can also help mitigate increasing mental health issues amongst young people in the UK.
Around 20 per cent of adolescents may experience a mental health problem in a year, with social isolation and family breakdown significantly contributing to these issues.
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