Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Hundreds of pumpkins blanketing a hill overlooking Llanelli have been ripening in time for Halloween And they have been rolling on down to the Market Garden stall of Miriam and Stephen Phillips at Llanelli Market ready for Halloween enthusiasts to carve their own masterpieces or make pumpkin pie or soup. From football size to giant pear shaped monster pumpkins more than two feet across, they adorn the stall almost begging to be carved to smile, grimace, happily gaze and even scare with twinkling lights on All Hollows Eve. Whilst quite an attraction at the Cowell Street entrance to Llanelli Market, the pumpkins always draw wide-eyed children in awe at the size of Jack-o-Lanterns on the Phillips family stall. They also attract the Mary Berry serious cook and, capitalising on this, the Phillips market stallholders give away helpful recipe sheets for making pumpkin pies and soup. The stall also supplies hotels and schools about Llanelli with the produce of their bountiful autumnal harves...

Pupils from a Llanelli primary school are hoping to reap what they sow. Swiss Valley primary school will be at Llanelli Indoor market on Thursday, March 26 until 12.30pm, selling seeds and seedlings from their school garden. Representatives from the school’s eco council will be selling vegetable seeds including peas, broad beans, runner beans, onions and seed potatoes on their stand in Stepney Precinct. They will also have seedlings of broad beans, lettuce, cabbage and tomatoes. The garden was created in 2012 and currently has 15 raised beds, four glasshouses and two areas where children plant directly into the soil. Teacher and garden leader Neil Lane said: “The aim of the garden is to provide an opportunity for children to learn skills across the curriculum by providing them with opportunities to grow their own vegetables, buy and sell seeds, seedlings and vegetables as well as learning about the benefits of a healthy diet. “The project is also run as a business to introduce pupils...

Green fingered Bancffosfelen villagers are offering a helping hand to residents who are unable to grow their own fruit and vegetables. Not-for-profit Banc Organics do the growing and distribute them in the Gwendraeth Valley. The community supported food growing scheme offers a wide range of seasonal fruit and vegetables, which is grown by volunteers at two sites, and then sold as weekly boxes. Members can chose what they want grown, with some households being eligible for vouchers towards the cost of the produce. The scheme, supported by Carmarthenshire Community Challenge, runs from January to June and boxes are delivered to pick up points near the customer’s home. The council’s executive board member for sustainability, Cllr Pam Palmer said: “This is a great opportunity for families to buy home grown produce if they’re not in a position to be able to grow them. “Growing your own vegetables and fruit is cheaper than buying and much more satisfying. Also, home grown has a much bet...