Powys Green Guide Powys Green Guide Blog

14 November 2025

Young Growers Creating Resilient Food Systems in Powys

We are the growers at Wern Farm, a new sustainable agricultural project based in Sarn,

just outside Newtown. We are five individuals running three separate farming businesses, united under one banner: Wern Farm. 

Although we've all arrived in farming from different backgrounds, we share a passion for sustainable, regenerative food production. Between us, we've spent years learning the craft, gaining experience in market gardening, environmental stewardship and running community-focused food businesses. Today, each of us is concentrating on the part of growing that inspires us most. Tilly specialises in seed production to help preserve and expand plant diversity, while Lydia focuses on propagating unusual and exciting varieties of vegetables. Charlie explores innovative, low impact growing systems that support the environment, and Xander and Esther are developing agroforestry on the farm, integrating trees and crops to create a more resilient ecosystem. 

Since moving onto the land in May this year, things have been full-on! We've all relocated to the site, established three new businesses, put up several polytunnels and grown a lot of incredible veg! 

Our goal is to build a healthy local food system with the community at the heart of what we do. Most of our produce is sold within a 10-mile radius, in Newtown, Bishop's Castle and the surrounding villages, either at markets or through our veg box scheme. As the project grows, we're excited to bring fresh, nutritious food to even more people in our local area.  

We want to be visible and connected, not only to share delicious vegetables, but also to show how we're helping nature thrive on this land. We're working to build a healthier agroecosystem by bringing wildlife back and caring for the soil beneath our feet. We farm without chemicals, investing instead in living soils that can sustain future generations without relying on synthetic fertilisers. 

As a collective, we are currently looking to transition toward a more co-operative and community centred business structure, ensuring that the farm's values and decisions are shared by those who grow here and rely on us. We are not a Community Supported Agriculture (known as C.S.A.) as of yet - we are happy with the direct sales model for now, just selling directly to local customers, no strings attached. At some point in the future I'm sure we could consider becoming a CSA once we have more people subscribed, but this would have to be agreed with the whole partnership first. 

“I am currently studying at the Black mountains college which aims to educate young people in sustainable agriculture. I have also heard of the Land Workers Alliance working to set up a new apprenticeship scheme in collaboration with Coleg Cambria” says Charlie. “Lots of grants and funds going around at the minute as it is such a rising industry”.

Wern Farm is a special place, with several veteran trees and a beautiful stream running through the fields. Living and working on site has been a real privilege, and we can't wait to share more of our journey with the community. 

Instagram: @WernFarm 

Facebook: Wern Farm  

https://communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk/find-a-csa/

https://landworkersalliance.org.uk/

https://blackmountainscollege.uk/

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