Chris takes great satisfaction from seeing his produce grow from seed, to harvest to plate, all year round
Tatws Bryn supplies a variety of seasonal veg boxes to homes across Conwy and Gwynedd in North Wales packed with freshly picked, locally grown vegetables.
Local business, Tatws Bryn, is a second generation family-run farm, owned and run by Chris Jones. Situated in the hills behind Llanllechid near Bethesda in North Wales, Fferm Bryn Hafod-y-Wern commands a stunning view down towards the Menai Straits and over to the island of Anglesey.
Chris grows vegetables throughout the year, farming 30 acres of land. He also grows grass for haylage which is available for sale. His produce is seasonal, good quality and fresh – vegetables are picked, packed and delivered to your door same day.
Produce grown by hand
Your Hwb visited Tatws Bryn on a cold March morning to see how Chris goes about growing his produce. It was a fascinating visit. An aspect of his work that we particularly liked is that his produce is grown pesticide-free which is beneficial for both wildlife and ourselves. He uses nets to keep insects and pests away from his crops and spends considerable time and effort looking after the soil in which they grow. We spotted plenty of mole hills across the land which, forChris, is a sure indicator that the soil has plenty of worms!
Chris grows his vegetables from seed, with many starting out under glass in greenhouses. Seedlings are subsequently hardened off and then planted out in rows (raised soil retains heat) by hand. On our visit we saw 25,000 leek seedlings which were nearly ready to be planted out, as well as cabbages and broccoli. Carrots, parsnips, peans, beans and potatoes are sown directly into the soil. And whilst he knows which ranges of vegetables grow well on this upland farm, Chris also tries out new varieties on a regular basis to ensure he is growing the best possible produce.
During our trip around the farm, we learnt that crops are rotated on a bi-annual basis to get best use from the land. Chris is a firm believer in letting nature do its work and plans with the seasons to grow a wide variety of vegetables. Like all veg box providers, the most challenging time of year is the hungry gap which falls in late Spring – last seasons’ crops are largely spent and new crops are not ready to harvest. Supermarkets bridge this by buying in imported produce so we as consumers do not notice a difference to what we put on our plate. Chris plans his crops well but has to work with less choice for those few weeks of the year making it perhaps, if air miles and carbon footprints are important to you, the most important time of year to eat seasonally. And by June, a wide choice of seasonal crops are ready to harvest. Eating seasonally is a far more sustainable and seasonal way of farming.
Tatws Bryn Vegetable Boxes
Tatws Bryn offers a choice of four box sizes:
- Mini – ideal for one person for a week – £5.00 per box
- Small – ideal for one to two people for a week – £8.00 per box
- Medium – ideal for four people for a week – £11.00 per box
- Large – ideal for five to six people for a week – £14.00 per box
All boxes will contain potatoes, carrots and onions along with a variety of seasonable vegetables. Salad boxes and Stir Fry boxes are also available from June to September at £10.00 per box.
In addition, Tatws Bryn sells fresh, free range eggs from Bala, Brynsiecyn apple juice, seasonal locally made chutneys, pickles, jams and marmalades, fresh cut and dried herbs and fruit boxes. You may be interested to know that Chris will also buy locally grown seasonal surplus from growers as and when available. Contact him for more information.
Delivering Wednesday to Friday after 6pm, Tatws Bryn deliver veg boxes to homes across Conwy and Gwynedd. Visit the website to see where they deliver and when.
You can also find Tatws Bryn at Marchnad Ogwen (Bethesda second Saturday of each month between 09.30 and 13.30) and Rhosneigr market (2nd and 4th Saturday of each month 10.00 – 14.00 in the Village Hall, High Street, Rhosneigr) and Dolgellau Market (3rd Sunday of each month 10.00 – 14.00).
I often order a medium veg box and it serves my family of four for the best part of a week with fresh, seasonal produce. I’m still working on getting her kids to eat their greens. That’s another story!