I love my volunteering work. I've developed lots of new skills and I've also been able to use my previous experience to help too
Hazel Bowen - Volunteer
Signal Box Farm
Signal Box farm - Employability, Education & Enterprise
Signal Box Farm at Railway Gardens, is our flagship community urban vertical farm which delivers employability and enterprise opportunities to our local community. We grow sustainable all-year-round crops in a Controlled Environment Agriculture system in converted shipping containers, a stones throw from Cardiff city centre. We sell our crops at local farmers markets and to food businesses across Cardiff and The Vale of Glamorgan.
With support from our specialist team, our shipping container farm is the perfect environment and locality for our trainees from our community of asylum seekers and refugees, to engage and connect with our local community while developing valuable growing and employability skills to support their progression to education, employment or enterprise.
As part of the daily operations at our farm, we deliver accredited employability courses to our trainees to help build on their existing skills and work record to enable them find employment here in the UK. We also work with volunteers from our community who want to re-train, up-skill and refresh their CV's ready for heading back to work. We also offer mentoring opportunities to volunteers from our local community wishing to help support our trainees while on their journey with us. Please get in touch if you would like to know more.
LOCALLY & MINDFULLY GROWN
We are very conscious of the environmental impacts of our farm. From sourcing from responsible suppliers to our own mindful operations. We compost all of our organic waste and share it with our community, we also offer spent compost to egg farmers as it provides a nutritious feed for their hens. We use glass returnable jars for home deliveries and farmers markets, and re-useable catering boxes for wholesale orders. If we have surplus crops, which rarely happens, we donate them to local charitable initiatives and community pantries.
Our Produce
Mindfully grown with organic seeds & peat-free organic compost.
Basil microgreens have the same flavour as the more mature plant but it is more intense, sweeter and has a very light crunch. Basil is ideal in pasta dishes, soups, salads and as a garnish. Containing protein, vitamins E, A, K, B6, and C as well as calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, copper, phosphorous, and potassium, basil is highly nutritious and is both anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial.
Broccoli microgreens have a mild taste with a slight crunch and are high in levels of vitamin C and A and antioxidants. Broccoli micro‑greens also reduce oxidative stress and due to their high levels of sulforaphane, the compound that has been found to reduce the risk of cancer. Broccoli micro‑greens have also been linked with regulating blood sugar. Best eaten raw to maintain the incredibly high nutritional content, it adds flavour and texture.
China Rose microgreens is part of the radish family and has a distinct mustard flavour. With brightly coloured pink stems and vivid green leaves, they look and taste wonderful in salads, stir-fry's, sandwiches and soups. They contain vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, deliver calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and zinc, are rich in essential amino acids and chlorophyll (which aids digestion) and benefits from cancer fighting properties.
Coriander microgreens have a sweet, bright aroma with a slight peppery taste and compared to the mature version has a much bolder flavour. Traditionally a Chinese herb it is widely used in fish and curry dishes, chutneys, soups, salads and salsas. Coriander contains a high level of carotenoids; fat-soluble antioxidants which are essential for your body to protect cells and organs from damage and eye health as you age. They also contain high levels of vitamin E and K.
Fenugreek microgreens have a taste that is bitter, spicy and nutty all in one hit! Fenugreek is typically used in Indian cuisine and can be mixed into sauces, made into tea or sprinkled on top of dishes as a spice. Fenugreek can lower cholesterol and has been shown to improve the function of insulin -leading to significant reductions in blood sugar levels. Fenugreek is also known to minimise the symptoms of menopause and help ease the discomfort of menstruation.
Radish Rambo microgreens add a punch to dishes. Similar to the fully-grown radish, they have a fiery taste with sweet and nutty undertones. The Radish Rambo is ideal in garnishes, salads, wraps and spring rolls. These micro‑greens add a powerful punch to dishes as they contain vitamin A,B,C,E, and K. They also deliver calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, are rich in essential amino acids, and chlorophyll which aids digestion and benefits from cancer fighting properties.
Wheatgrass microgreens have a mild bitter-sweet flavour with grassy undertones. It has huge nutritional benefits; rich in vitamin A, B complex, C, and E and essential minerals it is a favourite immune-booster and is a staple in high impact health food diets. Its versatility lends itself to being a main ingredient in smoothies and juices where its taste can be blended with other fruits and veg.
Sunflower microgreens have a fresh, nutty and slightly lemony flavour. They are best eaten raw to maintain their crunchy texture and to preserve their nutritional content. Sunflower micro‑greens contain all of the amino acids, vitamin A, B complex, D, and E and a tasty immune booster. A favourite all-rounder micro‑green.
Tendril Pea microgreens are crisp and sweet with delicious earthy flavours. The tendrils add an interesting texture to dishes and are frequently used as garnish, in wraps and sandwiches, soups and salads. There are lots of antioxidants and phytonutrients in pea micro‑greens. They can help boost immune systems and reduce inflammation. Supporting vitamins C, D, K and A the pea can help regulate blood sugars, improve cardiovascular health and they contain lots of fibre.
Speciality Microgreens - Grown on request
Fancy something a little bit different? We can grow other microgreens specifically for you. Please contact us!