Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb and Assembly Member Paul Davies have been down on the farm to see the fruits of a three-year funding partnership between utility company National Grid and the Mount Community Association in Milford Haven.
Visiting the Mount's farm at Llanstadwell, they met the three part-time employees who have gained jobs through the New Deal Scheme thanks to the National Grid partnership. A further six jobs have been created at the Mount Community Association, three of which have gone to Mount Estate residents.
Set-up in November 2007, the farm has gone from strength to strength, largely due to the on-going work from Gill, Kevin and Sean of the New Deal team. Despite this year's poor weather the farm has provided a wealth of plants and vegetables including potatoes, broad beans and onions along with a poly-tunnel full of produce that have been sold to the Mount Estate's residents.
Visiting the farm, Stephen Crabb MP said: "I'm delighted to see new opportunities being created for local people to get in to jobs and training, especially in areas where it can be more difficult to find work.
"The fact that the Mount Community Association farm is also providing healthy food for local people in a sustainable way is even more impressive, and I'm pleased a big company like National Grid has supported our community in this way."
The Mount Community Association's Meg Bond said: "National Grid's three-year support has been a real bonus for us. It's been brilliant that we've been able to provide new employment for three New Deal placements as well as an outdoor
classroom twice a week for Milford Haven School's year 10 and 11 pupils who use the farm for outdoor curriculum activities.
Commenting on the Farm Project, Paul Davies AM said: "This is a wonderful project that is not only providing employment, healthy food and an educational tool, but it is also breaking down generational barriers and bringing the community together.
"I was very impressed by what I saw at the farm and our thanks must go to National Grid for funding such a great project that is helping so many people on so many levels."
The farm has also led to a weekly children's gardening club, where local youngsters can grow their own produce and learn more about where this food comes from - while developing a garden in the Mount Estate's sheltered accommodation area, where they can also get to know the older residents.
National Grid Project Manager Martin Kinsey commented: "This is all about the power of action. We're delighted to see the farm thriving and providing such a variety of resources to the Mount Estate residents. Supporting local projects such as this is our way of saying 'thank you' to the community for their tolerance and understanding during the pipeline's construction.
"We appreciate that our construction works were an inconvenience to the communities along the pipeline route, with the volume and size of traffic using the local roads. I am delighted that we were able to help the Mount Community Association, with their ongoing projects."