Influencing Policy for Better Change.
International Development & African Diaspora
Influencing Policy for Better Change.
International Development & African Diaspora
Diaspora Roots is a community-led garden project bringing Black, African, Caribbean and diaspora communities together to grow food, share knowledge and take practical action on climate change.
Based at Star Hub Garden in Splott, Cardiff, the project builds on the work our community has already done to transform a neglected patch of land into a welcoming and productive growing space.
At the heart of Diaspora Roots is a simple idea: growing food can bring people together, strengthen communities and reconnect us with knowledge that has been passed down through generations.
Our community brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from across Africa, the Caribbean and the wider diaspora. Many people have memories of growing food, cooking with home-grown ingredients and working with the land in their countries and communities of origin.
Diaspora Roots creates a space where this knowledge can be shared alongside new skills and approaches to growing in the Welsh climate.
We want the garden to be a place where people can learn from one another, experiment, get their hands dirty and grow food that has cultural meaning — from familiar vegetables and herbs to crops that may be less commonly grown in Wales.
The garden is also a space for intergenerational learning, connecting different generations through food, growing and shared knowledge.
Diaspora Roots is about more than growing food. It is about exploring how we can live more sustainably and build resilience within our communities.
Through practical workshops and hands-on learning, community members will explore:
Seasonal and climate-resilient food growing
Seed sowing and seed saving
Composting and improving soil health
Wildlife-friendly gardening
Rainwater harvesting and sustainable watering
Food preservation and reducing food waste
Growing culturally relevant and appropriate crops
Sharing sustainable growing practices at home
The garden will also include practical infrastructure such as a community seed library, composting facilities and rainwater harvesting, helping us demonstrate simple approaches to sustainable growing that can be adopted elsewhere.
The knowledge developed through Diaspora Roots is designed to travel beyond the garden.
Participants will be encouraged to share what they learn with friends, family and the wider community — whether that means growing herbs at home, starting a small vegetable patch, saving seeds, composting food waste or simply making more sustainable choices.
We will document the journey through photography, video and stories from the people involved, creating resources that can be shared with other communities interested in developing their own culturally rooted growing projects.
We hope Diaspora Roots can become an example of what is possible when climate action is led by communities and shaped around their lived experiences, cultures and knowledge.
The garden is already supported by a growing community of volunteers and members who have worked together to clear the site, improve access and begin growing and harvesting food.
Diaspora Roots will build on this foundation by creating more opportunities for people to develop gardening skills, take on leadership roles and shape the future of the garden.
Ultimately, we want the garden to be a space where people feel welcome, connected and empowered, a place to grow food, exchange knowledge, spend time together and imagine what a more sustainable future can look like.
Diaspora Roots is part of our wider work to support community-led climate action, food resilience and wellbeing.
Whether you are an experienced gardener or have never planted a seed before, there is a place for you in the garden.
Come and grow with us.
Email robert.oros@ssap.org.uk for more information on how to join.
