Season 1
Ahoi! What Grows Here? is a project about food, land, community resources and imagination on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal. Part of this programme included Autumn School, consisting of a series of workshops including clay oven building, foraging and conversations with local growers over bowls of soup.
Ahoi! What Grows Here? is part of a wider arts and environment programme happening on the canal between 2018-21 called Hinterlands Wales, developed by Canal & River Trust and arts organisation Peak. Ahoi! What Grows Here? is guided by Owen and fellow artist Ella Gibbs, working with community groups, residents and collaborators, from geologists to poets. The project is constantly evolving: shaped by the seasons, its contributors and political and social context. Linking local producers, allotments and community food initiatives, Ahoi! uses communal activities including harvesting, apple pressing, composting, clay oven-making and cooking to facilitate open conversations exploring food, climate, land and sustainable futures.
Part of this programme, Autumn School, was located at Pontymoile Basin, Pontypool, and made connections with community, education and health groups in the area such as Talygarn Unit, Growing Space, Griffithstown Primary School and Panteg Employees Club. Workshops were held on clay oven building and foraging, and included conversations with a host of specialists, growers and makers such as natural building specialist Sam Makumba, forager and author Adele Nozedar and weaver Amanda Rayner.
Throughout this project, contributions have been gathered from local residents and project collaborators to develop an evolving food map of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal. This has subsequently been developed into an online resource, with designer Oliver Norcott, featuring layers such as producers and growers, allotments, community gardens and orchards, industrial heritage and deep time.