Bridging The Gap Project in Northern Ireland: A Fresh Approach to Community and Sustainability

One year on from the "Bridging The Gap – Next Steps" workshop, we take a look at Barry Ferguson’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Veg Box Scheme at Ben Vista Farm, one of the successful pilots that was developed from the workshop.

Growing the Future: The Vision Behind Bridging The Gap

Last year, Nourish NI launched an exciting initiative to tackle one of Northern Ireland’s most pressing issues: Access to affordable fresh organic vegetables. The "Bridging The Gap – Next Steps" workshop brought together local growers, producers, buyers, and social supermarket clients to explore ways to make fresh, locally-grown food affordable and accessible to low-income families. One year on and we take a look at Barry Ferguson’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Veg Box Scheme at, one of the successful pilots that was developed from the workshop.

Barry’s farm, deeply rooted in family history, with several generations living on the farm, has become an innovative pilot project aimed at creating a community-owned and operated farm. His vision is both simple and transformative: to provide fresh, sustainably grown produce to local communities like West Winds Estate and the surrounding area, while fostering healthier lifestyles and stronger community bonds. By transforming what was originally a failed orchard field around the time of the first world war into a thriving organic market garden. Barry's farm has become an excellent example of how small-scale farming can create big impacts.

From Field to Table: How the Veg Box Scheme Works

With support from the Bridging The Gap initiative, Barry was able to take his veg box scheme idea to the next level. The CSA model he developed was designed to serve everyone—not just the affluent—by making fresh, locally-grown vegetables accessible to low-income households. Priced as low as £7.50 for a small veg box and £12.50 for a large box, the veg boxes included an assortment of organic vegetables grown on the farm.

More than just a food delivery system, the scheme was about building community. Barry partnered with the local West Winds Primary School, where children helped plant and harvest crops such as carrots, kale, and sprouts. This hands-on involvement fostered a sense of connection to the land and a deeper understanding of the importance of fresh, nutritious food.

By reaching out to households in West Winds Estate and nearby communities, the project gave families an opportunity to enjoy affordable, fresh produce right at their doorstep. Each delivery featured a selection of up to 15 different vegetables, harvested just hours before, making the produce as fresh as possible.

Cultivating Success: What We’ve Learned So Far

The Bridging The Gap pilot project has delivered many positive outcomes and key insights. On average, the CSA distributed about 30 veg boxes per week, reaching its goal and benefiting low-income families. Feedback was overall positive, with cabbage, mixed salad and beetroot being favourites. The scheme not only provided nutritious food but also encouraged healthier eating habits and built stronger community relationships.

Of course, the project faced challenges along the way. Some crops, like squash, struggled due to unexpected weather, and some households found the veg box concept didn't fit their lifestyle or needs. But overall, the project successfully addressed access to fresh affordable organic food for many, highlighting the potential for local, community-driven agriculture to be a long-term solution.

Perhaps one of the most significant achievements was the sense of community the project fosters. By involving local children in the planting and harvesting process and making the scheme accessible to all, the pilot project created a bond between the people and the land, making fresh food more than just a commodity—it became a shared experience.

Planting Seeds for the Future: Barry’s Vision for What’s Next

Barry’s ambitions for the future are inspiring. Looking ahead, he plans to expand the farm’s growing capacity by transitioning fully to a "no dig" method, which will improve soil health and increase crop yields. He also aims to scale up the number of veg boxes delivered weekly, with a goal of reaching 50 members by 2025 and growing to 200 families in the next 5 years. In addition, Barry is exploring the creation of a legal cooperative, which would open up new funding opportunities and allow him to hire a volunteer coordinator to support farm operations and community outreach.

Barry’s long-term vision is to transform Ben Vista Farm into a fully community-owned cooperative that can sustainably provide food for local areas within a five-mile radius. He hopes to foster deeper engagement by encouraging families in the CSA to "adopt a vegetable," allowing them to take an active role in the farm’s operations. By growing the community and solidifying the farm’s legal structure, Barry is laying the groundwork for a model of local, sustainable agriculture that can serve as an inspiration for others across Northern Ireland.

A Broken Food System: Thoughts on Change

While the success of the Bridging The Gap pilot is evident, the broader issues plaguing the food system in Northern Ireland and beyond is difficult to avoid. Barry is passionate about the need for systemic change, particularly the way food production and distribution are controlled by large corporations. Where only those growers supplying supermarkets are eligible for machinery and infrastructure grants. Barry would advocate for government recognition and support for local food producers not just food-commodity producing business farms, as there is a clear demand for local chemical free food"Barry believes that small-scale farmers like himself are up against a system that prioritises profit over sustainability and community well-being. where only those growers supplying supermarkets are eligible for machinery and infrastructure grants. 

Barry would advocate for government recognition and support for local food producers not just food-commodity producing business farms, as there is a clear demand for local chemical free food. He envisions a future where government funding is directed toward supporting small-scale, sustainable growers, rather than perpetuating a system that benefits large agri-businesses. Calling for investment in local food initiatives, arguably even a modest sum of public money could help create dozens of new growers each year. By incentivizing landowners to lease or sell land for market gardens and offering grants for training and startup costs, the government and initiatives like Bridging The Gap could pave the way for a more equitable and sustainable food system.