Our #GoodFoodCardiff campaign is our mission to make Cardiff become one of the UK’s most sustainable food places – by asking people from all walks of life to ‘make a pledge’ that will  help Cardiff achieve Gold Sustainable Food Places status by the end of the year 2024.

In our latest blog post, we take a comprehensive look at the part The Secret Garden Café plays in Cardiff’s Good Food Movement. Nestled in the heart of Bute Park, the cafe is a beacon of sustainability, seasonality and community engagement. From paying living wages to sourcing organic, local ingredients, the cafe exemplifies how businesses can operate responsibly and profitably, whilst helping to make Cardiff a more sustainable food city.

Committed to Fair Wages and Employee Well-being

The Secret Garden Cafe is dedicated to ensuring its staff are well-compensated, paying all employees a living wage and, in many cases, even higher. Although not yet accredited, this commitment to fair pay reflects the cafe’s recognition of its staff’s hard work and the high cost of living. Providing a living wage is not just about fair pay; it’s about fostering a positive and motivated workforce, which in turn enhances the overall customer experience.

Sourcing Local and Organic Ingredients

One of the core principles of The Secret Garden Cafe is sourcing ingredients locally and organically. This not only supports Welsh farmers and producers but also ensures that customers receive the freshest and healthiest food possible. The cafe’s commitment includes:

• Milk and Butter: Sourced organically from Welsh farms.
• Vegetables and Pork: Organic and sourced from local Welsh suppliers.
• Cheese and Chutneys: Featuring Welsh organic cheeses like Perl Wen and locally-made chutneys from Penylan Preserves.
• Bakery and Pastries: Fresh, organic, and vegan options from local bakeries like Nata and Co, and Alex Gooch.
• Tea and Crisps: Local tea from Waterloo Tea and crisps made from locally grown potatoes, bought directly from farmers.
• Eggs: Free-range and sourced directly from a farm in Bridgend.

This focus on local and organic sourcing not only shortens the supply chain but also reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation.

Supporting the Local Community

The Secret Garden Cafe is deeply embedded in the local community, participating in various charitable activities and community projects. Some notable efforts include:

• Bute Park Community Orchard: Volunteering and raising nearly £10,000 to create a new community orchard.
• Donations to Wildlife Trusts: Contributing nearly £6000 to South Wales wildlife trusts.
• Choose Love Campaign: Collecting donations for this humanitarian aid organisation.
• Public Art Projects: Collaborating with Cathay’s secondary school to bring public art to Bute Park.
• Christmas Tree Decoration: Inviting the public to decorate a Christmas tree and donating £1 for each decoration to a local charity, with a different charity selected each year.

Communicating Good Food Practices

Transparency and communication are key elements of The Secret Garden Cafe’s operations. They actively inform customers about their sustainable practices through signage, social media, direct communication, and staff training. This not only raises awareness but also encourages customers to support and engage in sustainable practices themselves.

Reducing Food Waste

The Secret Garden Cafe prides itself on being a low food waste business. By implementing a flexible menu that can adapt to incorporate surplus food, they minimise waste effectively. Key strategies include:

• Careful Stock Management: Avoiding over-ordering and using freezers to store surplus produce.
• Portion Control: Monitoring portion sizes to reduce plate waste.
• Customer Takeaway Boxes: Offering boxes for customers to take leftovers home.
• Creative Cooking: Chefs adding specials to the menu to use up ingredients and preparing vegetables to use every part, such as cauliflower leaves and broccoli stalks.

Minimising Single-Use Packaging

The Secret Garden Cafe is committed to reducing single-use packaging and promoting reusable alternatives. Their efforts include:

• Refillable Ingredients and Cleaning Products: Bulk buying items like flour, nuts, and dried fruit, and using refillable cleaning products.
• Incentives for Reusable Cups: Offering hot drinks at a discounted price when customers bring their own reusable cups.
• Plastic-Free Products: Ensuring all takeaway containers, crisps bags, ice lolly wrappers, and cold drink packaging are plastic-free.

Ethical and Sustainable Sourcing

The cafe sources its coffee from suppliers that are B Corp certified, not-for-profit, organic, and support various charities. They also created their own blend with Skylark ‘The Orchard Blend’, raising funds for Bute Park community orchard. 

All teas are fair-trade, and they use Suma, a cooperative, for additional supplies. A portion of their hot drink sales is donated to the Wildlife Trust South Wales, further supporting environmental conservation.

Around 80% of the ingredients used by the Secret Garden Cafe are organic/support nature friendly farming. This is extremely important in helping to mitigate the biodiversity crisis and the climate crisis as well as offering a higher quality and more nutrient rich food, supporting healthy soils. 

Offering Healthy and Nutritious Food

Promoting healthy eating is a priority for The Secret Garden Cafe. They ensure that all meals include fresh, homemade, seasonal salads and soups packed with vegetables. Their menu is 85% vegetarian and 50% vegan, focusing on hearty, nutritious meals free from artificial additives.

Serving Planet-Friendly Meals

The Secret Garden Cafe’s menu features organic Welsh pork and British cheeses, including Welsh brie, Perl Wen. The emphasis on vegetarian and vegan options helps reduce the environmental impact of their food offerings. They avoid junk food, opting instead for wholesome, homemade dishes.

Investing in Sustainable Practices

All sourcing decisions at The Secret Garden Cafe are guided by a set of sustainability criteria, including local, small independent producers, organic, fair-trade, cooperative, and refill items. They prioritise seasonal products and biodegradable cleaning supplies to minimise environmental harm.

If you or your business are interested in making a pledge to  will  help Cardiff achieve Gold Sustainable Food Places status by the year 2024, find out more by signing up here.