I DON'T know what the word sustain

ability conjures up for you.

Is it about grow-your-own, eating a goat's cheese pie or creating a compost heap in the garden?

If so, I have done my bit.

My back garden plot has borne fruit with flowers, and even a little veg.

OK, my crop may not have comprised more than 20 carrots, a dozen cucumbers and a solitary tomato, but at least I tried.

And I am not alone in this pursuit of grow-your-own sustainability.

A recent survey found that a quarter of Britons are planning on growing their own fruit and veg this year, spurred on by smaller pay packets, the dream of becoming "self-sufficient" and doing away with the dreaded supermarket shop. So, yes, sustainability is a buzzword we are all being encouraged to buy into so that we can protect what we have got before it is too late.

Swansea is playing its part in the caring, sharing society being aimed for with an award scheme honouring those organisations who have come on board in a bigger way.

Now, a final call is going out to community groups, businesses, government projects and individuals to put in an application for one of the prestigious Sustainable Swan- sea awards. The deadline for applications to go in for the fourth awards scheme is this Friday, with seven categories to be rewarded.

Awards co-ordinator Philip McDonnell said the standard and range of projects that had applied in previous years had been tremendous, and had provided judges with a real challenge to pick out winners.

"At the end of the day, we are all winners when community groups and other organisations choose to look after the environment and think about our future when they are planning their activities," he added.

"It is great to celebrate the good work that is going on, and these exemplar projects can be an encouragement to us all," he said.

The 2010 award categories and their sponsors are community (the Co-operative Membership); low carbon community (the Assembly); low carbon organisation (Wales Green Business Centre), waste wise business (Swansea Council's recycling service), biodiversity award (Swansea Council's nature conservation team and the Countryside Council for Wales); sustainable schools (Swansea Environmental Education Forum); champion (Swansea Council's sustainable development unit).

The scheme has also received support from Swansea Council for Voluntary Service, the South Wales Evening Post, Alun Griffiths (Contractors) and the city's Environment Centre.

Previous winners have included businesses such as AB Glass and Pitstop Carwash, community projects such as the Blaenymaes Drop-in Centre, the Down to Earth Project and Swansea Community Farm; and schools such as Gors Primary and Cadle Primary.

"These projects and organisations have set great examples on energy and water efficiency, reuse and recycling, awareness-raising and education, supporting volunteers, and providing help for communities," said Mr McDonnell.

Candidates must fill in a simple application form to explain how they have contributed to environmental sustainability in the past two years.

An expert judging panel then selects a shortlist of three finalists for each award category and they attend a prestigious Oscar-style award ceremony in the autumn.

The biennial award scheme is part of the Sustainable Swansea Initiative, a partnership project run by Swansea Environmental Forum to raise awareness of environmental sustainability through activities and events.

Application forms are available online, or by calling The Environment Centre on 01792 480200.

chris.peregrine@swwmedia.co.uk

web link

www.swanseaenvironmental forum.net