Food and farming are at the forefront of Harvest Festival, shining a light on the regions prosperous produce.
Spring really does showcase the rich soils, sweet nectars and crisp flavours of our farming lands in Victoria’s South West. There is nothing as refreshing as a homegrown cucumber, nothing as sweet as a ripe red strawberry and no perfume as divine as the fragrance of our blooming flowers.
This is a truth that the team at Anglesea’s Common Ground Project speak year round in their mission to connect and empower the community through food and farming. A not-for-profit social organisation, Common Ground Project plant the prospect that regenerative farming is the future with the fruits of the labour the answer to building more resilient food systems. Their belief system is that connection to land, food and community can drive meaningful social change.
They will be inviting people into their community to experience the tastes and quality of these farming efforts at their upcoming event, Harvest Festival.
Harvest Festival
- When: Sunday 3 November, 8am – 3pm
- Where: Common Ground Project, 675 Anglesea Road, Freshwater Creek 3217
- Tickets: This is a free event
Keep up with the latest food and booze news across the region here.
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Taking place on Sunday 3 November from 8am until 3pm at their Anglesea Road location, Harvest Festival is a one-day family-friendly festival that aims to shine the light on the region’s quality produce whilst also inspiring more connection to Victorian food and beverage.
Proudly supported by Agriculture Victoria’s ‘Vic Grown’ Project and the community of local farmers, growers and makers, Harvest Festival is so much more than a farmers market. Whilst patrons are encouraged to bring a basket to fill with fresh locally grown produce from stall holders including fruit, vegetables and home-made goods from across the South West region, the day also includes entertainment and educational activities for the whole family.
Alongside the abundance of stalls, there will be live music, talks, workshops, farm tours, activities for the kids, hot food, baked items and so much more! The market stall producers and growers list is already overflowing with the freshest food and ingredients from local growers. You will find small-scale bio-intensive market, Kinfolk Farm, on site, the hand-harvest produce and award-winning garlic paste from Unearthed Produce, Bellagreen Farm with their certified organic market garden products, Local Mushroom Co with their gigantic oyster mushrooms and their shared space friend Bellarine Fungi, and Lard Ass Butter from Ocean Grove who make European-style cultured butter and ghee.
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Being bee season, it would be remiss not to mention the honey houses of the region including Two Creek Apiary whose highly-anticipated raw honey has been years in the making, and Golden Plains Honey with their 100% raw and cold filtered jars. Geelong Region Olive Collective will also be selling their stock, and Birdlands Seeds will have their specialised commercial standard certified organic seeds for sale. Top all of the take home goods off with some fresh dough thanks to Ket Baker, dubbed Geelong & the Bellarine’s best bakery showcasing 100% sourdough pastries, croissants, bread alongside decadent French and Belgium pastries.
Another stall worth a visit is Farm My School, a project that transforms unused land within school into regenerative market gardens that feed, educate and connect. This is just one of the programs offering education in the community and at Harvest Festival. Staying Grounded, one of Common Ground Project’s advocacy and education programs, will be on-site to discuss their vital work in training and employment pathways in farming and hospitality for people facing disadvantage in the Geelong region. The program particularly works with women from asylum seeker and immigrant communities seeking employment. Festival goers will have a chance to witness the outcome of this program and try the cuisine of their culture from Afghani street-food staple Bolani-stuffed flatbread to Iraqi dolma.
The educational components are also captured on the stage with a program of talks lined up throughout the day. Sharon from Jala Jala Treats will divulge the depths of the bush food industry and a Food System Panel will speak to the contrasting challenges and opportunities presented with being a small-scale producer in this region.
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Additional entertainment and activities will make up Harvest Festival including live music from Surf Coast indie-roots solo outfit Dan Aaron, who is a champion of environmental and social issues, who will be joined by a line-up of local musicians to soundtrack the day including Seal Prince and the Roof Rats, White Flower Society, Baraka The Kid, Jasmin Adria, Axis Mundi, Mariah Jayne and Isabella Reynolds. Kids are not forgotten in the Harvest Festival feeding frenzy with a host of activities designed just for them including farm craft activities, animal feeding stations, farmer-play as well as games littered throughout the grounds.
This free festival aims to solidify the identity of the local region and increase awareness of the positive environmental and social impact that comes with buying from small-scale producers.
A wholesome event not to be missed, patrons can expect to leave fulfilled, inspired and with a market basket in hand that’s brimming with incredible produce ready to take their recipes to new heights. Registration for the event is encouraged so that stall holders can cater to demand. Head here to register your attendance.
For updates and more, head to the Common Grounds Project website.
