The annual Creative Harvest event is a celebration of all things great about food gardening and making art, in all its intriguing forms.
Creative Harvest, West Gippsland’s sixth consecutive open food garden weekend, returns for 2024 and is on the weekend of January 27 and 28, running from 9am to 3pm.
15 private food-producing gardens ranging from small suburban backyards to large family farms will host 30 artists and creatives, including beekeepers, winemakers, jam makers, jewellers, mosaic makers, painters, printmakers and sculptors. Some of Gippsland’s finest food and drink providers will also be in selected gardens.
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“Creative Harvest is a celebration of sustainability and community and a showcase for West Gippsland’s creative movers and shakers. We aim to demonstrate how simple it is to start or expand your own thriving food garden – in your kitchen window box, small backyard or on a large lifestyle block,” said Kristy Plumridge, Chair of the Creative Harvest Committee.
Food gardening is gaining momentum
In 2022, in the wake of the global pandemic, over 1000 city-dwelling and regional Victorians flocked to Creative Harvest to explore earth-friendly ways to grow their own food, connect to the community and find local sources of fresh, top-quality produce.
“Visitors told us that the pandemic had heightened their awareness of the value of self-sufficient food security and sparked an urge to garden and to buy locally grown produce. This year, we’re seeing more interest than ever. People are concerned about the rising cost of fresh food, and there’s growing public demand to know where food comes from and how it’s produced,” explained Kristy.
Hands-on workshops
Four hands-on workshops are a Creative Harvest innovation for 2024. Visitors can buy tickets to learn skills in making sourdough, medicinal herbs, cooking from the garden, growing heirloom tomatoes, creating floral dyes and harvesting edible weeds.
A fun, family-friendly way to discover West Gippsland
Creative Harvest offers all ages ample opportunity to explore, learn and enjoy a great weekend in West Gippsland. Single, Family & Senior Weekend Passes are available.
Launched in 2018, Creative Harvest is an annual event organised by members of the Baw Baw Sustainability Network (BBSN).
Find the full list of 2024 participating gardens and creatives via the website here.