Day 1 – Conference Day 

Dates: Saturday 1st of March 2025

Location: Wagga Wagga City Council, 243 Baylis Street, Wagga Wagga, 2650

Time: 12:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Cost: $100 (includes conference, catering and networking dinner)

Day 2 – Festival Market Day

Dates: Sunday 2nd of March 2025
Location: Wagga Beach, Johnston St, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650

Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM AEDT

Cost: FREE

Our Origin Story

The Riverina Harvest Festival is dedicated to fostering self-sufficiency, well-being, and a clean and green environment through community collaboration. Our mission is to connect people and promote food security by celebrating locally grown produce and supporting community gardens and local producers. We aim to enhance education and networking opportunities, implement regenerative and permaculture practices, and support new initiatives. By showcasing the benefits of sustainable gardening, we will build a resilient community and strengthen connections among local growers, gardeners, residents, and organizations.

Whether you’re a passionate gardener, a local food advocate, or simply curious about how communities can grow stronger through gardening, this festival day is for you. Let’s cultivate connections, share knowledge, and build a sustainable future—together!

Program

Day 1

Conference Program: 12:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Conference & Learning: Start the festival with an afternoon of insights from local and leading experts in, community engagement, gardening, horticulture and sustainability.

Learn more about How local food networks foster resilience within our communities in so many ways and get inspired by our amazing lineup of speakers!

Networking & Dinner: Finish the night connecting with speakers and fellow attendees during a relaxed networking session, with a delicious dinner made with fresh, local ingredients at Mates Gully.

Day 2

Festival Market Day: 10AM to 4PM
  • Support Local Growers: Buy and connect with local farmers and discover fresh, local produce.
  • Delicious Food: Enjoy tasty meals made from locally sourced ingredients.
  • Live Music: Groove to live performances by local artists from 10am to 3pm.
  • Workshops: Learn new skills with hands-on workshops throughout the day, perfect for both adults and kids.
  • Stalls & Seating: Explore a variety of stalls and relax in the spacious seating areas.
  • Community Groups: Connect with local groups and get inspired by their amazing work in Wagga and the Riverina.

Day 1 – Conference Day

About the Guest Speakers

MLI Website

Aunty Cheryl Penrith

Wagga Wagga Wiradjuri Elder

Acknowledgement to Country

Untitled design (12)

Bindi Vanzella

Happy Wombat Hazelnuts

The Best Food Security is Local

MLI Website Large Circal (10)

Sarah Kynaston

 Batlow Bees & Berries

The Best Food Security is Local

MLI Website Large Circal (9)

Deb Robertson

 Asgard Garden & Laurel Hill Preserves

The Best Food Security is Local

MLI Website Large Circal (7)

Laura Fraumeni

Cafe Nest

The Best Food Security is Local

MLI Website Large Circal (8)

Douglas Rand

Batlow Organic Harvest

The Best Food Security is Local

Nomi Lacey 1

Naomy Lacey

Community Gardens Australia

International perspectives on community gardening

Untitled design (11)

Dr. John Rafferty

CSU Thurgoona

Growing a community garden

CjS1

Clarance Slockee

ABC‘s Gardening Australia

Keynote Presentation

MLI Website Large Circal (11)

Collet Geier

CSU PhD Student

Tackling Community Inequality Through Gardening

MLI Website Large Circal (2)

Marty & Sally Bushby

Whole Picture Permaculture

The Whole Picture

JOSH-COLLINGS-Troweling-acres-of-change-to-feed-community

Joshua Collings

Acres and Acres Co-op

Connecting communities to local food systems

Eltan

Eltan Mestan

Erin Earth Garden Manager

Chair of The Riverina Harvest Festival

JP

Jackie Price

Cultural Educator & Australian Native Food Farming

Master of Ceremonies

Day 2 – Festival Market Day

About the Musicians

Vendors and Stalls

Videos:

7News featured the Riverina Harvest Festival and some of the organisers in this news clip:

Article:

Coming soon…

Radio:

ABC Riverina Radio’s Sally Bryant interview discussing the upcoming Riverina Harvest Festival with Eltan Mestan from ErinEarth:

Funders and Partners

This event would not be possible without our funders and partners: 

This project is supported by the Southern NSW Innovation Hub through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund

Erin Earth, Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc, Pro Patria Center, Demonstration Gardens Wagga Wagga, Wagga Nursery, Wagga Surveyors, The Chaston Street Nursery, Carbon Mate PTY LTD and The Streaming Guys.