{"id":8823,"date":"2025-02-20T09:23:49","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T22:23:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mli.org.au\/?p=8823"},"modified":"2025-02-20T09:23:49","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T22:23:49","slug":"riverina-harvest-festival-2025-the-countdown-begins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mli.org.au\/home\/riverina-harvest-festival-2025-the-countdown-begins\/","title":{"rendered":"Riverina Harvest Festival 2025, The Countdown Begins"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Riverina is buzzing with excitement as we gear up for the first ever <\/span>Riverina Harvest Festival<\/span><\/i>\u2014and it\u2019s almost here!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Get <\/span>in quick to secure <\/span>your tickets for <\/span>the <\/span><\/b>Conference & Dinner<\/span><\/b> on <\/span>1st March<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>and invite<\/span>\u00a0your whole family to the <\/span>FREE Festival & Market Day <\/span><\/b>on <\/span><\/b>2nd March<\/span><\/b> at Riverside<\/span><\/b>. This is an event you don\u2019t want to miss<\/span>, so<\/span> put it on your calendar and join us for one or both days<\/span>, <\/span>of <\/span>what\u2019s set to be a vibrant celebration of local produce, sustainable living, learning, and community connections.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If <\/span>you’re<\/span> passionate about gardening, local food, or just kee<\/span><\/span>n to learn more about how we can strengthen our local food systems, this is the event for you. On <\/span><\/span>Saturday, March 1st<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, we kick things off with <\/span><\/span>Day 1 \u2013 Conference & Dinner<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span><\/strong>in<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span> the <\/span>Wagga Wagga City Council<\/span><\/span> Conference room<\/span><\/span><\/span>. From <\/span><\/span>12:30 PM to 8:30 PM<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, <\/span><\/strong>you\u2019ll<\/span> hear from a <\/span>jam packed<\/span> list of inspiring speakers, including <\/span><\/span>Clarence <\/span>Slockee<\/span><\/span><\/strong> from <\/span><\/span>ABC\u2019s Gardening Australia<\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span>Naomi Lacey<\/span><\/span><\/strong> from <\/span><\/span>Community Gardens Australia<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The day will explore powerful topics like food security, community gardens, and how we can support each other through local food networks\u2014especially when times are tough. With speakers like <\/span><\/span>Joshua Collings<\/span><\/span><\/strong> from <\/span><\/span>Acres and Acres Co-op<\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span>Col<\/span><\/span>et<\/span><\/span>te<\/span><\/span><\/span> Geier<\/span><\/span><\/strong> from <\/span><\/span>CSU<\/span><\/span>, <\/span>you\u2019ll<\/span> be inspired by their <\/span>expertise<\/span> in sustainable practices and the role local gardens play in building stronger communities. Other guest presenters include:<\/span><\/span>;<\/span><\/span><\/span> Aunty Cheryl Penrith,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>Wiradjuri <\/span><\/span><\/span>Custodian<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span><\/span> Eltan<\/span> Mestan from <\/span><\/span>Erin Earth<\/span><\/span><\/span> sustainability <\/span>demonstration<\/span> garden<\/span><\/span><\/span>, members of the <\/span><\/span>Batlow Tumbarumba Horticultural Group<\/span><\/span><\/span>, Dr John Raffety from <\/span><\/span>Charles Sturt University<\/span><\/span><\/span>, Marty and Sally Bushby from <\/span><\/span>Whole Picture Permaculture<\/span><\/span><\/span>, and Jackie Price, <\/span><\/span>a <\/span><\/span><\/span>Cultural Educator <\/span><\/span>from<\/span><\/span><\/span> Australian Native Food Farming<\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But <\/span>it\u2019s<\/span> not all about sitting and listening<\/span><\/span> – <\/span>you’ll<\/span> have the chance to network with fellow attendees during the day and enjoy a delicious dinner <\/span><\/span>curated <\/span><\/span><\/span>by<\/span> <\/span>Mates Gully<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients. <\/span>It\u2019s<\/span> the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded people, exchange ideas, and make lasting connections. Conference tickets are just <\/strong><\/span><\/span>$100<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, which includes the conference, catered afternoon tea, and the exclusive networking dinner.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tickets are limited, so <\/span>don\u2019t<\/span> wait too long to grab yours. <\/span>H<\/span>ead over to the festival website <\/span><\/span>www.mli.org.au\/current-projects\/the-riverina-harvest-festival-2025\/<\/span><\/span><\/a> or book directly through <\/span><\/span>Humanitix<\/span><\/span><\/a> to secure your spot.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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On <\/span><\/span>Sunday, March 2nd<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>we\u2019re<\/span> opening up<\/span> the festivities with the <\/span><\/span>Free Festival Market Day<\/span><\/span> at <\/span><\/span>Wagga Wagga Beach<\/span><\/span><\/strong>. From <\/span><\/span>10<\/span><\/span>\u00a0AM to 4<\/span><\/span>\u00a0PM<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, the whole family can enjoy <\/span>the<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>local food stalls, live music, hands-on workshops,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>with <\/span><\/span><\/span>plenty of opportunities to discover new growers and community groups in the region. <\/span>It\u2019s<\/span> free to attend, so bring your friends, your family, and your appetite for <\/span>good food<\/span> and good company!<\/span> Some of the highlights of the day include<\/span> workshops like<\/span><\/span>:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n