Harvest Festival - Growers & Producer's of the South West Region

Supported by Agriculture Victoria’s Vic Grown Project and the Greater Geelong community of local farmers, growers and makers, Common Ground Project is hosting a one day, family-friendly festival that aims to shine the light on the region’s quality produce, inspiring more connection to Victorian food & beverage.

Taking place on Sunday November 3rd, Harvest Festival is far more than just a market day. Featuring stalls of locally grown vegetables and house-made goods from across the Southwest region, alongside live music, talks, workshops, farm tours, activities for the kids, hot food, baked items and more.

The growing list of market stall producers and growers features:

Kinsfolk Farm – small-scale bio-intensive market garden
Farm My School – transforming unused land within schools into regenerative market gardens that feed, educate and connect
Unearthed Produce – hand harvested produce and their award-winning garlic paste
Bellagreen Farm - certified organic market garden on shared growing land
Local Mushroom Co. - oyster mushrooms grown by a retired chef and gardener
Bellarine Fungi - mushrooms grown on shared growing land with
Bellagreen Two Creeks Apiary - raw honey newly producing and selling after multiple years of planning
Geelong Region Olive Collective - a collaboration of olive growers and producers from across the Greater Geelong Region
Lard Ass Butter – Ocean Grove based European-style cultured butter and ghee
Golden Plains Honey - 100% raw and cold filtered honey
Birdlands Seeds - A decade of seed production specializing in commercial standard certified organic seeds for the home gardener and market gardener alike.
Ket Baker - Geelong & the Bellarine's best bakery showcasing 100% Sourdough pastries, croissants, bread and French & Belgium Pastries.

On the music stage, Surfcoast indie-roots solo outfit Dan Aaron will be joined by a line-up of local musicians to bring the vibe and supply the sounds of the day. A program of talks aiming to educate and inspire will feature Sharon from Jala Jala Treats talking about the bush foods industry and a Food Systems Panel that will address the challenges and opportunities of being small-scale producers in this region.

An event for the whole family, kids can be a part of farm craft, feeding animals, farmer-play as well as games throughout the grounds.

Staying Grounded, one of Common Ground Project’s advocacy and education programs, provides training and employment pathways in farming and hospitality for people facing disadvantage in the Geelong region. In particular, working with women from asylum seeker and immigrant communities that are seeking employment. On the day, festival goers can meet and chat all things cooking with the program’s participants and taste the flavours of their culture. Expect the Afghani street-food staple Bolani-stuffed flatbread with farm greens, as well as Iraqi dolma made from grape vine leaves that will be ready for a timely harvest in early November.

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.

Follow instagram and commongroundproject.com.au/harvestfestival for updates on the program.

DATE: Sunday 3rd November

TIME: 8am – 3pm

LOCATION: Common Ground Project - 675 Anglesea Road, Freshwater Creek 3217

Access & Parking:

From Geelong & Melbourne, get off the freeway at the exit toward C134/Torquay/Anglesea/Great Ocean Rd and at the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Anglesea Rd/C134. Follow Anglesea Rd into Freshwater Creek and then turn left where it is signed, for Common Ground Project (across from Freshwater Creek Service Station). Free Parking will be available on the property. Enter via the gate at Dickins Road, where volunteers will direct you.

Children: this is an all ages event, with an all day children’s- program, alongside a kid-friendly outdoor area and playground. Animals: Common Ground Project is a working farm, so all dogs must be on leashes.

Alcohol: Harvest Festival is a licensed event, with alcoholic beverages available for purchase from 10am. BYO is not permitted.

Accessibility: Accessible parking is available directly out the front of the venue (10m to the entry). There is wheelchair accessibility throughout the main event area, however note that the grassed area has uneven surfaces. An accessible toilet is available.

Common Ground Café - will be transformed into the Harvest Festival, so expect a market style menu!

No bookings will be taken, you can register at https://events.humanitix.com/harvest-festival-growers-and-producer-s-of-the-south-west-region (but registration will not be required to enter the Festival, it just helps to know!)