The Riverina Harvest Festival 2025

You are invited to the first ever Riverina Harvest Festival with local flavors for everyone. Two jam packed days filled with mingling, learning and local produce.

Day 1 Conference - For those that want to deepen their knowledge and connections.
Day 2 Festival Market Day - Is a great day out for your whole family, with music, workshops and lots of local yummy food.

Special Guests attending both days are:

Clarence Lookie, from Gardening Australia: Clarence is from the Bundjalung Nation from north coast NSW and is the Education Officer at the Sydney Botanic Gardens, where his work involves promoting Aboriginal culture and bush tucker.
Naomy Lacey, from Community Gardens Australia: Naomy is a permaculturalist who is passionate about promoting healthy food systems, sustainable lifestyles and cultivating community. She helped to establish the first community garden in the satellite city of Palmerston near Darwin.

The Harvest Festival is brought to you by many local volunteer groups who love gardening and working together to share a bunch of vegetables and a bounty knowledge with you.

Day 1 Saturday 1st of March

Conference - Wagga Wagga City Council from 12:30 to 5:45 PM

Networking and Dinner - Mates Gully from 5:45 to 8:00 PM

Together we will explore the powerful connection between communities, gardens, and local food resilience. With expert speakers, thought-provoking discussions, and opportunities to network, this event is designed to ignite your passion for community gardens, food security, and sustainable local practices.

Program: 12:30 - 5:45 PM

12:45 PM: Acknowledgement to Country by Aunty Cheryl Penrith, Wagga Wagga Wiradjuri Elder

12:55 PM: Opening Address

01:00 PM: Bindi Vanzella, Batlow/Tumbarumba Horticultural Growers Group

"The Best Food Security is Local: Lessons from the 2019 -20 Bushfires": Learn about the critical role local food networks played in resilience and recovery after the fires.

01:40 PM: Naomy Lacey, Community Gardens Australia

International perspectives on community gardening

02:20 PM: Dr. John Raffety, CSU Thurgoona Community Gardens

Discover the groundbreaking work at the Thurgoona campus and how community gardening is transforming spaces.

02:30 PM: Afternoon Tea

03:10 PM: Clarance Slockee, ABC‘s Gardening Australia

Keynote Presentation

03:50 PM: Collet Geier, CSU PhD Student

"Harvesting Potential": Tackling Community Inequality Through Gardening

04:30 PM: Marty and Sally Bushby, Local Temora Farmers

Whole Picture permaculture

04:50 PM: Joshua Collings, Acres and Acres Co-op

Engage in a conversation about how connecting communities to local food systems can foster sustainability.

05:30 PM: Closing address

Networking & Dinner: 05:45 - 08:00 PM

Cap off the day with an opportunity to connect with fellow attendees during a networking session, followed by a delicious dinner all hosted at Mates Gully.

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!

Tickets are limited, so book early to secure your spot at this enriching and community-focused event.

Day 2 Sunday 2nd of March

Join us down at the Wagga Wagga Beach from 9am to 4pm for the FREE Festival Market Day!

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

This project is supported by the southern NSW Drought and 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.