Crowds forecast for Edible Gardens Festival

The forecast is looking atmospheric and region’s productive gardens are ready to throw their doors open to the community at this weekend’s Edible Gardens Festival on May 24 & 25 across the Margaret River region.

Hundreds of locals and visitors are set to explore real-life, practical and inspiring food gardens over two days, and a wide range of in-depth workshops on the afternoons of both days.

Tickets are now sold out for Saturday but some are still available for Sunday for those keen to attend the annual not-for-profit gardening and sustainability festival, which features six brand new open gardens to tour, plus new live demonstrations at each garden.

Meanwhile, eight of the 10 afternoon workshops are also sold out but the last remaining tickets are available, along with the festival program, at www.ediblegardensfestival.au.

The forecast is predicting some cloud and winds but the weekend should be relatively dry.

“Gardeners are used to being out in all kinds of weather so it’s looking like a really great atmospheric weekend to be checking out gardens and getting inspired about sustainable living,” says event organiser and keen local gardener Trev Paddenburg.

“We’ll be going ahead rain, hail or shine. Locals can tour the gardens, hear from the gardeners who created them, pick up tips and inspiration for growing your own food, catch a live demonstration on a different topic at each garden, and buy delicious local produce, food and drinks.”

Day tickets are $20 for adults and free for children 16 and under, while workshops run by local experts on a range of gardening topics are ticketed separately at $25.

Margaret River Mitre 10 is again supporting the festival, with ticket-holders able to cash in on a 20 per cent discount on all fruit trees, potted plants and vegetable seedlings.

Fair Harvest Permaculture is the official accommodation for the festival and campsites are available for visitors.

“The Fair Harvest café will also be serving delicious food and drinks to keep festival-goers energised on the Sunday of the festival, while many of the gardens on both days have stalls and fundraisers run by local groups, such as the Margaret River Community Garden,” Trev said.

The open gardens are spread between Cowaramup, Burnside, Margaret River and Witchcliffe this year, and many are based on permaculture principles showcasing practical elements like composting, worm farms, growing vegetables, netting an orchard, improving fertility, using animals, upcycling, incorporating natives and wildlife habitat, and saving water in a drying climate.

This event is supported by the AMR Shire, Margaret River Regional Environment Centre, Margaret River Mitre 10, Yates, Lazarus Horticulture, South West Tree Services, Cape to Cape Explorer Tours, Shogun Tools, Soil Dynamics, Fair Harvest Permaculture, Burnside Organic Farm, Capes Horticulture, Plumo Market Garden, Productive Ecology and Shelter Brewing Co.