The Serpentine Jarrahdale Food and Farm Fest is back with a bang this year, with organisers producing a bumper crop of activities to delight everyone.
Despite being the food bowl of Perth’s south, SJ languished for decades without its own agricultural show.
And with urban creep gobbling up prime land, the farming legacy of the shire has been locked into a David versus Goliath battle for preservation.
So, Merri Harris and the SJ Food and Farm Alliance (SJFFA) stepped up to create the Food and Farm Fest as a way to re-educate the public, and reignite pride and passion for the bounty of produce, artisan wares, and rural skills available on our doorstep.
The first Food and Farm Fest was held in 2015, and it has steadily grown since then.
The annual event is now one of the crown jewels on the local events calendar.
“It all sprang from the issue of declining food security,” SJFFA Founder and Ambassador Merri Harris said.
“The preservation of peri-urban land for food production is absolutely essential.
“If we don’t let people understand how important their food is, how can we expect them to develop values around protecting their food sources.
“So, we wanted to create an event to invite people to think about where their food comes from. And showcase that these are the people bringing you your food, and they’re closer than you think.”
And this year’s event promises to get back to grass roots; with an overarching theme of ‘working with the land’, the day will shine a spotlight on permaculture and regenerative agriculture.
The new ‘Learning Zone’, orchestrated by Gary and Julie Richards, will be “buzzing with inspiration, creativity, and hands-on fun”.
Explore handmade native bee hotels, Aussie-grown seeds, seasonal veggie seedlings, and pollinator-friendly plants.
Free talks and demos will be running all day long – get down and dirty to understand soil health or learn how to make your own wicking bed.
Plus, you can help paint a community beehive in the Pollinator Area.
There’ll also be a bigger and better food and farm pavilion this year, with displays showcasing local cooking, eggs, flowers and floral art, fruit and vegetables, honey and preserves.
Ever wanted to get into DIY kombucha or kefir?
Or perhaps you need to learn how to make your own yield go further through dehydration? There are demonstrations to teach you all the tricks.
Not a green thumb?
There’ll be plenty there to for you too, with interactive displays from the Tractor Museum, Torana Club, Byford Classic Cars, SJ Men’s Shed, and the iNSTRUCKTA driving simulator.
A highlight on the day will be the Serpentine Horse and Pony Club’s ‘horses in action’ with a focus on more spectator-friendly events like the Prince Philip Mounted Games, Oakford Vaulting, hacking and show driving.
If you’re keen to see more animal action, you can meet regenerative farmer Blythe Calnan and Banksi from Muster Dogs Season 3 at the Working Dog display.
There’ll also be alpaca and dairy goat judging. Plus, you can get nose-to-nose with some baby doll sheep, donkeys, highland cattle, pygmy goats and a variety of baby animals in the petting zoo.
Just beside the main arena, the Young Farmer’s Challenge will be kicking off again. Registrations are open now, but mixed teams of four (aged 18-35) are also able to nominate on the day to compete in a surprise mix of farming challenges from snake bite treatment, to ear tagging, hay rolling, or pregnancy tests.
The winning team is eligible to compete at the Royal Perth Show.
In 2022, the winners from the Food and Farm Fest made it all the way to the national stage. Can they do it again?
At the Eric Senior Pavilion, there’ll be a photography competition, an Over 65s scarecrow competition, and displays by Court Grammar School, the Serpentine Historical Society, Byford Crochet Club, and Earthwhile Australia.
And if you’re keen to browse through the more-than 140 food trucks and market stalls, then it might be an idea to drop the kids off at their own zone, packed with free activities including face painting, mini golf, stilt walkers, and a bubbleologist, balloon artist, Ranger Red’s Zoo, and fairies.
But make sure you corral the family together for some wholesome fun; head on down to the Main Arena where there’ll be prizes up for grabs for champion pumpkin rollers, egg and spooners, hula hoopers, and wheelbarrow racers.
“We wanted to get back to good old-fashioned grass roots games,” Merri said. “The Food and Farm Fest is not about mechanical rides or showbags – it’s about getting your hands dirty and accidentally learning a little bit while having fun.”
The Food and Farm Fest will be held at the Serpentine Horse and Pony Club at 1432 Karnup Road, Serpentine, on Saturday May 3, from 10am to 4pm.
There’ll be plenty of parking on site, with a shuttle bus running from Clem Kentish for any overflow parking.
Tickets are $15 each for adults, senior concession $12, with children under 16 free.
The Food and Farm Fest is run entirely by the SJ Food and Farm Alliance and a dedicated group of local volunteers.
For more information including map, schedule of events, or to buy tickets, visit: https://www.foodandfarmfest.com.au/
