Margaret River Edible Gardens Festival opens this weekend

The ever-growing Edible Gardens Festival sets up across the Margaret River region this weekend with a bevy of private properties open to the public.

The festival aims to showcase the region’s most innovative and productive home producers as well as upskill residents in backyard horticulture focused on sustainable food production.

Co-ordinator Trevor Paddenburg said the not-for-profit festival was a feast of inspiration.

“We’re so excited to bring the community another Edible Gardens Festival and so grateful to the gardeners who will share their properties and their knowledge of growing fruit and vegetables, building soil health, composting, reducing waste and living a more sustainable life,” he said.

“Hopefully everyone takes home loads of ideas and inspiration for their own property or rental.”

Ticket holders also receive a 20 per cent discount off all plants including fruit trees and seedlings from Margaret River Mitre 10 in the week after the festival.

The annual showcase was proving so popular a few of the workshops and the all-day passes have sold out, as had the community sundowner featuring The Nomadics.

But the festival program this year includes eight new gardens, with some workshops still available.

New offerings this year included an innovative spot focused on productive horticulture run by local woman Amy Dyson and her partner Gareth Morgan.

Nine months ago the pair leased a garden plot that was part of a 30ha former farm and vineyard now converted to regenerative agriculture.

Called Plumo Market Garden, the couple’s start-up venture features 21 beds and offers a subscription for regular veggie boxes.

A trained nutritionist, Ms Dyson will offer expert advice this weekend on improving sandy soils and dealing with pests, while showcasing the use of polytunnels and seedling nurseries to boost productivity and extend the growing season.

“Growing food is the antithesis of our high-tech, fast-paced lives, and I find the physical nature of gardening helps bring awareness to the here and now,” she said.

“Studying nutrition gave me a better insight into how community health and food systems are intricately linked, and market gardening feels like a great way to contribute positively to both of those, even in a tiny way.”

The festival runs Saturday and Sunday, May 11-12.