Planning is well and truly underway for our next Homegrown Parkes event on Saturday, 16 March.

Unfortunately, we have received the disappointing news that Ed Halmagyi won’t be able to join us due to unforeseen circumstances. Fortunately we still have a wonderful line up of stallholders (including some new ones) and some fabulous demonstrations, musical entertainment and entertainment for the kids.

Demonstrations will highlight processes for using locally produced food and products with the aim of encouraging locals to have a go and grow in their own backyard….or, how to recycle in your backyard.

We want to keep these demonstrations (as opposed to workshops) as short, informative and entertaining as possible. These demonstrations will now be held in the Pavilion. We will have overlapping events and performers outside in the park area and are looking forward to using this fabulous space as a designated Demonstration Space.

Stallholder applications will close on Friday, 9 February. If you would like to register, you can find the link via our Landcare website. There is a $25 stallholder fee that is payable once your expression of interest is accepted and you will be provided with a link to pay that fee. The fee assists with covering the costs to sustain the event.

All stallholders and food vendors are required to provide $20 million insurance Certificate of Currency and in addition, food vendors need to supply their Food Safety Certificate.

Homegrown Parkes runs from 9am – 2pm in Cooke Park and also has a focus on local and regional food vendors. We are thrilled to have a broad variety of vendors with us once again, with nearly 30 vendors already registered.

Stallholders are promoted through our social media, so make sure that you keep a check on the Homegrown Parkes page to find out who will be attending.

We are pleased that the Forbes Riverside Community Garden will still be proceeding with their Open Day on the following day, Sunday, 17 March. The team from FRCG have a fantastic day organised with local market stallholders, their traditional scarecrow competition, with green theme being that it is St Patrick’s Day. Wendy Muffet will be also providing a demonstration. The event runs between 9am – 2pm, with morning tea and lunch available.

For more information, check out the Forbes Riverside Community Garden facebook page.

For further information on this article, please go to www.centralwestlachlanlandcare.org, twitter, facebook or Instagram @cwllandcare