Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day highlights the joy of life on a small property with sustainability a focus

The endless possibilities for those owning and considering a small landholding is the focus of each year’s Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day, with this year’s event highlighting agriculture and sustainability like never before. From fruit trees and vegetable gardens, to roses, olives or sheep and cattle — there really are endless options for those with small landholdings, which can span any size from less than five to more than 80ha in the Perth Hills. Gidgegannup is a unique part of WA, with about 20,000ha zoned for rural and agricultural purposes just 40km from the Perth CBD. As a result, the area is teaming with small businesses, beautiful properties, and delicious food at the foot of the Darling Range. Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day president Jennifer Kent said the annual event aimed to bring farming and nature to life, with a focus on growing the best vegetables and gardens to creating a resilient farm with happy livestock. Ms Kent — who lives on 32.4ha near Gidgegannup with her husband Ian — said the Field Day brought together thousands of people for a family-friendly day out, with the event also including WA’s Honey Festival and Olive Festival. Event coordinator Sally Block said the community was feeling excited and resilient, three years after the event was cancelled as COVID-19 swept the globe and two years after a blazing bushfire swept through communities in the Perth Hills. The Wooroloo Bushfire destroyed 86 homes and two fire trucks when it burned more than 4000ha in February 2021, but the Field Days committee pushed on and three months after the blaze held one of their most successful events. “The past few years have been difficult for people, and our event is a great highlight in the calendar,” she said. “There were some good things that came out of such a horrible event . . . it has made our community more resilient, and the community has recovered really well. “One of the positives that came out of the fire was that we have the most magnificent wildflowers pop up on our verges and on bush blocks.” Gates open at 9am, with visitors flocking to the event to check out the various displays, animals, competitions, and entertainment. The official opening is at 11.45am. There are several different areas for visitors, including the bush veranda, the farriers shed, the goat shed, cattle yards, the grassed area, poultry pavilion, back paddock, arena, machinery area, sustainability pavilion, small landholders marquee, the main marquee, and the food and wine pavilion. The Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day includes WA’s Honey Festival, which went bush and was held at the Field Day for the first time in 2019. The Field Day will also feature the State’s first Olive Festival, with plans to hold an olive oil competition, displays by olive oil producers, cooking demonstrations, and more. The Olive Festival is being co-ordinated by those behind Slow Food Swan Valley and aims to show those with backyard olive trees how to make the best use of their fruit. The cafe entertainment area has plenty of entertainment for children, including face painting from 10am to 4pm, three shows by Punch and Judy, two performances by the Wadumbah Aboriginal Dance Group, and a choir performance. On the bush veranda, children will be able to make their own worm farm or paint a pot and add a plant to it, while adults will find plants for sale. Presentations in the sustainability pavilion and the workshop marquee aim to bring farming and nature to life, with several associations hosting information sessions around the ground. Livestock displays of llamas, alpacas, goats, sheep and cattle will give an opportunity for those with small landholdings to consider what kind of animals they might keep to have a pat and a cuddle, along with some friendly livestock. The farriers shed will be a hive of activity, with four working dog displays by Yarralonga Kelpies owner Nigel Armstrong, two shearing demonstrations by Bruce Slayter, information on various sheep breeds and llamas, and plenty of miniature goats. The goat shed brings together animals and displays from Dandalee Park Stud, the WA Mohair Goat Association, Boer Goats, the Dairy Goat Society of WA, and the National Pygmy Goat Association of Australia with four studs. In the cattle yards, patrons can meet Paragon Miniature Herefords and meet the team behind the new business Genes and Jeans: Small Herd Cattle Services. There will also be a talk centre with information on artificial insemination and livestock husbandry. The poultry pavilion will house a great display of birds, with a Young Bird Show competition for birds aged less than one year and major prizes for the bird of show and reserve. In the back paddock, the Alpaca Expo will showcase animals and spinning demonstrations, while children will be able to take part in camel and train rides. At the nearby arena, Australian Mounted Games WA will hold its individual championship event — showcasing the world’s most popular and inexpensive family-friendly horse sport — as well as pony rides by Patchy Party Ponies. Visitors will once again be able to sample delicious produce in the food and wine pavilion, and there will be more presentations and the honey cake competition judging in the main marquee. Ms Block said the event aimed to entertain, educate and enlighten visitors about life on small farms. “We have a huge rural-residential area at Gidgegannup, and many people with small farms who grow beautiful gardens, nurture orchards with fruit or nuts and run animals,” she said. “There is a wide variety of agricultural and horticultural produce in Gidgegannup, and across WA. “And there is a huge movement of people who love gardening, and who want to live a nice life on the land.” The Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day will be held from 9am to 4.30pm on Sunday, May 28, at the Gidgegannup Showgrounds at 2171 Toodyay Road in Gidgegannup. Children under 16 can enter free. Tickets are $15 for adults and can be purchased at the gate or online at events.humanitix.com/gidgegannup-small-farm-field-day-bn8ruyjr