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THE South Coast Field Days gave attendees food for thought with a variety of interesting exhibits, stalls and presentations on sustainable farming.
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Held over September 12-13 at the Bega Showground, the program was headlined by ex-ABC and SBS newsreader Indira Naidoo who spoke about the struggles, and possibilities, faced by an urban gardener.
There were workshops on basket weaving, seed saving and fermented foods as well as various displays such as chicken tractors, Angora goats, blacksmithing and beekeeping.
On Monday, field days coordinator Chris Aitken said, despite being exhausted, he was very happy with the weekend’s activities.
“The event itself was fantastic,” he said.
“All the different presentations were very well received and there was a really positive vibe – everybody left having gotten a great deal out of it.”
He estimated over 1000 people attended the field days over the whole weekend.
While he thought this number was slightly down from the last event in 2013, all the presentations and workshops had plenty of interested participants.
There were not as many people on Sunday as on Saturday, but Mr Aitken said this allowed those there to network and make connections.
“That’s also what it is all about - sustainable minds in the area making connections with each other,” he said.
Mr Aitken said popular attractions included a presentation on making biochar and building a rocket stove by Sven and Arild Helland, as well as the stall of Pambula spoonsmith Jeff Donne, whose foot-powered wood-turning lathe fascinated people.
People also “went crazy” over Saturday’s fashion parade, where models wore hand-made cloths down the catwalk.
The South Coast Field Days will return in two years’ time.
Organisers will be looking at ways to improve the next event and Mr Aitken said they already have some good ideas.