Ever since we started growing food, in cultures across the world, humans have been congregating to celebrate the gathering of the harvest.

Kelmarna’s Harvest Festival is our invitation to our community to gather round and share in the food that our land and our collective work have produced over the summer. Entry is free as always, so bring your friends and family!

This year’s edition will play host to a unique collaboration from four special Auckland restaurants, each pushing the boundaries of local and sustainable food.

Chefs from Orphans Kitchen, Cazador, ParisButter & Culprit will meet over the wood-fired barbecue to create beautiful food inspired by the season and the gardens, with all funds raised going to support Kelmarna’s environmental education and therapeutic work. Once again you can pre-book your BBQ plate to beat the queues and make sure you don't miss out!

We’re delighted to be joined again this year by generous long-time supporters Bread & Buttery Bakery, Little Bird Organics, Millers Coffee, Serious Popcorn, Karma Cola, & more TBA.

For the first time this festival, we are excited to welcome Stone Soup Syndicate as collaborators, presenting the Food Matters tent. Bringing the magazine to life for the day, Stone Soup will curate a programme of talks, discussions, and demonstrations, focussing on how we can all be part of creating a more sustainable food system.

Talented local musicians will again be provided the soundtrack to the day from our stage in the paddock, full line up coming soon!

Our Kids Field will be back and bigger than ever, with a host of farm activities for your small people to get stuck into, including the return of our obstacle course, races, face painting, garden crafts & more.

Also don’t miss:

• Home Harvest Competition, with 3 categories - Biggest Pumpkin, Biggest Marrow (both by weight), and Homegrown Bouquet. All entries welcome!

• Gardening workshops throughout the day - programme below - buy advance tickets here, any remaining will be sold on the day

• Organic produce for sale

• Organic seedlings for sale - winter vegetables, herbs, salad leaves, & more

• Amazing raffle hampers of goodies from local businesses

Workshops:

10.30am - 11.30am - Foraging for food & medicine
Talk a guided walk with Kelmarna's Garden Manager Adrian Roche, & nutritionist and naturopath Nellie Pigot, identifying wild edible plants, and learning their nutritional and medicinal properties.

11.30am - 12.30pm - Introduction to beekeeping
Come and learn the basics of beekeeping with a live demonstration by Carol Downer, keeper of Kelmarna's hives and maker of Grey Lynn Honey.

1.30pm - 2.30pm - Planting your winter garden
Perfect for beginners, Judy Keats will show you how to create a productive food garden over the winter, with practical demonstrations.

Get the date in your diary, and stay tuned for more announcements coming soon!