Galifrey Farm Festival & Open Day

The 2nd Annual Galifrey Farm Festival & Open Day last Saturday was very well attended, with more than 60 visitors from Canberra, Tarago, Bateman’s Bay, Araluen & Braidwood coming out to beautiful Ballalaba to enjoy a family day out. The event was held as part of National Alpaca Week (1 – 9 May) where many alpaca stud farms around Australia were open to the public, & to also to celebrate National Permaculture Day on 1 May. The day showed the best of Braidwood district’s glorious autumn colours, & after a light frost, the sun shone warmly all day.
The Farm Tours were enthusiastically attended, & four were run during the day, offering adults & children the opportunity to get close to Huacaya alpacas & their crias, Dorper sheep & lambs, Dexter cross calves, Buff Orpingtons poultry & baby chicks, as wells as ducks & geese, & to see the garden, tree plantings, & visit the Grain Research Project Plot. There was also a static display illustrating the application of the permaculture approach to farming as well as in the vege garden & fruit orchards, with before & after photos showing the results.
The various trade stands were also well attended during the day, with all reporting much interest, lots of questions & good sales. It was very exciting to see some images of Suzanne Bellamy’s upcoming exhibition in Syracuse New York State opening June 17, entitled “Moving Heaven & Earth”, as well as a portfolio of her work & exhibitions over many years. There was also much interest in the Farringdon RFS Firewise Stand & Property Assessment & Planning Display, with some potential new volunteers being found and several appointments being made for Property Fire Protection Planning & Assessment visits.
The highlight of the day for the children on the last farm tour was sitting in the Farringdon RFS fire truck, hearing the siren & seeing the water spray over the truck (& a few people & dogs as well!). Picnic hampers provided by The Old Cheese Factory were absolutely delicious, & enjoyed by many, & lots of leisurely morning & afternoon teas were taken in the garden.
Peter & Jen would especially like to thank all of those who assisted in preparations & on the day: Betty Bradley, Fernanda Massey from Sydney (who recently completed a Permaculture Design Certificate at Mulloon Creek Natural Farms, & who has been gaining permaculture work experience at Galifrey), Richard Elliott & Sandra Hand on the Farringdon RFS Tent & Firewise display, Farringdon RFS for the loan of tables & chairs, Ben Bradey & Andre Poidimani’s “My Indulgence Time” soap & lavender products, the Sully Watkins family of The Old Cheese Factory for their yummy produce & delicious picnic hampers, Suzanne Bellamy for her beautiful art display & Grain Project Report, Paul Costigan from Landmark with the display of rural equipment & goods, Bill Chalmers & Linda Denning of Jigalong, Nerriga for showing their Dorper sheep & lambs, & to Su Wild River for the loan of her marquee. A special thank you to all who attended – donations from entry fees collected on the day will be made to the Doug Smith Appeal and the Farringdon RFS.