Little Food Festival

We need the sun, water and soil to grow and nurture our food. Food is nurtured with the help of bees, butterflies, the wind and worms! Food is grown in many ways. Some people gather food. In Australia, this wisdom is ancient and held by First Peoples. Lots of care, hard work and knowledge is needed for farmers to grow our food. You can also grow your own fruit, vegetables or herbs – less waste and more fun! Visit The Farm to learn more about how food is grown, including about about Sorghum grain growing and hand processing with United African Farmers.

Food is often picked or collected, moved, sorted, graded, washed, packed before travelling to reach the store. Locally made food often takes less time and energy to get to our plates than food that travels from afar, or food that has undergone more processing. By supporting local growers, and eating less-processed, fresher foods, we are supporting our community, planet and making a healthier choice for the future. To learn more, visit the Process, Pack & Move stage, where you can explore the Oz Harvest Van to sit in the drivers’ seat of food delivery and participate in Monash University’s Food Miles activity to see how far your food has travelled.

Fresh and in-season wholefoods are generally higher in nutrients and fibre, helping us avoid hidden fats, sugar and salt. “Ugly” fruits and vegetables with some marks are natural – choosing them helps reduce food waste. Buying seasonal wholefoods without plastic packaging is also better for the planet, as plastic packaging just ends up in landfill! Visit The Grocer to learn how food is good for you and the planet. You can join in a fun crafting activity with designer, illustrator and maker, Beci Orpin, celebrating our favourite seasonal produce.

When a fresh item is in season, we can preserve it or even donate it to food rescue charities. Cooking fresh, seasonal and delicious food as kids, creates habits that last for life. It also has less impact on the planet than eating out and means you know what’s in your meal. Visit The Kitchen to learn how to prepare nutritious and yum meals! Get hands-on with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Program and learn how to grow, harvest and prepare some yummy treats to take home.

The simple act of eating and sharing food can help us feel happier, healthier and more connected to each other. We laugh, tell stories, practice our culture and this can help ease the day-to-day worries. Eating with friends and family helps us set healthy habits as we grow. Create play dough food memories with Ree Peric.

Come and share a meal with us at The Table! Enjoy food from a range of delicious food trucks, including Cornutopia, Kimu Korean, The Bao Project, Corner Store Network and Crepes for Change.

It’s easy to reuse and recycle food and packaging to protect our planet. Chat to CSIRO about some of their delicious projects using underused produce. When food is no longer able to be enjoyed by humans, it can be used as animal feed, used in compost or worm farms. Learn more by visiting the Reduce & Reuse zone, you can also join in a recycling relay race using everyday household items, with Veolia!

Mindfully doodle on tables, listen to story time with Melbourne Museum and Melbourne Library Services on Kip&Co cushions, or chill out and reflect on learnings of the food journey with Monash Uni.

Thanks to the closed loop system from Green My Plate, we are proud to say the upcoming Little Food Festival will be a low waste event. All food vendors will be serving up their delicious food on the reusable Green My Plate plates and bowls which you then simply place into the pink bins within the venue. The team from Green My Plate will be continuously collecting the reusable plates and co to then wash and recirculate, leaving a cleaner footprint, and diverting single-use food packaging from landfill.

The process is simple. Simply head to your choice of food vendor, order up, then place your reusable plate in the pink bin.

The plates will be reused over and over at events across Victoria. We encourage and thank everyone for doing their part and assisting us with making dishes, not waste.