For the first time the Bellarine Peninsula will host the grAiNZ Gathering, bringing together a collective of bakers, millers, farmers and growers to learn from one another and promote the benefits of a local grain economy.
Now in its seventh year, the grAiNZ Gathering 2023 will be hosted by Wallington bakery Ket Baker and The Gordon Institute from Sunday, April 30 to Tuesday, May 2.
The event will kick off with an informal, al fresco dinner on the Sunday evening, featuring locally produced food, wine and beer.
The following two days will consist of talks, panel discussions, demonstrations and hands-on workshops, covering a broad range of topics such as growing, milling, malting, brewing, baking techniques, indigenous grains, industry mentorship and food waste.
Speakers and presenters have been sourced locally and from across the country, and will include well-known personalities such as Matt Preston, Matthew Evans and Gabriel Gate.
Head baker and owner of Ket Baker, Miek Paulus, said the event was a huge opportunity for the region and everyone was welcome to attend.
“We’ve got an amazing program, I’m super excited,” she said.
“The core (of the event) is bread, but it is also food and local produce. We are getting a lot of local producers in, all the food that’s being served will be made by us, by our hands, and all of it purchased on the Bellarine Peninsula.
“One of the most important things is to encourage young people. So we wanted to keep costs low, because there are a lot of start-up bakeries that need this networking and information.
“It’s been an absolutely amazing adventure so far, and the people at The Gordon have been awesome. They have the same motivation we do, to get more people into the industry and make it attractive again.”
For more information visit grainz.org.au.
