Farm My School workshop series to culminate in feast

FARM My School will this month host a communal dining experience alongside some of the region’s most notable chefs to celebrate the success of its Nourish workshop series.

Launched almost eight months ago with the support of Geelong Community Foundation, the series has featured a wide variety of unique hands-on cooking and gardening experiences led by celebrity chefs, including 2019 MasterChef finalist and TV personality Simon Toohey.

The Nourish Nosh Long Table celebration event, to be held at Bellarine Secondary College on May 29, now aims to bring the community together to reflect on this success around a three-course meal.

Several former workshop hosts are set to return to the Drysdale farm to facilitate the event, with 2023 Chef of the Year Jo Barrett to prepare the event’s entree, Tarra Queenscliff’s executive chef Michael Jaques to prepare the main course, and Totti’s executive chef Matt Germanchis to provide dessert.

2023 Chef of the Year Jo Barrett, who hosted the first Nourish workshop in September last year, will join the celebration later this month, returning to the Drysdale farm to share her wild pie creations with guests. Photo: FARM MY SCHOOL/FACEBOOK

An alcohol-free event, Patrick Meaney from Farm to Ferment will also be in attendance with a “bacteria bar” offering of fermented kefir and kombucha beverages.

Farm My School founder and chief executive James McLennan said the Nourish workshop series was introduced as a way to arm the community with simple tools, recipes and practical ways to nurture themselves, their garden and their family.

“It’s clear we are achieving that, and more. The results and feedback have been nothing but positive,” he said.

“We’ve welcomed people of all ages and abilities to attend, from eager eight-year-olds to seasoned 80-years-olds. It’s been a joy to witness the intergenerational conversations and new connections.”

Locals getting hands-on at a recent fermentation workshop, held as part of the Nourish series. Photo: SUPPLIED

This response has enabled Farm My School to expand its Nourish workshop offering through the rest of the year, with a variety of unique experiences, including sourdough-making and mushroom foraging on the horizon.

The next Nourish workshop, a hands-on Cooking on Country experience using Indigenous plants with Mabu Mabu founder Nornie Bero in June, is already taking bookings.

As the series continues to evolve, these Nourish workshops will maintain strong themes around growing food and cooking seasonal produce, with the heart of the program – bringing people together to celebrate food, learn new skills and share knowledge – to remain the core focus.

For more information, or for updates on the Nourish workshop series, head to farmmyschool.com, sign up for the organisation’s mail list or follow Farm My School’s journey on social media.