Queensland Garden Expo to whet foodies’ appetites

July 3, 2015

The annual Queensland Garden Expo is set to provide plenty of food for thought in 2015, with this year’s program incorporating a range of educational food workshops, presentations and exhibits for home cooks and gourmet gardeners looking to add some spice to their kitchen.

Queensland Garden Expo Event Manager Marion Beazley said with a recent resurgence in people seeking out local and even organic produce, the popularity of the expo’s food-related workshops had grown substantially in recent years.

“Cooking shows like Master Chef, Alive & Cooking and My Kitchen Rules have really inspired home cooks to get creative in the kitchen and encouraged people to pay more attention to where their ingredients come from,” Ms Beazley said.

“As a result, we’re beginning to see more people taking an interest in growing their own produce and making an effort to learn how to grow and nurture their vegetable patch, and turn the fruits of their labour into healthy, delicious meals.”

Ms Beazley said this year’s expo would offer workshops for both experienced gardeners as well as novices looking to bring out their inner green thumb.

“This year’s program covers everything from vegetable gardening for the family and growing productive fruit trees, right through to cultivating root crops and growing food in small spaces.”

“We’re also delighted to welcome renowned digestive health specialist, raw food advocate and author Scott Mathias to the stage, who will be delivering presentations on raw eating on all three days of the expo.”

Ms Beazley said gardening experts Noel Burdette and Valerie Rence would also join forces to teach attendees how to prepare gourmet meals using Sri Lankan spices.

“Sometimes, using unfamiliar foods and spices in the kitchen can seem a bit daunting, but Noel and Valerie’s demonstration aims to simplify this process and provide attendees with the opportunity to fully appreciate these exotic flavours.”

“Event-goers will also have the opportunity to view a demonstration on making lime ricotta cheese at home, and find out how to produce wine from fruits in their garden.”

“There are also a number of presentations focusing on using fresh herbs and produce for medicinal purposes, with naturopath, medical alchemist and author Dominique Liv Kamal speaking on using turmeric and ginger for arthritis relief, as well as the health benefits of raw Mayan cocoa.”

Ms Beazley said the expo would include a ‘Giant Kitchen Garden’ feature area for attendees to explore, incorporating an organic food court and a fully planted sustainable garden.

Barbara Wickes — who coordinates the Giant Kitchen Garden and will present at the expo regarding the basics of using herbs in the kitchen — said the display would feature a variety of herbs, vegetables, unusual subtropical edible plants, fruit trees and colourful garden beds for kids.

“The Giant Kitchen Garden is always a hive of activity throughout the three-day expo and is set to include a special outdoor garden in 2015 that will show attendees how to create a productive as well as ornamental area for any sized backyard,” Ms Wickes said.

The 2015 Queensland Garden Expo incorporates more than 80 workshops, lectures and demonstrations and is expected to welcome more than 35,000 attendees and 360 exhibitors. A range of local producers will showcase their produce throughout the three-day expo, and local handcrafted beers from The Sunshine Coast Brewery will be on offer in The Vine Bar.

This year’s event will held at the Nambour Showgrounds, Coronation Avenue, Nambour on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast between 10 and 12 July. For more information and to access the full program, please visit www.qldgardenexpo.com.au.

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Media contact: Kristen Roder – Fresh PR & Marketing P: 0406 546 461 E: kristen@freshprm.com.au

General event details

Where: Nambour Showgrounds, Coronation Avenue, Nambour on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

When:
Friday, 10 July 2015
Saturday, 11 July 2015
Sunday, 12 July 2015

Opening times:
Gates open 8.00am daily
Gates close 5.00pm Friday and Saturday, 4.00pm Sunday

Disability access:
The showground offers excellent facilities for wheelchair visitors with on-site disabled parking, easy access and ground level exhibits along with disabled toilet facilities. Guide dogs are welcome.

Tickets:
Adults $18
Aged concession card holders $16
Groups (10 or more) $16
Children (15 and under with accompanying adult) Free
Two-day weekend pass (Saturday and Sunday) – Adults $30
Three-day entry pass $40
Three-day car pass $15

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