Jersey’s farming and food festival will return to Trinity next week, with organisers expecting up to 2,000 people to attend a weekend of talks, demonstrations, live music and local food.
Regen Gathering will take place at Le Tâcheron Farm on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 September, with 50 speakers and around 70 sessions covering everything from growing food at home to dairy farming, soil health and public-sector food procurement.
Now in its fourth year, the free event brings together farmers, growers, food businesses, policymakers and members of the public to explore how Jersey can produce more of its own food and build a more resilient food system.
The two-day programme includes a series of sessions aimed at people interested in growing their own food, featuring well-known gardening author and no-dig advocate Charles Dowding alongside Dr Sally Gouldstone, Sarah Flower and others.
There will also be practical sessions for farmers, including discussions on slurry management, herbal leys, mixed-species swards, potato trials, farm-scale composting and agroforestry.
One of the themes running through the weekend will be how local food can reach Islanders through institutions such as schools, hospitals and social services.
Kenneth Hojgaard, former deputy director of Copenhagen House of Food, will talk about Denmark’s approach to transforming food provision in public institutions.
Speakers from Sustain UK, GROW UK and Belgium’s ZoBio Project will also look at developing local supply chains for public-sector organisations.
Saturday’s headline speaker will be Baroness Rosie Boycott, a crossbench peer and former chair of the London Food Board.
She is due to speak about food policy and the role governments can play in changing the food system.
Regen Gathering host Charles Le Maistre said the event was particularly timely as Jersey’s agricultural sector continues to evolve.
“We all live on this tiny rock, and when the boat can’t come in, we feel it straight away,” he said.
He pointed to the Rural Economic Framework, the development of Jersey Farmers’ Markets and the opening of new farm shops as signs of growing interest in the island’s food economy.
The event will also feature evening entertainment, including live music, fireside storytelling and short films, alongside local food and drink.
Organisers say the aim is for visitors to leave with practical ideas they can put into use, whether that means growing food, reducing waste, finding new markets or developing local food businesses.
The event is being supported by Farm Jersey, the Howard Davis Farm Trust and ArtHouse Jersey, with sponsorship from Ogier, Alex Picot, The Crown, TASC, C.A. Frazier, Jersey Water, Cog & Sprocket, Sarre & Co and Huddle.
TICKETS…
The full programme is available online, with free tickets available to reserve through Eventbrite.
