Grainz Gathering 2025
On 10 - 11 November, we’ll be coming together in Pomonal and Marnoo for two nourishing days of conversation, workshops and connection around all things grain. This time, we’re hosted by the wonderful team at Blue Wren Bakery, a micro bakery committed to local grains, and we’ll also be visiting Burrum Biodynamics who grow delicious grain and care deeply for their landscape.
Grainz Gatherings are for anyone with a passion for grain and a vision for a better food system: farmers, millers, bakers, brewers, chefs, academics, and grain curious eaters alike.
This gathering’s theme is resilience - in our farming systems, food networks, and communities. Pomonal has been affected by multiple bushfires over the last few years. As we gather here we’ll be looking at how the food and farming community have been affected and exploring how our grain community can support regeneration and renewal.
Tickets include breakfast and lunch over the two days, plus a dinner on the Monday night. Monday will be held at the Pomonal Hall and Tuesday will be held at Burrum Biodynamics farm in Marnoo, finishing with a tour of the Murtoa Stick Shed.
Program - Day 1
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Registration, breakfast and coffee from 8am
Welcome to Country
Keynote speech - Dr Laura Valli, postdoctoral fellow at University of Missouri and former rye-searcher at WSU Bread Lab
Panel Discussion - Holding Values While Staying Viable, facilitated by Courtney Young, Woodstock Flour
Chris Moore, Sailors Grave
Rob Pekin, Food Connect
Nick Shelley, Blue Wren Bakery
Fourth speaker TBC -
The afternoon will take the form of a series of interactive workshops and talks. Workshops will run concurrently so all ticket holders have the opportunity to attend each workshop - no need to choose or miss out!
WORKSHOP - Nick Shelley (Blue Wren Bakery): How we incorporate whole grains and different grain varietals into our baking.
WORKSHOP - Dr Laura Valli: The goodness or rye, and how to use it in non-bread applications.
WORKSHOP - TBC
TALK - Dr Delphine Sicard: The source and stability of bakery microbes.
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Dinner will be catered by the team from Bar Merenda in Daylesford, with local drinks from Grampians Wine Cellar.
We’ll also be hearing from John Reid Fellowship recipient Shingi Nyabonda of the Food Next Door Co-op.
Program - Day 2
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Breakfast & coffee from 8am at Pomonal Village Hall
Drive to Marnoo (50 minutes) for a farm tour and wheat walk at Burrum Biodynamics
Picnic lunch provided
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Drive to Murtoa (30 minutes) for a guided tour of The Stick Shed
Optional extras
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Visit the ORCA Cooperative Stock Feed Mill in Murtoa, just across the road from The Stick Shed.
The ‘ORCA’ brand is developed by ORICoop as a farmer-owned brand that promotes organic & regenerative farming and produces healthier, nutrient dense food. ORCA Produce provides full supply chain transparency and improved land stewardship practices that increase the natural and social capital of food and agriculture for the better.
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Visit the Australian Grains Genebank and AgVic Crop Quality labs, Horsham
This can be extended to include a Dept of Agriculture field site.
Tours will be arranged according to demand - please let us know if you’d like to add this on and we will coordinate it for you.
Your questions answered
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Your ticket gives you access to all sessions - smaller group sessions will be run throughout the afternoon on Day 1 so you can get to everything.
Breakfast and lunch on both days.
Dinner on Monday night. Local drinks can be purchased at the bar operated by Grampians Wine Cellar.
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You will need to organise transport or carpooling to the event and between locations.
Day 1 will be entirely in Pomonal, with a short walk between Pomonal Village Hall and Blue Wren Bakery.
Day 2 will involve a drive from Pomonal to Marnoo (50 minutes) and then to Murtoa (30 minutes).
If you need help coordinating a lift, or you’re happy to take someone in your car, please reach out and we will do what we can to assist.
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No! Tickets are available for all of Day 1, all of Day 2 or for both days.
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Concession tickets cover the cost of running the event. General admission tickets cover costs plus a little extra that goes into a Grainz future fund so we can continue creating events into the future.
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Nearby Hall’s Gap has a multitude of great accommodation options, and there is free and cheap camping nearby too. Try these locally owned and operated options.
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