Armidale’s love for fresh food, sustainable living and community connection will be on full display this Friday evening as the Home Grown Garden Tour kicks off with an inspiring launch event at the Armidale Playhouse. The launch, running from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm on Friday 13 February 2026, invites gardeners, food lovers, and curious locals to come together for an evening of films, stories and ideas about growing food in our own backyards.
The highlight of the night will be a screening of three short documentaries focused on domestic food growing, each showcasing different approaches to cultivating food at home and in community settings. Following the films, attendees will hear from Jade Miles, a respected food advocate, co-op founder, author, educator and regenerative heritage fruit farmer, whose work centres on reconnecting people with the land, food and community.
Jade, co-author of Futuresteading and Huddle, brings a wealth of experience in local food systems and community building. Her talk will explore how food growing can strengthen social bonds, support resilience, and nurture a shared sense of purpose, all themes that resonate deeply with Armidale’s growing network of home growers. A Q&A session with Jade and local growers will follow, offering a rare chance for attendees to ask questions and share thoughts.
Alongside the screenings and talk, the launch event promises time for nibbles, drinks and community conversation, an opportunity to meet new faces, reconnect with neighbours and celebrate the vibrant home-grown spirit of the region.
While the launch event sets the tone, the Home Grown Garden Tour continues over the weekend, with Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February opening the gates of eight unique gardens across Armidale and surrounds. Garden lovers can wander through backyard plots and community gardens at their own pace, swapping ideas and learning from fellow growers about techniques suited to the local climate and conditions.
From compact urban food gardens to larger properties just outside town, the weekend tour connects residents with real examples of how food production can flourish at every scale. It’s a celebration of grassroots ingenuity, collaboration, and the joys of growing food at home.
The launch event and weekend garden tours are proudly organised by Sustainable Living Armidale (SLA), a local community group dedicated to promoting environmentally friendly practices, home food growing, and sustainable living across the region. SLA’s involvement ensures the events are not only informative and inspiring but also rooted in supporting local growers, sharing practical knowledge, and fostering connections within Armidale’s vibrant community of sustainable living enthusiasts.
Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or simply curious about growing your own greens, the launch event and garden tours offer something for everyone — and underscore the power of local action in building more resilient, connected communities.
For more information, visit Eventbrite.
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