I cannot think of a better place to spend the first day of the year, than in the streets and tents of the Woodford Festival surrounded by a culture of caring, arts, music, making, eco-ethics and community. It feels like we were setting the tone for the year in just the right way.

On this last day of the festival we began the day enjoying a fabulous Melbourne jazz outfit. Hugh is learning the trumpet and was intently watching the trumpeters improvise (a great music lesson). We listened to a talk about the impact of climate change on the pacific islands and the role tourism has to play (a great geography and science lesson). We explored the tiny house installation at the Greenhouse tent. We danced to a Canadian folk band, and laughed at the hilarious performance of ‘Roofrack’ by Totally Gourdgeous. This band played amazing gourd instruments made by Penelope Swales “one of Australia’s most articulate and fearless songwriters … who urges us to get active and involved.”

A ritual of ours on the last day of each Woodford Festival is to go to the Festival shop and buy a couple of new CDs featuring the artists we have most enjoyed during the 6 day festival. We love listening to this music throughout the year to remind us of the spirit of the festival, it’s also a way to support these local artists directly.  

This year I also let the kids choose something else they might like to take home with them.  Hugh chose a pair of circus poi – weighted balls on strings you swing in rhythmic and geometric patterns. Maia, after walking the entire site, decided that she didn’t actually need to buy anything else, the experience was enough. Besides she has a few rocks in her pocket from where her favourite busker, Uptown Brown, played.

As Maia and I walked around looking for something she might buy, we came across some very interesting handmade ethical items – wild-harvested oils and balms, up-cycled toothbrushes, hats from truck canvases, delightful handmade shoes and bags, ethical and fair-trade clothing stores as well as organic treats and interesting sculptures.

“Dangling Man” made from old lighters and toothbrushes.

This was the only day we saw the organic doughnut stall without a huge line-up, so we relented and Hugh skipped off to collect one to share. One of the many amazing sculptures around the site.

On the streets of Woodford, we became quite the fans of these 100% fruit ice creams on hot days – frozen fruit pressed through a champion juicer while you watched. Today’s flavour was banana strawberry and boysenberry. Maia loved the fact there was no added sugar, and Hugh was particularly impressed because they came with no wrappings – another reason he chose the cone over the cup.

The village green is always a great spot to take a break and find some shade. Throughout the site so many butterfly-attracting plants have been planted over the years. It’s great to see the interpretive signs and learn about the different species coming back to this area.

At the end of today I asked Maia what some of her big plans were for the coming year. She answered “to start up her 5 piece band”. She wants to play saxophone, keyboard and sing in the band. She already knows who the band members are and has the name worked out! She also suggested it might be good to go visit Canada. I think the Canadian musicians we hear each year totally inspire her.  

Yesterday she also mentioned that she wanted learn how to sew better so she make her own clothes. I’ll be happy to work with her on that, because I have a large collection of ethical and retro fabrics waiting to be transformed. For my 16th birthday, my parents gave me a sewing machine and sewing lessons with a local dressmaker. I love making clothes, but have not made the time recently. Now seems a good time to resume my passion for this.