Program
Two days. Dozens of moments. Endless inspiration.
This year’s Sip & Bloom program is packed with inspiring talks and hands-on moments designed to make you fall in love with the garden all over again. Across the weekend, you’ll find an incredible line-up of free sessions — from passionate growers and designers to food producers, artists and educators — all here to share what they know, love and grow.
Main Stage
Our Main Stage, set inside the bar and restaurant at St Anne’s Winery, is where you can settle in with a glass or coffee and enjoy in-depth presentations throughout the day. With seating, screens and space for roving questions, these sessions are a chance to hear from leading voices and uncover the stories, science and creativity behind their work.
Pop-Up Sessions
Out on the grounds, our stall-side pop-ups bring learning to life. These relaxed, small-group demos and workshops happen right at each stallholder’s site, where you can see, touch and ask questions as they share their techniques and passion up close.
Together, the talks and pop-ups create a weekend built on curiosity and connection — an opportunity to learn from the best, meet the people behind the craft, and leave inspired to grow something new of your own.
Click here to download the Program
Saturday, 18 October
Main Stage
11am–11:45am
Soil to Supper: The RegenEdible Playbook
Craig Castree
Craig distils his RegenEdible method into a practical session that turns any space into a living food system. Learn why feeding soil biology — not just plants — changes everything, then set up no-dig beds that actually work. He covers compost that behaves, watering rhythms that reduce stress, and a realistic six-week crop plan for Melbourne spring. Whether you’ve got raised beds or pots on a balcony, you’ll leave with a weekly routine that grows tastier, nutrient-dense food while building resilient, carbon-rich soil.
12:05pm–12:35pm
Sip, Swirl & Story: Beyond the Bottle
St Anne’s Winemaker
A friendly guided tasting that demystifies terroir, style and food matches. The St Anne’s winemaker explains how site and season shape flavour, what tasting notes actually mean, and three simple pairing rules for spring lunches. You’ll sample a couple of wines, sharpen your palate, and gain confidence to order at the cellar door. Expect approachable language, zero snobbery and take-home cues you can use the rest of the day.
12:40pm–1:10pm
Garden Basics, Zero Nonsense
Vasili Kanidiadis
Beloved storyteller Vasili goes back to basics with natural, no-nonsense gardening that actually works. Learn to feed the soil first, choose the right plant for the right place, water smarter (not more), and use calm, chemical-light pest strategies. He’ll share quick, affordable fixes and a simple rhythm that keeps edible beds and ornamentals humming. Expect straight talk, laughs, and practical steps you can use tonight — whether you’re wrangling a courtyard or a full backyard.
1:15pm–2pm
From Sand to Clay: Grafted Grevilleas
Phil Vaughan
Master grafter Phil Vaughan shows how to bring West Australian Grevillea brilliance to heavier east-coast soils. He explains which rootstocks to look for, how to establish grafted plants without setbacks and the low-effort aftercare that prevents failures. You’ll see why grafting turns “tricky” natives into reliable performers, with crisp tips on staking, watering and seasonal pruning. If you’ve ever lost a Grevillea in clay, this session rewrites the rules for success at home.
2:20pm–3:20pm
Under the Surface: Soil Life Unplugged
Fireside Vasili Kanidiadis, Craig Castree and Ben Brooker
Soil is the engine room. Vasili, Ben and Craig unpack structure, organic matter, mulches that help not harm, and the living microbiology — fungi, microbes, worms — that drives plant health, flavour and resilience. You’ll get a simple, weekly soil routine that fits real life, plus rapid-fire answers to audience questions. It’s a relaxed, practical hour designed to cut through myths and give you confidence to grow better with less fuss.
3:25pm–3:55pm
Protea Playbook: Colour, Grit & Prowess Maddingley Botanical
Ready to make Proteas behave in suburban gardens? The Maddingley team share the first-year routine that sets plants up for life: planting depth, airflow, watering rhythms and light pruning for shape and bloom. Expect myth-busting, quick demos and clear takeaways you can use as soon as you get home, even if your patch is windy or water-wise.
Pop-Up Sessions
11am–11:30am
Backyard Chooks, Zero Drama
Millbrook Free Range Co
Fox-smart housing, healthful feed and a weekly care rhythm families can keep. Meet the chicks, learn neighbour etiquette, and get straight answers on predators, noise and hygiene. A grounded start for happy hens in real-life backyards.
12pm–12:30pm
Protea Bootcamp: Plant. Prune. Bloom
Maddingley Botanical
A practical crash-course for first-time Protea growers. See correct planting depth, learn the first-year watering schedule, and practise a simple tip-prune that sets structure and flower. Bring site photos for rapid advice and leave with a routine you can follow.
Graft Lab: Natives That Behave
Vaughan’s Australian Plants
Handle grafted stock with confidence. Staff show unions up close, explain rootstock choices for clay and wet winters, and demo pot-to-ground transitions. Learn staking, feeding and the little errors that cause failure — so your grafted natives settle and thrive.
12:30pm–1pm
Cottage Colour, Modern Care
White House Nursery
Old-school climbers, bulbs and fuchsias are back — minus the fuss. Get long-flowering picks for Victorian conditions, trellis tricks for tight spaces and a minimal feed/trim routine that keeps colour rolling without weekend-long maintenance.
1pm–1:30pm
Lavender Alchemy: Field to Flask
Chintin Botanicals
Family-run Chintin Botanicals lifts the lid on small-batch lavender distillation. See how fresh stems become pure essential oil and hydrosol, learn harvest timing for peak aroma and pick up simple at-home uses (linen sprays, balms, kitchen clean-ups).
1.30pm–2pm
Spring Superstars: The Magic of Leucospermum
Maddingley Botanical
Explore what makes these spectacular shrubs thrive, from choosing the right spot in your garden to understanding their unique root systems and seasonal rhythm. You’ll learn how to get the best colour, manage pruning, and keep plants healthy through the seasons.
2pm–2:30pm
Truffle & Bloom: Gravy’s Truffle Hunt
Duck Duck Pig
Watch truffle dog Gravy work the crowd and demonstrate how truffles are found. Hear how truffles are grown and harvested in Australia, then switch to a quick floristry sprint using seasonal stems. Take home three simple rules for balanced bouquets and a fresh appreciation for Aussie truffles.
Bees at Home: The Realities
Bee Responsible
Thinking of a hive? Get real costs, essential kit, placement dos and don’ts, and neighbour etiquette. Plus a planting list that keeps nectar flowing across seasons. A grounded intro that keeps everyone — especially the bees — happy.
Sunday, 19 October
Main Stage
11am–11:30am
30-Minute Spring Kickstart
Vasili Kanidiadis
Vasili opens Sunday with a punchy blueprint for spring. He shows how right plant/right place, water-wise routines and soil-first feeding create healthier, easier gardens. Expect relatable stories, quick wins and “do this, not that” habits you can put to work immediately. Whether you’re tending veg beds or ornamentals, you’ll leave with a weekly rhythm that keeps growth steady and pests calm — without turning the garden into a chemistry set.
11:30am–12:15pm
Essentials for Rookie Gardeners
Chloe Foster
Chloe turns total beginners into confident growers — while giving veterans a tidy refresher. She covers the only tools that matter, a first-season plan you’ll actually keep, right-plant/right-place fundamentals, and fixes when things wobble. Drawing on roles at Melbourne Zoo and RBGV and her new book The Rookie Gardener, Chloe makes the fundamentals fun, clear and totally doable, even if your “garden” is a few pots and a sunny step.
12:15pm–12:45pm
Pour & Explore: St Anne’s Favourites + Fortifieds
St Anne’s Winemaker
A guided tasting designed for real people, not sommeliers. Learn how St Anne’s styles are crafted, why fortifieds are back, and how to pair with Sunday lunch. You’ll leave with tasting notes that make sense and three easy pairing ideas to try straight away. It’s the perfect palate warm-up before your cellar-door visit or a relaxed glass on the lawn.
12:45pm–1:30pm
RegenEdible Sprint: Feed Soil, Harvest Better
Craig Castree
Craig compresses RegenEdible into a half-hour action plan: no-dig basics, compost that actually heats and sweetens, and a maintenance rhythm that keeps biology humming. He links soil health to flavour and nutrition, then hands you a next-six-weeks crop list tailored to Melbourne spring. Expect clarity, not complexity — so you can start (or reboot) this afternoon.
1:30pm–2.30pm
Proteaceae Unpacked: Proteas, Banksias, Waratahs and More
David Mathews
Proteaflora’s David Mathews distils decades of Proteaceae success into clear, repeatable steps. Learn site selection, planting in different soils, watering rhythms that prevent sulking, and pruning for flower rather than just growth. He shares a short Proteaflora backstory — breeding and selection that make modern plants tougher — then answers audience questions. Leave knowing exactly how to set up Proteas, Banksias and Waratahs to perform in real Melbourne conditions.
2.30pm–3:15pm
Soil Truths: A Fireside Chat
Vasili Kanidiadis, Craig Castree and Ben Brooker
A tight, practical conversation on structure, compost that behaves, fungal networks and microbe-friendly habits that boost flavour, flowers and resilience. The trio land clear weekly actions for busy gardeners, then take rapid questions. If you want big results from small, consistent effort, this is your roadmap.
3.15pm–3:45pm
RESTORE at Home: Gardens that Help Us Feel Better Sandra Schwarz
Why do gardens help us feel better — and how do we design for that on purpose? Landscape architect and author Sandra Schwarz translates global evidence from RESTORE into practical moves: shade and microclimate, paths that invite gentle movement, textured and scented layers and spaces that support connection.
Pop-Up Sessions
11am–11:30am
Backyard Chooks, Zero Drama
Millbrook Free Range Co
Learn housing that keeps birds safe, feed that maintains health, and a weekly routine families can manage. Meet the chicks and get answers to the real questions — noise, neighbours, predators — so backyard chooks are a joy, not a chore.
11.30am–12pm
Habitat in an Hour
Birds in the Bush Nursery
Rapid garden templates for biodiversity — from small yards to acreage. Get plant lists for nectar, seed and shelter, smart watering strategies, and layout ideas that reduce maintenance while bringing wildlife back.
12pm-12.30pm
Rare & Remarkable: Perennial Picks
Treasured Perennials
Eye-catching perennials and bulbs that deliver long seasons of colour with modest inputs. Ben explains site selection, feeding and division for longevity — plus how microbial life and smart mulches boost resilience in summer.
12.30pm–1pm
Kitchen-Bench Mushrooms & Micro Hydro
Quality Plants & Seedlings
See compact mushroom and hydro setups you can run on a shelf. Learn cleanliness, light/temperature basics and how to coax second and third flushes. Perfect for renters and curious tinkerers.
1pm–1:30pm
Cottage Colour, Modern Care
White House Nursery
Climbers, bulbs and fuchsias that flower for months with minimal fuss. Learn staking that disappears, light tweaks for continuous bloom and a lightweight feed/trim routine you’ll actually keep.
Bees & Backyards
Bee Responsible
Everything you need to know before adding a hive: real costs, essential kit, safety and neighbour etiquette. Plus a planting list that keeps nectar flowing so your bees — and garden — thrive.
1:30pm-2pm
Lavender Alchemy: Field to Flask
Chintin Botanicals
A hands-on peek at Chintin Botanicals’ distillation process: prep, gentle heat control and separating oil from hydrosol. You’ll get planting and pruning cues for bushy, long-lived plants, drying and storage tips, and easy everyday uses for your own lavender. Perfect for balcony pots through to backyard rows.
2pm-2:30pm
Truffle & Bloom: Gravy’s Truffle Hunt
Duck Duck Pig
Gravy returns for a second show. See how trained dogs locate truffles, learn the basics of growing and handling truffles at home, then enjoy a fast bouquet-building demo using seasonal flowers. Practical tips, good laughs and plenty of aroma.
