When is GROUNDED on in 2024?

Workshops and Demonstrations are on the 4^th and 5^th of December 2024. The festival will start early on December 4^th (7.30 am for a pastry or a coffee, anyone?) and run until 8pm that day. On the 5^th it will start early again and run until about 6pm. We are planning a separate, ticketed welcome event on the evening of the 3^rd December on the farm. Paid up pass holders to GROUNDED will get the first chance to purchase tickets to this event.

Where is GROUNDED 2024 going to be held?

In 2024 GROUNDED will be hosted on Fat Pig Farm, about 15 minutes from both Cygnet and Huonville in Southern Tasmania (about an hour south of Hobart). Details of exactly how to get to us and a whole bunch of other useful information will be sent closer to the event date. We strongly recommend car sharing no matter where you are staying.

Where can I stay?

There is a range of accommodation in the Huon Valley, but try to stay close to Cygnet or Huonville. You can also stay in Hobart which is about an hour away (or less, if you don’t get stuck behind a tractor). If you want to stay near Cygnet, see the Camping and Accommodation page for options nearby.

Why don’t you have the program organised yet?

Well, we do and we don’t. As we confirm speakers, we will be updating our list of potential topics. But to give you an idea we’ll be covering soil, farmer finance, the nutrient density of foods and how farming can affect that. We’ll have tales of shepherds and dairy farmers, croppers and abattoir builders. If you’re into soil health (and what farmer shouldn’t be?) and into farming better, there will be heaps of things for you to see.
Check out the program suggestions on the Sessions page. A draft sample program has been shared on social media.

Can I bring my own food and drink?

Feel free to bring your own food and non alcoholic drinks. The site will have reasonably priced food to suit most tastes, including from food vans. We’ll also be fully licensed, selling beers, wines, cider and spirits that match the philosophy of the festival at our farm bar, The Lazy Springtail, and at the dining room’s Pig’s Tale bar, along with non-alcoholic options (including an old fashioned Fat Cow Milk Bar run from the goat shed – but we won’t have plant milks). Don’t bring plastic water bottles and expect to throw them away as we really hate them and we will look down on you for wasting the Earth’s resources with single use plastic. Water will be freely available on site to refill your mug or water bottle. And speaking of mugs, it’s a good idea to bring your own keepcup or similar.

Can I bring my dog/kids/campervan?

Unfortunately, this event isn’t a small, intimate visit to our farm, so no to dogs and campervans. It’s a big event with lots of moving parts, and lots of moving vehicles, plus our two farm dogs are enough to contend with. In terms of kids, under 18s can come for free with a paid adult, but it’s really not going to be fun for them unless they’re into farming. To get the most from the day, it might be best to plan on coming unencumbered by children (and definitely by dogs). Regarding campervans, we aren’t legally allowed to let you stay, and we don’t have the capacity. The good news is you can camp on someone else’s place (see the camping and accommodation page).
If you’re bringing a tiny baby (or other kids you can’t find a carer for that day), please let us know at hello@groundedaustralia.com.au for site management and emergency planning.

I can see your farm on Google maps, why can’t I just drive there?

Google very unhelpfully keeps putting us on the map, even when we’re closed. If you drive to the farm on days we’re not open we will turn you away as we simply can’t have strangers wandering around a working farm. We will send you full instructions on how to get here a few weeks prior to the event and again a couple of days prior. We’re a bit specific, but we’re trying to make it safe and good for everybody, including our dear neighbours.

We don’t want to be mean, but just about all the people who have worked here, or live on this road, have had accidents on our road and what’s more, our driveway is angled in only one direction. We don’t want you to be the next statistic.

Please be assured that we’re going to quite some effort and expense to make sure the parking works as well as it can in our little gully and nearby. That being the case, if you park illegally along the road our neighbours have permission to key your car.
(Find more about transport here)

I’m differently abled, and I’ll need to park close. What should I do?

Before you book, we just want you to know that it’s a working farm with steps in places, foot bridges over creeks, bumpy roads and grass, and isn’t fully accessible. That said, we do have accessible toilets and the marquees will be close to dirt roads and if you’re used to farms, you’ll be fine. Use your better judgement or send us an email if you want more detail. When you book, just be aware that parking close to the site is limited, so we need to know you’re coming. After you’ve booked your ticket, be sure to email us at hello@groundedaustralia.com.au to let us know what days you are coming, and how we can make the process best for you. There will be several hundred people on site, but we’ll do our best to make it all go smoothly for you.

What’s the deal with refunds?

Because we’re a small festival with a tiny team of mostly volunteers, we’re trying to limit risk and admin. If you cancel a month or more prior, we’ll refund your money, less the booking fee. After that it gets tricky, and we’d prefer you tried to transfer your ticket to someone else or if we have a waitlist, we may be able to help. From a fortnight prior, that process might become too tricky, so no guarantees. If for any reason beyond our control that we have to postpone the event (eg catastrophic weather), we’ll give you a credit for a time when it is safe to run GROUNDED. (Please refer to the Terms & Conditions page)