Riverton turns back the clocks

It's Harvest Festival time this weekend and preparations have been keeping us busier than is healthy for some time now - a good sleep will have to wait til after the weekend and the inevitable tidy-up that follows, but that's what it's all about, if you are organising anything of this scale and it's going very well; lots of new, exciting 'stations' and excellent speakers and workshops. It's a bit overwhelming, the response we've had from people who want to present at the festival and those who want to come and hear them - 4 luminaries, two from overseas and two high-profile New Zealanders from the world of gardening and orcharding. I can't wait to hear their stories and talk with them about their work. The Southland Times covered the festival with a lovely piece in today's paper and a good photo there and on their on-line version. Thanks, Southland Times!
Here it is and you can read their version here.

Riverton turns back the clocks

Riverton is turning back the clocks this weekend and celebrating its heritage with a collection of events for Riverton Heritage Weekend.
Part of Southland Heritage Month, the weekend will be full of vintage things and long-standing traditions.
The much-loved Heritage Harvest Festival will be at the centre of the weekend, returning for the seventh year.
Festival co-ordinator Robyn Guyton said the Harvest Festival had grown every year, and this year was bigger than ever.
"It started in the primary school but it outgrew it. It's now at the college but it's much bigger than the school hall, we've got marquees and tents this year too."
Last year about 2000 people came through the door, but a lot more were expected this year, Guyton said.
"It's been a hard year weather-wise [for growing] so we're excited to see what people will come and showcase."
The festival will feature guest speakers and workshops and there would also be competitions for all ages, from vegetable gnome competitions for children to the heaviest pumpkin and other tradition harvest competitions.
Fellow festival organiser Karla Evans said the festival was suited to Riverton because of the community's lifestyle.
"We're a rural community and the environment centre promotes a sustainable lifestyle and doing things yourself.
"It's a celebration of what people can do in their own garden," she said."

The harvest festival was just one of several events planned for Riverton on the weekend, with the Templeton Heritage Flaxmill Museum offering live flax fibre processing demonstrations.
Museum fibre seller Janice Templeton said people loved seeing old machinery in action.
"We have an open day every two years and we always think everyone's already been so no one will come, but it's always packed."
Riverton Union Church will be having a display of heritage items for the weekend, including old quilts, china, table linen and children's books.
"All the items are sourced from around the village. There is a very old wedding dress, about 150 years old, it's very delicate so we'll be looking after it," Templeton said.

Thornbury Vintage Tractor Museum is holding an open weekend featuring demonstrations and displays from the sawmilling industry. The museum is open 10am to 4pm March 28 and 29.

The Harvest Festival will be held at Aparima College Hall, Riverton, 10am to 4:30pm March 28 and 29.

Demonstrations at the Templeton Flax Mill Heritage Museum will run every 45 minutes between 1pm and 4pm on Sunday March 29.