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24 <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Wednesday <strong>March</strong> 6 <strong>2024</strong><br />
SELWYN RURAL LIFE<br />
Advertising Feature<br />
Open Farms <strong>2024</strong> – use it or<br />
• By Isabelle Teresa<br />
Open Farms is an awesome idea, well<br />
executed. Annually on an autumnal<br />
<strong>March</strong> Sunday, farms across NZ welcome<br />
visitors, offering talks, walks, activities<br />
and the ever-popular on-farm shopping.<br />
This is a free, fun and illuminating day<br />
out. <strong>Selwyn</strong> residents have previously<br />
been spoilt for choice in exploring<br />
local farming innovations. So when<br />
registrations opened last week, I keenly<br />
looked for who I could go visit on Sun<br />
10 <strong>March</strong>. But there were only three<br />
Canterbury events! And not even in<br />
<strong>Selwyn</strong>!<br />
I contacted Open Farms about why this<br />
year’s numbers are down, in Canterbury<br />
and across the country. They replied<br />
that “recruiting hosts is becoming more<br />
and more challenging”, resulting from<br />
the severe weather events in 2023 and<br />
tightening on-farm economics in general.<br />
Their strategy to pivot: “Since last<br />
year, we have focussed on supporting<br />
farms around the major cities to host<br />
larger events, often through operations<br />
subsidies. This approach resulted<br />
in a lower number of farms – but<br />
with a higher average event size (at<br />
around 150 per event), several events<br />
with 400+ visitors and overall higher<br />
visitor attendance. In 2023 we had 24<br />
participating farms, but saw our largest<br />
visitor numbers at 3,700.”<br />
After this year’s event, they will be<br />
doing a full strategic review – so if you’re<br />
a fan of the concept, plan your itinerary<br />
now to show Canterbury support this<br />
Sunday.<br />
And if you’re a <strong>Selwyn</strong> farmer or<br />
grower, please consider this for next<br />
year. The website streamlines the<br />
planning and hosting, provides guidance<br />
materials, resources, H&S plan templates<br />
and signage ideas, coordinates visitor<br />
marketing and registration, and promotes<br />
your event.<br />
A previous Untamed Earth Organic Farm event, Irwell<br />
Rural<br />
subdivisions<br />
made easy<br />
Find out how to<br />
increase your farm’s<br />
value through clever<br />
subdivision options.<br />
Call 0800 787 775 for a chat<br />
hello@survusrural.co.nz<br />
www.survusrural.co.nz
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