IT'S sometimes thought of as Woodford Folk Festival's little sister but this year The Planting - a festival with its own identity - has had a growth spurt.

The action-packed program has expanded by 30% this year, to cater for increasing demand.

One hundred and twenty workshops will be held across four days from April 28 to 30, with a strong focus on art, science and environmental science, sustainability and a whole lot of fun.

The Planting program director Mandi McIntyre said with strong early ticket sales and workshop bookings, the festival was expected to grow by about 25%.

"People tell us that Woodford Folk Festival is the village that they wished they lived in all year round," Ms McIntyre said.

"We like to think that The Planting is the place that you come to learn how to build that village."

While The Planting forges ahead, Ms McIntyre said the restoration and longevity of the Woodfordia site was still at the heart of the festival.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

The Planting's program contains something for just about everyone. For the complete list visit the website. Here are just a few of the highlights.

A Village Called...

It began with a need to offer something for older children - 10- to 16-year-olds - and for the first time this year, The Planting's young patrons will build their own village within the festival. From choosing a name at the village meeting, through construction and raising the flag above their creation, A Village Called ... will be a weekend-long project.

Food and drink

Lovers of craft beer can delve deep into the art of the ale, from home-brew workshops, to beer appreciation and how local brewers are spreading social good will through beverages.

Meanwhile in the kitchen, chef Matt Golinski will be using native and foraged foods - from lillypillies to bunya nuts, finger limes, macadamia nuts, lemon myrtle, sea succulents and many more - on his south-east Queensland menu.

Community tree planting

The festival began as a community tree planting weekend more than 20 years ago, with the aim of regenerating Woodfordia's 202ha home. A lot has changed since then but sinking roots into the soil is still a key part of the festival.

Speakers

Iconic cartoonist, writer, painter, philosopher and poet, Michael Leunig, will make an appearance at the festival. He is known for his regular works in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, often looking at human nature and its relationship to the wider natural world.

Astrophysics PhD student Jessica Bloom talks science fiction and science fact. Hear her talk about faster-than-light space travel, colliding black holes and the most energetic phenomena in the universe.

Making

The Light Earth workshops will look at antique knowledge, traditional construction and contemporary computation to explore centuries-old form and structure in the context of contemporary architecture and engineering.

Music

Surf roots rockers Band of Frequencies will keep their Sunshine Coast sound alive at the festival.

Canadian folk rockers The East Pointers promise to put on a roof-rattling performance, with their hip shake-up of traditional tunes. Expect jigs, stops and reels.

Environment

Learn how to create the wild taste of the rainforest in your own backyard through bush food plants. The Witjuti Grub Bushfood Nursery will tell you how.