Explore where literature meets agriculture, philosophy meets practice, and conversations about worms open up bigger questions about how we live in and care for the world.

This unique day is inspired by Lowly Creatures, Gaspard Koenig's thought-provoking work of French literature and philosophy. Through conversation and lunch at Babbington Park, the celebrated regenerative farm created by chef and farmer Annie Smithers, we consider some of the most overlooked yet essential participants in human life: the creatures beneath our feet.

Hosted by Professor Jacqueline Dutton, we ask how literature can help us understand the contemporary challenges facing small-scale agriculture, environmental sustainability, and our relationship with the natural world. Through conversations with Annie Smithers, translator Stephanie Smee, and composting and soil expert Richard Thomas, attendees will be invited to think across disciplines and engage with big questions about land, food, ecology, and culture.

What to expect:

A copy of Lowly Creatures translated by Stephanie Smee.

Lively discussion, a shared lunch, and a visit to Babbington Park's compost system to explore the vital role of worms in soil health and regenerative farming.

Tickets

$120 per person. Please note this event is part of the 2026 Being Human Festival program and has been subsidised by the Melbourne Public Humanities Initiative in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne.

Being Human 2026

This project was produced in collaboration with the 2026 Being Human Festival. Founded in the UK as the only national festival of the humanities, Being Human is now a global celebration dedicated to demonstrating the breadth, diversity and vitality of the humanities.

View the full Festival program here.

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