Alex Thomas is a rural health and safety specialist and advocate for safety and wellbeing in regional and rural areas - especially on farms. In this episode she tells us her very personal ‘why’ and why she’s so passionate about this topic. She has chosen women to help her in her mission through her organisation ‘Plant a Seed for Safety’ and campaign #SaveALifeListenToYourWife and it’s such a great story, I’m sure you’ll love it!

Make sure you go and check out what she’s up to on her website or follow along on Instagram and Facebook. You can book Alex to run workshops in your town, grab the very cool conversation-starting shirts or sponsor this life-changing program - just get in touch with her to find out how.

Join the Small Town Business conversation on Instagram or Facebook or visit us online.

The Small Town Business podcast was recorded on the lands of the GunaiKurnai and I wish to pay my respects to their elders; past, present and emerging.

Audio production by Jetstreamer.

🌱 This episode is proudly sponsored by Visit Gippsland, the land of many wonders. Plan a trip via their interactive website at www.visitgippsland.com.au, or be inspired on Instagram or Facebook.

Sometimes to make a treechange you have to leave your career behind and start something new. There are so many pros to building a local business - especially to support your lifestyle or family goals, if commuting back and forth to the nearest City just isn’t possible. In this episode, I take some of the tips I’ve gotten from other local businesses, to help you start something before you’ve even left your City home. What steps can you be taking right now to increase your chance of starting your new business from a position of strength? To have customers lining up before you open the doors. To build community and a network of supporters that will connect you into your new town?

Let me know if this episode inspires you to get started or to strengthen the business you’re in right now - in your small town.

Erika McInerney is the founder of Mac&Ernie - specialising in social media and marketing training for small business, community organisations and leaders in regional and rural areas.

Find out more about Mac&Ernie or head to Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn for loads of free tips and smart, authentic marketing advice.

Join the Small Town Business conversation on Instagram or Facebook or visit us online.

The Small Town Business podcast was recorded on the lands of the GunaiKurnai and I wish to pay my respects to their elders; past, present and emerging.

Audio production by Jetstreamer.

🌱 This episode is proudly sponsored by Visit Gippsland, the land of many wonders. Plan a trip via their interactive website at www.visitgippsland.com.au, or be inspired on Instagram or Facebook.

Kristy Plumridge is the owner of Greenhills Farm and The Ridge House in Yarragon, West Gippsland. She and her husband Neil made a treechange from Melbourne in 2015 but they did it a little differently - pretty smartly I think. They bought a farm with no experience BUT rather than taking their inexperience in farming and jumping straight in, they have built up multiple businesses over the years on the land slowly and carefully. They have come in and out of Melbourne, learning, growing, collaborating and immersing themselves in the local Yarragon community. Now they are almost ready to move full time, because their country businesses are able to support them.

Sounds good - they should teach people what they did right? Well they are planning to.

This episode is for anyone who loves the idea of trading in their City lifestyle for a farm in the country. Kristy is incredibly generous with her knowledge and I think you’ll love hearing about all the learnings that have made their businesses tick.

Follow Kristy and Neil’s journey on one or all of these channels: Greenhills Farm on Instagram or The Ridge House on Facebook or Instagram.

Also mentioned is Creative Harvest, a wonderful annual event held around Gippsland. Check them out on Facebook or Instagram too. And the wonderful Hogget Kitchen popped up a couple of times too so go and check them out on Instagram or Facebook.

Join the Small Town Business conversation on Instagram or Facebook or visit us online.

The Small Town Business podcast was recorded on the lands of the GunaiKurnai and I wish to pay my respects to their elders; past, present and emerging.

Audio production by Jetstreamer.

🌱 This episode is proudly sponsored by Visit Gippsland, the land of many wonders. Plan a trip via their interactive website at www.visitgippsland.com.au, or be inspired on Instagram or Facebook.