Vocal About Local – Détails, épisodes et analyse

This is a non-hostile takeover - while you're regular podcast hosts are away, Nikki is coming out to play... well, maybe not play, but to host a mini-series called the QUICK FIVE - as part of this series Nikki will ask her guests 5 quick questions about business and life. 😎

In this episode Nikki chats with Kimberley Furness, the award winning Editor and Founder of OAK Magazine, and chart topping podcast host of A Friend of Mine and She Makes News.

Kimberley was the 2022 Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award winner for Victoria and the National Runner-up.  She brings over 20 years experience working in communications and marketing and has spent the last 7 years travelling around regional and rural Victoria and New South Wales working with local business owners to successfully and confidently manage their social media and marketing.


This episode is powered by Grown Not Flown GYM - there's no need to sweat the small-stuff with this GYM membership. For only $49 a month you get unlimited access to the Grown Not Flown online masterclasses hub including upcoming live masterclasses plus their library of on-demand masterclasses. Now, that's the kind of GYM I want to be part of! 💪🏋️‍♀️🤸‍♀️

www.grown-not-flown.com/masterclasses

Host: Nikki Davey from Grown Not Flown
Guest: Kimberley Furness from OAK Magazine
Website: www.oakmagazine.com.au
Instagram: @aokmagazineau

This is a non-hostile takeover - while you're regular podcast hosts are away, Nikki is coming out to play... well, maybe not play, but to host a random little mini-series called the QUICK FIVE - as part of this series Nikki will ask her guests 5 fast questions about business and life. 😎

In this episode Nikki chats with Nadine Brown, founder of the The Ivy Institute.

Nadine started her floral journey over 30 years ago and is a seasoned business professional with a background in marketing, business management and entrepreneurship. Nadine is one of our online masterclass hosts and is about to kick off a new series that will focus on growing what florists want, selling to florists, creative ways to diversify your income and running workshops.

We hope you enjoy our new FAST FIVE podcast mini-series. 🤗


This episode is powered by Grown Not Flown GYM - there's no need to sweat the small-stuff with this GYM membership. For only $49 a month you get UNLIMITED access to the Grown Not Flown Online Masterclasses hub including upcoming live masterclasses plus their library of on-demand masterclasses. Now, that's the kind of GYM I want to be part of! 💪

www.grown-not-flown.com/masterclasses

Host: Nikki Davey from Grown Not Flown
Guest: Nadine Brown from The Ivy Institute
Website: www.theivyinstitute.com.au
Instagram: @the_ivyinstitute
YouTube: TheIvyInstitute

If you think of a successful multi faceted flower farm business; it's hard to look past the passionate and vivacious Georgie Newbery.

Having what she describes as a "portfolio life" Georgie has lived in Paris, previously working for American Vogue under the tutelage of the late Susan Train and Andre Talley before working for John Galliano.

Departing the fashion world having set up "Common Farm Flowers" back in April 2010. Georgie now resides on her flower farm  in Somerset in England's West Country (about 2 hours from London) with her business partner husband and kids.

She says she will always grow flowers for sale, but Georgie has clearly expanded her business over the years and has turned her considerable talents to a number of different flower related business streams.

A staunch supporter of Local British Flowers, Georgie now exclusively grows and supplies her flowers within her local area as well as using her own flowers in her work as a wedding florist.

She has also authored two successful flower related books  - "The Flower Farmers Year" and "Grow your Own Wedding Flowers". (Both readily available on her website)

Additionally Georgie runs workshops on her farm as well as providing coaching and guidance to many budding (see what we did there) wannabe and current flower farmers. This includes focussing on the business side of things as much as the flowers.

A natural raconteur, her latest venture has now seen her take on  "the youtube" space with over 25,000 subscribers around the world. Her youtube club is thriving and we even got a message from a flower farm that is part of her club as we were writing this very episode description.

Georgies energy and passion was self evident as we spoke with her about "why we should all support local", the business side of flowers, pricing and also why she feels the old idea that businesses should grow for the sake of it is absurd.

Georgie is fierce in her support of other small business owners who want to make a good living supplying a very high quality product without endlessly having to expand and  Common Farm Flowers is a business she holds up as an example of one where it makes enough money, but the founder continues to engage with the creativity of growing, cutting and arranging flowers in a way that is true to herself.

Hosts: Sam Baff and Jayde Timms from Grown Not Flown
Guest: Georgie Newbery - Common Farm Flowers
Website: www.commonfarmflowers.com
Instagram: @commonfarmflowers

If you think of a successful multi faceted flower farm business; it's hard to look past the passionate and vivacious Georgie Newbery.

Having what she describes as a "portfolio life" Georgie has lived in Paris, previously working for American Vogue under the tutelage of the late Susan Train and Andre Talley before working for John Galliano.

Departing the fashion world having set up "Common Farm Flowers" back in April 2010. Georgie now resides on her flower farm  in Somerset in England's West Country (about 2 hours from London) with her business partner husband and kids.

She says she will always grow flowers for sale, but Georgie has clearly expanded her business over the years and has turned her considerable talents to a number of different flower related business streams. 

A staunch supporter of Local British Flowers, Georgie now exclusively grows and supplies her flowers within her local area as well as using her own flowers in her work as a wedding florist. 

She has also authored two successful flower related books  - "The Flower Farmers Year" and "Grow your Own Wedding Flowers". (Both readily available on her website)

Additionally Georgie runs workshops on her farm as well as providing coaching and guidance to many budding (see what we did there) wannabe and current flower farmers. This includes focussing on the business side of things as much as the flowers. 

A natural raconteur, her latest venture has now seen her take on  "the youtube" space with over 25,000 subscribers around the world. Her youtube club is thriving and we even got a message from a flower farm that is part of her club as we were writing this very episode description.

Georgies energy and passion was self evident as we spoke with her about "why we should all support local", the business side of flowers, pricing and also why she feels the old idea that businesses should grow for the sake of it is absurd. 

Georgie is fierce in her support of other small business owners who want to make a good living supplying a very high quality product without endlessly having to expand and  Common Farm Flowers is a business she holds up as an example of one where it makes enough money, but the founder continues to engage with the creativity of growing, cutting and arranging flowers in a way that is true to herself.

Hosts: Sam Baff and Jayde Timms from Grown Not Flown
Guest: Georgie Newbery - Common Farm Flowers
Website: www.commonfarmflowers.com
Instagram: @commonfarmflowers

In 2010 there were 10 domestic gins on the market in Australia. Fast forward to today and there are now over 500 independent gin distilleries with Australia having seen an exponential rise in local gin makers.

Gin is known as a refreshing spirit which lends itself well to warm climates, so it's somewhat natural that it would appeal to Australian consumers. It's also friendly to those making it as it doesn't take anywhere near as long to make as darker spirits. Additional to that Australia has a unique plethora of botanicals that lend themselves well to gin - Think Lemon Myrtle, Tasmanian Pepper Berries or finger limes. So it figures that there is a growing appetite from Australian consumers to try Australian gin..... And that's where Garden Street Gin Club comes in...

Born partly out of spending lazy days sipping gins in Europe, Garden Street Gin Club is the brainchild of Josh and Lauren from Williamstown - initially an idea that started as a way to get more small scale international gin into Australia, the creators quickly realised that why bring in products from overseas - when Australia has such an incredible and growing gin industry?

Garden Street Gin Club quickly pivoted to work with local distillers to showcase the best they have to offer in a way that promotes their products and educates about the recommended ways to enjoy them.

From humble beginnings during the Covid pandemic, where Head Office was their bedroom, to currently occupying their 3rd warehouse - Garden Street Gin Club has been promoting local for years now. They also have transformed "how" they do business with a focus on being more responsible from a sustainability perspective.

We talk to founder Josh about the beginnings, process and the vision for Garden Street Gin Club and how "supporting the local product" has been core to their success. We also chat about "Barrell Lane Whisky Club" their new venture which again - aims to put a spotlight on the Australian Whisky Industry because like the Australian gin industry; Australia is producing products that are winning awards on the world stage.

Hosts: Jayde Timms & Sam Baff from Grown Not Flown
Guest: Josh Robinson - Founder - Garden Street Gin Club/Barrel Lane Whisky Club
Website: www.gardenstreet.com.au www.barrel-lane.com.au
Instagram: @gardenstreetginclub @barrellanewhiskyclub

Sonia and Stu are the husband and wife behind Chin Chin Farm in Chintin, VIC.

The award winning farm is a regeneration success story with Sonia and Stu originally realising that they had bought a "capeweed farm".

Over the last few years Sonia and Stu have begun a program of improving soil health, making decisions that are best for the land and what's growing on it and trying to transform it into a viable commercial success. They have applied regenerative and natural sequence farming principles instead of chemical intervention to  restore and rebuild their now thriving polyculture. 

They sit as award winning Lavender farmers, with Stu ascending to the position of treasurer for The Australian Lavender Growing Association (Talga) and helping drive forward Australia's emerging Lavender industry.

Not content at that, they have also developed the farm to provide viable honey, Lamb and wildflower produce as well as growing "bush foods", which they are using in a variety of their products.

Lastly they are now hosting on farm workshops in a giant Swedish teepee that they have erected on the farm, meaning people can not just enjoy their hand crafted products, from lavender oil to bush food jam but they can enjoy the farm itself.

Hosts: Jayde Timms & Sam Baff from Grown Not Flown
Guest: Sonia and Stuart Whiteman from Chin Chin Farm.
Website: www.chinchinfarm.com.au
Instagram: @chinchinfarm

Developed by a group of local, visionary growers, Nice Rice has evolved to become a leading grower, miller and seller of rice in Australia. 

With a rich family history in the heartland of Australian rice growing, the New South Wales Riverina region,  Nice Rice are led by some of the best growers and operators in the country.

Their overarching mission is simple -  to grow and produce the best quality rice in the world and to do so with minimal impact on the environment.

In this informative chat we are joined by Nice Rice CEO Mirza and we talk about how he has worked with multi generation growers to bring together the rice available on shelves today, how 98% of Australians rice comes from the rich soils of the Riverina area and why the company not only wants to produce "nice rice" but be a group of "nice people" doing the right thing by the environment they farm and work.

Mirza also makes the bold claim that Nice Rice' Sushi rice stacks up against any sushi in the world but balances that confidence with an admission that for a long time on his in laws rice farm; he was only trusted to sit in the "buddy seat" of the tractor.

Hosts: Jayde Timms & Sam Baff from Grown Not Flown
Guest: Mirza Korzacanin - Nice Rice CEO
Website: www.nicerice.com.au
Instagram: @nicericebyriverina

Andre and Tom escaped corporate life in Hong Kong and took ownership of Florage Launceston in early 2022. Which just so happened to come along with a thriving hamper company - The Tasmanian Hamper Co.  Covid, lockdowns, separation from family and friends, disruptions to work and life pushed them to fast track their  ‘it will happen one-day’ plan, and now they are loving Launceston and Tassie life. 

Their vision is to deliver happiness, joy and comfort every day to their customers, their suppliers and their loved ones.  They want to have less impact on the environment, and  love helping people make other people happy.  They are passionate about our part in sharing the love of flowers and food.

Andre brings years of creative experience to Florage Tasmania, with a long career working in design for luxury retailers including Gucci, Chanel and Burberry.  He is a qualified architect and has run his own Interior Design and Styling business. His passion for fresh flowers was enhanced by training in floristry at Hong Kong Academy of Flower Arrangement, accredited through I.A.F. European Certifications with Kunstmuseum Den Haag, the Netherlands, which inspired us to purchase Florage.  Andre has now transformed Florage into a Designer’s Choice florist, where he creates unique one-of-a-kind arrangements of the freshest seasonal blooms, especially for you.

Tom happily said goodbye to 20-years working in finance and banking. The change from an office desk in Hong Kong, to being surrounded by flowers, smiling customers, working with growers and local producers is a dream come true.  Sending their Tasmanian Hamper Co. hampers to places far and wide to experience amazing Tassie produce, and driving around town delivering fresh flowers, colours and gifts to delighted recipients are the highlights of his week.

We talk to Tom about trading subtropical Hong Kong for Launceston - and how it was winter when they first arrived. The process of looking for and purchasing a business that aligns with ones values and how those same values then permeate the way Florage and the Tasmanian Hamper Co chooses to do business. We also talk the importance of education consumers on the provenance of their product and their sustainability journey as well as how this transcends both parts of their business. Tom also tell us how Florage also supports local flower growers - from commercial farms to kids who have cut things from their parents garden and come in the shop looking to deal.   

Hosts: Jayde Timms & Sam Baff from Grown Not Flown
Guest: Tom Miller- Co Owner - Florage Tasmania/Tasmanian Hamper Co.
Website: www.florage.com.au. www.tasmanianhamperco.com.au
Instagram: @floragetasmania @tasmanianhamperco

It’s no secret that in some parts of the world, fisheries vacuum the seabed to harvest shellfish. Whilst it might be economically efficient, it lacks a sense of connection and thats before we even look into the ethics of it.  The folks at Goolwa Pipi Co don't have that issue though as they are harvesting a resource that has been sustainably picked at their location for tens of thousands of years by Australia's first people. 

Fast Forward to 2023 and Goolwa Pipi Co continue to harvest in the same way it has always been done. With their fishers braving the cold clear waters and wild waves of the Coorong all year round to carefully hand harvest the finest quality produce. Steeped in tradition, harvesting is a slow and deliberate process, that’s as careful with nature itself as it is for the precious Pipi's.

Applying modern business practices to the traditional harvesting method sees Goolwa Pipi Co leading the way in sustainability, and they are now proud owners of a Marine Stewardship Council "Blue Tick of Approval".

We talk to Tom about his journey from corporate marketer, to budding Pipi farmer and how Goolwa Pipi Co has brought a collective of people together that truly highlights that "together everyone achieves more", taking the Australian Pipi industry from solely supplying to the bait industry to now seeing pipi's on menus in the best restaurants in Australia. Goolwa Pipi Co is testament to finding the sweet spot of having a great product, respecting tradition, farming sustainably and building value around the product that they work with.

Hosts: Jayde Timms & Sam Baff from Grown Not Flown
Guest: Tom Robinson - Managing Director - Goolwa Pipi Co
Website: www.goolwapipico.com
Instagram: @goolwapipco

Lard Ass was founded by Monica Cavarsan, a dairy farmer’s daughter who grew up in Western Victoria, Aus surrounded by the creamy goodness of fresh milk and churned butter.

Proud of her Italian heritage where food was grown and sourced locally, and growing up with her 6 brothers and sisters helping Mum, Bertilla and Dad, Tony manage the family farm, Lard Ass grew out of a yearning for simple, goodness bringing back great taste in butter.

Monica and Lard Ass values the simple, age-old approach to creating tasty, creamy butter using European imported cultures. She single batch churns cream that is ripened to produce a flavour that is both rich and creamy. With a high butterfat content, Lard Ass cultured butter is ideal for cooking, baking or simply devouring on fresh sourdough or crackers. It looks and feels like butter with a fresh hearty taste.


Hosts: Jayde Timms & Sam Baff from Grown Not Flown
Guests: Monica Cavarsan from Lard Ass
Website: www.lardass.com.au
Instagram: @lardassbutter