The Countrywoman’s Guide to Work, Life & You…

We’re no Monty Don (sadly!), and this certainly isn’t Gardeners World…
But we do have a great little suggestion for your bank holiday weekend in case you were having a think about how to spend your time. Plus it may require a pre-planting trip to the garden centre…which can also involve coffee and cake. A match made in heaven for a spring weekend!
There is something rather special about planting some plug plants on a mid-May weekend, after the frosts of winter are a thing of the past. Nestling seedlings of tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines and herbs into the soil knowing in a few months time they’ll become part of summer suppers enjoyed in the garden.
I think the appeal of growing our own food for us now is not in perfection, productivity or rows of immaculate vegetable beds that are insta worthy, but instead in the feeling of working in harmony with our world’s natural seasons.
It can be as simple as a tomato plant in a terracotta pot, basil on the windowsill, courgettes slowly taking over more space than anticipated and mint that refuses to stay where it was originally planted! They’re just small ordinary things but grounding ones, ones that root us in how we used to grow and eat - seasonal and from home.
Having tried a few different veggie cycles, our founder Emma and her husband now make sure that they grow the ingredients to make ratatouille. The beauty of planting and growing your ratatouille ingredients is how achievable it feels. You don’t need acres of land, a greenhouse the size of a small village hall or an encyclopaedia of gardening knowledge, just a few pots by the kitchen door and a small veg bed can be enough to kick start your connection to the process of growing your own.
Growing your own ingredients is a process, one that takes time, cannot be rushed and requires us to return repeatedly with patience and care. It brings with it new rituals in the form of watering before work, checking back to see what has appeared overnight, pinching out tomato shoots with your morning coffee and just stepping outside in the evening to ‘have a look’. An abundance of small rhythms that can help soften the edges of our busy lives.
For many of us living rural countryside lives home is rarely still. There’s always animals to feed, children to collect, businesses to run, washing to fold, dogs muddying freshly cleaned floors and endless jobs lists that move quietly through our mind.
Which is perhaps why these slower rituals in the garden matter. Not because life transforms into some idyllic kitchen garden dream, but because they anchor us gently into the seasons unfolding around us.
Growing your own ingredients for a simple and rustic dish like ratatouille (along with many others) feels in a way quite symbolic. It’s not elaborate food, just humble, generous, easy cooking - your homegrown vegetables softened slowly together in a pan, eaten over a long lunch with friends and leftovers reheated for the night after. It’s food that feels welcoming rather than performative, and even more special when you were the ones to nurture it.
Any ratatouille over-production can be frozen in tubs and rediscovered in the depths of winter, bringing you right back to your memories of summer as you stir it into a quick and easy spaghetti bolognaise.
Your garden does not have to be immaculate to bring joy. Your home does not have to look untouched to feel beautiful. A weekend does not have to be super productive to be worthwhile. Planting something and trusting it will grow is enough.
So if you need a few jobs for the garden that actually bring you joy and aren’t the usual household tasks we all know (and love…?!) consider this a little nudge. To plant the tomatoes, sow the basil, purchase the courgette plant and water the herbs.
Not for aesthetic or the algorithm, but for the quiet satisfaction of creating something slowly, season by season, meal by meal.

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Don’t make the mistake of thinking that this conversation isn’t for you because you don’t need to know how to make sure that your message lands well, because in so doing you will miss out on a whole raft of great life advice.
This week on Countrywoman’s Guide, Emma sits down with presenter, actor and communications expert Dominic Colenso to talk about leadership, clarity and how to communicate in a world full of noise.
From starring in the Thunderbirds movie to coaching senior leaders and sales teams, Dominic shares how the lessons he learnt as an actor now help businesses craft messages that truly land.
The conversation explores:
* why audiences actually want you to succeed
* how leaders set the tone without realising it
* the importance of simplifying your message
* balancing ambition, family life and creative work
* why the best communication is rooted in humanity, not performance
One of the standout moments comes when Dominic says:
“Your audience want you to succeed.”
A simple idea - but one that changes how we think about speaking up, presenting ourselves and leading others.
Emma and Dominic also discuss the reality of writing books, building long-term businesses and learning to say no to self-imposed pressure.
Dominic’s new book Cut Through explores how the messages that truly land are built on:
“simplicity, emotion, and energy.”
A thoughtful conversation about communication, leadership and being fully present in the room.
Join our growing Community of people who value building a business that fits your life, rather than a life that fits in round your business.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit countrywomansguide.substack.com

This episode was originally recorded as part of a series of interviews that I did for Do Radio, which they have generously allowed me to share with you, and I’m so pleased they did because the insights in these conversations are golden.
Sarah James has been organising multi award-winning arts festivals for over 22 years. She is Managing Director and founder of non-profits Craft Festival, Bovey Tracey, Cheltenham and Cardigan.
She also co-founded and produced Nourish Festival (Food, Craft & Music) for 10 years until 2023.
She founded Find a Maker and popular podcast, The Capital of Craft in 2021. She was awarded an MBE for services to Craft in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours List.
Born & Bred in Cardigan, West Wales, Sarah is a ceramics graduate from Glasgow School of Art and an avid collector of craft, especially ceramics. She has had a varied career including making, podcasting, writing, curating, retailing, mentoring and lecturing on business start-up.
Sarah has focused on arts event management and business development training since 2003 and works regularly with a variety of universities and national craft organisations providing training at undergraduate and post-graduate level.
Being an obsessive user of social media for business and the ability to think on her feet whilst smiling is a fundamental part of her business strategy.
“Treat people how you would like to be treated and expect the same in return.”
Sarah is mam to Ella and Lewi and lives between Cardigan and Bovey Tracey, Devon with her husband Andy and their dogs.
Aside from so much wisdom in the form of life lessons, this episode will also be really helpful if you’ve ever dreamed of taking a stand at Craft Festival or similar events as Sarah provides so much invaluable advice about securing and making the most of your opportunity.
You can find Sarah’s Craft Festival website here and her instagram here
Thank you for reading and thank you for listening.
Join our growing Community of people who value building a business that fits your life, rather than a life that fits in round your business.



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit countrywomansguide.substack.com

Introduction
One of the great things about hosting a podcast is that you get to chat to lots of people! I’m always curious to hear how people came to be doing what they do and it seems that serendipity often plays a big part in shaping careers!
Timmy is no exception to this and becoming a multi-disciplined therapist happened organically after she qualified as a sports therapist. She then went on to gain her equine and canine qualifications and is currently studying for a further qualification - she is one busy lady!
Our Discussion covers…
* Career Path
* Business Development
* Work Philosophy
* Challenges of Self-Employment
* Social Media and Branding
* Professional Community
* Personal Well-being
* Advice & Reflections
Key Thoughts Shared
* Authenticity builds trust: Clients appreciate clear, jargon-free communication and a human approach.
* Community over competition: Building relationships with peers strengthens the industry and personal confidence.
* Social media ≠ success: Real business growth comes from word of mouth and consistent service, not follower counts.
* Work-life balance: Recognizing personal limits and seasonal priorities prevents burnout.
Thanks so much to Timmy for being so generous with her experience and wisdom.
As always thank you for listening. Please do like, share and subscribe if you enjoy the podcast.
You can find Timmy on instagram here
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit countrywomansguide.substack.com

So, it was an absolute treat to have an hour with him as part of my recent stint as a Do Radio presenter.
David builds brands from nothing with next to nothing. Having spent a decade of his early years at Saatchi & Saatchi, he left to build his own brands.
He was one of the founders of Howies in the 1990’s, which he exited via a trade sale to Timberland in the mid-2000’s.
In 2008, he and Claire started the Do Lectures. The idea was a simple one. Gather together the world’s leading DOers, disruptors and changemakers, have them share their hearts and stories, and encourage others to DO amazing things too. There are now over 400 lectures available free online to watch, and the latest innovation of the Do Team is Do Radio
In 2011, he took up the manufacturing mantle again, with his wife Claire, in the form of Hiut Ltd, determined to revive jeans manufacture in the town of Cardigan.
In its heyday, Dewhirst, one of the Cardigan based factories used to produce 35,000 pairs of jeans a week, employing 400 people, but closed in 2002.
The skills were all there and Hiut became known for handcrafting high-quality, sustainable jeans, often referred to as "slow fashion".
Their commitment to craftsmanship, the "Do One Thing Well" philosophy, and the re-employing of local "Grand Masters", jean makers who lost their jobs in 2002 became hallmarks of the Hiut brand.
David and Claire sold Hiut in 2025 to concentrate on the Do Lectures.
All of David’s businesses are strong on brand and storytelling and his innovative thinking inspires many.
David’s idea of success is:- Being in charge of your time.- Not worrying about money.- Do work that matters with people you like. And help others.
I think that’s a pretty good success philosophy to have.
In this episode, we talk about story, purpose, community, and why understanding the why of your business gives it wind in its sails.
If you’re building something thoughtful and long-term — this conversation will stay with you.
🎧 Listen now on Countrywoman’s Guide.
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit countrywomansguide.substack.com