Dorrigo in New South Wales, Australia, population 1100, created an entire event to support local makers. David from the Red Dirt Distillery told us about Made in Dorrigo Day, where everything offered for sale had to be made, grown or produced in their local 2453 postcode area. Back in 2014 when they started, David said, […]
How a ghost town made something from nothing with a folk festival
Craft entrepreneurship is a strategy for prosperity that works in every community, no matter how small, even if everything else is against you. Even if all you have is the dirt under your feet. This is the story of Avard, Oklahoma, a town that knows how to make something out of nothing. Often listed as […]
Rural business idea: sell foraged fruits and more
By Becky McCray Need an idea for your next small town or rural business? This one would make a good side hustle: Gather and resell fruit that would otherwise be wasted. Think of all the fruit, berries and nuts that no one picks, especially in yards and public spaces in your town. You don’t have […]
Best practices for rural housing
The only housing “best practice” that really works for every town: Keep renewing your town’s core No one likes a mushy core, in an apple or a small town. Build more in the center, less on the outside. Grab a paper map of your town and a highlighter. Circle the oldest neighborhoods, the ones closest […]
