Buy from your own backyard this Christmas and harvest hope for country SA
Christmas is creeping up quickly, there’s gifts to buy and plans to make, but there’s a shocking ‘shituation” taking place across regional South Australia.
It’s the Aussie way to grin and bare it and think yourself lucky you’re not as hard done by as old mate down the road. But at the end of the day, 2025 has been the perfect shit storm – dry as chips, knockout frosts, an exotic plant disease and some erratic Spring storms, and the flow on effects in regional communities are already being felt.
As Christmas spending ramps up, Greater SA is on a mission to encourage South Aussies to look a little closer to home when it comes to pouring dollars into the Festive Season this year. There are loads of incredible small businesses across regional SA offering quality products and elite experiences – and we’re on a mission to show you where they are and what they offer, and put the heart back into gift giving this year.
We’ve teamed up with some fellow SA businesses, who are as passionate about strengthening regional community as we are. With support form Emmetts, Agfert Fertilisers, ANZ and AW Vater & Co, Greater SA will be scouring the State and shining a spotlight on regional makers and creators, retailers and savvy country businesses who have everything you need to spread the Christmas cheer and a little bit of community spirit this year.
There are cases where these small businesses are a second income for farming families, or they’re retailers who bring people and dollars to small communities. They’re often run by the same people who put their hands up to volunteer on committees, donate generously to local sporting groups or organisations, and Greater SA’s Harvesting Hope SA campaign is a great way of recognising their efforts, supporting their venture and creating some feel good vibes while the chips are down.
Kimba’s Carmen Rayner, who has played a huge part in establishing the town’s popular collective business, Workshop 26, and who runs her own small business, The Small Town Soap Company, says there is nothing quite as good as being valued by your own community and being able to contribute back.
“When your locals get behind you and support your small business, it means the world and makes you feel good about yourself. It makes it easier to reciprocate and support the local groups that ask for donations and sponsorship every year.”
As part of the Harvesting Hope SA campaign, Greater SA will be bringing you guides to gift-giving, sharing some of the amazing stories behind these small businesses, and making it as easy as possible for shoppers to buy from their own backyard. We’ve also created an online community, Greater SA Community Chat, where we are giving space and encouraging small businesses to promote their products and services.
Big companies won’t notice your purchases over the next couple of months, but small regional businesses, their families and communities will.
