Episode 1: Begin Where You Are
🎧 Check Out Our First Podcast Episode
If you’re feeling the pull toward a slower, simpler life — but aren’t sure where to begin — Episode 1 of Greenstead Life is your invitation. This first episode offers a gentle, grounding perspective on reconnecting with nature, regaining your time, and rediscovering a way of living that’s uniquely yours. Whether you’re longing for more presence, self-reliance, or beauty in your days, it all starts here.
đź“ť Episode Transcript
Transcript
Imagine waking up to the gentle rustle of eucalyptus leaves dancing in the morning breeze, the scent of dew-kissed herbs wafting through your open window. Sunlight filters through the canopy, casting dappled patterns on your bedroom wall. Birdsong replaces the blare of an alarm clock, and the day stretches ahead, unhurried and full of promise.
You step outside onto a veranda adorned with hanging baskets of trailing nasturtiums and flowering mint. The air is crisp, tinged with the earthy aroma of damp soil and blooming wattles. In the distance, the soft clucking of hens signals the start of their day. A neighbor passes by, offering a warm smile and a freshly baked loaf of sourdough in exchange for a bundle of your garden’s kale.
This is not a dream or a distant utopia; it’s a glimpse into a life reimagined—a life rooted in community, sustainability, and harmony with nature. Welcome to Greenstead Life, where we explore the possibilities of living differently, intentionally, and joyfully.
In this inaugural episode, we delve into the essence of what it means to awaken to a new way of living. It’s about peeling back the layers of modern life’s complexities and rediscovering the simple pleasures that bring genuine fulfillment.
Hey, I’m Liv—welcome to our brand new podcast, Greenstead Life—a quiet rebellion against the chaos and dependence of modern life.
I’ll be your voice at the front of the podcast—here to walk beside you as we explore a gentler, more grounded way of living. One that’s rooted in the local, the natural, and the truly free.
Whether you’re joining us from a city apartment or a rural verandah, I’m so glad you’re here.
Each episode is lovingly crafted to offer small seeds of hope, simplicity, and real-world change.
So… here we are. You might be listening while folding the washing. Or driving home. Or watching the kettle start to boil. However you’ve arrived today—it’s perfect.
Because this podcast isn’t about pressure. It’s about presence. It’s about remembering that every journey—no matter how big or small—begins exactly where you are.
At Greenstead Life, we believe in creating a softer, slower rhythm that works with your life, not against it. You won’t find rigid systems or glossy perfection here. What you will find is an honest, evolving practice of growing food, making things by hand, stewarding the land, and reimagining what “a good life” can really mean.
Greensteading is our version of modern homesteading—but without the extremes or overwhelm. It’s rooted in seasonal rhythms, practical action, and a heartfelt respect for nature and animals. You don’t need acres of land or a self-sufficient lifestyle to be part of it.
In fact, you can Greenstead anywhere—from a high-rise balcony to a country block. It’s not about how much you do—it’s about how you approach what you already have.
It’s mending instead of tossing. Growing a few herbs on the windowsill. Cooking from scratch when you can. Learning skills that connect you to the real world again—food, water, shelter, care. It’s natural, thoughtful, and deeply personal.
And from that grounded place, something shifts. You begin to see your life not as a list to tick off, but as a living ecosystem—made richer by attention, community, and connection.
But Greensteading is also about something deeper: self-reliance. It’s about reclaiming your time, your creativity, your ability to provide, produce, and decide for yourself. It’s about stepping away from the noise and towards more freedom, more resilience, and more intentional living.
Greenstead Life began as a simple idea in the hills of Central Gippsland—a little dream of what life could feel like if we softened the edges and began again.
Mel—the creative heart behind GumnutCo—had spent years in the corporate world. But after walking through her own healing, something changed. Together with her husband, they started to ask new questions. What if we rewrote the script? What if we built something slow and steady instead?
So they bought some land in the country and began shaping a new kind of life—not as an escape, but as a return. And what they found wasn’t just a tree change. It was a mindset change.
First they created their first eco-stay from the ground up: Gumnut Cottage, a tiny off-grid retreat with miniature pet goats and sheep along with heritage hens … nestled amongst rolling hills, mountain views and their very own food forests. Then came Banjo’s Cabin, filled with character, more friendly pet sheep, adorable long-necked runner ducks and beautiful pond views.
Now, they share these spaces with hundreds of Airbnb guests who are searching for the same thing they were: breathing room. Clarity. Connection. A sense of coming home—to themselves, to nature, to a gentler way of being. There are also an additional two short term stays set to open on the Greenstead early next year so we can invite more people to come and experience a different way to live.
Mel is passionate about horticulture and spends her days in the gardens, running online courses and consultations and of course with her beloved animals. And just over the hill, Chelsea brings soulful design and heartfelt creativity via her boutique studio called Elissium Co—shaping immersive, beautiful stays that help guests slow down, reconnect, and feel held by their surroundings.
From the cabins to the edible gardens, it’s all designed to reflect one key belief: the future is not something we wait for—it’s something we shape. One raised bed, one habit, one home at a time.
But you don’t have to move to the country.
Here’s the heart of it: Greensteading isn’t about geography. It’s about mindset.
You might be renting. You might have no outdoor space. You might be busy with work or raising little ones or just beginning to wonder if this is all there is.
That’s okay.
You can start exactly where you are.
You can start with a pot of parsley, a slower Sunday, an afternoon without your phone or maybe a question about what really matters to you.
Each of these things is a seed. And seeds grow.
Alongside this podcast, Greenstead Life offers more ways to support your journey—including a growing collection of illustrated books, self-paced online courses, and seasonal guides designed to help you deepen your skills, reconnect with your environment, and build confidence in your ability to live more sustainably, creatively, and freely.
Whether you want to design your own edible garden, understand plant basics, preserve food, build a compost system, or simply rewild your daily habits—these resources are made to feel like an encouraging friend walking alongside you. Practical, gentle, and inspiring.
In the episodes to come, we’ll explore real stories and grounded steps for building a more intentional life—not from a place of overwhelm, but from curiosity and care.
We’ll talk about designing edible gardens. Compost. Water. Time. Creativity. Rest. And the deeper ideas that sit beneath it all—like what it means to build a life that’s enough.
But before we close, I want to leave you with something gentle and true. You don’t need to have it all worked out. You don’t need a grand plan or perfect conditions. You simply need to begin—right where you are, with whatever time and space you have, and with whatever’s in your hands right now. That beginning, however small, is already enough. So until next time, may you find a slower moment, create something beautiful, and take one quiet step toward a life that feels more like your own.
This is Greenstead Life. Looking forward to reconnecting again next Tuesday for our second episode, exploring what it means to live differently—breaking away from the rules we’ve inherited to craft a slower, wilder, more intentional lifeut as a way of seeing the world differently, and building a future that actually feels good to live in.
