embracing a farm girl summer.

a micro trend that takes a page out of the slow living playbook and turns it into a mindful vibe for the summer.

Cottagecore, granola girls, salted granola girls, tomato girls. Each summer we take our pick at the current selection of buzzy micro trends - aesthetically pleasing and perfectly curated themes straight out of a Pinterest board to live out our summery dreams. And I’m here for it. These particular micro trends are like a page out of a slow living playbook: ditching our survival-mode routines for frolicking in flower fields, growing our own tomatoes, taking a literal hike. These are all grounding practices we can adopt on our slow living journeys and perhaps a curated summer is just what we need to simply start that journey. So while some may stick their nose up at a label, I believe this year’s “farm girl summer” is a trend we should all get behind.

What is farm girl summer? Better Homes & Gardens calls it, “an all-encompassing lifestyle trend that is quintessentially cozy, pastoral, and inspired by nature. It romanticizes rural-inspired living, including activities such as growing your own food, making things from scratch, thrifting, cozy crafts, and outdoor, nature-based hobbies.”

Unlike the (possibly) first emerging slow living micro trend cottagecore, newer trends like farm girl summer are more practical. They allow space for modernism, interpretation, and adopting the lifestyle in a way that doesn’t require you to completely reinvent your life from the get-go. And I’ve said this thousands of times before, but I will reiterate that slow living should be accessible.

farm girl summer, a moodboard.

via cosmos

farm girl summer practices (to try this week)

• make a summery dessert from scratch, like sheet pan strawberry shortcake or grilled peaches topped with vanilla ice cream and granola.

• get a plant to tend to. for beginners, I recommend basil, cherry tomatoes, and radish. they do well in pots, too!

• have a thrift day: explore your local thrift stores, take a road trip to one, or swap an upcoming purchase with an option found on a secondhand shop app.

• start the day outside with your morning brew. leave your phone on dnd.

• visit a local farmers market. this site can help you find one nearby!

• go for a long walk, preferably in nature if possible. no headphones.

• head to your local library and pick up a summer read. crack it open after work, during a commute, at the park, or in the morning alongside breakfast.

seasonal slow living, farm girl summer edition

seasonal slow living is what taught me to love summer after spending my entire adult life hating it. seasonal slow living embraces seasons for what they are in ways we love them the most. thus, farm girl summer is most definitely a form of seasonal slow living. if you’re struggling to connect but really want to give this trend a try, think about what you love most about the summer: fruit, extra sunshine, spending time with loved ones. then try to incorporate those things into the farm girl aesthetic (for example, have a tomato-themed dinner party showcasing fresh market tomatoes in your menu).

farm girl summer rituals

sure, activities are fun and exciting. but rituals are sacred. they soothe, heal, replenish your soul, and the rituals you discover throughout your farm girl summer may stick with you long after the equinox. here are some rituals I think match the farm girl well:

• connecting with nature for at least two hours per week (studies report “good health or high well-being became significantly greater” with this practice).

• creating a nourishing meal. you may find joy in the art of cooking or baking, but well-intentioned snack plates work, too.

• digital detoxing. simply put, spend dedicated time away from your phone/devices.

• participating in a comforting hobby: reading, knitting, gardening, journaling, whatever you prefer.

journaling prompt of the week

write at least one full page in your journal answering this prompt (get as detailed as possible): if you had your own farm, what kind of farm would it be?

books, articles, and tools for your farm girl summer

how to embrace a slow summer (an article that celebrates seasonal slow living)
sit with your boredom (an article urging you to be bored like when you were a kid)
wildscape (a book that taught me to appreciate nature on a practical level)
the kitchen garden (an intentionally made and beautifully illustrated cookbook)
braiding sweetgrass (a book that braids the science, sacredness, and history of nature)
spf (that applies like whipped cream bc stay safe)
an outdoor cast iron griddle (for grilled peaches or breakfast made outside)
farmers market themed recipe cards, prints, and notecards (bc you won’t need your phone this summer)

when people on the internet discover that I was born, raised, and lived in new york city up until just four years ago (I live in