7 Lessons from the Harvest: Embracing Slow Living in the English Countryside

The time of harvest is a happy time in the English countryside - golden fields, sun filtering through the green canopy of the forest, trees in the orchards sagging from the weight of ripe apples, picking wild raspberries straight from the bushes, balmy evenings... I could keep going. Summer in this part of the world is beautiful and oh-so-easy to romanticise. The harvest season offers a perfect opportunity to slow down a little, contemplate the blessings in our everyday lives, notice lessons that nature teaches us during this time of the year, and express gratitude for what we are given.

A younger Adriana paid no attention to the rhythms of nature and the safety of its repetitiveness. But today, I love following the natural cycle, celebrating each and every season and its transitions. Some of you might know that Autumn is my favourite season, and that's probably why I also have a huge soft spot for the time of harvest - its nostalgic bridge that connects the golden, sun-drenched Summer with cool and moody, yet incredibly beautiful Autumn - the season of the soul.

The end of Summer and harvest time is the last stop before the arrival of the cold winds of Autumn, and I think it's a time that definitely should be noticed, even celebrated.

The Wheel of the Year - a nature-based calendar that marks important solar events like equinoxes, solstices and cross-quarter points - celebrates 3 Harvest festivals:

1. Lammas on August 1st, marking the beginning of the harvest.
2. Mabon (Autumn Equinox) the peak of harvest season
3. Samhain (Halloween) marking the end of the harvest on the 31st of October.

As you see, harvest time is not a one-off event but a full 3 months of gathering the fruits of labor in the fields, gardens, and orchards. It begins at the peak of Summer and ends at the peak of Autumn (at least here in the UK), teaching us valuable lessons that are very much in tune with the slow living ideology.

The Essence of Slow Living

Slow living is about living mindfully, finding joy in small, simple pleasures and understanding how precious each passing day is. Instead of chasing highs and trends, it invites us to slow down, appreciate what we already have, and connect with nature and ourselves.

Nature doesn't rush, making it the perfect teacher for slow living. Here are 7 valuable lessons we can learn from the harvest season.

Lesson 1: Patience

Harvest time teaches us the importance of patience. Farmers and gardeners know very well that crops cannot be rushed; they must be harvested at the right moment to ensure the best yield. This also applies to our lives. In a world full of promises of quick wins and instant gratification, the harvest reminds us that some things cannot be hurried. Patience is a virtue (which I'm still learning at 36 years old!) that leads to more meaningful and fulfilling outcomes.

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lesson 2: Timing

In addition to patience, the timing of activities becomes an important lesson too. Just as farmers know the best times for planting and harvesting, we can also benefit from aligning our tasks with natural rhythms. This means understanding when to work hard and when to rest, embracing a flow that respects our own physical and mental cycles.

Tuning in with seasons helps us make the most of our time and energy. In Spring, when things are new and fresh, it's the right time to begin new projects. In Winter, when the natural world is asleep, so should we, humans, rest and rejuvenate our minds and bodies.

Lesson 3: The Joy of Simple Pleasures

The harvest is a time of celebration in the countryside. Here in the UK, communities organise village fetes and festivals to celebrate this happy time of the year. Harvest teaches us to appreciate things that our society long ago started taking for granted: the first fresh strawberries of the year, a taste of a ripe apple picked straight from the tree, locally produced jam on your morning toast - how easy it is to pass by these little things, brush them off as nothing?

Noticing them will bring a smile to our face and make us receptive to more of these small, but good and pleasant moments in life. Remember: these small moments add up in the bigger picture, so I choose to notice the smallest things and be happy for the most ordinary reasons. In return, I see myself as a happy and fulfilled person.

Lesson 4: Mindful Consumption

In today's world, easy access to food has made us take it for granted. Contrary to what many of my readers and viewers might think, I don't actually believe that fast food is altogether bad. We all sometimes crave a kebab, pizza or (in my case) mozzarella sticks, and the fact that we live in a world where we can get it so easily is wonderful. It's definitely a privilege to live in our times.

But in the modern world, where shop shelves are stuffed with any kind of food and available practically 24/7, it's easy to forget that even snacks and treats like cakes and crisps were first wheat and potatoes that needed to be grown, harvested, processed before they became our snack. The harvest season reminds us where our food comes from and encourages us to be more mindful of what and how much we consume. When we see the effort that goes into growing and harvesting food, we are more likely to feel deeper appreciation for it.

This mindfulness should extend beyond food to all aspects of our lives, encouraging us to consume less and appreciate more.

Lesson 5: Mindful Shopping

Mindful consumption also means making conscious choices about what we bring into our lives. This means choosing quality over quantity, supporting local and sustainable businesses, and reducing waste.

Our natural wax candles are handmade in our Somerset studio using British-only ingredients. All our candles are designed by me (Adriana) and made by my husband Andrei by hand.

The slow living philosophy encourages us to shop for things that are necessary or truly spark joy in our hearts. I am no minimalist, and my home is full of little items that simply make me happy. Our home is a place where we should feel comfortable, and surrounding yourself with items that create this cosy, fuzzy feeling is a lovely way to make any house a home. By choosing to decorate it with items that are vintage or handmade, you create a truly one-of-a-kind space that showcases your taste and personality.

Lesson 6: Connection with Nature

Spending time in the countryside lets us connect with nature and quiet our mind, which is often missing in a busy city environment (but not impossible!). The time of harvest - from August to October - is a time when the English landscape is simply stunning - golden fields, and deep green woods slowly change into shades of orange, red, and brown before our eyes.

An idea for you - something I love to do myself: Pick a spot on your walk that you enjoy eg. an interesting tree, a wooden gate, or a forest path that you walk a lot and take a picture. Try to remember exactly where you stand and do the same once a month. In Winter, you will be able to look back at those pictures and see how the same place changes during the Summer to Winter months, and also the dramatic difference between the peak of Summer, the peak of Autumn, and once all the leaves are gone in Winter. It is an exercise in mindfulness that takes a long time, but looking back at the photos is deeply satisfying.

Lesson 7: Don't Give Up

This is probably one of my favorite lessons, and I hope it will sparkle hope in some of you. Sometimes in life, we feel like we're in a dark place where there is no light... I think you could say that your heart is in the Winter season. But if there is one sure thing on this earth, it is that the seasons always change, and although Winter might be long and harsh... it never lasts forever. Spring will eventually arrive, followed by warm days of Summer and eventually harvest - a beautiful time when you collect the fruits of all the hardships you endured in the last months.

For me personally, the cyclicality of mother nature, the fact the seasons always come, always in the same order, is a source of comfort and order in this world, and whenever I feel down or struggle with, e.g., really bad PMS, I remind myself that this challenging period won't last forever and things will soon get better.

* Naturally, I have to add that if those feelings get intense and you feel like all the joy is gone from your life, please, my friend, contact your doctor. There is no shame in looking for help, and it's the best, safest way to get better <3

A Few Closing Words

The harvest season in the English countryside is a wonderful time, offering us timeless lessons in slow living. By following the rhythms of nature, appreciating simple pleasures, and cultivating peace, we can create balance and calm in this always busy world. Slow living is not about doing nothing; it's about doing the right things with intention and mindfulness.