Slow Living in August in the English Countryside: Celebrating Harvest and Preparing for Autumn

August in the English countryside is enchanting. Long, warm days, flourishing gardens, golden fields dotting the landscape, balmy evenings with long shadows, and the first nibble of chill in the morning air.

This month marks the peak of Summer and subtly whispers of Autumn. After the Summer solstice, the days begin to shorten, reminding us of the timeless cycle of nature. Our ancestors were busy preparing for the coming colder months, as on August the 1st, harvest season begins. Thankfully, in our modern world, our survival doesn't rely on how much food and wood we manage to gather, but it gives us an opportunity to celebrate the sun's bounty while gradually shifting our mindset towards the upcoming Autumn.

My mum is a walking treasury of old Polish sayings and beliefs she learned from her mother and grandmother. I remarked how chilly the evening feels and that I perhaps should put a cardigan on, to which my mum replied with an old Polish saying, "Od Świętej Anki, chłodne wieczory i poranki." It roughly translates to

"After St. Anna's Day,
cold are the dusks and dawns."

St. Anna's Day is celebrated on the 26th of July, and it reminds us that Summer is slowly ending and we are approaching Autumn. My family was never exceptionally religious but has deep roots in farming (my grandparents on my mum's side used to own large farming land and animals), and any traditions close to the farming calendar are well preserved within the family. I try to make notes and remember as much as possible from the stories and wisdom my mum shares with me.

As August progresses, the whispers of changing seasons will become clearer, and I think this is where the beauty of August truly lies—in the anticipation of change. A month of golden sunsets, long shadows, aromatic flowers, and herbs in our gardens—the last month before children begin new schools, trees start to loose leaves, and our kitchens smell of cinnamon and pumpkin spice again.

Check out other months' slow living to-do lists
March - April - May - June - July - August - September

Writing this month's slow living to-do list feels quite emotional; I can't believe in only a month's time children will be going back to classrooms, and adults will be decorating their homes for Autumn (well, at least I will be! 1st of September falls on a Sunday this year—just perfect!). This is the last month before I dive deep into Autumn content, followed closely by Christmas festivities. But let's stay in the present—I have much love for August, and I'm glad I can share with you my slow living to-do list for this month.

1. Celebrate the Harvest Season

August marks the beginning of the harvest—a time when the fields of the English countryside turn golden. On the 1st of August falls Lammas—the first of the harvest festivals on the Wheel of the Year, a nature-based calendar that marks important solar events and cross-quarter days. Our ancestors celebrated it by baking bread from the first crops of the year.

You can join this ancient tradition and bake bread—try some of my favourite easy bread recipes I shared in this post. If you're not a keen baker, you can visit your bakery or local farm shop and choose some lovely, artisan bread or pastries. This way, you not only get to treat yourself to some delicious, freshly baked goods but also support a local business and your country's economy.

2. Enjoy the Last Long Days

After the Summer solstice—the longest day and shortest night of the year—the sun starts waning. Although it's still high and mighty, the slow descent has begun. Days are gradually getting shorter—only a few minutes per 24 hours, but the change is noticeable.

Dusk comes a little earlier, and while the days are still relatively long, make the most of the lingering Summer light. Go for evening walks to enjoy the countryside in the golden hour when the light is soft and warm, casting long shadows over the landscape. These walks are perfect for reflecting on the beauty of nature and the transitions we get to witness. Notice the changes in the fields, the first hints of Autumn colours in the trees, and the cooler breezes that whisper that the new season is coming.

3. Prepare for the Colder Months

August is a time of preparation, just as it has been for centuries. My great-grandfather would famously send the whole family to work in the fields and garden—including his three daughters (not that keen on farming work;)—to help with harvesting fruits and vegetables for Autumn and Winter.

August is a month of anticipation—but not just passive waiting. Begin to ready your home for the cooler months ahead. This can be decluttering, cleaning, and organising (I really need to do some serious bookshelf decluttering before the Autumn business in the shop begins...). Begin planning your Fall decorations, and start shopping around for the first touches of cosy decor like a lightweight blanket for the first slightly chilly evenings of the year and YR Studio's natural wax candles to light up in the evenings as we draw nearer and nearer to Autumn.

Our hand-poured natural wax candles are perfect for this month of preparation and anticipation—nothing adds cosiness and warmth to your living room or bedroom like the gentle flicker of a candle. Find our cosy candles made in our Somerset studio HERE

Ideas for Late Summer Decor

- Sunflowers (fresh or artificial)
- Dried wheat (wreaths, bouquets)
- Pictures and figures of farm sales and trucks
- Butternut squashes, red apples, peaches
- Jam jars in the kitchen
- Wooden or wicker baskets
- Lightweight blankets
- "Farmhouse", "Apple Pumpkin Cider", "Cosy Reads" candles (and many more! Check out our cosy, hand-poured candles here.)

These small acts of preparation not only make your home ready for Autumn but also mentally prepare you for the shift in seasons.

4. Seasonal Produce

Local markets offer lots of seasonal produce in August. From cherries, beans, and cucumbers to the first apples of the year and sunflower bouquets, there is much to enjoy. Visit a local farm shop for the ultimate Hallmark movie vibes, support local businesses, and use these ingredients to cook nourishing meals inspired by the season. Cooking and eating seasonally is a big part of slow living, helping us to create a deep connection to the seasons and natural cycles.

In our family, August will still be dominated by lighter meals, as the days are still too warm for heavy, rich dishes, but I will definitely be including more squashes and root vegetables in the meals. I will also make a batch of marmalade, as Andrei loves to have it on his toast on chilly mornings.

5. Reflect and be Grateful

As the light (and year) begins to wane, August offers a natural pause for reflection. Take some time to think about the past few months. What have you learned? What are you grateful for? I believe that the time of harvest is one of the most natural times for us, humans, to express our gratitude for the privileges we so often take for granted—abundance of food, a roof over our heads, the safety of our home, and the warmth of your favourite blanket.

6. Embrace the Countryside

The English countryside is enchanting in August. The combination of lush greenery and the first, tiniest signs of Autumn create a picturesque sight. Here in Quantock Hills, we still enjoy foxgloves that are blooming until early September. Somerset is known for its orchards that in August are alive, with trees heaving under the weight of green apples that will start turning red in the coming weeks and months, ready to be turned into jams, compotes, and of course, the famous Somerset cider, which inspired our Apple Pumpkin Cider candle, one of my favourite candles for August.

Talking about pumpkins... in the UK, in August your pumpkins should have their first fruits (mine are tiny but fill my heart with so much joy!). It's time to start feeding them a high potassium liquid fertiliser every two weeks to support the growth of the pumpkins.

A lovely idea for August is to visit sunflower fields—use Google to find one close to your home and enjoy the spectacular view of a field full of sunflowers in bloom.

A peaceful, relaxing walk in the countryside definitely should be on your "to-do" list at least once a week this month. The connection with nature is one of the most important aspects of slow living.

Ideas for Late Summer / August Nature Activities

- Visit an orchard.
- Look out for the last foxgloves of the year.
- Feed your pumpkins.
- Visit a sunflower field.
- Go for nature walks.

7. Prepare for School & the 'Back to Hogwarts' Vibe

I know many of my readers have children, so you will be shopping and preparing for the new school year at the beginning of August. Even if you don’t have children, or they are already grown-ups, there’s something magical about the back-to-school season. As a Potterhead, for me, late August and early September will forever be the 'Back to Hogwarts' time. I will be going book shopping at the end of August even when my children grow up. The end of this month is a great time to finish reading any summery books and pick up your September reads.

A Few Closing Words

August is a month of the beginning of the change. It's time to celebrate the height of Summer while also preparing for the cooler, darker months ahead. It's a perfect month for those practising slow living (but in all fairness, aren’t all months perfect and enchanting in their own way?). The gentle changes in nature require us to slow down to notice them. By embracing slow living and the rhythms of the English countryside, we can find joy in the simple pleasures that this beautiful month has to offer. As we slowly shift our minds towards Autumn, let's be grateful for the abundance of Summer and look forward to the cosy, quiet months that lie ahead.