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A Seasonal, Slow Living Magazine
 

STORIES. NATURE. FOLKLORE. ADVENTURE.

 
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AN ONLINE JOURNAL & QUARTERLY PRINTED MAGAZINE FOR WILD & WHOLEHEARTED FOLK.

For those who strive to live more slowly, who are inspired by the first snowdrop and who walk outside in the rain.

For lovers of stories, everyday adventures and local traditions. For those who opt for simplicity, appreciate ancient crafts, and celebrate the seasons.

 
 

Featured Story

 
Featured
The Stories of Trees: An Ode to Jefferson Pines
Musings Eleanor Cheetham
Musings Eleanor Cheetham
The Stories of Trees: An Ode to Jefferson Pines
Musings Eleanor Cheetham
Musings Eleanor Cheetham

My tree-loving soul was born on the breeze floating through Jefferson Pines, living in southern California at a little less than 7,000 feet above sea level. A new job in California took me far from the midwest, where I grew up near flat farmlands, where trees were planted as windbreaks, for apple harvests in the fall, or for barriers between houses...

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Musings Eleanor Cheetham
Musings Eleanor Cheetham
 
 

MORE FROM THE JOURNAL

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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It's quite strange thinking about how much support and kindness you can receive when you build an online community, because I've never met most of you, and I probably never will. And yet you put faith into me and into Creative Countryside as a real life publication. But it isn't just me. Behind the scenes there are writers, photographers and illustrators giving their time and energy to the journal and magazine. Working with me regularly are my team of editors - @frondandfeather @lovinglifeinwelliesblog @nicolamjudkins & @saltyseaflower - and they are the most wonderful bunch. I dream of escaping someday to share tea, cake and ideas with them all, rather than just talking online. If you're not familiar, go and check them out - I promise you'll love what you see. What are you grateful to online spaces for? 📷 : Fredrick Kerney Jr
So many of you enjoyed my post a couple weeks ago where I introduced myself properly that I thought I'd do another, but this time for my husband, Dan. Following a theme, here are 5 things you probably won't know about him... 1. History is one of his passions. This photograph was taken last year when he hiked the Pyrenees for charity wearing the exact outfit prisoners of war would have worn as they escaped into Spain. He also made his own tent out of bedsheets and created his own ration pack. Madness. 2. He's a firefighter by day and absolutely loves his job. 3. I have never known anyone with quite as many hobbies as he has. Here is just a selection: beekeeping, pole lathing, blacksmithing, reading, photography... 4. When we met again (we first knew each other at school) he attempted to woo me by re-enacting the 'happy dance' from 500 Days of Summer. It was both brilliant and ridiculous. Google it. 5. He rarely gets embarrassed, even though he does things like number 4 in public. He also (a little extra one!) is the brains behind my crowdfunding video, thank goodness, because I'm useless at that sort of thing!
Honey cocktails, you say? Well why not, it is Friday after all. Check out @tea_and_wildflowers for an easy recipe (image shared for #creativeinthecountryside). AND if you'd like something to go with them, I'm giving away free organic chocolate with every crowdfunding pledge made from now until the end of play on Sunday. Go go go! How are you spending your Friday eve? I'm researching seasonal living stories for a post. Message me to share yours? Or comment with any blogs/websites that inspire you (including your own if you like!). Hope you've had a brilliant day.
Inspired by @_jocrawford I went in search of my own ferns today and they were everywhere on my woodland walk (more in stories). It was so peaceful to escape for just a short while and little one even met some ducks on the outskirts! Today is the best deal yet for the crowdfunding campaign - buy one copy of the magazine, get one completely free! If you've been putting off getting yourself a copy, now is definitely the time (before 11am tomorrow!), as I won't be running this offer again. Why not share with a friend?
Today has consisted of hanging washing on the line, clearing up baby sick and trying frantically to get a little work done (both in the house and for the magazine). Little one is now flaked out for the night and I'm determined to have a little time for myself. So a bath plus a few squares of chocolate is definitely in order. Our seasonal package for the magazine has got you covered if, like me, you've been slacking on the self care front. Alongside a copy of issue 1 you also get a recycled blanket, enamel mug, organic tea and chocolate, and for just 24 hours if you order you'll also get 3 handmade beeswax candles. If you had to pick just one thing to help you relax in an evening, what would it be? 📷 : @featherandwild for #aseasonalyear
My word for this year was 'grow'. Most obviously it referred to the little life I was carrying inside me as the new year arrived, but actually it was intended to represent so much more than that. I wanted to grow in confidence, I wanted to grow my business, but most of all I wanted to grow this community. And here we are, 7 and a bit months later, and it's happening. We're just a whisker shy of raising half the crowdfunding goal for the magazine (thank you so much!) and to mark the occasion I'm running a week of offers lasting for 24 hours each. The first is for 20% off the Grow Your Own Package, so for £12 you get the magazine, a wooden seed dibber, a notebook and a herb mix @seed_ball. What will you grow this autumn? 📷 : @anniespratt
It's not always easy balancing family life with trying to run a business. Even though I know I should have been posting on social media the past couple of days to spread the word about the magazine crowdfunding campaign, I've prioritised my husband's birthday and my cousin's wedding instead. Two lovely days spent offline means I'm now raring to go, and I wanted to remind you of your chance to win a 1 night stay for 2 people at @colwallpark in Worcestershire. Just select the Seasonal Package (which also includes tons of other stuff!) and you'll have a 1 in 35 chance of winning. Do you find it difficult to balance your online/offline world? Do you have whole days away or not?
Six years ago I started growing some herbs on my kitchen windowsill in my tiny flat. Then I moved to a house in the country and braved a small vegetable patch and grew courgettes, peas, potatoes and beetroot. Now we have 16 vegetable beds and a whole lot of weeding to do, but I love it. If you want to start small, using a @seed_ball is a brilliant way to begin, and if you opt for our Grow Your Own crowdfunding package you'll receive a herb mix seedball plus a wooden seed dibber and notebook to plan out your ideas (essential if you love lists as much as I do!). I'm curious, how many of you have tried to #growsomethinggreen? 📷 : Matt Montgomery
I've been overwhelmed today by the support and positivity for the crowdfunding campaign. I truly believe that building this community of like-minded folk is one of the best things I could ever have chosen to do, and days like these warm my heart. One of the lovely things about creating the campaign has been choosing partners for the reward packages, and I'll be sharing them with you over the next few days. First up is @magicorganicapothecary - a company creating organic and natural skincare with yarrow. I've been using their green balm for a year or so now so I'm thrilled that it's part of our Mini Seasonal Package (11 out of 35 sold already!). Do you have any favourite products that use the healing powers of nature?
It's lashing it down with rain, I've hardly slept, and I'm getting a cold, but I don't care one bit because it's finally official - the crowdfunding campaign for Creative Countryside magazine is now live! I failed to find an image to match my excitement this morning so I've opted for this photo of one of my chickens. She looks suitably cheery though don't you think? Anyway, if you do get chance to look at the campaign, let me know what you think - I'd be so very grateful (link in profile). I'm just going to go and do a little nervous/excited dance in my kitchen now.
What do you do when your dream is on the cusp of becoming a reality? a. Rejoice that you made it this far. b. Worry that now you're so close, maybe something will prevent it from succeeding. c. Flap about trying to get a million and one things done in 10 minutes. d. All of the above. I think you can probably guess where I'm going with this..! The crowdfunding campaign launches officially tomorrow and it's all go today. How do you react when you're close to achieving your goals? 📷 : @_jocrawford for #creativeinthecountryside
Green has my heart. What colour do you search for when you're taking photographs? 📷 : @francivusk for #aseasonalyear. Also! The crowdfunding campaign for the magazine will be shared (alongside early bird rewards) with newsletter subscribers tomorrow (can't quite believe we're at this point..!). Sign up now if you don't want to miss out - link in profile.