Have you been hearing a calling deep within for a simpler life? Join homesteader and founder of Azure Farm, Annette Thurmon, to connect with nature on a deeper level.
In her new book, Simple Country Living, Annette offers a sampler of homesteading techniques that can be put to work no matter where you live, from cultivating a healthy garden and embracing garden-to-table eating to crafting family traditions around nature and reducing waste.
Here, Annette shares her beautiful tips on bringing more nature into your home.
Since I can’t always be outdoors, I love weaving nature into my daily life inside my home. Yes, it can be as simple as bringing in some flowers, but it runs deeper than that: opening the windows and allowing in the fresh air, growing fresh herbs near a window, and decorating with items foraged from our backyard. These are all simple elements that can make your house a home and your home your absolute favourite place.
Decorating with Plants
I used to run to the nearest Target for the latest trends in home décor. Now, I run to the outdoors and let nature inspire me. It is honestly so much fun, especially when I do it with my daughter. Here are some ways we bring the outdoors in through decorating.
Branches
Branches are a quick way to add height and presence to any space. If the branch is flowering, that’s a bonus. For me, the bigger the branch, the better. Spring is a favourite time to do this when there are delicate blooms on branches everywhere. But don’t limit yourself to just one season. Fall branches with leaves in jewel tones are just as impressive. To decorate with branches, simply go outside to your yard. More than likely, you have a tree or two that could use a trim, and those fresh branches will do the trick. If not, you can forage from a friend’s yard, perhaps—but always get permission before grabbing your pruners.
I was outside a lovely antique shop one spring and it had the most gorgeous wisteria hanging right outside. I asked if I could grab some, and the lady was quite excited about my appreciation of the beautiful lavender blooms. I brought my branch home and put it in a glass vase on my counter. For the next ten days, it brought me pure joy. Little things like that make me appreciate country living. There is no need for extravagance, just simple, natural details to make a home feel special.
Flowers
I will admit flowers are the easiest way to bring nature in—but I don’t mean flowers you pick up at the store. What I’m talking about is the experience of finding ways to bring the beauty of the outdoors in. The satisfaction of, for example, gathering flowers from your own backyard, experiencing their beauty as they sway in the breeze, the scent that wafts through the air as you brush against the petals.
Over the years, I’ve found it challenging to forage for the unique and unexpected. Each season brings new flowers to forage for and incorporate into my home. Plant tulip, hyacinth, and daffodil bulbs in the fall for colourful blooms in the spring. Other beautiful spring flowers include lilacs, forsythias, and peonies. I have found daisies to be very easy to grow. A few years back, I tossed some on a hill near our home, and now they return each year. The crisp white flowers dance in the wind, bringing pure joy when picked and brought inside. Even better? Make a crown of daisies. It’s the perfect family activity.
Sunflowers are a must for summer and fall. Dahlias, zinnias, and cosmos bloom in my garden and are perfect as cut flowers. You can even have flowers indoors in winter with a Christmas cactus. Get creative, and don’t be afraid to step out of the box when incorporating flowers into your home.
Foraged Items
Every season, I look to nature when I decorate. Foraged décor is beautiful and earthy, and it also does not cost you anything. Over the last few years, I have foraged for pine, cedar, and juniper, then added some dried hydrangea and magnolia leaves, pinecones, and holly to make wreaths each holiday.
You can also add some culinary herbs, such as rosemary, for a fresh scent. In the fall, I love to use the pampas grass from our yard in a tall vase for a statement piece in the living room. They also look great as a floor display. Ferns, dry grasses, and seed pods bring beautiful texture and interest to your floral arrangements and home décor. When foraging, the goal is to use what nature naturally gives us.
Be mindful when gathering and respectful of the plants so you don’t damage them. Do a little research on your area and climate before foraging. Familiarize yourself with plants that may be poisonous or endangered and always ask for permission if foraging on someone else’s property.
Herbs and Houseplants
I love keeping indoor plants. They bring instant cheer and colour to my living spaces and offer some benefits too. Keeping plants in your home improves air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. A few of my favourite indoor plants include the snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata), pothos (Epipremnum aureum), fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrate), and dwarf Meyer lemon tree (Citrus limon x ‘Meyeri’).
Growing herbs indoors is also a wonderful way to bring nature in. I love how easy it is to add colour and flavour to meals with herbs. Choose a sunny spot near a window; use well-draining soil; and select herb varieties suited for indoor growth, such as basil, mint, or thyme. Water regularly and provide adequate airflow. Keep them pruned to encourage new growth, and you’ll have herbs year-round.
Tips for Foraging Branches
Forsythia, magnolia, pear, pussy willow, and wisteria are some of my favourite flowering branches to bring inside. For long-lasting blooms, choose a branch with buds rather than open flowers. Here are some tips for bringing in any kind of branch.
- Check any branches for pests or dirt before you bring it into your house.
- When bringing branches indoors, set the ends in room-temperature water.
- Choose a sturdy vase that will hold the weight of your branch so it does not send the vase tumbling. A heavy, pear-shaped container with a wide base is perfect.
- Keep the branch away from direct sun but in a room with lots of light.
- Recut the ends with a diagonal cut every day. This lets the branch keep taking up water and will help it last longer.
- Change the water daily.
No matter where you live or what skills you already have, the simple country life can be more than a state of mind. Pick up a copy of Annette’s book and start growing more, cooking more, saving more, and living in rhythm with nature.