SEASONAL SIMPLE LIFE
Grow, Make & Preserve Through the Seasons
Practical guides and seasonal inspiration for growing food, preserving the harvest and making more at home.
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Practical ideas for growing, cooking, preserving and making — one project at a time.
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IN SEASON NOW
Make the most of August
Late summer is a season of abundance — harvesting, preserving and making plans for what comes next. Start with these practical guides for the month.
August Reflections: Savouring Late Summer
August is a month of abundance, slower evenings and the first quiet hints of autumn. Join me for these August reflections as we celebrate seasonal living through gardening, preserving, simple self-care and making the most of late summer before the seasons begin to change.
August Garden Tasks: 11 Essential Jobs for a Productive Garden
August is one of the busiest and most rewarding months in the vegetable garden. Discover the essential August garden tasks, including harvesting, preserving, watering, fertilising, pruning tomatoes, sowing autumn vegetables, and preparing your garden for the changing season. This practical guide helps you stay on top of late summer gardening while making the most of your harvest.
Mastering Fermented Gherkins: Small Pickles, Big Flavor
Fermented gherkins are a delicious way to make the most of summer’s bounty — and far more flavorful than the typical store-bought jars. 🍶🥒 In this guide, you’ll learn how to turn fresh gherkins into crisp, tangy lacto-fermented pickles using just salt, water, and a few aromatics like dill, garlic, and spices. The process relies on a salty brine and tannin-rich leaves to keep those little cucumbers crunchy, and a cool fermentation period lets the flavors develop beautifully without getting overly sour. Whether you’re a fermentation novice or a preserving pro, this step-by-step recipe walks you through preparing the veggies, making the brine, and letting nature work its magic — resulting in jars of vibrant, probiotic-rich gherkins that’ll keep for months.
STAY IN SEASON
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Practical ideas for the garden, kitchen and pantry, plus new projects and seasonal guides from Seasonal Simple Life.
LATEST FROM THE SITE
New & recently updated
Is Fermentation Safe? A Practical Guide for Beginners
Is homemade fermentation safe? This beginner-friendly guide explains why lacto-fermentation is one of the safest traditional preservation methods, how it protects your food naturally, how to recognise a healthy ferment, and when it’s time to throw a batch away.
August Reflections: Savouring Late Summer
August is a month of abundance, slower evenings and the first quiet hints of autumn. Join me for these August reflections as we celebrate seasonal living through gardening, preserving, simple self-care and making the most of late summer before the seasons begin to change.
What To Sow and Plant in August
August isn’t just about harvesting—it’s also the perfect time to sow and plant for the months ahead. Discover which vegetables thrive when planted now, how to prepare your beds for autumn and winter, and enjoy fresh homegrown produce long after summer has faded.
August Garden Tasks: 11 Essential Jobs for a Productive Garden
August is one of the busiest and most rewarding months in the vegetable garden. Discover the essential August garden tasks, including harvesting, preserving, watering, fertilising, pruning tomatoes, sowing autumn vegetables, and preparing your garden for the changing season. This practical guide helps you stay on top of late summer gardening while making the most of your harvest.
Why Does My Pumpkin Only Have Male Flowers?
Is your pumpkin plant producing only male flowers? Don’t worry—it isn’t always a problem. Learn why pumpkins sometimes delay female flowers, how to recognise the causes, and what you can do to encourage a healthy, productive harvest.
Raspberry Jam Recipe Ideas
Looking for delicious raspberry jam variations? Discover five easy homemade recipes, from classic raspberry vanilla jam to creative combinations with lavender, herbs, lemon balm and white chocolate. Perfect for preserving the taste of summer.

ABOUT SEASONAL SIMPLE LIFE
Hi, I’m Angela
I’m a gardener, home cook and enthusiastic experimenter with a weakness for preserving, sourdough, soapmaking and projects that send me down unexpected rabbit holes. Seasonal Simple Life is where I share practical guides and what I learn along the way — one project at a time.






