I’ve been thinking a lot lately about rhythm - the kind that doesn’t come from a calendar or to-do list, but from the quiet pulse of the earth. Living seasonally isn’t something I’ve perfected (and I doubt I ever will), but over the years, it’s become a sort of anchor for me.
It’s not about wild rituals or doing things just so. It’s about tuning in. Taking cues from what’s happening outside your window and, if you can, adjusting your pace just a little. Sometimes that’s easy. Sometimes it’s deeply uncomfortable.
This winter, for example, has hit me harder than usual. My body is retreating. Slowing. And that’s hard for me - someone who’s usually buzzing around the house, jumping between biscuits in the oven and bouquets on the bench. But the need for stillness is louder than my inner energiser bunny, and I’m trying to listen.
Here’s how the seasons move through my life here at Herbs & Homesteading.
🌸 Spring - A Gentle Stirring
Spring always feels like the first real inhale after a long pause. I find myself pottering around the garden again, brushing aside mulch to see what’s pushing through. Ollie and I often spend mornings harvesting herbs or watching the bees do their thing, and by afternoon I’m usually elbow-deep in florals or psyching myself up to do the dreaded admin work waiting for me in my studio.
There’s an electricity in spring - but it’s a kind kind. Soft. Encouraging. I declutter, open all the windows, and start fresh. Not perfectly, not always with a plan - but with a sense of possibility.
☀️ Summer - Golden and Gritty
Summer here in Adelaide is hot and a little relentless. I won’t lie - there are days where it’s all too much. But early mornings in the garden before the sun really hits? That’s where the magic is.
We live off tomatoes and herbs, bake less, preserve more, and eat dinner outside when the evenings aren't too hot. The house smells like strawberries and sunscreen and freshly cut roses. And though the heat can be exhausting, I try to see summer as a time to gather - friends, flowers, memories. And sometimes just the energy to keep going.
🍂 Autumn - The Quiet Descent
Autumn brings such relief. The light softens, the garden slows, and so do I. This is when I start baking again, making broths, and drying herbs to see me through the colder months. My husband and I take Ollie for drives up to the Hills and come home with muddy boots, red cheeks, and usually some kind of pie.
I always think of autumn as the season where I come back home to myself. It’s grounding. It doesn’t ask much - just that you pay attention and honour the gentle shift inward.
❄️ Winter - The Deep Pause
This winter has humbled me. My energy has plummeted, and I’ve had no choice but to surrender to it. I’ve been sleeping more, saying no to things, and choosing stillness - even when it feels foreign. I usually thrive on routine, but my body is asking for slowness and I’m (reluctantly) trying to meet it where it’s at.
That said, winter does have its comforts. Long baths for Ollie with his towel and pyjamas warmed in the dryer (it’s a ritual now), big pots of soup simmering away, and cosy evenings with tea and a sweet treat. One thing that’s brought me a lot of joy lately is baking a batch of my double choc chip sourdough biscuits - they’re rustic, rich, and a little bit magical.
🍪 Kels’ Double Choc Sourdough Biscuits
(no need to be precise - measure from the heart)
130g sourdough starter
220g bread flour
130g brown sugar
50g melted butter or ghee
A splash of vanilla essence
A hint of almond essence
A good pinch of Celtic salt
White choc chips & milk choc chips (as many as your heart tells you)
Mix, rest for 20–30 minutes if you like, then spoon out rough dollops onto a tray and bake at 180°C until golden on the edges but gooey in the middle. Best served warm, ideally with tea and a pair of thick socks.
✿ Living With the Seasons
Seasonal living isn’t a perfect system. Some days you’ll feel out of sync, and that’s okay. For me, it’s about building a life that ebbs and flows. Some weeks I’m harvesting and creating and buzzing with ideas. Others, I’m just keeping the fire going - figuratively and literally.
But each season, even the hard ones, brings its own kind of grace.
Wherever you are in the wheel of the year, I hope you’re finding your rhythm too. And if you’re not, I hope you’re being gentle with yourself anyway.
With love and wildflowers,
Kels x