With Love, Katie.
We often say we love nature, and this is what we learn to our kids too. But most of us don’t know when the apples ripen, when the basil wilts in too much sun, or when the birds begin their earliest morning songs. I didn’t know it either, but I tried my best to be present and live closer to nature. I don’t want my girls to forget the power and beauty of nature.
It’s not just about what you eat, but about the whole big picture: how you listen to the birds singing and step outside barefoot. In a world that spins quickly, seasonal living brings us back to the pulse of the earth and the quiet miracle of right now.
So, if you are interested in seasonal living and want to see the beauty of summer, stay with me and let’s discover the magic of July with a seasonal list.
What Is Seasonal Living?
Seasonal living is the soft art of paying attention. It means choosing foods, rituals, rhythms, and even thoughts that reflect what’s happening outside your window.
We often don’t realize how far we’ve drifted from this way of life; we always hurry and run.
As a mom, sometimes I don’t even know how a week passed so quickly, now imagine my face when it was the middle of June and my daughter asked me when summer finally starts? I forgot it is not May…It doesn’t help that we can go to supermarkets every day; we can eat strawberries in December and roast root vegetables in July.
Seasonal living invites us to notice:
- What’s growing in the garden
- How our energy shifts with the sun
- What the body craves when the days stretch long and golden
July Seasonal List: Fruits
In July, nature gives generously. Just like in June, the fruits of this month are juicy, vibrant, and bursting with life, just like the season itself.
Here are a few July favorites and their benefits:
1. Strawberries
Bright, heart-shaped, and rich in antioxidants. They support skin health, immunity, and cellular repair—perfect for long days in the sun. Best eaten fresh, preferably with sticky fingers and a smile.
2. Cherries
These deep red jewels contain melatonin and anti-inflammatory compounds. They support sleep, hormone balance, and recovery—ideal after a hot, active day.
3. Apricots & Peaches
Soft and fragrant, they’re rich in vitamin A and fiber, helping digestion and skin glow. They are a slow snack—meant to be eaten mindfully, one bite at a time.
4. Blueberries
Full of brain-boosting antioxidants, they support memory, reduce stress, and taste like the color indigo. A handful in the morning is like nature’s medicine.
5. Watermelon
Hydrating, refreshing, and packed with lycopene and electrolytes, watermelon helps the body cool down, especially in Pitta (fiery) summer energy.
July Seasonal List: Vegetables
While fruit nourishes the sweetness in us, vegetables ground us. They remind us of our roots—literally and spiritually.
1. Zucchini
Light and easy to digest, zucchini supports gut health, hydration, and hormone balance. Grill it, spiralize it, or roast with herbs for a fresh summer dish.
2. Cucumbers
Full of water and silica, cucumbers are cooling for the skin, joints, and nervous system. Eat them raw with lemon and mint, or blend into soups and tonics.
3. Tomatoes
A July essential. Rich in lycopene and vitamin C, they support the heart, immune system, and even help protect the skin from sun damage.
4. Basil
More than a garnish—basil is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and mood-lifting. Use it fresh on everything: salads, pasta, infused in water or oil.
Happy Hormones
July is ruled by light, and light does more than brighten our mood, as it literally boosts our happy hormones.
- Sunlight helps produce serotonin, the “feel-good” hormone that lifts your energy, regulates sleep, and balances mood.
- Fresh fruits like berries and peaches are high in antioxidants that support the gut-brain connection.
- Time outside also increases vitamin D, which plays a key role in hormone regulation, immunity, and emotional well-being.
- Moving your body in natural light (like morning walks or evening swims) helps release endorphins and dopamine, bringing a natural high that doesn’t rely on coffee or screens.
The First Harvest
At the very end of July and into early August, ancient cultures celebrated the first harvest festival, called Lughnasadh (Celtic) or Lammas (Christianized in later centuries). It marked the beginning of the grain harvest, a time to give thanks for the first fruits of summer’s labor.
Though you may not be harvesting wheat with your hands, as most of us don’t, the energy of gratitude and soft reflection still applies. For this, you may wanna try a few things:
- Bake bread (yes, just bake a bread in July)
- Make a meal with seasonal foods
- Write down 3 things this season has already given you: gratitude is the best way to self-healing
- Light a candle in the evening and thank your body for keeping up with the energy of summer
Your July Seasonal Living List
If you’re just beginning a slow living journey, July is a beautiful place to start. It offers long evenings for soft rituals, abundant food to nourish intuitively, natural joy that doesn’t need planning, and sunlight to wake with and moonlight to wind down.
You don’t need to change everything, so please don’t feel overwhelmed with this blog post, just learn a few things and choose what suits your lifestyle best. Simply pick one or two rituals from this seasonal list and start slow.
1. Eat berries or peaches straight from a market or farm
There’s something grounding and sensual about tasting food grown close to home, in season, and freshly picked. I love our small local market, we go out, buy a few fruits, and eat them on our way home. There is a cute lady who always washes my daughter’s peaches and cherries.
2. Sit outside each morning with your feet on the earth
Let the grass, soil, or stones reawaken your senses and ground your nervous system. This small act connects you to the slow rhythm of nature before the day begins.
You might be wondering… it is easy for you, Katie, you spend a lot of time outside with your daughters. Yes, I do because we don’t have a garden, we are outside enjoying parks and playgrounds, and we enjoy barefoot walks no matter where we are.
3. Make an herbal iced tea with fresh mint or lemon balm
Pick or buy a handful of herbs and steep them slowly, letting the steam rise. Chill, sip mindfully, and let the cooling, calming properties wash through you.
Add ice and you have your iced tea, healthy, with no sugar and additives!
4. Cook a meal using only seasonal vegetables
Let summer’s bounty inspire a colorful, vibrant plate—zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, fresh herbs. Cooking this way not only nourishes your body but brings you into rhythm with the season’s gifts.
Pinterest has some amazing summer recipes, just search for them!
5. Write a gratitude list for what summer has offered so far
Pause and reflect—sun-drenched walks, late dinners, ripening fruit, laughter. This simple act reminds you how full life already is.
6. Walk at sunset without your phone
Without distractions, you return to your senses and yourself. Listen to birds singing and just be with yourselffor a few minutes. As a mom, it is very hard to quiet our mind. Try it with a short walk.
7. Celebrate Lughnasadh with homemade bread or a seasonal dish
Honor the first harvest with your hands—knead dough, slice tomatoes, roast corn. Even the smallest ritual ties you to ancient rhythms of nourishment and gratitude.
8. Create a mini altar with July’s flowers and fruits
Arrange petals, berries, seeds, or a candle on your table or windowsill. Let it remind you daily of abundance, beauty, and the fleeting nature of summer.
We have a seasonal fruit basket, I love watching the fruits. And as a mom of girls, I always have a small bouquet of wild flowers.
9. Let your skin feel the sun, then moisturize with care
It is very important to give your skin love and protection. This moment of slowness is both self-care and appreciation for your living body.
10. Fall asleep with the windows open and a cool breeze
Let summer night air flow through your room, bringing scents of jasmine, earth, or dry grass.
My Final Thoughts To You
July is a season of soft fullness, the perfect balance of joy and stillness, movement and rest. You don’t have to do more to live fully, just have to notice more.
