#Cottagecore is a currently-beloved aesthetic that has dominated as an internet subculture for the past few years, and the trend has finally arrived at CDPL!
What is cottagecore?
Cottagecore is a fashion aesthetic celebrating an idealised rural life. It values traditional skills and crafts such as foraging, baking, and pottery, and is related to similar nostalgic aesthetic movements such as grandmacore, farmcore, goblincore, and faeriecore. Some sources describe cottagecore as a subculture of Millennials and Generation Z. (Definition from Wikipedia)
The cottagecore aesthetic
As far as the aesthetic of Cottagecore goes, it’s deeply inspired by the beauty of nature:
- Foliage greens, browns of natural stones and wood, the vibrant hues of wild flowers, undyed natural fabrics, etc.
- Clothes that look handmade and are loose, flowy, and and reminiscent of housework wear from the 1900s-50s
- Outfits are often flowy and reminiscent of housework wear from the 1900s-50s
- Usually made with natural materials and dyes
Followers of this aesthetic are also usually inspired to emulate a cottage-y lifestyle and to learn ‘traditional’ activities:
- That might be craft related activities like, sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and weaving.
- It could involve more agricultural pursuits like gardening, flower picking, or foraging. Raising farm small farm animals like chickens, sheep, rabbits, etc. is also popular.
- Cooking is also a popular aspect of the lifestyle. People will make sourdough breads, homemade cheeses, fruit preserves, that sort of thing.
- Books are also a very important part of Cottagecore!
Now that you’re armed with a bit of knowledge about this aesthetic, let’s dive into select book highlights. Want to see the complete range of titles we’ve picked out for you? Drop by the second floor and browse the display anytime this month!
Cottagecore: Inspirational Ideas, Crafts, and Recipes for Wholesome Country Living
by Daisy Oakley
Welcome to Cottagecore – a world full of wildflower meadows and picnics, homemade jam and floaty dresses, traditional crafts and cosy country retreats. Embrace a more peaceful way of life where there’s always a delicious pie baking in the oven and birdsong drifting on the breeze. Rekindle your love for nature and find solace in the soothing art of cottagecore with the help of this beautiful book of recipes, crafts, activities and design ideas. Wherever you live, bring the beauty, nostalgia and simplicity of country living into your home and heart, all year round.
Check it out:
- 640 Oak
The Little Book of Cottagecore: Traditional Skills for a Simpler Life
by Emily Kent
Returning to the simpler life has never been easier. If you’re craving the aroma of freshly baked bread, spending more time in nature, or seeing the sunlight filtering through homemade curtains, then cottagecore is for you! The Little Book of Cottagecore helps you make simple living a reality with delightful cottagecore activities you can enjoy no matter where you live. Whether you’re interested in baking pies from scratch, basic sewing and cross stitch, gardening, beekeeping, or making candles and soaps, this book is full of fun, hands-on activities that make it easy and enjoyable to unplug from modern life. Full of step-by-step instructions and homegrown inspiration, you’ll find fun, practical ways to enjoy rustic and relaxing cottagecore activities in your everyday life.
Check it out:
- 640 Ken
- On Overdrive/Libby
The Art of Beatrix Potter: Sketches, Paintings, and Illustrations
by Emily Zach
Published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Beatrix Potter’s birth, this magnificent collection celebrates the artist behind The Tale of Peter Rabbit and numerous other beloved children’s books. Brimming with famous images and rarely seen gems–ranging from character sketches and notebook pages to watercolor landscapes and natural history illustrations–this monograph explores Potter’s artistic process and reveals the places that inspired her timeless work. Organized geographically and featuring more than 200 images from the artist’s oeuvre,The Art of Beatrix Potter includes illuminating essays by Potter scholar Linda Lear, illustration historian Steven Heller, and children’s book illustrator Eleanor Taylor. It is the definitive volume on one of the world’s most influential authors, a woman whose artistry, until now, has not been fully celebrated.
Check it out:
- 741.6 Zac
Beeswax Alchemy
by Petra Ahnert
Offers a basic introduction to the art of extracting and purifying beeswax, as well as countless ideas for what to make with it. These include skin care creams, candles, and other home products like beeswax ornaments and wax fabric.
Check it out:
- 638.17 Ahn
- On Hoopla
Bread Therapy
by Pauline Beaumont
Bread Therapy is a self-help book that celebrates baking bread; a practice that not only produces delicious loaves, but also improves mental health and wellbeing. As the world feels ever more dangerous and unreliable, there is something soothing and grounding about basic human activities such as baking.
Breadmaking provides an ideal opportunity to develop mindfulness skills by forcing you to concentrate on what you can see, hear, feel, and smell. Escape your mind and connect with your body by kneading a classic sourdough, or even just by tasting fresh bread straight out of the oven.
Featuring delicious recipes and how-tos that will inspire everyone from the bread baking beginner to a seasoned pro, this book is part guide, part cookbook, and the perfect gift for anyone that has discovered the joy of bread (or still needs to!). This delightful meditation on the intrinsic power of baking will fill your stomach and calm your mind.
Check it out:
- 641.81 Bea
- On Overdrive/Libby
Far From the Madding Crowd
by Thomas Hardy
Independent and spirited Bathsheba Everdene has come to Weatherbury to take up her position as a farmer on the largest estate in the area. Her bold presence draws three very different suitors: the gentleman-farmer Boldwood, soldier-seducer Sergeant Troy and the devoted shepherd Gabriel Oak. Each, in contrasting ways, unsettles her decisions and complicates her life, and tragedy ensues, threatening the stability of the whole community. The first of his works set in the fictional county of Wessex, Hardy’s novel of swift passion and slow courtship is imbued with his evocative descriptions of rural life and landscapes, and with unflinching honesty about sexual relationships.
Check it out:
- FIC Har
- On Overdrive/Libby
- On Hoopla
Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers
by Jessica Roux
A charming, gorgeously illustrated botanical encyclopedia for your favorite romantic, local witch, bride-to-be, or green-thumbed friend. Floriography is a full-color guide to the historical uses and secret meanings behind an impressive array of flowers and herbs. The book explores the coded significances associated with various blooms, from flowers for a lover to flowers for an enemy.
The language of flowers was historically used as a means of secret communication. It soared in popularity during the 19th century, especially in Victorian England and the U.S., when proper etiquette discouraged open displays of emotion. Mysterious and playful, the language of flowers has roots in everything from the characteristics of the plant to its presence in folklore and history. Researched and illustrated by popular artist Jessica Roux, this book makes a stunning display piece, conversation-starter, or thoughtful gift.
Check it out:
- 302.2 Rou
- On Hoopla
A Girl of the Limberlost
by Gene Stratton-Porter
Set amid Indiana’s vast Limberlost Swamp, this treasured children’s classic mixes astute observations on nature with the struggles of growing up in the early 20th century. Harassed by her mother and scorned by her peers, Elnora Comstock finds solace in natural beauty along with friendship, independence, and romance.
Cornfields, soy fields, alfalfa fields ― Indiana has long been seen as an agricultural plain. But to make it a lucrative farming state, much of the land had to be deforested, leaving behind devastated habitats. The Limberlost, a wetland in northern Indiana, was mostly destroyed by drainage, logging and oil production. Gene Stratton-Porter, an early 20th-century naturalist and novelist, captured the fading beauty of the swamp in books like A Girl of the Limberlost, a novel about a smart, ambitious girl who lives in the dwindling wetland with her mother and pays for school by collecting local moth specimens to sell to naturalists.
Check it out:
- FIC Str
- On Overdrive/Libby
- On Hoopla
The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs
by Tristan Gooley
Turn every walk into a game of detection–from master outdoorsman Tristan Gooley, New York Times-bestselling author of The Secret World of Weather and The Natural Navigator
When writer and navigator Tristan Gooley journeys outside, he sees a natural world filled with clues. The roots of a tree indicate the sun’s direction; the Big Dipper tells the time; a passing butterfly hints at the weather; a sand dune reveals prevailing wind; the scent of cinnamon suggests altitude; a budding flower points south. To help you understand nature as he does, Gooley shares more than 850 tips for forecasting, tracking, and more, gathered from decades spent walking the landscape around his home and around the world. Whether you’re walking in the country or city, along a coastline, or by night, this is the ultimate resource on what the land, sun, moon, stars, plants, animals, and clouds can reveal–if you only know how to look!
Check it out:
- 796.5 Goo
- On Hoopla
The Joy of Forest Bathing
by Melanie Choukas-Bradley
Being present in a forest, or other wild area, can produce mental, emotional, and physical health benefits. The Joy of Forest Bathing is a simple antidote to our nature-starved lives.The Joy of Forest Bathing is a beginner’s guide to forest bathing-or Shinrin-yoku, in Japan– the meditative practice of connecting with nature and disconnecting from the distractions of daily life. Reduce your stress and anxiety levels as you enter a nature filled journey. Forest bathe through the seasons while also learning how to deal with difficult situations. Get enthralled in the landscapes around you as you discover the health benefits of reconnecting with the wild. This helpful guide is useful for all ages and stages of life and will help you incorporate the wondrous world of nature into your everyday life. The Joy of Forest Bathing is both an invitation to take up the practice of forest bathing and inspiration to heal both the planet and humanity.
Check it out:
- 615.8515 Cho
- On Hoopla
Modern Folk Embroidery
by Nancy Nicholson
Check it out:
- 746.44 Nic
- On Hoopla
Out of the Woods: Seeing Nature in the Everyday
by Julia B. Corbett
Have you ever wondered about society’s desire to cultivate the perfect lawn, why we view some animals as “good” and some as “bad,” or even thought about the bits of nature inside everyday items-toothbrushes, cell phones, and coffee mugs? In this fresh and introspective collection of essays, Julia Corbett examines nature in our lives with all of its ironies and contradictions by seamlessly integrating personal narratives with morsels of highly digestible science and research. Each story delves into an overlooked aspect of our relationship with nature–insects, garbage, backyards, noise, open doors, animals, and language–and how we cover our tracks.
With a keen sense of irony and humor and an awareness of the miraculous in the mundane, Julia recognizes the contradictions of contemporary life. She confronts the owner of a high-end market who insists on keeping his doors open in all temperatures. Takes us on a trip to a new mall with a replica of a trout stream that once flowed nearby. The phrase “out of the woods” guides us through layers of meaning to a contemplation of grief, remembrance, and resilience.
Out of the Woods leads to surprising insights into the products, practices, and phrases we take for granted in our everyday encounters with nature and encourages us all to consider how we might re-value or reimagine our relationships with nature in our everyday lives.
Check it out:
- 304.2 Cor
The Picnic: Recipes and Inspiration From Basket to Blanket
by Marnie Hanel
A picnic is a great escape from our day-to-day and a chance to turn a meal into something more festive and memorable. The Picnic shares everything you need to plan an effortless outdoor get-together: no-fail recipes, helpful checklists, and expert advice. With variations on everyone’s favorite deviled eggs, 99 uses for a Mason jar (think cocktail shaker, firefly catcher, or cookie jar), rules for scoring lawn games, and refreshing drinks to mix up in crowd-friendly batches, let The Picnic take the stress out of your next party and leave only the fun.
Check it out:
- 642.3 Han
- On Hoopla
Plant Magic: Herbalism in Real Life
by Christine Buckley
This book is an invitation to the plant party just outside your door. It’s about making friends with these amazing plants through herbalism- not only the world’s oldest, but also the most widely practiced system of healing. It answers questions you may have had forever, but were too embarrassed to ask, like- What is herbalism? Where is it practiced? What can I put in my mouth and where do I find it? Can I still go to my doctor? Got you.
With twenty plant profiles highlighting healing herbs from catnip and plantains to nettles and rosemary, you’ll have the information you need to assemble your herbal arsenal to combat any ailment or anxiety attack–including how to make lube tea for sexual health or a smoking herbal blend to quiet a busy mind. This book will not only teach you how to make your own salves, tinctures, syrups, and herbal infusions (like peppermint leaf + lemon balm + lemon verbena + maybe some green tea if you’re feeling wild), it will show you where to find, cultivate, and harvest those very ingredients.
Check it out:
- 615.321 Buc
Tallgrass Conversations: In Search of the Prairie Spirit
by Cindy Crosby
Poetic, beautiful, meditative, and informative. Through short writings and photographs, Cindy Crosby and Thomas Dean enter a conversation to inspire new understandings of the Midwestern tallgrass prairie through word and image. Tallgrass Conversations encourages looking and listening to the prairie through the heart and mind as well as eyes, ears, and other senses, advancing both conservational and creative efforts on behalf of the tallgrass prairie. A superb look at how to best learn to live with the tallgrass prairie, or anywhere you call home.
Check it out:
- 577.4 Cro
More on Hoopla and Overdrive
The islands of Britain and Ireland hold a rich heritage of plant folklore and wisdom, from the magical yew tree to the bad-tempered dandelion. Here are traditional tales about the trees and plants that shape our landscapes and our lives through the seasons. They explore the complex relationship between people and plants, in lowlands and uplands, fields, bogs, moors, woodlands and towns. Suitable for all ages, this is an essential collection of stories for anyone interested in botany, the environment and our living heritage. Also available as an audiobook.
Want to know the secret to simple living? The secret is Cottagecore! Life today is hectic; we’re constantly juggling the pressures of work and family life and if that is not enough we are all suffering from information overload. We often find ourselves surrounded by loved ones yet we feel compelled to stare at our phones or tablets in silence instead of connecting with the very people alongside us. Cottagecore is a concept about embracing a simpler more authentic life. Cottagecore is getting up early to bake some fresh bread, Cottagecore is curling up in front of the fire with a good old fashioned paperback book, Cottagecore is enjoying a picnic on a sunny spring day. This guide will give you tips on how to stop the hectic rat race and enjoy a more simple and wholesome style of living. This cute little book will help you adopt the Cottagecore concept into your life with the help of the 20 day #CottagecoreChallenge. This simple guide to Cottagecore will warm your heart and help heal your soul.
When we think of fungi, we likely think of mushrooms. But mushrooms are only fruiting bodies, analogous to apples on a tree. Most fungi live out of sight, yet make up a massively diverse kingdom of organisms that supports and sustains nearly all living systems. Fungi provide a key to understanding the planet on which we live, and the ways we think, feel, and behave. In Entangled Life, the brilliant young biologist Merlin Sheldrake shows us the world from a fungal point of view, providing an exhilarating change of perspective. Sheldrake’s vivid exploration takes us from yeast to psychedelics, to the fungi that range for miles underground and are the largest organisms on the planet, to those that link plants together in complex networks known as the “Wood Wide Web,” to those that infiltrate and manipulate insect bodies with devastating precision. Fungi throw our concepts of individuality and even intelligence into question. They are metabolic masters, earth makers, and key players in most of life’s processes. They can change our minds, heal our bodies, and even help us remediate environmental disaster. By examining fungi on their own terms, Sheldrake reveals how these extraordinary organisms—and our relationships with them—are changing our understanding of how life works.
How to Be a Wildflower by Katie Daisy
A fresh perspective, an outdoor exploration, a new adventure about to begin-How to Be a Wildflower is the book to celebrate these and other wide-open occasions. Encouraging self-discovery through encounters with nature, beloved artist Katie Daisy brings her beautiful paintings and lettering to this collection of things to do and make, quotes, meditations, natural history, and more. A recipe for strawberry rhubarb pie, a prompt to hike by the light of the moon, a place to press flowers: every page inside the charming textured two-piece case invites readers to wander, gather, savor, and ponder the natural world around them. For every wild and free spirit-and those who aspire to be-this is a field guide to living life to the fullest.
Pilu of the Woods by Mai Nguyen
A heartwarming story of friendship, loss, and finding your way home from debut author/illustrator Mai K. Nguyen! Willow loves the woods near her house. They’re calm and quiet, so different from her own turbulent emotions, which she keeps locked away. When her emotions get the better of her one day, she decides to run away into the woods. There, she meets Pilu, a lost tree spirit who can’t find her way back home-which turns out to be the magnolia grove Willow’s mom used to take her to. Willow offers to help Pilu, and the two quickly become friends. But the journey is long, and Pilu isn’t sure she’s ready to return home yet-which infuriates Willow, who’s determined to make up for her own mistakes by getting Pilu back safely. As a storm rages and Willow’s emotions bubble to the surface, they suddenly take on a physical form, putting both girls in danger… and forcing Willow to confront her inner feelings once and for all.
Sarah Owens spent years baking conventional baked goods, only to slowly realize she had developed a crippling inability to digest or tolerate their ingredients. Unable to enjoy many of her most favorite foods, she knew she must find a health-sustaining alternative. Thus Sarah started experimenting with sourdough leavening, which almost immediately began to heal her gut and inspire her anew in the kitchen. Soon after, her artisan small-batch bakery, BK17, was launched, and with that, a new way to savor and share nutritious sourdough breads and treats with her Brooklyn community.
Sourdough and other fermented foods are making a comeback because of their rich depth of flavor and proven health benefits. In Sourdough, Sarah demystifies keeping a sourdough culture, which is an extended fermentation process that allows for maximum flavor and easy digestion, showing us just how simple it can be to create a healthy starter from scratch. Moreover, Sarah uses home-grown sourdough starter in dozens of baked goods, including cookies, cakes, scones, flatbreads, tarts, and more—well beyond bread. Sarah is a botanist and gardener as well as a baker—her original recipes are accented with brief natural history notes of the highlighted plants and ingredients used therein. Anecdotes from the garden will delight naturalists and baked-goods lovers among us. Laced with botanical and cultural notes on grains, fruits and vegetables, herbs, and even weeds, Sourdough celebrates seasonal abundance alongside the timeless craft of artisan baking.
The Tea Dragon Society series by K. O’Neill
From the award-winning author of Princess Princess Ever After comes The Tea Dragon Society, a charming all-ages book that follows the story of Greta, a blacksmith apprentice, and the people she meets as she becomes entwined in the enchanting world of tea dragons. After discovering a lost tea dragon in the marketplace, Greta learns about the dying art form of tea dragon care-taking from the kind tea shop owners, Hesekiel and Erik. As she befriends them and their shy ward, Minette, Greta sees how the craft enriches their lives-and eventually her own.
