'Farm Girl' Summer Is Here, and It Will Help You Live Out Your Homestead Dreams

It’s time to round up your chickens, plant your vegetable garden, and feed your sourdough starter, because it's officially "farm girl" summer. These days, everyone is finding ways to return to a slower, more pastoral way of living. Whether they’re baking homemade goodies, crafting their own sourdough bread, or raising a flock of chickens, homesteading has become one of the most popular lifestyle trends. 

So what exactly is farm girl summer, and how can you embrace this simple and deeply intentional way of living? We spoke to Sydney Stanback, global insights and trends lead at Pinterest, for insight on this rustic lifestyle trend.

What Is Farm Girl Summer?

Farm girl summer is an all-encompassing lifestyle trend that is quintessentially cozy, pastoral, and inspired by nature. It romanticizes rural-inspired living, including activities such as growing your own food, making things from scratch, thrifting, cozy crafts, and outdoor, nature-based hobbies. 

Farm girls are modern homesteaders. They enjoy the occasional meal out with friends, but their favorite spot is at home, surrounded by lush gardens, with a book in hand and baked goods in the oven. They love a good thrifted find, and their home is deeply inspired by the "cottagecore" and "rustic farmhouse" aesthetics. On the weekends, you’ll find them at the farmer’s market bright and early, followed by a quick trip to their favorite thrift store. But don’t worry, they’re always home on time to feed the chickens and collect eggs for Sunday morning breakfast.

“Whether you’re baking bread, repotting plants, or thrifting a one-of-a-kind kitchen find, farm girl summer taps into that joy of doing things yourself and doing them beautifully,” Stanback says. “This isn't just about decorating a space, it’s about building a lifestyle that feels slower, more tactile, and more connected to nature. It’s part digital detox and part self-reliance, and it’s resonating especially with Gen Z.” 

A Shift Toward Slow Living

Farm girl summer isn’t just about raising chickens and growing your tomatoes. At its core, this lifestyle aesthetic reflects a generation’s desire to return to a slower, simpler way of life. 

“After years of fast everything (fast fashion, fast content, fast lifestyles) there’s a collective desire to slow down, create with our hands, and reconnect with nature,” Stanback says.

As a result, we’re seeing nostalgic and comforting trends like "grandmacore" and the "Martha Stewart aesthetic" take off. People are increasingly showing an interest in cozy hobbies, such as making and growing their food, and spending more time in nature. According to Stanback, the desire for simpler living is further evidenced by an increase in searches such as "digital detox ideas" (+72%) and "relaxing in nature" (+32%).

How to Embrace Farm Girl Summer

So, how can you embrace this slow-living movement this summer? According to Stanback, here are a few hands-on, heartfelt ways farm girl summer is playing out amongst Pinterest users.

Thrifted Home Decor

Add charm and character to your space with thrifted home decor. From pre-loved vases and pottery to vintage picture frames and antiqued candlestick holders, there’s no shortage of ways to add a touch of personality with thrifted items. Thrifting is a great way to find unique, eye-catching pieces for your home, plus it’s budget-friendly. As a bonus, many people find the process of thrifting relaxing and peaceful, too. Sunday morning antiquing, anyone? 

Garden-to-Table Cooking

It’s not just chickens and sourdough bread the farm girl specializes in—she is a whiz in the kitchen, cooking up fresh, delicious recipes with ingredients straight from her garden. 

“From harvest recipes (+680%) to urban farming (+374%), people are literally growing their summer menus,” Stanback says.

Don’t worry if you don’t have acres of land to work with—even the smallest balcony patio can grow fresh veggies, herbs, and fruit with a little ingenuity and dedication. Check out these 11 small vegetable garden ideas for inspiration.

Crafting and DIYs

Nostalgic and mindful crafts, hobbies, and DIYs are on the rise, and they are a core part of farm girl summer. Think grandmacore hobbies, home DIYs, and simple crafts to help you relax and unwind at the end of a long day.

According to Stanback, Pinterest data shows that “Cute summer crafts [searches] are up 106% and book club crafts surged 558%, showing a return to creative, offline joy.”

Summer Gatherings with a Twist

Lastly, Stanback says that summer gatherings with a cute, vintage-inspired twist are all the rage right now. Because what’s the point of growing a fruitful harvest and crafting delicious recipes from scratch if you can’t share them with the ones you love most? Picture garden parties with floral tablescapes, homemade cocktails, farm-fresh ingredients, and fresh-picked flowers from the garden.