Like those of us who have fantasised about escaping the daily grind, Ainslee Costa calls herself ‘a country dreamer working in a bustling suburban reality’ and documents her ‘best of both worlds’ lifestyle via her aesthetically amazing Instagram account, @mysuburbanfarm. To me, it’s no surprise that she would produce a book to capture the essence of everything she has created.
My Suburban Farm is a nod to the beauty of rural life. Ainslee tells the story of the creation of her ‘suburban oasis’ in Melbourne and shares the highlights and challenges, together with practical tips in sourcing second-hand materials, setting up veggie patches and ‘growing in small places’.
She confesses that, “Turning a suburban block into a country-style yard might sound ambitious” but her creativity and work ethic are clearly evident and you only need scan through the contents page to realise this. In addition to the chapters devoted to gardens and growing, you will find references ranging from crafting to carving and collecting to cooking (using home-grown produce, of course!).
Ainslee also writes about her experiences with silversmithing, candle making and ‘slow stitching’, a hobby she describes as an ‘anchoring craft’ which requires you to ‘physically slow right down’. Sounds wonderful, right?
As a creative person and a bit of ‘country dreamer’ myself, I loved this book and really enjoyed the stories behind the irresistible imagery of @mysuburbanfarm. A joy to read. Bucolic bliss indeed.
Buy your copy of My Suburban Farm here.
