10 Core Values of Simple Country Living
Living in the country comes with a slower pace and a strong sense of place. Country people value, hard work, seasonal living, faith and tradition. I hope my list of 10 Core Values of Simple Country Living will inspire you to slow down and living a more simple and rooted life.
This post contains affiliate links, if you make a purchase through one of these links, we will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our Disclosure Policy for more information. Thank you for your support.
Follow Graceful Little Honey Bee on:
Pinterest | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Self-Sufficiency
Living in the country requires a certain amount of independence. Living down a rural country road miles from the closest town causes you to be a little bit more self-sufficient than living in the city. When the power goes out in the country, it can take days to get it back on because it’s not a priority. Living in the country naturally makes you more self-sufficient.
Country people think about how to live on their own and depend on the outside world less than those who live in the city. They see first hand where their food comes from and try to grow their own where ever possible. Here are some ways that country people practice self-sufficiency in their day to day lives.
- Grow A Garden
- Preserve the Harvest
- Keep Chickens
- Cook from Scratch
- Do It Yourself Lifestyle
Additional Resources:
Hard Work
Country people pride themselves on hard work. They have respect for manual labor and do dirty jobs like gardening, caring for animals and mending fence. They find physical labor meaningful and do their share of hard work.
Simplicity
Living in the country means you appreciate the simple things in life that can’t be bought at the store. You stop to smell the flowers and admire the beautiful sunsets. You take satisfaction in eating food that you planted, tended and harvested with your own two hands. You take time to sit on the porch during a summer rain storm and enjoy a glass of iced tea. You don’t keep up with the latest trends, you just enjoy life as it comes. Living in the country means living a simpler, slower paced life.
Additional Resources:
Frugality
Generally speaking, country folk don’t have a lot of money, so they have to learn to be frugal as a means of survival. Frugality is seen as a virtue in the country, while spending extravagantly is seen as wasteful. Use it up, wear it out, a make it do or do without is a motto that country people take pride in following.
Additional Resources:
- How to Be and Old-Fashioned Frugal Homemaker
- 30 Old-Fashioned Frugal Tips from Grandma
- 10 Old-Fashioned Money-Saving Skills
- Old-Fashioned Frugal Lessons from the Amish Lifestyle
Community
There is a certain community spirit in the country that you just don’t get in the city. People know their neighbors, wave when a car passes by and show up for one another in hard times. Communities are smaller in the country, so you get to know people on a more personal level. People out in the country are always ready to deliver a home cooked meal or lend a helping hand when their neighbor needs it most.
Contentment & Gratitude
Having less and living close to nature makes you grateful for what you have and more content with life. People in the country are simple. They appreciate a home cooked meal and a beautiful sunset. They don’t strive to always buy more, but are happy with what they have and look for the simple things in life to bring them joy such as family, faith, nature and tradition.
Faith & Tradition
Speaking of faith, country people’s roots run deep and that includes religion and pride in their communities. Most country people attend a church, volunteer or take part in their community in a way that is meaningful and that makes it truly home. Faith and tradition grounds them. They love God, people and the land that they call home.
Connection to Nature
One of the strongest values of country living is being close to nature. Country people work the land with their own two hands and tend to spend more time outdoors than city folk. They tend their piece of land and notice the different wildlife and plant life that make their homes around them. They notice and make notes of rainfall, temperatures, crops and the phases of the moon. Country folk are in touch with the natural world around them.
Living Seasonally
Being out in the country, surrounded by nature naturally lends to a more seasonal life. People in the country plant in the spring, tend in the summer, harvest and preserve in the autumn and rest in the winter. They rise early when the days are long and sleep more when the snow is covering the ground. Country people eat and live with the seasons.
Additional Resources:
- 30 Ideas for an Old-Fashioned Summer
- 30 Ideas for an Old-Fashioned Spring
- 20 Ideas for an Old-Fashioned Fall
Creativity & Working with Your Hands
Being more self-sufficient and living close to nature naturally has you working with your hands a lot. Whether it’s growing and preserving your own food, building a bookshelf or knitting a sweater, country people love to be creative and work with their hands. They have knowledge and skills that help them to survive and bring beauty and rustic charm into their lives.
Additional Resources:
- 20 Ideas to Consume Less and Produce More
- Building the Home Economy: How to Create a Productive Household
I hope that you’ve enjoyed this list and are inspired to slow down and start practicing one or more of these values in your own life. Which one was your favorite? What did I miss? Let me know in the comments below!
