Tiffany Francis-Baker – författare

The Cottage Life reflects our collective desire to escape the chaos of modern existence; to live with more purpose, more compassion and more joy.  The Cottage Life is an essential guide to slow and simple living, inspired by the magical world of cottagecore. To follow the cottagecore aesthetic is to wear secondhand clothes that tell their own stories; to bake fresh bread and cakes, no matter how wonky the outcome; to spend time in nature, to observe and draw the plants, to breathe freshair and to connect with species beyond our own.It is taking the time to notice the seasons change, or to turn off your screen mindfully and pick up an old novel instead. It is lighting a fire on the first cool night of autumn and sipping a fresh cup of tea by the fireplace, or watching the first spring leaves unfurl after the long, dark winter.Celebrating the small joys in life, from the first birdsong of the morning to the taste of ripe plums on a summer afternoon. And, above all else, it is learning to slow down, connect with the world around you and be a more compassionate, conscientious citizen of the earth.  Each chapter explores different ways of embracing the cottagecore lifestyle, such as interacting with nature, eating seasonally and getting creative. Inherently low-impact and green, cottagecore embraces reuse and recycling and celebrates an old-fashioned no-waste ethic.Fortunately for most, possession of a country cottage is not essential to embody the cottagecore spirit. With guidance on nurturing your home and small touches for interior decoration, The Cottage Life brings country living ideals to any space.  Cottagecore is much more than a fashion trend or social media bandwagon. It is a peaceful protest against the darker elements of modern life—The Cottage Life is a gentle embrace with the past, encouraging you to truly enjoy the present and nurture a brighter future.

WINNER OF THE ELWYN HARTLEY-EDWARDS AWARD FOR EQUINE WRITING, 2023. Tiffany Francis-Baker explores how the relationship between humans and horses has shaped the British landscape and how this connection has become part of our nation’s ecosystems. Many of us enjoy walking or riding on bridleways. These ancient networks crisscross the British countryside, but we rarely pause to ponder how they came to be. Tiffany Francis-Baker tells the intriguing history of Britain’s bridleways, revealing how our relationship with horses is deeply woven into the fabric of British culture, from street and pub names to trading routes and coaching inns. She meets the closest living descendants of wild horses and investigates our evolving relationship with horses, exploring equestrian sports, horse fairs, horseback travellers and adventurers, and how humans and horses have worked together for millennia. Part-domesticated and part-fiercely independent, horses have long captured our imaginations, and in The Bridleway, Francis-Baker reveals how deeply rooted they have been in our culture for thousands of years and how they can help us understand the natural world and our place within it.

An inspirational illustrated guide to embracing each season and finding peace, mindfulness and joy throughout the year.Illustrated throughout with newly commissioned sketches, prints and paintings by the author, Ebb and Flow introduces seasonal living and explains why it is increasingly vital for us to reconnect with the seasons. Tiffany Francis-Baker offers practical, science-backed advice demonstrating the mental and physical health benefits of practising mindful, seasonal living.Following the Pagan ‘Wheel of the Year’ through a nature-led calendar, Francis-Baker explains the origins of seasonal Pagan and Celtic names, traditions and events. She outlines the short- and long-term benefits of leading slower lives and encourages us to enjoy closer connections with nature and healthier relationships with our own well-being. Each section begins with an introduction to the season, then details what you can grow and forage, the wildlife you can spot and which seasonal behaviours to look out for. Crafts and seasonal activities demonstrate quick ways to stay connected with the seasons, even at our busiest times, and illustrated spreads explain lunar phases, hibernation, stargazing and more.With beautiful images, inspiring words and imaginative seasonal crafts, this tactile book has something to help everyone connect with the rhythm of the year and feel more grounded with nature.

Written by the author of the bestselling Concise Foraging Guide, this practical pocket guide describes 163 plant species with medicinal qualities.Each species account provides accurate artworks and concise descriptions outlining essential details to help you identify species, as well as advice on which plants you can forage and which can grow in gardens in the UK and Europe. Important information on their medicinal uses, toxicity and any risks or side effects to consider is also included.Tiffany Francis-Baker's introduction offers a brief history of foraging for medicine and discusses the benefits and risks of creating herbal remedies to supplement modern medicine. She gives practical tips on collecting wild plants safely and legally and outlines how to store, preserve and prepare medicinal plants, including making balms, teas and tinctures.Easy to use and small enough to take anywhere, this is the perfect guide for anyone interested in making their own natural remedies.

Learn to make your own natural beauty products with this collection of organic, beginner-friendly recipes.In The Natural Beauty Book, environmentalist and forager Tiffany Francis-Baker shares more than 40 everyday recipes that use nourishing, eco-friendly and affordable ingredients. From toothpaste and shampoo to soothing body scrubs and bath bombs, each recipe includes clear instructions, suitability for different skin or hair types, application techniques and storage tips.Aided with beautiful illustrations and photographs throughout, this book also features a useful directory on the most common natural ingredients and the issues they are used to address. A comprehensive introduction outlines the art of making your own skincare, as well as information on the rhythms and cycles of the skin, how the menstrual cycle affects the skin, and how to safely use products when dealing with skin sensitivity and allergies.Discover the power of natural ingredients, practice self-care and have fun along the way with this empowering guide.

Darkness has shaped the lives of humans for millennia, and in Dark Skies, Tiffany Francis-Baker travels around Britain and Europe to learn more about nocturnal landscapes and humanity’s connection to the night sky.For a year, Tiffany travels through different nightscapes across the UK and beyond. She experiences 24-hour daylight while swimming in the Gulf of Finland and visits Norway to witness the Northern Lights and speak to people who live in darkness for three months each year. She hikes through the haunted yew forests of Kingley Vale and embarks on a nocturnal sail down the River Dart.As she travels, Tiffany explores how our relationship with darkness and the night sky has changed over time. In this personal and beautifully written nature memoir, Tiffany Francis-Baker investigates how our experiences of the night-time world have permeated our history, folklore, science, geography, art and literature.

This practical pocket guide, published in association with the Wildlife Trusts, includes 194 edible fruits, nuts and seeds, flowers, greens and vegetables, herbs, roots, whole plants, fungi, seaweeds and shellfish that you can forage in the UK and Europe.Each species account includes accurate artworks and concise descriptions outlining essential details to help you identify species in the field, as well as information on where you can find species and helpful tips on how to cook and bake with the food you forage.The author's introduction offers practical advice on foraging safely and legally and outlines how to prepare and preserve your foraged foods, including making mead and jam, drying herbs, storing mushrooms for later use and how to safely prepare foraged shellfish.

A lively, engaging introduction to the history of goats and their products in Britain.Ever wondered why a goat’s eyes have rectangular pupils? Or what happened to Thor’s goats each day after they finished pulling his thunderous chariot? Do goat’s milk, cheese and meat represent more ethical food choices than cow and sheep products, and if so, can goat farming play an important role in humankind’s future?Whether you’re an aspiring smallholder, cheese fanatic or simply want to know more about our caprine companions, this guide introduces the fascinating history and folklore of goats and examines the development of goatkeeping in Britain, shedding light on one of our most intelligent, curious and mischievous domestic animals.It also explains the origins and features of the sixteen British goat breeds and the qualities of their products, and even has a few craft and recipe ideas for you to try.

Bees existed long before human beings, but our future is perhaps more reliant upon them than any other species.They pollinate 80 per cent of the world’s crops and plants, but how much do we really know about them? Small, clever and mysterious, the honeybee in particular has long been celebrated in human culture as a sacred insect, a symbol of the sun, bridging the gap between our world and the next. They are expert communicators, skilled aviators and natural alchemists, turning fresh nectar into sweet, golden honey.They are also in trouble and need our help. This beautifully illustrated guide explores the honeybee’s historic relationship with humans, the basics of beekeeping, and how we can help save the bees' dwindling population.

Join expert author Tiffany Francis-Baker on a night-time journey around Britain and Ireland as she reveals the best places for star-gazing. She covers all of the International Dark-Sky Association's Certified Sites (the spots with the darkest skies), as well as the many Discovery Sites (areas where the skies are lighter but are still good for viewing). The first part of the guide introduces the idea of astronomy and why it is such an enticing hobby. It then explores the history behind astronomy, the myths and folklore we associate with the stars, the science behind our horoscopes and star signs, a guide to nocturnal wildlife, information on the issues surrounding light pollution, and practical information on how to stargaze safely and enjoyably. There's also a 'What to Spot' guide to the night sky - an illustrated list of objects visible from the earth's surface and where to find them: constellations, satellites, meteor showers... the Northern Lights. Packed with useful information, it covers everything from easy ways to reduce your light pollution levels to how to identify owls by their calls.The dedicated section of the book lists the best places to visit to observe the night sky clearly, with useful information for visitors included to help you get the most out of your night-sky experience. Geographical coverage ranges from the West Country and South Downs of England to the Scottish Highlands and Ireland. No matter where you are in the country you're never likely to be far from a good place for looking up and gazing at the stars.

Discover 72 Japanese microseasons in this beautifully illustrated book.Each lasting five or six days, these traditional Japanese microseasons prompt you to notice the world around you and can help you to live in harmony with nature’s rhythms.Tiffany Francis-Baker introduces you to this beautiful and poetic ancient calendar and what each microseason represents, with practical and simple ideas for how to slow down and make positive, seasonally-minded changes throughout the year.