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32 Comments
Thank you for showing real life
I love you so much, sister. You just keep doing what the Lord commands you to do. You're helping so many people. Also, I pray your cow and calf make it through and your efforts are rewarded.
Question: do you and sweet Miah and the boys keep walkie talkies on you? I don't have the acrage you have (and my memory is awful, so if you've said this before. I've forgotten) but I couldn't help but notice how beneficial a short distance comm device would be in a situation where you don't want to leave an emergency but do need to alert others that you need their help. We have those wifi enabled dots in all our outbuildings (they're a little hit and miss depending on weather/solar conditions) and we think we're going to switch to walkies. Just curious if you are using a comms system and what you've settled on?
I was a frost tender flower from Nashville, TN and now living in the U.P. I have quickly become accustomed to snow plows & Lake Superior winds, what you said is so true! Love seeing you back in the garden. Thank you for showing us everything. I am definitely in that stage of trying to appreciate what we have and yearning for more acres BUT I have a garden to expand and your enthusiasm and resiliency is always so on point!!
Sending hugs! Hopping Ginger is okay❤
It's so interesting that you stress how you have to take care of your animals even when you're sick- I find myself explaining that to others but about my human kids. I didn't have help when my kids were babies and I remember dragging myself to the kitchen w a 104 degree fever and making chicken nuggets. They have to eat, every couple of hours, in fact! No matter how sick you are. It's just not an option to take a day off.
You are doing a fantastic job with your animals! My husband grew up on a farm and after we were married, we farmed. We had dairy and farrow to finish. There were times my husband was gone and I would have to go out and pull a calf (I was usually very pregnant when this would happen) or I would have to pull some piglets. Sometimes you do everything possible and they still don’t make it. That’s farming. There is always going to be people saying you should do this or that, or your not doing enough, most of them don’t have a clue. Another dairy farmer told us a story about how a woman had called the cops on him for animal abuse, she was driving by a dry cow lot and she saw this cows udder bagged up and wanted this cow to be milked. It was abuse in her eyes and they tried to tell her that milk, that has colostrum is for the calf when it’s born. She still said it was abuse and left mad. Some days it feels like a no win situation. ❤❤❤
Thank you for sharing, your insight and encouragement to others is amazing. Love the community. I have been and will continue to use your videos as reference to answer questions and concerns on gardening and homesteading. You are appreciated 🌺
Yep
Was out milking with 102 fever last week. Miserable but must be done.
Great catch! And good job. People that have never started from scratch do not understand the learning curve. People that have been around animals in farming situations their whole life do not know the struggles. Keep walking forward. This is one of the "hard things" you have talked about. I used to have this friend that always said "ain't none o' my bidness". I hear her voice in my head all the time. As long as I am authentic in my actions, other people's opinions are just that. You, my love, are authentic and open in your actions. And you are truly inspiring to those that want to be inspired. You are a bane to those who do not. People will always find something to complain about when they are not authentic. Keep going! It is beautiful to watch.
If you own/care for animals they will die. I don't care who you are, how much experience you have, animals will die! I've been doing this for 18 years now and I've been there. Milk fever is very hard to pull them back from! And hard to watch. I told my husband, the day I don't cry when I loose an animal is the day I stop having them. So much information out there that I listened to and tried in my animal care . Things got way better when I just stepped back and payed attention to what was happening as far as illness and then I would change things up until I saw improvement. I changed when I kid and that stopped a lot of my parasite issues. Just one simple thing! Lol It takes time to learn. Forget the haters! Heck we know in gardening that you never know everything and that things are always changing. Same with animals! Hope you have a great birthing season! ❤
I’m a first generation homesteader, and in tears while listening to you speak while the guys are working on your beef girl. I know how it feels to work hard to heal an animal and fail. There comes a time when you have to know how long you should care for an animal and when you should just accept that they won’t be getting better or live. That balance is hard. I am so proud of you and your family but even more so…I’m blessed that you are who you are and you teach with passion and tenderness. Thank you.
Jess is always knowledgeable and factual and very comprehensive. She is an excellent educator.
Thank you for being so authentic and real……
Gee wiz, I’m sorry that people are so.. I don’t even know what. You’re doing great, the title of the video was a bit concerning! I though, oh no, not Fern!!
Thank you so much for the honesty having done this for 15 years I feel the same way every time I have an animal that I lose I feel like such a failure
Jess do not worry about the noise and all cocks fights it's a farm that's what makes it unique. We love love to watch all that city life is boring to us farm 👧
farmer
noun
farm·er ˈfär-mər
Synonyms of farmer
1
: a person who pays a fixed sum for some privilege or source of income
2
: a person who cultivates land or crops or raises animals (such as livestock or fish)
YOURE A FARMER
Oh Jess…. I’ve been following you since Mooney & I retired & moved from central California to central Kentucky on our mini farm. I just wanted chickens & a garden…then my daughter & son n law built on the property & we have sheep. Now we have our first jersey cow Alice who’s only 14 months old. It’s so lovely. I’m so content. And you need to know, you are the person I would go to for help!!!! I just re-read your gardening book while recovering from surgery & planning my 2025 garden. You are amazing & I’m thankful I have you & Miah to help realize my childhood dream at 70 years old. I’m a testy old gal…my first thought was to go give that ugly person a piece of my mind…but they don’t even deserve it!!!!
My daughter & granddaughter Marigold love you too, debby
First things first. You are doing a wonderful job. Second, you may be first-generation farmers, but you live and show reality. Farming is hard. There will be loss. You can not stop it from happening. All the people who settled this country learned how to raise animals. You need to start somewhere. We do have access to modern medicine now, which does help prevent needless death. Just 100 years ago, many farm animals died, which are easily saved today. We have so much more information and various types of treatment available. If we notice young people being drawn to animals, especially the larger animals, we need to cultivate that. Large animal vets will be needed more in the future as we rebuild our local food sources. We, as a people, have moved away from the land and forgotten so much. You and the other homesteaders on this platform are showing us the way forward. Thank you from the 60+ year old Appalachian descendant who is building a micro homestead on 1 acre. I will be able to grow all my vegetable needs for the year, plus some for my great aunt, aunt, uncle, and my neighbor. I will preserve everything I can. I will supplement from local farmers. For those who think it is impossible, think again. FYI. I still work a full time job. God Bless you, your family and animals.
Love. It!
Holy Spirit Always tells you just what I need to hear. Thank you buddy
GREAT VIDEO Jess! I don't watch them all, but love your motivational speech as what you are saying applies to ANYTHING you do in life….Bravo!
I grew up on a farm. Things happens, don’t listen to the bad comments. You are doing great.
Keyboard warriors and they just like to poke holes at people through jealousy and lack of understanding, take no notice of them and stand proud of what you have achieved
❤
Jess ,30 years farming..every year there is loss,every year there is something new for you to do your best,and still there is death,not every time ofcourse, otherwise none of us would even try. Never be reticent about sharing the hard parts, farming is full of hard parts, ofcourse we also have plenty of joyfilled moments too..the balance ..all we can do is try! ❤
Anyone who takes even an hour to watch your videos can see what an amazing person you are all round. The messages and the lessons you teach without even knowing, about being a mother, a wife, a friend, a farmer, a follower of a Christ…the world is a much better place with you in it. Your videos have changed my life in terms of what I want in my relationship, how I want to live my life, what my goals need to be. For every critic, there are thousands of people standing behind you encouraging you, and ready to ride into battle beside you if needed.
Your speech at the end man, just 👌🏻😭💙 you're a beautiful soul Jess
Very well said ❤❤❤❤❤
I'm proud of you and your husband and kids Jess! You work hard and include us in about everything. You guys are what real teachers are supposed to be. Thank you (P.S. I'm pretty much a vegetarian, but I still like to watch your caring for garden and animals)
Nice to see free range roosters. Beautiful!
Kuddos to you Jess for standing up to the ignorance of those who will not and never will walk in your shoes! These people are cowards and have such a pitiful life and are so envious to anyone who works hard and doing their best everyday to make a positive difference in not only their lives but the lives of so many!
❤I correct people repeatedly that I am not a farm. I am a pet owner of animals you’d usually see on a farm. I don’t eat my animals, but I eat the eggs my flock provides. I have vets for my animals, but the struggle to find vets that will see your animals, do barn calls, plus not rip you off financially is real. After working in many vet offices as a technician I can say YOU KNOW YOUR ANIMALS best. Thank you for giving them a good life and treating them with respect!