All For Gardening
Open Hands (See you Next Year)
In @Roots and Refuge Farm

Roots and Refuge Farm: Open Hands (See you Next Year)



Come see us LIVE with Gold Shaw Farm in Boston and Charlotte: Tickets available here:
https://subscribepage.io/SomethingReal

WHERE TO FIND US:

– read my writing on substack: https://jesssowards.substack.com
-Our Website: https://rootsandrefuge.com
-Miah’s Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@miahsworkshop
-My Cooking Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@The_Farmers_Table
– Sign up for our newsletter: https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-signup
-Order Coffee & Tea from our roaster: https://www.beulahroastingco.com
-Our Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/SFA0IZHZRCOZ?ref_=wl_share
-The Roots and Refuge Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/roots-and-refuge-podcast/id1669328823
-Merch sales: Real Food Comes Dirty Shirts: https://roots-and-refuge-farm-shop.fourthwall.com/products/real-food-comfort-color

PRODUCTS I LOVE AND SUPPORT:
Greenstalk Vertical Gardens(Use code ROOTS10 for discount): https://greenstalkgarden.com/?rstr=ROOTS10

The white beds in my tea garden (Birdies Beds from Epic Gardening): https://shop.epicgardening.com/ROOTSANDREFUGE

BootstrapFarmer Site: https://shrsl.com/3w46t

The Roots and Refuge Shop: https://roots-refuge.myshopify.com

Order our T-Shirts and Sweatshirts https://roots-and-refuge-farm-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/all

Dramm Watering head: https://amzn.to/3Djs9yF
Long neck Dramm watering wand (for more established plants): https://amzn.to/41xxcoH
Heat mats: https://amzn.to/3QCyhVX
Grow lights: https://amzn.to/41yscAd

(Some of these thinks are affiliate links which means I make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Using my affiliate links helps me buy seeds and soil and goats, so thank you.)

39 Comments

  2. @tiffanytott3778

    It means a lot to me that you are showing us the real you (even when it's hard and the real things are heavy). Gardening may have brought a lot of your viewers here, but we are staying because of your heart and open hands. Thank you for being a friend to all of us who've walked some of the same lonely roads of heartbreak and "one foot in front of the other because that's all we can see in front of us". I love the way our Father places people in our lives who bless us even when they don't know they are doing so. I wish you a lovely 40th year, and I will be along for the blessings that are on the way for you. He is faithful. <3

  5. @sueerickson4849

    You know, I may not follow your channel diligently or practice homesteading like you, but every time I watch one of your videos I am blessed. Just by the blessing you give at the end of each video. I am heartened and encouraged by the fact that there are good people out there that just want to be a help to others. God bless YOU Jess. Praying that this new year draws you closer to Him.

  6. @danagreen9264

    Love you and your family I wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎊🎆 🎉and everyone who reads this the same 💕💞💓💗💖

  10. @MM-yg5mz

    Jess, I've watched you since well before you had 1k viewers. You and your family have been a bright spot in my life over the last several years. I've battled with losing my ability to walk for 4 1/2 months (I am good now with a spinal implant), struggled multiple times with almost losing my parents (whom I am VERY close to) and a host of other things – BUT God has used your platform to bless me.
    I, like many others, appreciate your honesty, vulnerability and friendship.
    I pray for you to understand the true impact you make, but also know even though I don't always comment – I did drive 4 hrs (last year) to just have a cup of coffee with you at Beulah (you were closed, lol)…but who does that? Only people who have profoundly been touched by your calling.
    One day I'll meet you & if you're ever in north ga near Cherokee county, reach out!
    Prayers for you!! Michelle (-MandM)

  12. @shandysgarden

    Yes! It's the Twilight Zone week. It feels cozy and sentimental. I was sick for the past couple weeks and I feel so good today! Christmas was different. Paper never met the presents and ornaments never hit the tree, but it was just as special as always. I handed every present out with a story and I'm admiring a tree with only My favorite 2000 bulb strand of lights, a ton of my Aunt Rebecca's huge South Carolina pine cones and the cutest cranberry picks from the clearance section of hobby Lobby a few years ago, after Christmas. That's what I consider my bare tree. Looks like it came straight out of a woodland fairy tale. It's the tree I enjoy before I put around 200 personal ornaments on it. It's frozen in time at that stage And it's still very gorgeous.

    Instead of stressing about getting all the ornaments and wrapping paper done properly, I crafted a wall hanging that is hanging where I can see it, right past my tree. It's four pink cream and sage Christmas themed pictures that I framed and glued together in the shape of a window and I took apart some floral pics matching those pictures and glued those on the bottom. It's so cute and it looks like there's a window box of flowers below it. That was easy for me to do, while not feeling well, from the couch working on a TV tray. I've always wanted to make a picture window like that!

    I'm really thankful for you, Jess! I would hope that if I lived at any other time I would have still found you on this amazing platform but it's so much more special that we're here at the same time!
    I don't really call the things I'd like to focus on New Year's "Resolutions" because it makes me feel like I'm saying that the version of me today isn't good enough. But The things that are important to me will always be learning and growing and trying new things. I will resolve to keep doing that!

    I agree that we need to focus on that front row. Don't go beyond the now & this moment very often, especially if it forces you to focus too much on the lows and closing your hands.. That's beautiful! I'll keep my the hands open. I'll keep being part of your small town population that shows up to hang with you. I think I've grown with you, alongside you, more than anybody else I watch or listen to. We are in completely different places but you are so relatable that I can apply it to anything I'm doing! I'm at my lily pad property right now. Just saving for my homestead. I'll find it. And I'll put cash on the barrel down for it. It wasn't working to try to sell and buy at the same time. I tried that for too long and then I had to open up to a new way of thinking about it! So thank you for always encouraging me to never give up.

    I'll see you soon, friend! So proud that you've learned to knit finally! I've only done about as much as you have, and I should pick it up again. Happy birthday!

  15. @karentuzynski7525

    Jess, YOU (and your family) have inspired me tremendously over MANY years and I can't thank you enough for that!! I have cried and laughed with you ❀ And I'll never forget your message to me when I had a terrible accident and broke my leg in several places…so kind and thoughtful. I am a better person because of YOU!! Happy 2026 …bring it on with open hands❀❀❀

  19. @tdleitch

    just know your front row will always be standing room only. All of us standing there to block the negativity from our friend. Thank you for continuing to live your truth and sharing those moments when you’re ready and able. Happy New Year my sweet friend.

  20. @8910d

    Love you from after Jess, today for your honesty and for my new resolution of being open handed. ❀

  22. @julie-annepineau4022

    I like calling them goals, not resolutions. I set them for the homestead, for work, and for my personal life. I put them on a piece of paper and hang them where I do my daily stretches/yoga practice. I dream big, like you hv taught us, in January and am usually amazed at how many I can cross off in December. Your channel, podcast, has greatly influenced me. I have deepened my faith, my dreams, my calm, and my ability to communicate all that. Thank you for all you do. I hope you can come to peace enough to recognize when your hands are open, and when trauma and fear has closed them again. It happens to everyone, learning to see it means you can open them up again.

  24. @jacqibelle

    Thank you for creating this community! Love being apart of it!

    Me and hubby watch that movie too! Definitely a great movie!

  28. @susanszerbiak5646

    I love 'the twilight zone'! That's so in tune with what I feel. The holidays are always hard for me and it takes something to recycle before the new year. My birthday is January 1st. Happy New Year! Stay healthy!

  31. @cathykillion6544

    Going to practice living life with my hands open to the blessings God has for me. Praying blessings for you and your family this year. ❀

  32. @weaverbee2808

    As you were talking, a song came to my head. Ray Boltz, Thank You. Please listen to it! You might not think you’re doing a lot, but a little can go a long way! The chorus is: Thank you, for giving to the Lord. I was a life that was changed. Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am so glad you gave.

  33. @sandradugan7513

    May your new year be what you need. I yearn for your ❀videos because you're so uniquely you but I don't feel in any way that you owe me a video. You inspire me. You teach me. There's not a lot of people that do that. I appreciate you so much. But you don't owe anybody, beyond your family, anything. You don't owe them either. You just love them.

  36. @bonnielandon4070

    I absolutely love your content and you make me so happy when I see a video. It doesn’t need to be anything ext. i just love everything you do and talk about.

  37. @gayeoneill4239

    I don’t comment a lot but you will forever be my “Cowboy Candy” girl. That’s how I found you, I searched cowboy candy recipe on YouTube and picked your video. I came back and stayed for your beautiful gardens and life, but mostly for you deep talks. You are so eloquent ❀ May God bless you and your family abundantly this new yearđŸ™đŸ»

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