Hey ya’ll, I’m Jess from Roots & Refuge Farm
Welcome to a place that feels like home. A small farm with a big family. We hope you’ll pull up a chair, grab some coffee and visit awhile.
There was a time that all I wanted in the world was a little farm where I could raise my family and grow our food. Now, that is exactly what exists outside my door. In watching it unfold, a new dream was formed in my heart – to share this beautiful life with others and teach them the lessons we’ve learned along the way. Welcome to our journey, friend. I am so glad you’re here.
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WHERE TO FIND US (Some of the links here are affiliate links. If you purchase through our links we’ll receive a small commission but the price remains the same – OR BETTER – for you! Be sure to check for any mentioned discount codes.)
– Our Website: https://rootsandrefuge.com
– Sign up for our newsletter: https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-signup
– Join our Patreon to get early access to podcasts and other information, plus monthly LIVES with me and Miah: https://patreon.com/rootsandrefuge
– Abundance+ (Grab a FREE 7-day trial): https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-wilder-still
– Shop our Stickers & Shirts: https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-shop
– Order my first book, “First Time Gardener”: https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-ftgbook
– Order my second book, “First Time Homesteader”: https://rootsandrefuge.com/first-time-homesteader-yt
– Instagram: www.instagram.com/roots_and_refuge
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rootsandrefugefarm
– Email Us: rootsandrefuge@yahoo.com
– To drop us a line:
PO Box 4239
Leesville SC 29070
– To have a gift sent to our house from our Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/SFA0IZHZRCOZ?ref_=wl_share
– To support us through PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/jessicasowards
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PRODUCTS WE LOVE – You’ve probably heard me talk about these things a million times, so here’s where you can order them (and get a discount with my code!):
– Greenstalk Vertical Gardens (Use code “ROOTS10” for $10 off your order): https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-greenstalk
– Squizito Tasting Room (Use code “ROOTS” for 10% off your order): https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-squizito
– ButcherBox: https://rootsandrefuge.com/butcherbox
– Growers Solution: https://rootsandrefuge.com/growers-solution
#rootsandrefuge
41 Comments
Oh my gosh Jess! It is not just you! My house is always crying for company!
I tried a "3 Sisters" plot with beans, pumpkins and corn. The pumpkin plants got so big they knocked over the corn and crowded out the beans. Maybe I can try it again some time. I am anxious to see how yours works.
your just the sweetest!
Don't worry, Jess, you're not alone! I have most definitely invited friends over for dinner just to get my house cleaned! And I'm always trying to get the garden looking it's best before company comes over during garden season as well. 😊
PRAISE BE TO GOD🀄🤟👍🛐✝️❤️. MY DOCTOR JESUS TOLD ME BEFORE I WALKED IN TO MY DOCTORS APPOINTMENT THIS.
"BE STILL MY CHILD WAIT APOND ME AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE WORD". "NO, NO CANCER NO COLON CANCER"🀄🛐🛐🛐✝️❤️❤️❤️ FEW MINUTES LATER, I WENT BACK. TO SEAT AND WAIT AN HOUR. SHE SAID HI AND APOLOGIZE TO ME. EACH PERSON NEEDED MORE THAN 30 MINUTES TO TALK. SHE TOLD ME TO TALK AS MUCH AS I NEEDED. SHE ASKED ME, WHY I CAME TODAY AND HOW CAN I HELP YOU. I EXPLAINED TO HER FIRST WHAT GOD SAID TO ME. THEN, SHE SMILED SWEETLY TO ME AND STATED NO COLON CANCER. WE READ TOGETHER MY
SURGICAL PATHOLOGY REPORT. EXPLAINED EVERY DETAIL THAT I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU JESUS.
I AM VERY GREATFUL FOR MY TEAM OF DOCTORS I HAVE.
CONGRATULATIONS ❗🀄👍❤️🌹🥀 JESS, YOUR BROTHER IS A HUSBAND. MARRIED. FUNNY, HOW HE'LL ALWAYS 👍🀄❤️ BE
YOUR BABY BROTHER. I HOPE YOU CAN SHARE SOME (A LOT) OF THEIR WEDDING PICTURES. HOW IS YOUR DAD ❓🌹🥀🀄🛐
I PRAY IN JESUS'S NAME AMEN HALLELUJAH HALLELUJAH 🀄🛐🛐🛐 FOR YOUR FAMILY'S AND NEIGHBORS. THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR ARE THE SWEETEST🌻🌻 I WATCH ABUNDANCE PLUS JUST TO SEE THEM SHARE. I LAUGHED SO HARD WHEN
, HE SPOKE ABOUT MIAH, ASKING TO USE HIS $60,000 TRACTOR.
GIVE THEM MANY HUGS FROM ME AND ASKED THEM TO COME BACK AND SHARE. SHE MUST HAVE SOME GREAT SECRET FAMILY RECIPES.THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR LOVELY FAMILY WITH US. I LOVE EACH OF YOU 🛐🛐🛐. I LOVE OUR FATHER JESUS CHRIST VERY, VERY MUCH. GLORY BE TO GOD 🀄🀄🀄🥀
CHOW FROM S E MICHIGAN. IT'S WINTER AGAIN ❗ THANK YOU
MIAH, LOVING YOUR VLOGS. CHOW
I have to wonder if u have contaminated soil again! This happened to me last year n my seedlings never really grew at all. This year I made my own n OMG they outgrew shelving !!! They’re like 18” tall!! I planted mine same time as yours that’s why I got worried for u. ❤❤
Same thing happened to me in Delaware. I too added a very weak dose of fertilizer and put them outside in the shade for three days and they took off! Looking good! Small but growing.
Had similar seedling problem a few seasons ago. It was my potting soil. Doesn’t take much to repot a few in different mix.
I have dinner parties and barbecues for motivation to clean the house. You’re not the only one!
Oh yeah, I really get cleaning your house for company.
I know you and Miah need no ideas but watch Country Life Vlog. Without gas or electric they make amazing stoves, buildings gardens and flowers. It’s fun to watch. They are in the Middle East and I think it’s a get away cabin. Your boys would love to make their many stoves. The one today is a bucket with large mouse hole lined with red clay dirt and straw Fun.
Have a great gardening day. My heart is full of joy with my ting plants coming up.
Your not alone Jessi I do the same
I've actually read a couple article and blog posts that say that some tribes used either sunflowers or bee balm as the Fourth Sister. 🌻 Her role was to help support the beans but also to attract pollinators and, most importantly, to lure birds away from the corn.
Did you start your Baptisia from seed? I planted a million seed, not really, and I have one up. I don’t know whether or not it’s yellow or blue and at this point I don’t care. I’m thrilled to have the one. 😊
Hello 👋 Jess, have you ever considered adding a nice quality garden 🪴 apron with maybe a tomato 🍅 or a sunflower 🌻 and your logo to your merch collection? I would totally 💯 buy $$ one!
I hosted a Bible Study once a week, mostly so I would clean the house at least once a week!
Just a suggest for your seedlings. I live just above you in Cumberland County NC. Seeds seemed to start slow indoors, so I started taking them outside during the sunny days and bringing them in at night. That helped them take off.
No, not just you, Jess! It's my dirty secret, too! 😂
When we lived in Kansas I hosted ladies midday coffee every Friday so I could keep my house clean!
NO YOU ARE NOT ALONE!😂 House and garden is a mess… To many sickies at the house lately and an injury… 🤞 I can get caught up soon! It's hard not to push through but we must take time for rest too❤
Congratulations to your brother and Katie.
It's amazing how gardens grow, even when we aren't there watching .Lawns do the same .
Enjoy your week!
YES!!!! LOL I invite people over so I can clean my house and I prepare garden tours or backyard BBQ's so I can weed the garden lol
Hey Jess! A tip for the killdeers, you can deter birds with wind chimes! They will get used to the sound after a while, but you can probably keep them from nesting if you get them into your planting spaces soon! I would imagine just use a shepherds hook if you don’t have a place to hang. Hope this helps!
I always say there’s nothing like the threat of company that keeps a house clean lolol😂
I have been growing vegetables for 40 years.. This year, my seedling are not growing well either. Things that normally would be getting leggy are barely 2 inches tall. My cool weather greens are barely bigger than when I planted them, 2 weeks ago. Something is very 'off'.
My pepper seedlings seem stunted also. I separated them and fertilized. Hopefully 🙏🏽 they will pick up and grow.
I grew up in the piedmont of NC. My grandparents had huge gardens. Yes, gardens… they had several large ones in different locations on their property. They never started seed. They would always direct sow and we had plenty of food. We used to joke that they planted enough for all of the family and most of our country. Now, I always start most of mine indoors under grow lights. Sometimes, I struggle with them. I do direct sow beans, cow peas and okra. I really love direct sowing and watching things grown.
The view of your greenhouse with all the animals grazing peacefully in the background is just gorgeous.
Thank you Jess. This was so a lovely video – as all your videos. Bear is really happy that you are back home. I'm so glad to be your gast in your beautiful garden and I don't miss one video since 2 or 3 years. It is amazing to see how all in the garden and on your wonderful property develops and grow. All the best for you and your family !
It’s not just you!
I think the stunting is from the temperatures – could be the cold or the up and down of early warmth and then cold. In south Louisiana our soil is good but we had a stretch of 8Os in February-March and then cold-warm-cold etc. Also brought on some early (and unfamiliar) bug pests!
So what you're saying is I should have more people over….lol! It gives me more motivation to clean too. Geese are no joke when it comes to protecting their babies! Be careful!
You just sparked an idea for a revised 3 sisters garden on a much smaller area (2-8×4 beds). Thanks Jess!
I planted loads of caladiums…& I do be.I eve the raccoons have dug them up & eaten them. Grrrrr😢😢
Yep I clean well when company's coming. Knowing your flowers as pretty instead of their proper names is good enough the rest is just stressful
It looks like we are going to have a chilly spring all the way through a good part of May for almost the entire eastern half of the country!
For a 30 day low temperature outlook for your area and to see how many degrees above or below normal you'll be for every 12 hour period over the next 30 days, go to pivotal weather dot com and navigate to this page https://www.pivotalweather.com/model.php?m=cfs&p=sfct_anom-imp&rh=2023041800&fh=120&r=conus …. or go to Model : CFS > Zoom: Continental US > Animate: Single Image. Then for parameters (on the lower left)under "Surface and precipitation" choose " 2m AGL Temp Anomaly" . Toggle between the hours in the top left corner to see how far above or below the normal low temperature for your area will be.
I'm not pleased to see that we in SC zone 8 are expected to have many days of below normal low temperatures for our area and multiple days of 10 to near 20 degree below normal temp swings lasting days at a time in April and only a few days of normal lows even in May!. I hope this doesn't come to pass. This is not good news for tomato and cucumber growers.
I've been wanting to do another to at a 3 sisters garden. I can't right now because we only have pots in our rental home. When we get our house I definitely want to try it again. Looks good, Jess! It's that time of year!
Question: does this part of SC have crazy bad gnats in the summer the same way the coastal planes of South Georgia do? In South Georgia below the Macon fall line the gnats are just so thick you can hardly walk with out gnats smack’s ya in the face! 😂
At Ryan Hall they warned about very cold weather coming your way. You may look into it before planting the peppers.
The geese are good cobra chickens 😆😆😆❤
Jess- It may be wishful thinking to think this week is the last week of cold temperatures. Please do yourself and other gardeners a favor and familiarize yourself with the tools we all have to predict up coming temperature swings including pivotalweather.com I provided a link in another comment.
My seedling are having problems too. I think it's the lights I bought. I miss my fluorescent shop lights. I think the soil I transplanted them to was too heavy too. sad
I got soil delivered Sunday evening for the pallet bed I built and this morning I planted okra, sweet peppers and parsley in it. I want to try with flowers again, and squash, around the trees. Evenings in the garden are so relaxing.