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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22 Comments
Back-LOR-re-at. At my public school in the 1970s we still did a
Baccalaureate ceremony for every graduating class.
Just hearing you’re ‘cutting figs for dinner’ is my friendly reminder to up my healthy food game. I have gotten a little lazy this winter! Thank you!
Welcome back Jess. I got so excited to see another recording today. I'm so pleased you found you still love making content and loved your updates.
Whilst you've been having some time out, we have re-landscaped the new garden to include cottage flower beds and three large raised planters. Today I've been out in the heat putting the tomatoes in, some sacrificial plants, calendula, lungwort, echinacea and sweet peas. I've sown peas direct too. Each day now there will be more and more food to grow and after 15 months I'm so excited and in love with having my hands, knees and clothes dirty again 😂 man I've missed this ❤
For the first time, I have a few volunteer plants growing in direct ground where my grow bags and Greenstalks were last year. I am excited to leave them grow because I have you in my head from multiple videos explaining that they are likely to be more hardy and healthy because they have adapted to my area. They are such random things, too! There are a few borage (not shocking), a single carrot (wha?!) and a few fennel (I think). I am really looking forward to seeing how they fare. There may also be a few volunteer tomato plants but it is too soon for me to be certain. If so, I will do whatever I can to protect those seeds and save them for future years.
Why can’t you keep the sheep’s and goats together just curious from an unknowing person 😊
So happy you had a good break from filming. Your cottage garden looks amazing. I don’t comment ever and I hope you see this. I have a fountain almost identical and went through two pumps until I found one at Lowe’s that doesn’t burn up when it runs out of water. It actually just shuts off! So when you take the time, when everything isn’t in bloom to level it back up you should get a new pump that doesn’t burn up. One less thing to cross off your bedtime worry list! It wasn’t anymore expensive than the others. So so glad you’re back! I look forward to your inspiring summer garden and all your adventures! Thanks for doing what you do!
I know exactly what a trip like that is like. Moved from northern Illinois to Aberdeen, Washington (3254 miles on a very southern route hitting Texas in winter) with 2 boys, 14 and 7, and a cat. It took us 9 days since I was the only driver, but we did get to explore the Grand Canyon, yes, Las Vegas and other places on our route. I still think fondly about that trip even though it was gruelling because we stopped to see many sights along the way and created so many memories. You could pick somewhere to stop explore with Maleah (I know spelling oops) and always have that special memory for just the two of you. It will be a wonderful trip no matter what.
So glad you are back!❤🎉
Who are your kids together? Blended families are a challenge sometimes but it seems yours are doing well.
My sister and I drove from Ohio to California once with her 4 year old son and her dog. Driving across the country was something I had always wanted to do. We gave ourselves about a week to do it and focused on random things to see along the way that were tourist-y but odd. Like, "World's Second Largest Ball of Twine" type odd. Why see the largest when you can see the second largest? It was awesome and I still relish that trip even with a 4 year old getting cranky from time to time.
Now that the boy is 20 years older than then, my sister and I still talk about doing something like that one more time before we get too old.
I always say we are too much alike, and I swear I just purchased a tank top colored the same exact color as your under tank top. To layer with things 😂. Jessica's I swear. God bless!
😅😅😅😅😅How dare you get all dressed up for us!!😅😅😅😅
Everything looks so beautiful! Missed you honey!
I’m so happy for you to rediscover your love of making content!
Did I miss something or have you just not been mentioning the goat kid recently? I remembered his name literally up until I went to type it LOL.
I have driven to and from BC to Newfoundland over 20 times, after my parents relocated t9 the West Coast of beautiful British Columbia. The distance is over 5000 Kilometres
(~ 3,100 miles). My parents would pack up the car and drive for a week, stopping at wonderful provincial parks, then finally crash at a beautiful hotel with a giant swimming pool, so we could work off some of our energy! I’m so grateful to my parents, as I’ve seen all of Canada, from the Arctic to each beautiful coast! As an adult I have traveled to Europe, as well as the US.
Our Commonwealth cousins in the UK find it a bit daunting, when they travel in Canada, as well as, the US. We have tremendous distances to trek, but they sure are gorgeous ones!
Have a wonderful trip with your kids!🇨🇦☺🇺🇸
I knew it would be hard for you not showing us what you’re doing, knowing how much we love you and want to be a part of your life. I watched another video you just did and I was thinking I bet Jess was so excited to be back.
I'm so excited that your videos still pop up on thr top of my main page! I'm glad yt didn't do us dirty 😂
We had a brown nubian goat named Claire when I was a kid. She was my favorite. ❤ Love seeing your Claire.
You have been a busy momma. You never cease to amaze me. Your cottage garden is lovely. Your squash plant is massive. I need a Farmer's Table Vid next. Love Bev from Oklahoma
Jess, at the very end you had me crying.. I love how much you love this life. Thank you for sharing <3
Goats don’t eat grass much. They like browse much better. A little house/barn in the woods may suit them fine.
I didn’t miss feeling envious of your earlier garden season to mine while you paused your videos. lol. But nice to see you again. We can plant in PA now. I’m good.