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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37 Comments
I felt that about packing that last lunch . I only have one child they are one day away from wrapping up the 9th grade.
I love your kitties and goats. I love your wonderful personality even more. I enjoy watching the things you have to do on a farm, and hearing your tidbits of wisdom. I understand the spilled milk. I made homemade chicken broth (for the first time) and was straining it and forgot to put another pot under my strainer. I only lost a fourth or more down the drain. I wanted to cry but I thought, don't cry over spilt milk; or in my case, broth! Thank you for sharing. I find so much peace in your videos. ❤ And congrats to you baby graduating. It is such a bitter sweet thing, for me with mine anyway.
My baby that made me a Mama will be 24 in August I feel just like you say insanely proud but yes it is hard. Being a Mama has been the greatest joy of my life. Glad you are back Jess.
Loves the house and baby goat story, very cute and he gets a cookie too. 🥰
You should stop on the way home from Vegas and see the wild horses!
Jess, this break has done wonders!!! Your joy,excitement , passion and peace are so wonderful to see!! Enjoy these wonderful celebrations, your road trips and of course the burden of abundance ❤
I’m feeling your feels. My youngest (and only son) moved out on Mother’s Day. Oh the pain and pride. 😢😊
So good to see you this morning Jess! ❤😊
Being a Mom or Parent for that matter is the most important job we will ever have. Be thankful for Gods Grace that helped you both to not only survive but excel ❤ blessings
Bless you, Jess. I felt that when the milk was going down the drain…I did that with chicken broth I had just made. Strained it into the sink without the pot. 🤷♀️ what can you do haha. I love the morning after the rain as well! Toast makes me happy every time I see her following you for milk ❤ Bear is one good pup, even if he sometimes doesn’t make the best farm dog choices haha.
The sound of horses hooves are definitely worth a stop and listen. Growing up we had over 7 horses at a time, and when riding it was like I became lost in that world. Listening to the hooves, hearing them breathe. All my worries and thoughts just melted away. Mother nature and God's animals do that for me still to this day! 43 and I will lay my head on my dairy cow and feel just a release and I wanna cry. It's something that unless you feel it, it can't be perfectly explained! To be alive and to get to experience LIFE and all that is has to offer all the way down to the buzzing of the bees that are helping polinate my garden is a beautiful thing! Thanks for reminding me of the emotions and the joys I experience everyday. Bless you and your family Jess and anyone else who might read this!
My oldest, who I had at 19, graduated last year and he is about to finish his first year at university and come home for summer. And I echo all the feelings you shared- I have never been an adult without also being a parent. My overwhelming emotion on watching him enter adulthood is pride. Mainly pride for him because he has done so well to set himself up for success and he is such a wonderful man. And also pride for myself and my partner because it is no small feat to raise a baby while also raising yourself. I hope you are also experiencing that feeling of accomplishment and joy in yourself 🖤
Firsts and lasts with the oldest and youngest are always the most emotional 🥹. I think, for me anyway, that although I love all 5 of my kids equally, the oldest and youngest have a slightly different connection. Mine are 2 of my 3 sons and they both have similar personalities and dispositions. They are also 14 years apart in age. Definitely the most emotional was when my oldest moved out of the house for the first time. I live in Minnesota he moved to Oregon. It’s been 7 years and I still get emotional at how far away he is and that only get to see every couple of years or so. My youngest just turned 13 so I’ll have him around for a little while yet 😃😊.
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Our oldest son is graduating this Saturday. I have had so many emotions and cried a LOT! I have been going through pictures for his senior board. I have felt all of the momma feels and had many emotions. I will be praying for you during this transition. It's hard, but happy and joyful at the same time. Congratulations!
Girl! You are blissed out- and it’s infectious…and also doing dumb things which makes me ❤ you more!
Lady, you are a ray of sunshine! ❤ You're positively infectious 😊. Thank you for explaining how to steward your animals in a way non-farm folk can appreciate what they see on your homestead. My garden is getting overwhelming at the moment, but I know I got this. 😂 What 6 ft walkways? My melons are taking over ❤
❤Jess
Your kids will Always need you just in different ways. I started young have a 43,40,31,27 and 6 grandchildren I'm 60 and my 1st granddaughter is graduating with her masters from university first in our family. You have many memorable times ahead cherish each it goes so fast.❤ from eastern Colorado
We have Jerseys- we cry if the milk is spilled! 😂❤😢 congratulations mom, well done and many blessings in this new season.
Aw! I’m so sorry you poured the milk down the drain!
I’m taking all the tips on handling graduation. My son will be a sophomore and I’m already teary thinking about graduation.
I ❤ being alive ❤
I love your videos!!! …. thank-you!!
I’ve cried over spilled breast milk that I’d just pumped
Dang it Jess! Gotta make us all cry first thing this morning! Bless you and your family!
I remember seeing dairy cows here and there. Either on farms driving or even on YouTube videos and feeling the same way. Then when you got dairy cows and I saw them, I was like, oh. Ok. So this is how this breed of cow is just supposed to look. Because I knew in my heart of hearts that you were not going to deprive or mistreat your animals.
Hope has a heart on her face.Lovey face is what I will call her.
Can we have a devotional soon?
You are adorable.
When I started traveling to Latin American countries, I noticed that all of their cows were skinny where you could see their hip bones and the cattle ranchers informed us that’s just normal for the cows in that region of the world
Store bought milk still tastes like a disappointment 😂
Central texas here. I harvested 10 cups (chopped) of rhubarb from the garden yesterday. Got my first batch of strawberry rhubarb jam in the canner right now ❤ only took 2 cups of rhubarb and 2 cups strawberries. So i have 8 cups left to either can up or cook with 😊😊
I’ve noticed that the format of your videos has changed. It’s like all we do is watch you milk goats and listen to you talk. You haven’t taught us anything about gardening in a while. I don’t have any interest in milking goats. Can’t stand hearing them. They’re as loud as a rooster crowing. Sorry, I’m in a lot of pain and maybe wouldn’t be so blunt otherwise. Try to get back to teaching Chicky.
Thank you Jess , for this video it made me feel better, because I have had some of this days that made me feel like I failed. I have goats and chickens that I have been raising for the past 5 years. I have three grown sons , two of them help me with our farm. Thank you for your video they are inspirational
I have cried over spilled milk. I milk goats also. And this was to be for the 20 kids and it was a nightmare. Ahh 😖I watch and be so much more careful when I milk. Thank you for sharing. Till next time God Bless.
Running with the horses! Go Whitt!
Sorry about the milk incident, Jess. Hope you're not being too hard on yourself. You wear many hats every day!