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33 Comments
It's crazy to me how the timing of what you share hits home in the exact moment I'm feeling the same. My husband and I are taking a step back, assessing and in so are taking a year off from breeding our dairy goat herd. Why? Family. Our daughter is graduating college this spring and she is one of these kids that had no highschool graduation due to covid and we need to be free to be there for her, and enjoy the joy of her completing this huge thing. I also just want to thank Jeremiah for giving the "like used Honda Civic thousands" analogy 🤣 I get that kinda math. Here's to you both on making tough choices for a better beautiful life❤️
Just adding to the sentiment of some of the comments below… There is a lot of 'how to' content out there now and for many of us, we've reached a crossroads with our homesteading. Some will be inspired by thinking bigger and more business orientated and some of us will want to feel that we are doing enough and have the right amount of resilience and good living for our families. We can hold our own against over reliance on systems and over consumerism when we need to. Any more would feel like a fight, not a dream come true. You are inspiring those of us who don't want to let our dream become a fight. Thank you!
love this video…..Im old so I realized years ago..there is a thing as just to much
Good for you!! Good for you!! All true and real issues. Well done. 😇
Well, I didn't think my respect or admiration for the two of you could grow any stronger, yet it just did. Thank you for sharing your life, your process, your hearts!
Been on my homestead for 22 years. The setup has changed to some foundational degree at least 4 times. I'm way far over scale for just myself here. Thanks
Most of us Farmers don't actually look at YouTube content creators as celebrities Jess so don't sweat it….just be YOU ❤
So agree with you. Love your farm to table talks.
Bless you guys! Love the new direction. Wise words of encouragement and faith, loved the honesty, as always. I too am downsizing as I prepare to move to my new home next year. But I have a move between now and then too. It’s a lot. I’m also trying to fully live in my current space as I recently realised that I was also living for the new place and not really settled where I am. Was feeling very unsettled and yet I’ve lived here for years. Just had my eyes on the future home and neglected to fully embrace this season I’m in. Thank you for sharing your experience.
It may be really selfish of me, but I'm glad to hear making YouTube videos made the cut and you've decided to keep producing content ❤
'You are the same stewards where ever you are' really hit home. thanks and good luck with all that you do.
Just leveled up after listening to you guys, thanks for the wake up call 💕
I happen to have the fake fire playing on the tv as I watch ….I think you are on the right track.
I think this chat perfectly encapsulates the sacrifice farming parents make. It's always a balance. This is why it takes a village to make raise a family.
Thank you! There was a time when I watched you a lot for garden tours and general gardening, but once you have gone to the next level of homesteading I lost interest as the scale was too large and I couldn't relate. In between your health issues, your local business, all the other things you do, all animal content and less regular gardening content I stopped watching as I felt I no longer could enjoy the things I did previously.
I feel ya! You're really helping me reflect on where I am right now. It's time to take a look and re-prioritize
Boy, can I relate making decisions like this are so important. May God bless those decisions ❤
Jess Sowards for president!!!! YES 😊
Thank you for sharing. We have just taken our daughter to university and the lack of dirty dishes is life altering
I want you consistently but You've always showed up when I really needed you! I was listening to a different video on my ride into work and when that was done you guys popped up so i knew it was a message I needed to hear. From the first ever video that randomly popped up for me when I returned to work after maternity leave in 2019 (your channels intro video…literally made me sob at my desk) to now- the reminder of who and what is actually important. Being present with my family.Where I need to scale back and what I need to let go of. Turning what I believe to be my "temporary home" into an actual home. We've also lived here for 3 years- my husband has been trying to hang up pictures that whole time but I kept refusing and ignoring. He finally asked me why and I said "because it will make it feel like home and I know this isnt our forever homei just dont love it"… saying it out loud made me think about it at a deeper level. I finally gave in just recently. Now we are talking about painting and doing small renovations on our split level. Everything you said in this video resonated with me deeply. So much so that I am going to watch it again to make sure I am hearing the message loud and clear. I am also an ADHD wife 😂
I never worked full-time when my kids were at home. I worked part time, but they were my full-time job. And I don’t regret it for a second!
this is a beautiful video love the talk family so important
Happy to see you leaning into your realization that time is short.
Yet more wisdom. Absolutely focus on yourselves and your family. We love you guys. ❤
So good. I love y’all. I so needed this tonight. Thank you for being faithful and obedient and not just chasing the next big thing. I’m so thankful for you(been watching since you taught me how to grow lettuce in a rubbermaid container in the back yard in Arkansas,) sweet lady. Know that what you’re doing(including sharing that you’re prioritizing time with your children while there’s still time)matters and is needed, in the world and on the internet.
Have you considered building a few small (tiny?) houses on the property so the adult kids can be close but have their own space? That way you get practice and, if the kids do not want to stay, you can use the space for overnight guests, seminar attendees, etc.
Thank you. Thank you for sharing
God never gives us more than we can handle. He loves us all. I have gone through loss after loss in the last three years and I realize I have come out to be a stronger person in some aspects of my life. God bless you and your family.
Preach! What a great example to all of us about prioritizing what matters the most-relationships.❤❤❤
My definition of "Introvert" is someone who gathers information and thinks it over. S/he only speaks when s/he decides all available information is analyzed and a decision has been made or more information is needed.
An "Extrovert" is someone who speaks his/her thoughts while analyzing given information. They like a "sounding board" for their thoughts.
Introverts don't speak much in a group because new information to be analyzed is constantly coming in and they don't get the chance to complete their thinking. That is also why socializing wears them out. Too much thinking drains ones energy.
Thankyou. Love you.
Wait till your child reaches 55 and you feel the same, but your child starts getting grey.
Everything you are saying is true. Been there and done that! So happy you are realizing this before you are my age. I’ll be 70 this year. My husband and I are like you two, but we were not aware enough to analyze ourselves. There is a huge cost to family if you’d continued down your path. I’m so proud of you two. Like you we are very resilient and wish to be self sustaining. We also have dodged the grain bullet with our ruminants. Someday I believe we won’t have grain. So chickens free ranging safely is now our next priority. Love you two self aware smarties! Praise God! ❤❤