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: https://rstr.co/greenstalkgarden/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.)
34 Comments
Last winter I was clearly told I was never going to have a farm. Never. I sobbed deeply but said yes Lord. For the past 2 years doors have been slamming shut and the classroom has been faith, prayer, talking to people, leaving people behind, studying God's love letter (bible). I'll be 70 this year and totally turning my face to the Lord. (And using straight tallow or coconut oil on it 😂) I watched you because I thought my someday would be a farm. I continue to watch you because of videos like this. We're all being called. There's work to be done. I know what mine is and I can watch the doors slam shut calmly because I know there's a plan and doors are opening. The plan becomes apparent through my daily practice and obedience. Not panic. Thank you. Again.
Jess, I am newish to your channel and love what you do. I just wanted to say thank you for today’s video. Your message about not reacting to all the pressure and fear swirling around us, and instead focusing on what we’re personally called to do — really landed in my heart.
Today I spent time creating a giving-back platform connected to our small farm, and it felt deeply aligned with my purpose. It’s been an emotional day for reasons I can’t fully explain, but your words helped me ground back into what matters: showing up with love, service, and intention right where we are planted.
Your encouragement to live faithfully in our own lane, without absorbing the noise of the world, is such a gift. You have a beautiful way of reminding people that quiet, consistent goodness still matters, and it multiplies.
Thank you for sharing your heart and your wisdom. It truly makes a difference.
These videos always show up when I desperately need them, Thank you Lord ❤🙏 Thank you Jess for all you do and for your faithfulness to God ❤
Thank you 🙏
I appreciate everything you said and it was very good timing for me. I have been sick in bed for months with this new super flu from China and I barely have the strength to put a frozen entree in the microwave and go to the bathroom. Every thing is falling apart from neglect and I was starting to get mad at myself for not doing something about it. But as I listened to you I realized that I feed and water my cats while I wait for the microwave. I use my phone to watch Bible studies and I learn the things that I need to learn, and I spend time with talking with God!
Today I really noticed how physically weak I am becoming. So I am going to research some exercises to do in bed.
I do have one question for you. I know the answer that I want to hear, but it sounds selfish and I am not sure that it is the answer that Jesus would give me.
I have a friend who is a chronically abused person. She is now going through a divorce and coming out of a cult and she spends hours and hours listing everything people have done to her. I end up feeling like I have been sucked dry by a spiritual vampire. I try to end the call and she keeps talking so I end up inventing an emergency as an excuse to hang up. I don’t like lying and it’s become harder and harder to deal with her. She has driven everyone else away from her. I have started texting her a note that my phone battery is dead and I am going to sleep while it charges. That is not true. My iPhone works fine while charging! It’s me that needs to plug into God to recharge after talking with her. I do offer her good quality advice, but she always has an excuse why she can’t do whatever I recommend.
I feel like I am at a point physically that I both have nothing left to offer her and she is sucking out the last of my strength that I need to heal from this flu. Sometimes I am actually afraid that I am going to die and leave my beloved cats alone and uncared for if I don’t end this relationship. I have been looking in the Scriptures for an answer, but my concordance doesn’t list spiritual vampires in it!
Have you ever had to deal with someone like this? What would Jesus have me do? I do remember him talking about giving up your life for your friends, I have no problem with that at all. I have been in situations that called for me to be willing to do that. But it felt different than this does. This feels like even if she sucked the very life out of me, it would not be enough. She wants to be a nurse but I have been a nurse myself and I keep getting this picture in my mind of standing over a sick patient and she is inhaling their soul!!! It scares me so I always try to tell her how hard nursing is and how thankless it is and how you have to get along with bitch coworkers who are always going through PMS! And they Drs have huge egos etc! I come up with every excuse in world to dissuade her from being a nurse. I don’t think it’s just me, she has been fired from every job she has had for years and it’s always the rest of the staff gang upon her and get her fired. Actually that’s the pattern of her entire life. She is always the victim! She never accepts any responsibility for failing at anything. I don’t think that I can help her but I do think that I can not continue these conversations with her. Do think that God will forgive me from ending this relationship? I would tell her to go to counseling but I already know that she will keep making excuses to stay the victim!
Thank you for putting up with my long question. I think that I just needed to write it all out and see it, to know that I am not helping her and I am allowing her to harm me at a time when I am sick vulnerable!
This may sound crazy but I used to study literature and all human cultures have certain archetypes that are repeatedly used in literature. And the concept of the vampire is one of them. It’s not necessarily an evil blood sucking monster. It’s usually somebody who was a victim of a blood, sucking monster, who then becomes a blood sucking monster, I wonder, if maybe some of these archetypes are spiritual archetypes maybe the vampire does literally suck the strength out of people on a spiritual emotional level and that’s why every time I think of this woman I get this picture of her, sucking the soul out of a person laying helplessly in bed! Maybe that’s not just my imagination. I was much smarter emotionally and spiritually as a child than I am as an adult. I could spot dangerous people a mile away. The hard part was getting the adults to listen. They usually had to find out the hard way! Now I am the adult who needs to believe my inner child!
Thanks again for sharing your wisdom. God bless you!
You don't just teach me to garden. You always teach ME to grow. ❤
I think that even if we don't feel we have community, we can look back at our lives and see how we did help out when we were moved too. Take the pressure off of what you can ✌️🕊️💗
Well said Jess, straight from your heart!!! Many people need to hear this! Much Love ❤️
Thanks Jess.. you’re wise beyond your years! Bless you!
Perfect , but not so perfect timing with the Black Widow Spider 🕷️😨😂
breathes deep Thank you Jess! For helping put feelings into words. I am alive for such a time as this.
Was it oliveda?
So true, love you and this message
Well said. Lots of wisdom shared in the best of ways. Thanks, Jess. I have found myself judging a situation by the shoved or led criteria more and more. Changes the perspective. When I say "bless your heart" it is meant in the sweetest of ways.
A Reel Mower!!! i luv ne a sharp bladed rerl mower for mowing gardenpaths and small areas!
I'm stuck because I don’t know what I'm called to do. This Canadian is fiftysomething, has an empty nest, a hubby who's only home three days a month, and no grandchildren. I know how to cook and garden, but growing food costs more than Wal-Mart does. I suppose buying produce to can is an idea. Perhaps being more frugal so I may share with struggling neighbors is a plan. My loneliness would be bettered by joining a local community of some sort. I can prepare my home to receive people who need a place. Thanks for giving me the space to think out loud. Jess, I've followed you from early on and am thankful for your consistency; you are a rock and YOU ROCK. Bless you and your generous family.
Beautiful talk. Although I was raised in the Christian faith, at almost 65 years old, I am now agnostic. However, I still believe "do unto others…" is where we should ALL be. Humanity matters and it is gone under the current government. I don't recognize our country at this point. It saddens and maddens me every day.
I agree that we should all prepare as much as we're able. I'm too old to get to your level of self reliance, but I am still growing my garden, canning, and frugally stocking up constantly… and learning all I can from people like you. Thank you.
We ARE born for such a time as this.. it’s my motto..
Amen!!! Very well spoke and so true.. Thanks for sharing!,
Yep! You have to be your own advocate! Unfortunately, some people don’t.
Hahaha! My meaningful response to everything has been the middle finger lately. Not to you or in Front of children. Just the people trying to sell me a product that I don’t need or a crock of their unmeaningful words.
PS Thank you for being a light. I am Obviously being reactive
I agree 100%
Thank you so much for opening up and sharing. You bring such groundedness and stability to a world that is losing their direction. ❤
Great video Jess. Your wisdom and expertise has helped me have a garden for six years now and the peace and reflection it has brought me is immeasurable. Sending love and thank you.
I secretly loved the asmr tapping on the seed packet. 😂
I hope people have more patience for one another and realize we don’t have to always agree and can still be friends.
I always learn grace from you. Your hair looks amazing btw. I'm looking forward to getting my onions which reminds me I have to get my garden bed ready. Squirrel 😋. Blessings.
Well said, Jess. Thank you!
Yet again thank you Jess. Truly thank you.
❤❤❤❤
Good advice. I will add this. Everyone should mind their own program, see to their own flock, follow their own calling, tend their own garden. They are all versions of mind your own business and leave others to do the same. Trusting that they are wise enough to do so.
Thank you so much for this post, Jess. I have been trying to change from a place of reaction to one of response. It’s one of the hardest things I have ever done.
This is why we wear gloves, Jess! Yikes!
I agree in being prepared rather than scared, and having a measured response. Though having a measured response also includes self defense, first aid training, and resistance. Comin together with community to share the skills we were called to, but also doing night watches for ICE, gestapo.
There is a huge shortage of critical thinking!
During some of your talks in the past I have found disagreement. But today I found no disagreement at all. I don't know what it is but something about you has changed and I like. Today I got an inspiration and I appreciate that.
Jess your message is speaking to me and is helping to get me unstuck and moving forward. There is mental health issues that I’m dealing with within my family and it’s consuming. I need to step aside and around the dysfunction and do what I need to do. Thanks for the…Dinoso smack up side the head to snap me out of it. (*reference NCIS 😉)
Perfectly said Jess. I have felt the sense of “something” coming… something to prepare for since my (now late teen/young adult) children were babies. It’s so nice to hear that I am not the only one who’s been feeling it for a while. I love your channel and it does give me such peace, thank you. We bought our forever land 18mths ago, in my late 40’s it’s so nice to finally have somewhere to put down proper roots. We are now starting again from scratch with compost heaps and food gardens. I appreciate your calmness and the place of peace your beautiful farm creates. Thank you. ❤