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
– Abundance+ (Grab a FREE 7-day trial): https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-wilder-still
– Shop our Stickers & Shirts: https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-shop
– Order my book First Time Gardener: https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-ftgbook
– Pre-order my newest book First Time Homesteader: https://rootsandrefuge.com/first-time-homesteader-yt
– Growing Gardeners Course: https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-ggcourse
– 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 #homesteading #gardening
30 Comments
Gotta get some figs in. Cuttings will be available in November. Mike Kinkaid, Millenial Gardener, and Lou Monty….
A community homestead is exactly what I want. I want to have land near a group of likeminded people and sharing resources.
I’ve always wondered how you harvest sunflowers for the seeds, good protein source
I think the community living ideal is a great ideal. The boys little area looks great.
Years ago we raised pigs and loved the surprised plants that came up afterwards.
Thank you.
I'm blown away at how beautiful your property is. The area where you can see the surrounding long view you have, of distant hills & nothing in between is as beautiful a view as I've ever seen.
To see everything you've been building was great, & the plants are all so beautiful for this time of year, & like you said, good soil is the key to making everything thrive & produce. When I saw those artichokes & bananas, I felt like we were entering a Botanical garden room!
Loved seeing you & Morgan enjoying all being together when he was offering the blindfolded taste test of eggs to the Rhodes.
Your dreams brought you here. Your will made it all happen, & now you're sharing this with us. This tour is truly inspiring.
The gardens surrounding the greenhouse are filling in nicely.To see roses in bloom there astonished me. Up here in Zone 5 we know winter is getting closer. It recently fell to 38• here one night, so it just about took my breath away to see those roses as if it's mid summer there.
One day,maybe you can focus a tour on your roses & their companions. I just remembered those gorgeous soft orange climbers you had at your last place growing over the garden door. They'd be spectacular on two free standing arbors, maybe flanking the black greenhouse, in back. One on either side, maybe bracketing a patio with tables & chairs somehow. It just occurred to me how beautiful those orange roses would be if growing next to the black greenhouse, one on either side but not climbing on it.
That panel where you spoke of sweet peas planted in the n middle sounds,so beautiful too. Can't wait to see that!
Thanks for the nice photography. Seeing the pigs was another treat. The babies are all fluffy & you pointed out that some or all have long ears due to crossing with the Old Spot is it? I'd love to see them up close while they're still young.
Congrats!
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I know builders who are doing that on the other side of Columbia (I'm a Realtor). I'm telling you…. y'all are going to build a team of people.
I wish there was a place like that where I live too I think it's a good idea
I bless you🤗🤗
Sign me up for the homestead community Jess. I pray for your vision to be reality
My husband and I have had this dream to have a homestead with our children for a very long time and we have been talking about selling our little homestead of 2 acres and between the 5 of us selling our properties I think we could get something big enough for us all and we been looking but at this point we need God to guide us first
Wow, Miah and Noah have such similar voices!
Fall is the best!!!
Oh my gosh I so want to find a homesteading subdivision/community. Thats my dream. Thats my 5 year plan. I was thinking of looking for land near existing organic farmers. Homesteaders have such specific needs and findingland zoned for home and Ag with no pesticide spray or runoff and good land and water and affordable seems impossible. Thanks so much Jessica for speaking to my heart and encouraging hope. My 45 varieties of tomatoes thank you too!
The good thing about living in the country is the opposite of trying to attract lots of people to live near you. That wouldn't be my dream. Move back to town if you want that.
💚 I love Fall, too. My Birthday is coming up and hoped to be at your R & R Nov. 5th event, but it's looking like I'm not going to be able to get there after all. I hope I can get a raincheck! I've finished the 1st chapter of your Book! 💚
Jess: Homestead Communities
My brain: early American settlers
😂😂😂
I have that same dream ❤
Good dream, a homesteading village!
They've got a lot of these with all the owner finance land so would be nice to have a better plan like yours. Very popular in MO. We live in one. It has its challenges. Hopefully we'll be able to move to a larger piece more private:)
Yes to the grand dream!! I'm putting it out there with you. This dream resonates and I can see it happening.
You are looking great Jess. Can you share your diet regime? Might give us all a reset.
Look into the Red Wattle heritage breed! Excellent marbled meat, and fast growth rates. We have been extremely pleased. We are registered breeders located just up the road in North Ga!
As you were walking through the gardens and greenhouses, it brought me back to your old farm. It’s astonishing that all this space is your garden. I love how beautiful it is. Your old garden was charming and lovely and this new one is amazing. I do miss a little of the charm from your old place but do enjoy all you are doing here. Thank you for sharing the beauty of your gardens. They inspire me. ❤️
Talk about a dream retirement home!
“I can say my kids look like the milkman..” Jess, you are too funny!
I’m thankful your diet is helping the eczema. I’m praying for your complete healing. I’m a 40 year rheumatoid disease warrior. No matter how I feel just moments in my garden singing & thanking God lift my spirit and then my body. Our spirit, mind program is working!!!
Because of you, my grand daughter Marigold & I had our last Dr. Wyche tomato sandwich of the season. We love our tomatoes on sourdough but this one was on wheat because it was better than nothing. I would have never believed I could grow such an awesome fruit. Our sun gold tomato seeds must have crossed with something because the fruit were the size of golf balls. But Mari still enjoyed fresh tomatoes up to last Friday when our first frost struck one week early. We’ve gotten all the peppers, tomatoes & herbs for teas & cooking.
Love your future homestead community idea. I also want to suggest since you have discovered that linen is what your skin likes that if you haven't tried linen bedding yet you will absolutely love it. It's rather spendy but so, so worth the investment. I will never go back to cotton sheets. I can see them billowing in the fresh air on that awesome new clothesline of yours!
Like in England, people rent land called an allotment, and grow food.
My leeks took 165 days from seed