A Homestead Chat about Farm Animals (I bought some new ones) | VLOG

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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Leesville SC 29070
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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!):
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#rootsandrefuge

[@Joyfulfarmer]

❤️🐑🐑🐑 every time you get new animals, I feel like I get new animals too. Your critters have so many virtual aunties.

[@RootsandRefugeFarm]

Yes they do!!

[@camicri4263]

😅So true!

[@marysurbanchickengarden]

Seventy five years ago people living out in the country had their own family dairy cows and there were no chemical wormers, but they knew how to keep the cows healthy. My grandparents grew the corn and oats for their dairy cow, the pigs they raised etc. and none of it was GMO grains. They used herbal remedies for worming and there was no milk withdrawal. Find some books written in that era and you might be able to find their go to for everything to do with farm animals without chemicals.

[@devenlamar3900]

Pumpkins are a natural dewormer. The key for animals and parasites is to keep them moving to new grasses and don't let the pastures get mowed down thats where the parasites are by the dirt

[@harvestenthusiast4519]

I really wish I could see that life for us all.😢❤

[@ashleyporter9330]

​@@harvestenthusiast4519absolutely agree!

[@speaklifegardenhomesteadpe8783]

​@@harvestenthusiast4519agree

[@YT4Me57]

Jess, when you declared "I LOVE farming!", in that moment my spirit responded "I LOVE city life!" And what's more, I love supporting local farmers who trade in my neighborhood. ❤ I can't tell you how much I look forward to the opening of farmers markets in June 😊. We are all interdependent and I think that's a good thing. 👍🏾

[@RTCPhotoWork]

It took me a minute when you said, "the weaners," because I heard it as "the weiners.". 🤦🏼‍♀️ What a difference a single vowell makes.

[@HomesteadwithEhlers-Danlos]

I heard the same. I had to stop my cooking and look Jess in the eye. Then I figured it out.😂

[@marysidle5132]

I love to listen to people talk through their processes. You get so much quality info by listening to them. Thank you Jess, for bringing us along with you on your farm expansion. GOD bless

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Generational resistance to parasites is SUCH an important topic. Thank you so much for covering that.

[@journeytohomestead527]

That spoke to me on a human level. 😅 "creating dependence instead of resilience" 🤯🤯

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

@@journeytohomestead527 yes! The concept applies in many areas of life on earth!

[@alexisd8190]

Do I own a homestead? No. But this whole video taught me so much about animals which is both a passion of mine and a future dream. I can’t wait for the lambs (and goats)

[@juliannejaz4933]

Ahhhh, DIY Jess is a woman after my own heart! I'm 70, and have spent my entire life looking at things and thinking, "Huh, I'm pretty sure I could do that..." and most of them, I have. I'm delighted to hear you are a fiber person also, Jess. I like to think of the river of people who came behind us, discovering fiber and how to coax it into cloth, and all the other iterations, and how we're part of that legacy. You must at least show us your spinning wheel soon!

[@sandyoklahomatransient8557]

Sweet Jess, congrats on purchasing more lamb, and a male. As I became older, I've realized I have to tell myself no when it comes to taking on more/adding projects/events to my schedule. When I was in my 30's through late 50's, I would go, go, go, and do, do, do. Now I'm 61 years old, have bad arthiritis in my hands, lower back, and hips. I make myself keep going (like the rabbit in the energizer battery commercial). There are days when the barometric pressure with the weather takes a nose dive. When this happens, my pain levels are out the window. I can barely move....but I make myselve move. My movement isn't like it used to be therefore, I don't take on too much like I used to. That doesn't mean I can't work, that just means... I slow down a bit, and take care of myself first.

[@evalinawarne1337]

I too feel like you. 69. I live in MICHIGAN. If you take any herb's that help you. I need help. I eat VEGAN and have sour stomach too. Thank you.

[@8910d]

Castor oil is really helpful to my arthritis. Just rub it in. 😊

[@bobfernandez-g8j]

We love our Shetland sheep, extremely hardy, amazing wool and fantastic tasting meat. Plus they are smaller in size so easier to care for.

[@lesleywilliams323]

How are they in a warmer climate… I’m thinking Shetland being a very northern island, that the sheep would be a breed that does better oop north🥶… just a wonder 🤓

[@456ann]

Love the sheep talk. We used to raise sheep (dual prupose)and now own a fibre mill where we process alpaca, sheep wool, some cashmere and angora...so much fun. It is my retirement (used to be a dental hygienst for 35 years) but I am busier now than ever. We don't have a lot of fibre mills here, in Ontario. Love it.

[@leighsummereverhart6455]

I'm so excited for lambs in the spring!! I know getting into the winter you have talked about not always knowing what to film, and recently I've been thinking it would be nice to get a "pet update" - all the dogs and cats you guys have as well as maybe a bearded dragon introduction. Just an idea I had!

[@kellyjohst573]

Jess when you said, and I know I’ll get in the comments, because I’ve been crocheting…. I thought you were going to say yes, you were gonna start crocheting lamb jammies 😂. Nothing cuter than a lamb in pjs! Love seeing you so happy and excited. Lucky sheep

[@WildHopeHomestead]

🤣

[@rachelnannenmcginnis7927]

Hey, Jess, love your content, I've been following you since Arkansas days! I didn't know you had St Croix! We have 14 Ewe lambs all born this past Spring. Are yours registered? If so, do you mind if I ask with whom? We are in Mid GA and only a couple hours away from you. Perhaps we could share some genetics down the road?!! We share the same husbandry values ❤

[@emmaschauer5409]

Jess, we have the same toxic trait 🤣. I'm excited for lambing season! What a joy!

[@emilyk1160]

All I want for Christmas is… Lamb photo shoot?!

[@eco35758]

Very good information, I enjoyed that. We have dairy goats (and a small dairy operation) and I completely relate to your thought processes. My goat kids sell so readily because folks can see the quality of my small herd, the love and attention we put into them. I’ve watched you from way back and don’t usually comment but I just wanted to give an atta-girl for this video! 👏👏

[@mikkileon6380]

🎄🐑🐏👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🧑🏼‍🎄🎅🏼 I absolutely love this time of year on your channel and this year I can watch it as it unfolds🥰🤸🏽‍♀️🤸🏽‍♀️ Thank you so very very much Sandi and Brock Familia♥️♥️♥️♥️😘😘😘😘🎄

[@nikkityson8170]

Check out Greg Judy's mineral feeder, we made one and it works great for the sheep and cows. Also, check out pat colbys books natural sheep care and natural goat care it really gets into the science of why minerals work and the how.

[@HalleluYahfarm]

I dont know if you have done this before or not but since you have said you sometiems dont know what to make content on during this season each year, so I i had an idea. I would love to hear the questions you ask people as you look for good animals, and what to look for etc (for each type of animal group you have) this is currently what im trying to learn so we know what to be lookong for and asking as we get closer to this reality as well ❤ Congratulations on the new additions how exciting! While i await the ability to have animals I totally live vicariously through your farm 😁

[@planner722]

Thanks for the content. Do you guys have farm hands that work the farm when you are gone (i.e., milk cows, collect eggs)? That’s the one thing I’ve been wanting to get a goat or milk cow in the future but was wondering what to do when we are out of town for a vacation.

[@carolb6313]

I just wanted to say thank you and your team for the respect and care you show to your animals. It is such a pleasure to see a well planned rotational system for your animals and land health. I watch other content creators who seem frenetic and chaotic in their approach to their animals and homestead. These sentient beings deserve our best efforts and care before being processed to provide us with food in which ever form.

[@hillbillyshadetreefarm5732]

And I thougt it was exciting to see my first garlic sprout this morning. I qouted you "hello little guy, happy birthday". I think my neighbors are calling me the crazy garden lady since I have a urban farm that keeps me dreaming and happy. Congrats on your continued responsible farm growth. ~ Rhonda

[@speaklifegardenhomesteadpe8783]

😂🤣 My neighbors call me the crazy garden lady too! 🤣💯 Eh, I prefer crazy garden lady... Rather than many other things I can think of but won't type!! 🤣💯 💥🧡🧡🥀🌸🦋🌱🧑🏻‍🌾🌿🤗🌱🦋🌸🥀🧡🧡💥

[@dianekreider2684]

Oooh, the spinning wheel is out! Yay! I just got an Ashford Country Spinner to add to my “herd” of wheels. I’m loving making art yarn!

[@lisakenyon9429]

We love you Jesse!!! I’m just like you! Love animals. Love farming! Love nature anything! Tea, coffee… pottery, crafting in winter… I’m painting birdhouse gourds (grown by me) for Christmas presents this yr! GOD IS GREAT!!! May He bless you and your family… ALWAYS!!!

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

I want wool sheep. I just need to make sure I have someone local to shear and process wool for me.

[@carolyncarlon9870]

Thank you for not wearing company logos on your cap forehead. Looks like a bullseye. Very distracting!

[@marypritchard5774]

God always provides for His children. Prayers are answered according to His will. I love hearing everything you will share.

[@DreamingBigSC]

Congrats on your new sheep. Lambing is so much easier than kidding. With my goats it's almost like human labor. It's a whole process where I'm watching and sitting with them while they labor. I have never seen signs of sheep labor. They just suddenly pop out a lamb and it's back to life as usual. 3 of my sheep have birthed with me 100 yards away and I noticed nothing until I look up and there is a new lamb. I'm sad about missing the miracle of birth, but I love missing the nerves of watching for the first sign of nose and feet to be sure I don't have to assist. 😂

[@fiberandfox]

Okay but...next question...when you getting a spinning wheel? 😉

[@fiberandfox]

.....aaannnnd you have one 😂 all for the fiber animals in the future though.🎉

[@mariehernandez8431]

Very informative video. I know nothing about raising farm animals 😅🙌🏻🌻❤️🍁

[@zoeme925]

I’m so happy and excited for you!! I know that lambs always have a special place in my heart. when I was a kid I would always help my grandparents during lemmings season and I thought they intentionally bread them so that they would have their babies in February because my birthday is in February.🎉 in two shakes of a lambs tail you’ll be having babies lambs.😊

[@debihuntsman9314]

Although I will never have a farm or animals, I enjoy listening to you talk about every aspect of your farm, Jess. The excitement and love in your voice makes anything you talk about interesting. ❤

[@lindawoody8501]

So beef, dairy cows, lamb, dairy goats (soon), pork, chicken, turkey, duck, geese, pond freshwater fishes, vegetables, herbs, grains, fruits, and nuts. Wonderful variety. Maybe add Maples for tapping syrup? Also maybe bee keeping again?

[@cyndegruver6520]

When will Miah build his shop and your house? Is that still in your 5 year plan ?Not being pushy I may have missed the video tell.Congratulations on your new animals!! How Exciting!!

[@carolynclark8780]

Oh Jess, I have to smile when you stand outside with your bare hands, bare neck, and bare face, complaining about the cold. (I know you'd do the same if you could hear me 6 months from now, complaining about being trapped in the house when summer temperatures exceed 85 degrees F.)😰💦

[@carolstacey4955]

I had to stretch it was just like a yawn. It was perfect.

[@LaBonnevie61]

We share toxic traits. I have done stained glass, tile painting,quilting , jewelry making and various embroidery work. Also your channel did nothing to discourage gardening. The words “I can make that” gets me into trouble often.

[@elaineekberg113]

Depending on the Lord for the health of your animals AND your family is called for after the things we've been through in the world the past 4yrs!! It works! Try it!

[@erikas974]

Jess I heard Earth days going to be 25 hrs. Hope that mean you going to have a chance to rest. Girl you are an incredible powerhouse. Always doing something. I get so tired sometimes just watching and listening you. Do you think you ever slow down a bit? 🫂🫂🫂 Make sure you do 🌻🌻🌻

[@beckisublett7287]

I have that toxic trait! Although it prevents me from purchasing so many things. Because I never get around to doing it 😅. I love good goat milk products but I do purchase locally from people who have goats. So it’s not always a bad thing. Right now I’m stewing on starting raising meat chicken. I’m 68 and questioning do I really want to get into this 😂

[@DreamingBigSC]

I did want to add be very careful with your ram. Ours was a puppy dog, as tame and loving as could be. One day he just decided to protect his flock and now we can not go into the pasture alone or turn our back on him. He is worse than a bull. Since he turned Ive talked to alot of other sheep owns who its a common problem.

[@sandikay4048]

Wait, what am I missing? St Croix have great, high fat content milk. Yay! I am excited for you and for me because you will teach me just like you thought me how to grow tomatoes and to grow vertical.

[@steveegbert7429]

Great talk Jess! I like how you think things through and not jump into things on impulse, setting your self up for success instead of heartbreak. Good call on the wool sheep. We had a flock of Shetlands and a few Angora goats. Besides the shearing, there is the prep before you can spin. Wash, comb, then spin. Within a few years we had what seemed like a couple decades worth of raw wool. Shetland is one of the finest, softest wools there is, more so than Moreno. Mohair is very soft and fine but a bit trickier to spin due to the fact that it does not have the tiny scales on the hair shaft like wool that helps it grip together. Love in Christ from Oregon!

[@beckisublett7287]

Do you cook your 100% grass fed beef differently??? Last year I helped a girl out with a beef share from an Amish farmer. She had a girl drop out at the last minute. We got a quarter beef. It has been tough! The ground is good but steaks are tough. Slow cooked roasts are ok.

[@restoredhopediy]

I have been enthralled by the BBC series taking you through several decades of UK farming. In the Victorian Farm Series, they talk a lot about the book “The Book of the Farm” by Henry Stephens. Absolutely fascinating how he put his life’s work in rural agriculture during the late 1700s - 1800s in a written manual that farmers used as their Bible. I have learned so much and not even homesteading! Truly a great resource you may want to read, but do not forget to binge watch the BBC series…you will get engrossed.

[@harvestenthusiast4519]

Okay so ear tagging is an option, But I'm not a fan of that just because you know earrings. Not sure what your plan is, but putting collers on individual lines is an option or maybe put in a drop of different color natural food derived die on their heads you can tell them apart unless you're gonna separate all your lines.💖 Anyway I'm excited about the upcoming journey I've been looking forward to the sheep's beginning.

[@stephanieflowers2783]

I watched this while tweaking my garden plan for 2024 😂 and now I want to add all of the animals 😂😂. Thankfully my husband is a little more levelheaded than I am and reins me in when I would dive in head first and probably get us in over our heads. So we’re just going to beef up our food production and aim to rely at least 50% less on the grocery store.

[@samanthaw1419]

There's lots of sheep pastured around me (uK) they don't get any shelter, except for old stone walls. Lambs are adorable, at golden hour they run around playing, having a fabulous time..I know a few people around here who can no longer eat lamb 😁

[@simonehaughton6685]

Love your stories 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣. It usually means something big is about to happen so I'm always patiently waiting for the end.

[@inthegarden1917]

Hey Jess, loved the video. Glad to hear you are getting St. Croix sheep. I have been wanting them for a year now, just need to work some things out on the property first. I hope you and Miah will closely take us along to show everything. This will help me as as well as others for sure.thanks for sharing. Have a blessed day.

[@mbh0422]

Do you sell your Alpaca fiber or spin it up? Spinning is my next rabbit hole I might jump down. Currently I am a knitter. ❤

[@pmarphotog]

Hey Jess! Amazing vid! Can I get a link to your jacket? It’s amazing!!!

[@christinelarkin8054]

You don't need any grain to have dairy cows. I've milked jerseys for 7 years, they get no grains. I have found they stay in better condition, without graining. They get grass and a type of legume types of hay. But mainly grass.

[@arielweinman1015]

I ended up getting 4 ewes, 3 ewes lambs (a ram lamb) and a ram from a friend. I wasn’t quite ready but it all just worked out. We had been talking about it a while and it all just came together. I too am Ram shopping since my ram is the sire to my ewe lambs I would like to keep. My little flock has been a fun addition to our farm.

[@niferca]

I'm happy for you! I love your animal discussions and updates while I'm in my waiting room.

[@amandarasmussenmann1096]

If you have weaners available between April and June next year I would love 3 please!!! ❤ How do you list them?! Your newsletter?

[@seasonandsprout2213]

girl, same with the toxic trait lol. as im listening, im looking up how to build chicken tractors. 😂 cause “i can do that by myself” 😂😂😂😂

[@Chet_Thornbushel]

Hair sheep are a bucket list goal of mine. I’m curious since you didn’t mention it and you were talking about fiber work- do you have any plans with the sheep hides? I know hair sheep are preferred for leather and while tanning is not a job I ever see myself diving into…I do hope to be able to find a local leather worker who would buy our hides. It would be awesome to have them utilized and being able to offset a bit of the finances would be a major bonus as well!

[@jenniferrawles2989]

Thank you Jess for inviting us into your world and helping us learn. Not sure if I will ever get my farm so I live and learn through you. Many blessings.

[@valerieellison2483]

Someday in the far future when you get wool sheep, you should look into rat-tailed varieties like icelandic and finn sheep. They are less likely to end up flyblown.

[@jessicaalonsonorton7366]

Thank you for sharing your process! I always learn new information from your videos.

[@greenrockgarden2851]

So glad to hear you say that you would use whatever modern medicine in a life or death situation. That does not make them dependent on modern medicine. Taking care of them that way is loving them and is humane. It doesn’t matter what people did a hundred years ago. We are more advanced. So are bacteria, viruses and insects.

[@mikkileon6380]

WOW 🤩 👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 ♥️♥️♥️

[@waderue]

well this is what I always wanted to do is have 100 acres here in my home state of Montana and I would build my house and my barn and shop and then I have chickens for eggs and butchering and then each year I buy a bucket cafe and piglet and then next and when the first bucket calf and pig I bought was 3 year old after me feeding they would be butchered and each by a calf and piglet and I always thought about breeding and all that and I could do that but the cow and pig that do buy young would be feed and treaded and pampered and spoil the way i know how to get what i want out them so ya they will grass but also grain once a day until 2.5 year old then you grain roll oats and molasses and feed that so them to make then gain lots of weight and fat and that how i would do it

[@famous9222]

My mantra is "just because I can, doesn't mean I should"....

[@shootingstaracresva]

Actually we are in central Virginia and they do fine. It's get sheared in the springtime and by the time they have a full coat again it is fall. Their coat acts as insulation both in the summer and winter.

[@heidigib01]

I saw a show on European jerseys that are grass fed, larger, and very docile. Is it feasible for you to grow oats, corn, etc for grain?

[@CoNeSol]

I had to stop listening because of that damned rooster - its a real pity as i would've liked to have heard what you were saying.

[@nancycy9039]

Love to hear about your processes. Bless you ❤

[@dawnhamilton197]

I always say “I can do that!” And my husband always says, “you have too many irons in the fire now!”

[@sarahleehazel24]

Baby bunnies is my top cutest baby animal (once they are like 2-3 weeks old)

[@MsJuliah1]

When we had our Nubian goats their milk was so rich we were able to make ice cream with their milk with no supplementary cream.

[@roseannekinney6942]

My son says there are two kinds of people. Those who say 'big stretch ' and sociopaths.😂

[@NiekiNeill]

You should you get some fiber rabbits. A pet plus a little fiber to play around with.

[@cheryljessup358]

Jess did you knit your beautiful hat? If you did I am interested in what pattern you used!

[@LHines-y1i]

Have you ever watched "Sandi Brock" here on KZbin?

[@melissasekely5107]

I just saw a video of an older rancher and he said that before all the dewormer everyone grew tabacco and that’s what he’s always used.

[@renabuckner8]

I watch a lot of Sandy Brock.She does raise a lot of lambs . She also sells the wool. Check her out!

[@GinxHorne]

@rootsansrefugefarm. Jess I'm so super excited for your new flock. I pray all goes well. Your understanding of organically pasture raised bloodlines/herds/flocks are spot on. Good luck with your breeding program. God bless you and yours from South Africa.

[@limingunicorn]

You are so relatable! I am also an "I can do that myself... no problem!" type of girl lol

[@debbierohan4968]

Lambs arethe most beautiful little creatures! Youre going to love them!!

[@GypsyBrokenwings]

Lol.. you love fiber... have you considered a plot for linen?

[@katherinebragg9166]

Jess, you realize that was sheep math you were doing right there right? Lol

[@nikkityson8170]

Run your sheep with the beef cattle, and the sheep will make the pastures better for the cows

[@heavenly-dreamsdairygoats]

Jess, you know how much you can take, but I feel you about talking yourself out of things. I see myself growing out of where we are, so I have to remember it. We are going more as raising our own. Meat rabbits, dairy goats, eggs, meat chickens and turkeys. Growing our garden and having a good size for us orchard. I'm so Thankful to do all we have gotten too. God is great. Thank you for sharing. God Bless

[@maryschrader7846]

We could learn the benefits of stretching from the animals.

[@DianaGunderson-d4c]

You Jess are such a joy ❤

[@julimolloy2468]

I say "oh that's a big stretch for a small fuzzy!" to our cats ❤😊

[@tiffany02020]

Love these kinda check ins. It helps me too to hear ur thought process and looking at my own animals. I always appreciate your down to earth attitude and approach.

[@Pennyprofitgardens]

I do agree that baby goats are way up there on the cuteness factor but what about kittens and ducklings you can not deny they are also way up there on the cuteness scale

[@melissadeegan6981]

I raised Suffolk when i was young and they were very hardy

[@kellswitch]

Can you tell us what grains you feed your Jersey cows?

[@sagehillfarms]

Thank you for sharing. Praying for you and your family. ❤

[@kimberlydevlin5227]

Just curious. Have you thought of growing your grain?

[@joelc9421]

😂😂😂Glad I am not the only one that immediately thinks I can make that.

[@sweetcandubandu]

i always say "big stretch" too when animals stretch lol

[@heartsdreamshomestead8930]

I definitely said "oh big stretch" today

[@carolozbolt5118]

My head spins thinking about all of the things you do! You are amazing!

[@Honkey-Donkey]

Funny enough, I have the same toxic trait.