Evening Garden Walk (It's important to grow food) | 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.
*********************
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: rootsandrefuge.com
- Sign up for our newsletter: rootsandrefuge.com/yt-signup
- Join our Patreon to get early access to podcasts and other information, plus monthly LIVES with me and Miah: / rootsandrefuge
- Abundance+ (Grab a FREE 7-day trial): rootsandrefuge.com/yt-wilder-...
- Shop our Stickers & Shirts: rootsandrefuge.com/yt-shop
- Order my first book, "First Time Gardener": rootsandrefuge.com/yt-ftgbook
- Order my second book, "First Time Homesteader": rootsandrefuge.com/first-time...
- Instagram: roots_and_refuge
- Facebook: / rootsandrefugefarm
- Email Us: [e-mail]
- To drop us a line:
PO Box 4239
Leesville SC 29070
- To have a gift sent to our house from our Amazon wishlist: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls...
- To support us through PayPal: www.paypal.com/paypalme/jessi...
Music on this video is by Daniel Smith: / phillip_daniel_smith
**********************
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): rootsandrefuge.com/yt-greenstalk
- Squizito Tasting Room (Use code "ROOTS" for 10% off your order): rootsandrefuge.com/yt-squizito
- ButcherBox: rootsandrefuge.com/butcherbox
- Growers Solution: rootsandrefuge.com/growers-so...
- Neptune's Harvest Fertilizer: rootsandrefuge.com/neptunes-h...
#rootsandrefuge

[@Joyfulfarmer]

This year I felt called to expand my growing space to provide food to people - THANK YOU for the validation, Jess. We are out here, and we are working hard at growing, and we want to make things better.

[@tinabloomfield7228]

I expanded mine too ...now I'm questioning my sanity 😂😂😂

[@Joyfulfarmer]

@@tinabloomfield7228 lol!

[@kimberlyearly8918]

Same lol! We built eight new beds!

[@catracampolieto8989]

I added 23 five gallon buckets to grow along with my raised beds.

[@evafredriksson-lidsle4909]

Same!!! Glad to hear I'm not alone, I've questioned my sanity 😂.

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

Not enough credit is given to the intense satisfaction of growing, preserving, and cooking with your own food. This makes me happier than anything I did in my career(s)! The sense of well-being that comes from all this is impossible to quantify but I know I'll be doing it for the rest of my life.

[@karenl7786]

100% agree !

[@helentc]

Also agree. It can be incredibly hard work if growing a big garden, but the deep satisfaction and love I feel for the process is found in very few other places. I Hope to be doing it for the rest of my life....I always hope to be able to grow food!

[@gardenswithgrace]

Beautiful words of encouragement! When visiting my family on east coast during winter, and slowly trudging through the snow, my lovely daughter beautifully described how thankful she is for the cold and snow, and even when shoveling or scraping ice off her windshield, how grateful she is for this season. It is the winter that gives us spring. For without the winter she would not have her beautiful east coast landscape that she loves so much. As we walk and talk she has given me much to ponder. For it is the snow and season of rest that winter provides, and creates the perfect environment for plants to emerge in spring, leading to the lush fullness of of summer - with all the flowers in bloom, the huge canopy of the forest trees, the life abundant with fragrance and beauty. 🌱💕🌻 thanks seasons! Blessings and grace to you all!

[@kbjerke]

Every year I wonder why I bother attempting to grow a garden. And every year it gets a little bit better, a little bit larger, and then I remember. It's all worth it. Thanks, Jess!! ❤❤

[@kathymcmc]

You are doing great. I read it takes 5 years to make a garden productive. It took me 8. LOL

[@kbjerke]

@@kathymcmc Thank you. It's been more like 22 years in this location, which I hope will be my retirement homestead! It's a never-ending, and progressive journey! Stay well!

[@joanneganon7157]

Hey Jess, my Holy Basil went to seed amediatly! I've been picking it and picking it back. I noticed yours has gone totally to seed? I was under the impression that if I left it, it would change the taste? Hoss makes a Weeder on a pole handle that tears the weeds up! Your killin it ❤. JO JO IN VT 💞

[@kbjerke]

@@joanneganon7157 It's been a strange spring season here too! ALL of my radish, daikon, and pak choi IMMEDIATELY bolted and went to seed!! And my beets are stunted. Potatoes are growing well, as are tomatoes and my garlic is HUGE!! So all in all, I can't complain. Wish the acorn squash would get going, though. Stay well!

[@joanneganon7157]

@@kbjerke oh no my Pak Choy is just coming up! I guess I have too be prepared for either White Flies or bolting! I'm glad you have some things doing well🐦. JO JO

[@Jules1280]

Hi Jess! I just want to say Thank you because you gave me the courage to plant an inground garden and I did for the first time in my life and I am 61 years young. I was squealing the other evening to my husband that we have tomatoes, peppers, cucembers, eggplants, sugar snap peas, chives and basil all growing and producing in our 1st time ever inground garden. I have been trying for the last 4 or 5 years to try container gardening and it just wasn't working for me. Thank you for being a postive light and ever encouraging person who really cares about people and staying the storms. Thank you for being patient and kind. Love, Light and Peace!! Cheers!

[@lcostantino7931]

HAPPY 4th to all ..we still have r freedom to plant r gardens .....blessing to all....

[@camicri4263]

@@lcostantino7931 you too, thanks

[@camicri4263]

Keep it up @Jules1280! I am 61 as well and got chicks for the first time in my life! Although my husband is not happy with me getting them, I think he will be when will get eggs 🤗🙏

[@Jules1280]

@@camicri4263 Thank you for the props! Yes your husband will see the light when you make him some fried or poached eggs. That's my next step. I want fresh eggs. We used to get them from a local person but she stopped selling them recently. We would get duck eggs too. Those are better than chicken eggs. The yokes are like a heavy cream texture and so rich. Good luck!! Love, Light and Peace! Blessings!

[@alysonf87]

“The very thing we should appreciate the most can be entirely overwhelming.” 🙌🏾 Preach! Trying to make that choice everyday to be in an appreciative mindset.

[@darrenc9607]

I just love it when you wish freshly sprouted plants a happy birthday.

[@randaposey7817]

I just wanted to say thank you for mentioning the time when your kids were little. I’m in my survival era with 2 under 2. (One of them being a newborn) and I want to have a garden so badly but didn’t this year because I knew I didn’t have the capacity to be out in such heat with babies. I found your channel after my first year gardening when I was on the search of the reason why my garden failed so epically. I finally felt like I understood the garden when I became pregnant with my first and since then I haven’t had the chance to have the garden I’d dream of having. That + pregnancy hormones made me so sad, then I met you and have followed you since and feel secondhand happiness with the abundance you share with us. I’ve learned to embrace the now and know I will get to enjoy my dream garden later. Much love, from your old home in arkansas! ❤

[@freedomlover2358]

In the moment it feels like it'll last forever but one day they're all grown and you feel sad because it's over. Enjoy the days so you don't have regrets.

[@denisemusicnut]

I watched Leah’s homestead festival video this morning. I love what you had to say about relationships and stewardship of the Earth. Daniel’s prayer blew me away! I just want to add my voice to that prayer: I bless you until next time!

[@jessicarushing696]

"I'm going to look at it through appreciative eyes instead of overwhelmed eyes" 🙏 praying to live this out in my life.

[@slh9564]

You have a real talent to reach to a large audience with your words encouragement, I was moved by what you said today. I am a home gardener with 2 raised beds and a fairly large in ground garden. The pride I feel to be able to walk in my garden and pick whatever vegetables is ripe for dinner is a joy. The weather in addition to air quality, does effect the maintenance chores, but the fruit is still there for the picking. Gratitude is a under appreciated word.

[@katiengland1529]

Oh, Jess! I needed to hear this message today. I was recently layed off from my job so I have been home more than usual. However, I have been busy helping run our farm so the weeds have overtaken my garden. Thank you for the reminder to appreciate the abundance and overlook the wayward grass and weeds who are also prospering during this season. You provide such a clam and positive presence in my life and I can't even begin to tell you how your videos touch my heart and impact my life. I appreciate you!

[@erin9710]

This year, I planted a small garden, and I joined a local CSA, and I got my family involved. I'm so glad I did. Each year for the last 3, I have been taking baby steps towards a better life in the country. It's amazing just how good fresh local food tastes! You don't even need sugar or salt. The flavor is just there! I am tweeking a basil and strawberry recipe myself. So, I learned a recipe in the ball canning book for a strawberry lemonade concentrate, and as good as it is, it's probably not the best for my husband, who has type 2 diabetes. So, I decided to mix the basil tea and strawberry puree and a little honey. It's so good! No sugar is needed! Every day is just one more step, and I keep telling my self "just do the next right thing!"

[@Joyfulfarmer]

Thank you for the timely reminder to slow down. The burden of abundance, along with heat and pest pressure, can sure press on my garden and my soul. It can get pretty miserable out there - but there is still SO much beauty to fill our hearts with. We just have to slow down and notice, and have a heart of gratitude. 💚💚🌱

[@inyourveins]

My garden is very small right now because we don't have a huge backyard. Your videos are so inspiring to me because I've never had much purpose or desire to do something so important, as grim as that sounds. My sunflowers are 7-8ft tall now and I have pumpkins and watermelons and tomatoes growing. I feel fulfilled at the end of the day and I'm grateful for this season. ❣

[@RevLetaLee]

"Gardening IS so good!" And Amen Jess! You helped me realize I could grow food. Now I'm learning to cook and preserve, and even add some beauty to it. thank you!

[@kimberlyearly8918]

My garden isn't to the point of being overwhelming... yet. I'm just now seeing some tiny fruit appearing and it's really exciting. I know I'll be to the overwhelming stage before I know it though.

[@Anarchyacresfarmstead]

You have an art of moving me to tears from time to time, because you speak so much to my soul. Thank you for the continued encouragement.

[@MrsDebBee]

Oh Jess, I so needed to hear this today. As I am getting older, I can’t breath outside when it’s so hot and humid no matter how much asthma medicine I take and the garden and weeds are growing by leaps and bounds. Thank you for showing the weeds in your garden. They are just a part of the garden season too. And Jack (Jackson) is a grown man! Wow! When did that happened!!! For such a young person, I love your old soul 😍

[@DisneyRunner]

I love that you show us that it's PERFECTLY OK to not have a perfectly weeded garden... it's really ok! Just grow something you love and enjoy the process..look for the lovely...thank you Jess...

[@hannahrosefl]

I can't express how much I needed to see your weeds today. This is my first year in ground gardening and I'm dying. Can't keep up, completely overwhelmed, exhausted, hurting in places I shouldn't hurt and all I could focus on was the overwhelm. Thank you for showing me grace. I greatly needed it today.

[@monarchkitty]

I doubled my in ground this year.🤣🥵😅 That's as big as it's going to get for a while. It's taking me over and worth it, but Oh my goodness!

[@jugglinglifewithpurpose]

Your comment on “making it a choice to appreciate the moment and growth and not to be overwhelmed “so sparked joy of hope for me. 😄❤️ I will take that advice and apply not only to weeds in my garden, but to motherhood and life as well.

[@lorrihernandez341]

It’s such a blessing to see you looking so much healthier and strong!! ❤

[@ginnysulya9805]

In my cool house watching this video but getting ready to harvest the beginning of my bouquet season for our church outreach to our community! All the sweat, bug bites and hours spent in the garden when a sweet lady is blessed because no one has never given her flowers before! What a blessed life I get to live in my retirement years! Watching the beauty of creation bless the heart of another human being who’s heart meets mine as we gaze at the beauty God created for us to enjoy! Thanks Jess, definitely counting my blessings! 🙌🙌🙌💖💖💖

[@jayneward6649]

I always go to the clearance section, I call it crash bay, I love getting plants from there & turn it back into a beautiful plant, so satisfying to watch it come back to life with tlc 🌷🌿🌷🌿🌷🌿

[@jobrown7647]

Hey Jess - thank you for all that you do. I live in BC Canada and have been growing food for 40 years or so. In this video you have touched on subjects that I have spent quite some time considering theoretically and physically dealing with as a gardener. Experiencing the changes in our food system over the years brought me to the conclusion that local food production is the way out of the mess. In our little valley alone we have gone from one or two farms 40 years ago where we could source local food to now over 20! Wild and wonderful. In 2021 we had a significant fire season here - we were literally surrounded by forest fires and the smoke was surreal. In the mornings I would go outside and wonder what planet I was on - it sure didn't seem to be dear old Earth. What I noticed at the end of that gardening season was an abundance I have rarely seen here. I believe the smoke blocked a lot of the uv radiation from the sun and the plants responded with amazing growth and production. Strange huh? Not that I wish those conditions on folks but it sure wasn't what I expected. My darling husband has just built shade structures for my outdoor tomatoes and peppers. I grow most of my tomatoes and peppers outside and in past recent years I have noticed they just do not do well. We have hotter and drier conditions now than in the past. I am using 30% shade cloth as recommended by several US Universities. We can adapt - it is what we are really good at as human beings. Here's hoping for a lovely tomato and pepper harvest for us. Thanks to you I am growing Shishito peppers for the first time and I will try your recipe. You are a young lass and have taught me so much - I've been following you on KZbin pretty much since you began. Thank you.

[@beccanorman5043]

This is my first big garden, and my first year producing enough food for my family to eat fresh meals not just for snacking. These past few weeks I have so overwhelmed, about life, this was everything I needed today. Thank you for helping motivate and teach ❤

[@Shestumbledin]

Oh Jess, I’ve been watching you for a few years now, and we are such different humans, with such different lives and yet… I absolutely adore you and your beautiful nature, and your love for Mother Earth and your love for teaching. I’m 60 now and growing into my thrive time, thanks in part to you.

[@LisaSerrano-jl3xb]

My ambitions have been huge for the 2023 Garden Season and started out with such great conviction but weather and life got in the way. Recharging and taking things with a grain of salt, is my new motto. Don’t lose sight of the beauty of the simple things we grow. It will be beautiful even if the scale is not what you hoped for. Quality vs quantity!

[@karenl7786]

I fully realized last year that gardening, growing food, nourishing the earth and plants and life that in turn nourishes us, it is a way of life, a particular reality, to understand this changes everything. It wonderfully, gloriously changes everything.

[@joytotheworld2100]

You are timely with your message. I got 1 flat of tomatoes, 1 flat of melon & 3 flats of petunia plants free. They had to be planted today. It was rough, I am tired & sore. It's worth the work, always worth the work. Thanks Jess

[@WelcometomyCapeCodlife]

I am in agreement with you that gardening is the answer. Of course not everyone can do that as we know, but those of us who can do it should. I just have a backyard with raised beds and some chickens, but have enough to share my excess with family and friends. Thanks for another insightful video.

[@samanthaquant7411]

You never fail to help me adjust my attitude - appreciative eyes instead of overwhelmed ones

[@jamesbrown8718]

Jessica you inspire me every time I watch your videos, you give such encouragement to me who struggles so much in believing that I can grow a successful garden. I have struggled all year with my tomatoes, cucumbers and just everything. But I didn’t give up, I kept replanting tomatoes, cucumbers until I got a harvest. Got so many cucumbers right now. And my tomatoes are starting to come on just waiting on them to turn. But everything my mom helped me with has grown and flourished like crazy I told her next year I was going to have her plant everything in my garden. But just your encouragement in growing food has been so uplifting and has helped me. I get so tired of hearing everybody talking gloom and doom I got to the point I don’t watch them anymore. The lord will take care of his people, and he will provide for us but he has given us command sense to help ourselves in ways to make it as well like grow a garden, to put away for a rainy day or a dry season when you can’t grow things. I learned that a few years back and have been putting away things.

[@stephanieg5195]

And to add on to what you were saying, it feels so good to be able to share your abundance of veggies!

[@OrganicMommaGA]

Truly! Bringing back real community is essential to buffer the impact any kind of "supply chain shortages" could cause. Those who can, should. Whether it's growing/producing in excess enough to supplement or bless even one other family, it is wonderful! Our garden and the few hens we raise for eggs have blessed neighbors, friends, and family members outside our home. Maybe it's not more than enough for a meal or two, but it is something they did not have to spend their money or time to obtain from the store, which enabled them to breathe a little easier for that meal or two. Maybe it allowed them to try making refrigerator pickles or freeze some vegetables for later or make their own pasta (with eggs)... Maybe it allowed them to try a new food to find out if they wanted to try to grow it. It's amazing what a big impact a small number of families can make on a multitude of other families who aren't able (yet) to grow or produce their own food.

[@lustraveller717]

Can I just say - I love you. You are so positive and such a good influence. You truly are a blessing. Thank you.

[@rachelallen9113]

Like most people here say, you are definitely an inspiration! I love growing more than I need to be able to share with friends, neighbors, and family. It’s my sneaky way to get them to eat better, more nutritious food. They are all my family and better health means they’ll be with me longer. 😁

[@julieanderson5184]

Hospice rack!!! ❤😂 I have a Toady in my garden every year. For myself, unless I have a wild toad in my garden every year I I feel I'm just not successful organic gardener. I used to have one that would come up every year and I could give it a good scratch with some long grass stems and he would lift his legs for a better scratch!😂

[@paulinerichter6639]

Always enjoy *strolling* through your garden, and the words of wisdom you share!

[@winniallison5857]

I am 73 I have a young couple with 2 little girls helping me make a garden on my 5 acres . I would not have this beautiful garden with out their help. I have a little girl eating wild strawberries and huckleberry in my back yard. What joy.

[@melissakarner6707]

You are an inspiration. I was just feeling like this today. I’m in zone 9b and it reached 114 today with 5% humidity. Everything in the garden was wilting even with shade cloth and some double shade cloth. I’m like why am I doing this? It’s so darn hot. I thought of all the little birds and hummingbirds that come to my plants for food and shade hiding under my okra and cowpeas that are growing crazy. I love nature and growing our own veges. Thanks for your inspiration.

[@lucyblais5067]

I’m in the survival mode of this life, with a farm and two small children, but they are just old enough that my garden is really possible this year. Thank you. I feel seen. ❤

[@WinkTartanBelle]

I know petunia towers are all the rage right now, but my tower of sweet alyssum is not only visually stunning, it's also very fragrant and calls in pollinators for miles! I planted it with dark purple at the bottom and arranged the colors to be an hombre' fading into white at the top. This particular Greenstalk is the lovely sage green color, and it truly sets these plants off to advantage. I also planted a pale stone colored one with portulaca and grey wormwood (artemisia). It's in a very hot location under full north Texas sun, so I needed something there that would take the punishment. So far, so good, and it looks very refreshing despite the heat. I have to keep the wormwood pruned pretty heavily, but I use that as a medicinal herb, so it's actually a good thing.

[@saracobaify]

I’m down in south Texas 👋 I wonder if I could replicate your idea down here without it being punished 😅

[@WinkTartanBelle]

@@saracobaify you could sure try, neighbor! I’d advise: Shade. Probably need twice daily watering. Pick the right plants. Good luck!🍀

[@saracobaify]

@@WinkTartanBelle thanks! Happy gardening 💕

[@KTBFT3]

The hospice rack is how I've landscaped my yard. Love it

[@susanwright3843]

I'm starting to think of growing food as self-care and self-love. Being able to take care of myself and loved ones just feels good. You're growing a whole lot of love there, Jess! ❤

[@wyogurly]

Amusingly the easiest year for my garden. We never get rain and it hasn't stopped. The absolute luxury of water.

[@annewest7429]

Been singing "It's the Most Wonderful time of the year" every time I walk through my garden.😊

[@permieforlife]

Love what you said at the end of this video. I remember my grand parents garden and how much I loved it. I remember the canning and freezing. I live in the suburbs, but every inch of dirt I have is dedicated to growing food, now.

[@Wellnessuntamed]

You are so kind. I call the “hospice” rack “ death row” 😂 I just saved a bunch of flowers from our Lowes’ death row myself!

[@metalmartha2571]

Absolutely beautiful! Earlier in my own garden when I listened to Jess’ devotional “what’s in your hand” Wise beyond her years♥️thank you for reminding us to give ourselves permission to push fear out of the garden. Mindful but not afraid.. always a good message to send out into the world. Just beautiful!

[@galeharris6696]

And people may not have the capacity NOW to grow their own food, but that's where turning your waiting room into a classroom may come into play. People can learn the skills of gardening and stewarding the land, even if they have to start out with containers, or in a community garden situation. I want to teach the skills I learned from my parents and my grandparents to other people, and you validate that by saying it's an important thing to do. Thank you, Jess.

[@Katsimagination21]

Every summer I grow the tomatoes, and the cucumbers,radish,carrots,onions,herbs and so many flowers, and every year I want to give away more and more! There is something so satisfying about sharing the bounty of the garden , ❤ Thanks for inspiring us to do so ❤

[@ourhomesteadclassroom]

You're speaking some serious truths in this one about the control we have over our own mindsets and the lenses we choose to to use when viewing our own lives. So much of life, and our happiness with it, simply comes down to how WE CHOOSE to look at it!

[@wildzenventures]

Your garden videos are so inspiring! I’m a newbie and often feel overwhelmed by it all, it’s always a nice reminder to slow down and enjoy the fruits of our labor! We hit up our Lowe’s every fall, The discount perennials 80% off and we’ve scored some great plants!

[@bradcarby3765]

There is no such thing as a newbie. Growing food is in your blood. You are only alive because many, many generations before you were able to sustain themselves with hard work and a deep willingness to overcome the obstacles put in front of them, as you will.

[@wildzenventures]

@@bradcarby3765 Thank you, I do agree with you, I was just trying to convey that I'm new to gardening, I appreciate her advice on overcoming those obstacles and teaching me other ways to do things in order to be more successful :). I enjoy learning and I've seen the need for years to grow our own food for health and abundance. I appreciate your advice.

[@tangie_nthegarden]

I was frustrated with those leaf footed bugs on my tomatoes and weeds taking over. Your videos are always right on time whenever I feel overwhelmed or frustrated with my garden. Thank you 😊this is your ministry ❤

[@kimberliebuffington910]

Your garden is stunning ....in all its glory. You are an inspiration to all. ❤

[@lisaspics1127]

The videos when you poor out your heart are always the best.

[@lindajones9191]

Such great analogies....losing the mother tongue, beeping smoke alarms.....thank you Jess! Blessing you back! ❤

[@reneepiercey4644]

I just freaking love you Jess!! You have pulled me out of some dark slumps. Every video you make always has an uplifting and empowering message. Thank you for all that you do! You make this world brighter!! Don’t ever stop! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@mamabear968]

Growing food is such a worthy endeavor! It has pulled me out of anxiety and depression so many times. It has it’s frustrations and hard times, without a doubt, but it brings me peace and security and so much joy ❤

[@mikelleschuetz4893]

Your comments and reflections always come right when I need them. Thank u!❤

[@user-zy8fy3xr2i]

Thank you for your sharing at the end of this video. You put words to exactly what I have been feeling. Thriving vs surviving 💪🌸🫑🍅

[@kmarshall53]

My tomatoes grew aggressively when we had several days of rain, and now it’s a jungle out there! I didn’t know how big they would get and planted them too close. My cucumbers are still struggling to get going. Peppers are tiny and have bug holes. Oh, well…I’ve learned a LOT! I’m so grateful to be able to garden and grow things on my tiny lot. Planning now for fall and filling in little bare areas. Eating lovely fresh salads, beans, carrots. Freezer is stuffed with strawberries for fall canning. The rain cleared our air, thankfully. Loving seeing your lovely gardens. 💗

[@jennenegludovatz3364]

Jess I love how you talk about managing being overwhelmed and taking time to enjoy your garden it has given this 30 yr gardener a different aspect🙏😊🇨🇦

[@samanthabirklid]

The clearance rack at Home Depot is my favorite section to shop in! I got a large Lupine plant for half off because it didn't have a ton of blooms left but once I got home and deadheaded it, it started growing new blooms again! So beautiful and a steal of a deal!

[@thepraticalgardener]

Your joy and love for the gardenis infectious. Thank you for reminding me to stop and enjoy the blessings too.

[@geanamarcum6449]

I live in Missouri and so far June was great weather wise, I finally got all my dirt and most my plants in the ground. My cucumbers are behind but no worries here! This has been my best year gardening so far and I already had next year planned out but my other half made me not want to garden anymore by the few mean words he used. This year was going to be my last garden even though I know how amazing it is and how much even he loves all the food, mostly my cherry toms and strawberries. Watching you walk around your beautiful garden makes me realize I shouldn't give up because he has some mean words but I should do it even bigger and better next year and show him why its worth it. Hes normally not mean but for some reason my garden is what he attacked that day and broke my heart but my garden is my therapy and shall forever be(: We grow alot of extra food for canning and for family that has no interest in growing. It looks overwhelming to everyone else but I can handle it and thats what matters and then I get to see all those smiles as people, mostly kids atm cause strawberries, eat all my wonderful food, also, Clearnce section is my best friend (:

[@tess5564]

Dear Jessica I needed this today. As a mama who is tired and having a hard time but full of love I needed this today so thank you so much for that. You are such a dear friend to me in my life.

[@Kelsohopeful]

Jess, this video made me so emotional. I think it's because my garden looks very similarly, currently. It's weedy, overgrown, and wild, wild, wild. I am currently getting my masters in counseling, and keeping the garden has been part job while in school. But, I am expanding because we want to grow more food, and trusting that it will be a beautifully, crazy mess. I feel same about growing food, and I have found myself looking at church land, public places, plants around traffic lights, and thinking about all the food that we could be growing with the earth for public consumption. So anyway, thank you for showing and highlighting the beauty in the chaos. I have been focusing on that this summer and trusting that it's all a beautiful dance that I don't always see until I'm looking in hindsight. Thank you for your encouragement today. My garden is keeping me filled up and serve while I serve others, it's like climbing a mountain, the view is always worth it. Blessed be friend.

[@kmarshall53]

I see empty spaces and fill them with gardens in my mind, too! 😄

[@charmainemrtnz]

I found my first tomato yesterday! I am grateful that I don’t have to rely on my garden alone to sustain us. I am outsourcing local farmers when I need to. Thanks Jess. God bless you and your family! 🙏🙏🙏

[@andreabalogh5967]

Thank you for showing us that when the days are hot and long with hard work that gardening is still worth it. It has been hot in our area as well, if it isn’t the deer, rabbits, chipmunks, or some other unknown creature, along with the birds it’s hard to harvest much. I keep growing anyway, maybe to feed the animals😂 The fences, cages, hoop house, even wire garbage baskets have a hard time keeping the critters away. Hoping to pick a few strawberries tomorrow and wrap the raspberry and grapes to protect the fruit. The potatoes are really good this year😊 blessings to all the gardeners. Happy 4th tomorrow

[@donaldtruster1064]

God bless you,you perspective on growing our own food& life with the grace of our Lord Jesus, along with the trials & difficulties that cross our path, along the journey, seeing the glory of it all,is such a blessing!

[@jo-annlanders1286]

Thanks Jess for the encouragement, Mid Atlantic region has struggled with a month of drought, days a code orange/red air quality and now humidity and rain, and yet my garden is thriving. Not all parts but enough. My hope is that it will kick it into gear as the summer progresses. session planting and planning for fall crops. Love your tomato experiment. Mine was potatoes. I planted 1st batch in a raised bed. dug up 9.7 lbs. 2nd batch is in a pile of woodchips with a soil trench on top and mulched with straw. the 3rd is in container bags with woodchips, soil and mulch straw. Have not dug up the last 2 yet. We will see. Hang in there everyone. ❤

[@rachelleenderle1326]

Jess.. your garden is breathtaking…weeds, overgrown, and all! Just give thanks to the Lord for the abundance of it all and include the weeds in that thanks because they prove it is a healthy environment to live 😊

[@linneastlouis9701]

After a disastrous garden in 2022 I went crazy on the seedlings and oh my gosh...this is too much for my damaged 75 year old body. I came into the house after some weeding and fixing the tomatoes and crying over my over weeded garlic garden and I watched this video. Thanks Jess.

[@ronnihatcher295]

Same. Girl. I am out enjoying the fruit of labor so to speak. I am out sitting enjoying a walk through the garden. Why do all the work and not stop and enjoy it even while there's more to do. Make time for enjoying what's there and dreaming/lightly planning what's to come with a relaxed feeling state. Yeah I need that just as much as working the garden times. I am so excited my cucumbers have finally flowered. In two days they went from nothing to beautiful flowers. I was surprised I didn't expect it. Thanking God for it all and then some too. 🙏 Enjoy the process even while your in the process because that's where life is in the still moments to take bake in the process of life. There's always more to do, but today is still a gift so take that time to enjoy. That's what I always live by. Instead of letting overwhelm and exhaustion steal my Joy and gift of today. It's kinda like the effects of child labor you remember it was difficult, but you look back fondly on the birth of your children. Similar to Gardening gives similar feelings and fondness. When winter hits I miss summer and the full garden everytime. Gardening is fulfilling. Hard yes at times, but well well well worth it. Enjoy it. Don't fear just enjoy gardening beginners and all. Garden not from fear, but from strength of a sound heart. Trust God it all including the garden will all work out to his plans. His plans are Good and perfect even if it don't seem like all is going to your plans. His are better. Waiting on the Lord is a better plan over all my plans.

[@hillarys.k8518]

Jess your heartfelt desire is so honestly you. So many times I read of these homesteading mom's (usually) that are so overwhelmed with thier dream not fitting thier reality. Homesteading is work . Raising children is work and doing both in times that are a challenge is scary. What you started with, was teaching people how to develop skills right where they are . Before they get their dream property. This is so important. Building skills doesn't need to wait, it can start right where they are. Having skills, cuts the uncertainty of your abilities in half. Basics. Learn basics.

[@MinnTee]

I doubled my garden space this year and I reaped the benefits when I had 3 different neighbors stop over for beautiful heads of romaine. Neighbors that I might only see a few times a year. One of them even stopped and sat on the porch with us for a bit. Not only am I growing great food, I am growing deeper and stronger friendships! Also, I wanted to say that when you started walking with the curved garden I gasps in the richness of it! I was so happy when you started to comment about the weeds, but then double-backed on yourself and said you were going to celebrate the good of it. I was literally telling you to look at the growth!

[@taraconroy6631]

So much glorious wisdom Jess packed into this blessed 25min and 26sec 🙏💗🙏

[@sunshinensprinkles9322]

Isn’t it funny how we are most critical of ourselves. When you walk around your garden you see weeds that need to be removed or areas that need improvement (along with the goodness). When I walk through your garden with you (via your camera and KZbin) I see nothing but beauty 😊.

[@kristinemagnien1]

Thank you Jess! This couldnt have come at a better time. I was having a bit of an anxiety attack with a huge sense of overwhelm yesterday. Watching your video allowed me to see the beauty amongst the weeds and the reminder of winter with the absolute longing for the garden . I just have to get through another weekend of butchering 120 chickens😊. Again, thank you!

[@gayleburnett4989]

The smell of holy basil is magical. I planted a basil bed earlier in the year, and now it is as beautiful as I imagined, but the smell is intoxicating!

[@jennykiest169]

Thank you!!! I really needed to hear this today! Happy Independence Day! Hope you all have a very blessed day!!!

[@dizzlecookie]

I've learned so much from you over the years! It's so comforting to hear you've been where I am in survival mode with the babies. I'm due with my 2nd in 2 weeks, the garden took a back seat this year. It's been a beautiful lesson in the fact that plants want to grow. The only things that are growing are volunteer tomatoes, I've only watered a couple times, and yet I just harvested my first cup of cherry tomatoes. I'm focusing on learning right now through books and videos but excited to get back to growing when I can. 😊

[@ulieg414]

Thank you so much for your inspiring words. It's true with the loss of language. My family of Spanish speakers, my first language, but through my growing years I forgot it. Just like the language of the earth, has been forgot. But with every struggle of remembering I find myself understand my language better, just like growing my garden. I look at my little garden, and sometimes feeling overwhelmed, but then I get so excited to see the fruit. The words "fruits of labor" really is worth struggling for, and it tastes so dang good. Keep practicing the language, and in time you'll be speaking full sentences of Earth's knowledge.

[@dawnmackay3394]

I plant hanging English Thyme and purple lobelia around the top of my Greenstalk, then rows of green and red lettuces...SO pretty! ❤

[@Mahseeful]

I think its very important now more than ever to grow our own food, and help share w our neighbors community. I truly think thats where humanity will go. We are all learning that the foods in our supermarkets have been poisoning us and a lot is deliberately. Rockefeller. I maybe preaching to the choir, I get the feeling you are awake to this, poisoned in every sector on earth here. Water, food, air, medical care etc. We will and are evolving. Thank you for everything you have taught and shared with us. You definitely have inspired me soo very much to grow my own. Its so fulfilling 💓 ❤

[@amandarasmussenmann1096]

I'm in the season of toddlers...I have 2.5 year old twins so this speaks to me deeply. My garden is my respite!

[@nikkibayo]

Your positive energy is so healing to listen to. I have a small vegetable garden, which is what brought me to your channel last year, but your words of wisdom in life in general is beyond helpful! I have 3 grown sons, ages 27, 25, and 20, so I remember to survival mode you speak of. We made it through, and it didn’t seem so bad on the other side of things. What helped me today, is my youngest son and his girlfriend purchased a puppy, and due to a variety of reasons, she was not able to take care of him, and so we took the little guy. I know it doesn’t sound like a big deal to most, but we’ve never had a pet, especially a puppy. A dachshund no less. Lol it has flipped our world upside down…in a good way, but I am truly exhausted. Lol the potty training, the everything!!!! No longer using the bathroom alone, having a new sleeping buddy…the list goes on. I love him dearly, but I find myself reminding myself that he’s a puppy, and this season too shall pass! Thank you for reminding me as well today!

[@lionheartfarmandgardening]

❤ I agree! We are all just working hard to provide our families, and the people/furry babies we care about, with the best life we can. Thank you for reminding me to slow down and look back at what it was before, to truly appreciate how much has come in, how much has grown! Jess, your gardens get more and more beautiful each day! Thank you for the reminder of looking back to see how much work we put in. I took am guilty of the go, go, go. I want it all to be done, but I know it never will be because I will always want to add things, change things. Especially since I've been a garden and health teacher for so long, but just started my channel, I will always have something to add haha! It's good to stop and enjoy it every now and then too! Keep being amazing! ❤❤

[@harrisjudy4819]

I call Tromboncino squash, the gift that just keeps on giving. My neighbors, lawn crew, and my postal carriers have all benefited from the abundance from two plants. Parts of it looks parched from a week of 98 degree weather and no rain but it is still growing and producing. A bird even built a nest on the trellis intertwined with its foliage . Every growing season is challenging and never the same. Different weather, different pests and different diseases. How boring it would be if every year was the same.

[@christabowmanworkmon1745]

I’m in the hard small human season so I needed to hear this from you today. The last couple days have been hard! Thank you for always speaking truth..❤

[@slighthouse1]

This year is hard, I am feeling over whelmed with being over 60 with a garden/yard that is too much for me to handle, plus, the wild fires are causing weekly events of air quality and it is expected to continue throughout the growing season. My plants are stunted but my tomatoes and peppers keep fighting the good fight so I will too. Slowly I am removing the areas of my yard/garden that cause me the heavy overwhelmed feeling and already I have a new vision of downsizing but still gardening and feeling more calm and ready to enjoy, not resent, my backyard world. Oddly I have found the most pleasure in my greenstalk this year, lol. My year is not the best but my border neighbors in Canada have it so much worse, my thoughts are with them. Blessings to all.

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

We saved a mini knockout rose from The Hospice (we call it the Dead and Dying) section at Lowes and it is Gorgeous now! She just needed a trim and a drink!

[@jamjar5716]

That shot at 18:48 from the curved rows looking back at the green house and pavilion and barn was gorgeous!

[@jac177]

I like how think and enjoy hearing you speak with passion. Thank you! Love gardening!!!

[@tayrenlabrecque252]

Thank you for acknowledging the need to localize your food, thank you for acknowledging that it is hard and not everyone can but man I just feel like those who can should! and if we are then we need to help those who can’t when did we stop being communities that need each other to pick up where we lack people are meant to live in packs and work together THANK YOU for all you are doing!!!!

[@ValerieCummisford-cw9wj]

BRAVO talk Jess! I love the big picture sermons you give. It’s especially good now, when the rain isn’t coming and the weeds are taking over. I have felt called to do something bigger in my waiting room and it’s so much of you and your videos that have made me feel encouraged to do it! I only had to buy rhubarb from the local farmers market yesterday, because everything else I already had growing in my garden. What an amazing feat!

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Wave petunias are my favorite! They smell amazing and get really full when deadheaded regularly ❤