Her Backyard Garden in the City is Feeding Her Neighborhood (Vonnie's Homestyle Cafe)

[@grannygranw1739]

Hi Vonnie, you don't belong out on a big plot alone, you have to much to share with all of us!

[@BreakingNewRoots]

She is such an amazing teacher! We are so blessed to have met her in person and she hopefully will keep teaching us things as we settle into our new property!

[@teresaminnick2252]

I love this down to earth interview with this woman! I love recycle gardening. She is awesome! And don’t we All love our Jessica Sowards???

[@caryoakie2003]

Yes we do...Jess is the best!

[@vonniemerriam974]

@@teresaminnick2252 she's awesome for sure! Looking forward to spending time with her in NH next month!

[@teresaminnick2252]

@@vonniemerriam974 do you have a Facebook page or Instagram? I have to tell you how this interview affected me today

[@johnrosier1686]

This video kept coming up in my KZbin feed so I finally watched it. This is a real encouragement to be creative and cobble together whatever resources you can and make it happen. Way to go with looking out for her neighbors which also results in great relationships with her neighbors too.

[@BreakingNewRoots]

Thank you so much! Vonnie is a one of a kind human being! We appreciate her so much!

[@anniejefferson7329]

Neighbors helping neighbors. Like when I was a kid. Great job both of you ladies. ❤

[@BreakingNewRoots]

Absolutely!! ❤️

[@vanessaknight2523]

Thank you to Breaking New Roots for sharing this story ❤

[@BreakingNewRoots]

Thank you!! ❤️ Vonnie is so great!!

[@vanessaknight2523]

@@BreakingNewRoots I've been personally blessed by her many times. She is a long time family friend ❤️

[@BreakingNewRoots]

That's awesome!!

[@ericataylor1708]

Awesome story. Thanks for sharing 😊

[@BreakingNewRoots]

Thank you so much!!

[@teresaminnick2252]

She built community

[@BreakingNewRoots]

Yes she has!

[@albertnett7864]

Fun video.

[@BreakingNewRoots]

Thank you!!

[@barbaramccune9383]

This is Beautiful thank you

[@BreakingNewRoots]

Thank you so much!! ❤️❤️

[@reginarenoude1098]

I have watched this several times! What a wonderful lady that shows God's love through gardening

[@BreakingNewRoots]

Thank you!! She sure is a gem!

[@champagnegardening5182]

What a beautiful story. God is definitely using her. Jess was also one of the first KZbinrs I watch many years ago.

[@BreakingNewRoots]

Yes! Vonnie is a gem for sure!

[@juliepoolie5494]

I got chills when she talked about the grape vine and her neighbor. Beautiful.

[@BreakingNewRoots]

Me too!!

[@hilltophomeplace6802]

Wonderful visit with a sweet soul that already seems like a friend. What a blessing she is to her community. 🙏❤️

[@BreakingNewRoots]

She’s such a blessing to everyone! Doing so much for her neighbors!

[@lanabisson2675]

Vonnies story is similar to mine.. I moved to Western Ky from Texas to be near mom to help her with Dad who had dementia... I left a job I waited to get after raising 7 kids.. I left a home with a beautiful cottage garden.. When I moved here.. My season was to help care for my dad. when he passed. I thought what now... Now I have a bigger and more bountiful garden than I ever dreamed. All because one little lady walking by my house with a walker and her little dog, told me that my flowers were the reason she got out of her house and got her exercise in.. At that time.. I was lost on my purpose..God answered my prayers and told me that day what my purpose was. since then people have stopped by to tell me how healing my garden is for them.

[@BreakingNewRoots]

That is absolutely amazing! We are so grateful to have met Vonnie and give her a platform to share her story because when we first talked on the phone. She had us inspired to find our reasoning again!

[@vonniemerriam974]

Lana and Olivia...you both just answered my "why". God bless you both.

[@lanabisson2675]

@@BreakingNewRoots Vonnies story touched my heart. I feel she and I are kindred spirits. I too find great joy in helping the community out with the garden, flowers and veggies. I love how she uses the garden for a healing place by giving. she is such a refreshing joy to listen to and giving God the glory for it all.

[@BreakingNewRoots]

The garden is such a great place for healing and she uses hers well!

[@vanessaknight2523]

What an amazing woman you are Yvonne ❤ This is just amazing. My husband and I were so blessed and encouraged by this video.

[@CampfireKathy]

Hey Vonnie! I had a blast watching you talk about your garden and life in Christ! Everything is beautiful along with you! You are a huge blessing to many with your sweet spirit! And girl, you've got the gift of gab...you need to start your own channel! I believe I heard you say you were making Keifer Cheese. I just started making Keifer and I'd love to make some cheese. Can you teach me or show me a person to watch, please! 😘😘😘

[@vonniemerriam974]

Is that you, my Texas friend? Thanks for your kind words. And making Kefir cheese is as simple as straining out the whey from the kefir solids through cheesecloth or muslin. If you strain it for a day, you get soft cream cheese consistency. Resourceful Me drilled holes in the bottom of a plastic mesh vegetable bowl that fits perfectly into a gallon sized ice cream tub to make a cheese press. I lined it with cheesecloth. Topped it with a big plastic ricotta container lid then weighted it with my full ceramic sugar canister... 5 lbs. Turned it everyday for about 3 days til all the whey drained out, then placed it on a paper plate uncovered in my fridge to dry and harden. It gets the consistency of Parmesan tho much tangier from the kefir. Cheap and easy! Just how I like doing everything! Blessings my friend!

[@MrTankfarmer]

She's quite the fighter. Very interesting and well-done video. THANK YOU!♥

[@BreakingNewRoots]

Thank you so much! She is truly an inspiration!

[@heidiDonato]

deffenetly near watertown

[@dhansonranch]

Loved this interview! Lovely yard Vonnie! And love your outlook on it all! If you were closer I'd give you a big ole hug! Thank you for stopping in to visit with her Olivia! Well done!

[@BreakingNewRoots]

Yes! Vonnie is so great!

[@vivhall6198]

Hi Vonnie! I'm Viv! Thx for sharing your beautiful homestead, your beautiful heart, and the truth of the Word Of God! He blesses us so very much as we step out in obedience to Him, doesn't He? Praying for the sweet favor of the Lord to continue resting on you!

[@BreakingNewRoots]

[@vonniemerriam974]

Thank you Viv! May your blessing return twofold upon you!❤

[@WickedAwesomeGardening]

That's hilarious! Because just about that same point in 2019 I found that same video from Jessica Sowards. That might have been the second video I think the first was cantaloupe in kiddie pool, but that kicked off a major change in my life too. Same time, same woman lol! And I mention it in my interview for this channel too! 😂 Jess has touched so many lives!

[@BreakingNewRoots]

Yes she has! So cool!!

[@vonniemerriam974]

Yes! And I can't wait for the NE Homesteading Gathering to hug her neck yet again! Hope to see you there!

[@WickedAwesomeGardening]

@@vonniemerriam974 I'll be there and I'll look for you! Its a small gathering so shouldn't be too hard to find each other!

[@gardenswithgrace]

So very inspirational! I’m not crying, you’re crying. 😭 Thank you for sharing this!

[@BreakingNewRoots]

She really is! Her energy is infectious! ❤️

[@marilynclayton3430]

💚

[@williamgreen6889]

Very impressive woman, such good vibes. A very old soul. Love this.

[@BreakingNewRoots]

She is such an incredible human being!

[@Jetrovato62]

So excited to hear all the wonderful inspiration and information in this interview! Love Yvonne’s heart and her unwavering trial and error approach…. I am more excited to try again myself! Thank you for sharing your journey and caring for the people that God has brought near to you! They are blessed !

[@BreakingNewRoots]

She is truly a person we should all try and strive to be! Just meeting her was truly amazing!

[@vonniemerriam974]

@@Jetrovato62 that you are more excited now to try yourself is an answer to my prayer that sees would be sown into the ready soil of the hearts of many viewers! Thank you!!!

[@lisalehmann7558]

Love Vonnie, God Bless

[@BreakingNewRoots]

She is awesome!!

[@crunchfam56]

Vonnie is my friend, gardening buddy and mentor and sister in the Lord. Great interview!

[@BreakingNewRoots]

I'm so glad you have someone as great as her! She is special!

[@vonniemerriam974]

@@BreakingNewRoots This is my gardening buddy Sandy who ventured into straw bale gardening with me post-mastectomy.

[@BreakingNewRoots]

Oh that's awesome!

[@crunchfam56]

@@BreakingNewRoots And still at it. I have 12 bales and grow tomatoes and hot peppers. I have 2 GreenStalks. One with lettuce, kale, green beans, micro dwarf tomatoes, nasturtium, basil, and one full of ever bearing strawberries.

[@BreakingNewRoots]

wow! That's great!

[@hickmanma]

You are the best neighbor ever 🥰

[@deborahmingolelli7376]

Beautiful backyard! Amazing story that I can vouch for

[@BreakingNewRoots]

It really is! Her backyard was rocking out! Growing so much food in such a small space!

[@debralarosa353]

She shares my heart❤

[@BreakingNewRoots]

She is full of so much love and it shows!

[@CherylFox-z9s]

Very impressive garden! Vonnie is a friend of mine with such a great heart! Thanks for finding her and sharing her story.

[@BreakingNewRoots]

She is doing some amazing things back there and she has so much wisdom to share!

[@FloridaGrownAdventure]

Thank you for sharing this woman’s story with us. She has inspired me very much and I love her gentle and kind energy.

[@BreakingNewRoots]

Absolutely!! Her energy bleeds through so amazingly! She is such a great person!

[@mainegardenguy703]

Let me know if yall head to Maine. I've got some unique places I'm growing food and hope to eventually homestead.

[@BreakingNewRoots]

We thought we were going to but we have decided to stop traveling full-time and are looking to settle down in North Carolina. We are still going to do farm tours and will continue our channel but you may start to see videos about us and our personal farming journey. :)

[@vonniemerriam974]

@mainegardenguy Are you coming to the New England Homesteading Gathering in Swanzey, NH in September? I'll be there hanging with my friend Jess and plan on driving over to fish in Saco after. Really looking forward to revisiting Maine. It's beautiful and has been decades since my one and only visit!

[@eclecticbasil]

She is amazing. This is also my little dream. Good for her!!!!

[@anniebancroft1175]

Very inspirational! Vonnie's thankfulness and love for others shines thru everything she does.

[@BreakingNewRoots]

It really does! She’s such a beautiful soul! Always willing to help everyone!

[@heidiDonato]

i just started fermenting food

[@BreakingNewRoots]

We definitely will start learning that process!

[@tireddad6541]

And good for you and delicious. Our family is doing a little.

[@BreakingNewRoots]

We love fermented foods! Just can't wait to do it ourselves!

[@saraschneider6781]

What's Vonnie's channel?

[@BreakingNewRoots]

She doesn't have a channel, she just shares on her personal page and in the groups she is in on facebook. :)

[@heidiDonato]

thats sorta near me

[@BreakingNewRoots]

That's awesome!