His Secret Has Grown

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To learn more about Unwind, click here: www.wildweroam...
This week we tackle our homestead "junk drawer" which is an area of the property that kind of got turned into our storage area, but sadly also got completely overgrown with invasive plants. We've lost a bunch of important building supplies in that jungle, and want to recover it for our next big LIVESTOCK project : ) In other news, our guided visualization program "Unwind" is officially out, you can take a look at www.wildweroam... to see if it's a good fit for you. It's been incredibly transformational for the two of us to use this program every night, and the responses we've gotten already are blowing us away! And if you'd like to dip your toe into the world of guided visualization first, there's a FREE shorter track called "Stress Melt" available on our website as well: www.wildweroam...
Big love,
Lou, Dana, Max & Freja
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Guided Visualizations For More Relaxation In Your Life: wildweroam.com...
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[@WildWeRoam]

What a magical moment! Unwind is here - our guided visualization collection designed to help you transition from day to night ❤ if you want to learn more here's a link www.wildweroam.com/unwind cannot wait to hear what you think!! sending all our love, Dana & Lou

[@karafolkerts]

I've been following/watching you guys for YEARS and I have to say, to this day you are still some of my favourite youtubers. You are so incredibly genuine! You inspire so many by truly staying true to yourselves. Whether it's travel, van life, homesteading, creative pursuits, vegan to non-vegan. I'm so inspired and have nothing but utter admiration for you both!! Sending you so much love!

[@SarahHorner]

Knotweed is like an organic security system. Even a drone wouldn’t help someone spot what you’ve left in that field. 😂

[@amiram8182]

You are absolutely right. Lou does a great job bringing so much calmness to the videos. Everytime a video is posted I get so excited, because I know how much peace watching your videos will bring me. Love you guys and always supporting you both

[@WildWeRoam]

🥺🥺 gosh this note couldnt help but tear up reading it aloud to lou just now. we're both in the office while max naps and freja sleeps on the floor. this peaceful moment of the video launching was just made even better knowing how special it is for you too. thank you xx Dana

[@maheymans]

The Japanese weed, the more you touch it, the more it will grown. And just a little peace of it stuck in your machine can take anywhere else on your property ! Clean well your machines ! Here in Belgium it is the same. Very complicated plant. Thank you very much for your art and videos.

[@WildWeRoam]

thanks so much for all the info!! appreciate it :) japanese knotweed really is a tricky one! - Dana

[@ode_to_you]

That was such a sweet moment when Lou prepared the bath and set candles out for you, wow the love between yall is so beautiful

[@WildWeRoam]

aww i know 😊 😊 😊 feeling so lucky these days for life on the land with lou! xx Dana

[@ursamiklavcic9151]

Hey, I'm a biologist from Slovenia, where we also have a huge problem with the Japanese Knotweed, as the little bastard can propagate from any remaining twig you leave. The only solution we found was working in Ljubljana on the Castle hill was, first cutting the plant and covering the whole area with black plastic covering(so that the light can not get through) for I think it was more than a year. If you ever want to use this area and don't want the weed to spread to your other areas. And just a p.s. I love the intro, it reminds me of your time or building and traveling in the van :D

[@WildWeRoam]

thank you so much for this info !! super helpful :) and so special you remember those van life intros. we were missing that energy and this intro brought it back immediately!! xxx dana

[@ursamiklavcic9151]

@@WildWeRoam Could agree more! :)

[@Nathan-d8d]

Down here in the south we have kudzo and privit. Privit sounds like the knotweed. Very invasion, bit my sheep and goats love it!

[@stephanielee370]

I love how happy the discovery of the first blueberry made you! Lou made a lovely bath for you, so sweet!

[@WildWeRoam]

gosh such a special moment! thank you Stephanie :) blueberry season is one of my favorites xxx -Dana

[@lolosrainydays]

You are taking a big risk cutting that. In ireland we are told to never cut knotweed. If its found on public land the local council puts up signs saying "Japanese Knotweed Do Not Cut" and they inject the plant with herbicide. I know weed killers are bad but it wouod be worse if it took hold and affected native plants. Not sure what happens on private land.

[@tammyg679]

Dana, Max is growing up so fast! His face is growing out of his baby face and into a little boy. He is so precious! Lou did a good job with the candles! So relaxing!

[@WildWeRoam]

you're so right tammy! I feel like Max has transformed so much in the past few months :) it really is so special to witness him grow into a little boy. Sending all our love xx Dana

[@tammyg679]

@@WildWeRoam 🥰🤗

[@kittin9018]

Hi there Dana, Lou & Max😍, loving seeing your journey, a little known help for Japanese Knotweed are blight susceptible potatoes!...they also deal with bindweed too, simply plant the blight susceptible potatoes in and around your Knotweed/bindweed at normal potato growing spacing & let them do their job!...I don't have the reference to hand but have used older heritage potatoes for this purpose on my allotment with great results, wherever there was a heritage potato, there was no bindweed! once you've weed wacked that knotweed get some blight susceptible potatoes & simply plant every few feet, don't worry too much about chitting them either.... there is something in the blight & potato that prevents Japanese Knotweed & regular bindweed from growing, & simply kills them deep in the earth at tiny root level, very similar to allium family or black walnut that puts out an inhibiting chemical that prevents other plants competing for food, worth a try for your Knotweed forest for a few spuds, you can still eat them afterwards so catch crop! Yeah 🎉💚..search organic non chemical options for them both, the references are out there! ..good luck with your homestead, hope you all have a good summer 🌤🌼🐝💚warmest greetings from a Yorkshire permaculture beekeeper in the uk 🇬🇧 💚🐝🌈🌼🌤

[@Aicusi]

The snake at 2:41 is a Northern Ringneck snake. They are docile and not a threat to humans (they eat smaller prey like rodents, frogs, even other smaller snakes.) 3:48 looks like a Garter snake or a Rat snake (both also docile). I think there are some Rattlesnakes in your area so probably good to brush up on their IDs. All snakes are part of a healthy ecosystem, but definitely wouldn’t want to stumble upon a den of those guys accidentally!

[@WildWeRoam]

wow thank you so much for this info!!! seriously so helpful! we've only seen a rattlesnake once on the property, but we definitely need to up our knowledge of snakes. appreciate the help -- Dana

[@tammyg679]

@@Aicusi yeah I thought it was a ringneck. The clip went by so fast though, but yeah, the ring was pretty prominent. We have ringnecks here in Southeast Georgia. We used to play with them when we were kids.

[@eleanorrshaw]

I would so love to hear a food update! I would also love more recipe books from you 😶 I have your previous one, but now you're eating meat (I do) and have a family (I do) I would love to see how you're feeding your family!

[@WildWeRoam]

thank you so much, Eleanor!! feel like im still a bit far away from being ready to share recipes since i am learning so much every day. but definitely would love to make a homesteading cookbook one day in the future when we have all our food from our land. feel like that would be such a special project. big big hugs from upstate ny, dana

[@martibenson9742]

Ah! Your comment kinda answers my question. I thought they used to not. Somehow I missed when they started eating meat. I was confused about the chickens and tallow. But yay expanding recipes.

[@dianamazzullo9065]

Such a lucky child to grow up like he is, so lucky for adults to experience this type of life ❤wishing your family the very best.

[@WildWeRoam]

thank you so much diana for such a wonderful note. brought the biggest smile to my face :) - Dana

[@7sep85]

Get some goats to control the Knotweed.

[@WildWeRoam]

ooo love this idea so much! thank you!

[@Howulikethem23apples]

Loved watching this video

[@nataliejw8865]

Excited for this chicken coop! Have you ever thought about ducks, their eggs are amazing and they might fit in nice on your homestead, especially with that pond.

[@WildWeRoam]

yes!!! we'd love to get ducks too one day :) i think this round of chickens will probably be the only animals we get this summer, but next summer hopefully we can expand more and ducks would be the cutest and most helpful addition! xx Dana

[@Melissa-fz9tk]

May need some goats to take care of Japanese knotweed.

[@WildWeRoam]

love this idea so much Melissa !!! chickens are on the list soon, but then hopefully more animals soon : ) - Dana

[@helengesell2668]

I'm thinking, Lou, you need to build some shelves for your containers. And I'd move the containers to closer where you like to work.

[@WildWeRoam]

oo that could definitely help the situation!! good idea helen :) thank you xx Dana

[@kimbrumley901]

I'd love to hear where you source your meat and eggs. I'm a vegan, but just can't imagine you guys contributing to the awful practices of factory farming. Also the dangerous effects of processed meat like sausage and bacon. I'm still a big fan of you guys! Love the content!

[@WildWeRoam]

hi kim! thanks for this note. ill try to make a food/lifestyle update soon in one of the videos. we source all our meat from a far a couple hours from us that does regenerative ag practices. get our raw milk from a far a few miles down the road. and eggs from the farmers market. it's been a big radical shift in perspective for us, but I feel so grateful to have changed my lifestyle. i have so much more energy. feel way more satiated. and am truly looking forward to having animals on our own land one day in the future. sending all our love - Dana

[@ilzitek2419]

I loved it. Thank you. Your family is so awesome. May be pigs could eat that Japanese weed that grows so fast (in the future). I have heard that pigs clear out forests from all kinds of weeds including poison ivy.

[@clairebattersby6340]

I’m interested in your mental health and food updates Dana ❤

[@WildWeRoam]

thanks so much claire!! i will try to make a video about it soon :) really appreciate you taking the time to comment. sending all my love xx Dana

[@JP-NL]

You are such a beautiful team! Lou brings his creativity and serenity while Dana brings the passion and joy. Wonderful video have a great week!😊

[@WildWeRoam]

Thank you so much JP! feel so lucky to go through life with lou and get to express all our creative passions together ✨✨ xx Dana

[@Chris_natour]

Hi. I saw your japanese plants and from what I could recognize, it is a plant we call here in Germany "wild Rhabarber". If you chew it, it gives a l ot of Juice with a bit of a bitter taste. Some people here I have seen eating it - if this is the same plant. Greetings from Germany, Chris

[@songsinschool]

I just saw how much Max looks like Lou. I hadn't realized it before now.

[@WildWeRoam]

aww its the new haircut 🥹🥹🥹

[@YAYA-bv7po]

I will take all the Knotweed off your hands ..roots leaves and vines!

[@WildWeRoam]

thank you!!!

[@wyntersynergyundignified]

Lou’s excitement is (always has been) so infectious! As for the storage containers - it’s SO hard to keep organized an ever-changing stockpile of supplies, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Tallow body scrub? You are all in, I love it! (Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and place for a vegan diet/lifestyle, and I still love your last cookbook!) And yay chickens! A mobile coop is genius. My landlords (who so generously share eggs with me) just got some “Easter egg layers” and we can’t wait for them to get old enough to start laying fun-colored eggs! Please continue to share food updates :) It’s all part of your story. Thanks for sharing it with us!

[@WildWeRoam]

aww yes easter layers are so fun!! the eggs i get at our farmers market are all rainbow colored and its such a beautiful collection each week. i think we're going to end up getting chickens from a local farmer who works to raise cold hearty birds so they can make it through the winters up here. going to try to get started on the coop this week!! and thanks so much for the kind words on the organization of the containers! sending all our love, Dana

[@wyntersynergyundignified]

⁠​⁠@@WildWeRoam- Oh, yes, that makes sense! I grew up in IL (with chickens), so we didn’t have to worry as much about the cold as you will. So much to consider!

[@oferarubas]

It's an edible plant (apparently tastes like rhubarb) you can eat the shoots. It's also good feed for goats.

[@juliavonk5632]

Did you know you can eat the the plant.... If you want a 'good way' to get rit of it pigs love it, so you dont have to use pesticides or plastic covers

[@PiccoloLabs]

As some have already stated, the snakes in the video are both harmless. The ringneck (Diadophis ssp.) is easily identified, the 2 snakes under the sheet looked to me first as Water Snakes (Nerodia ssp.), but it wouldn't match their basking behaviour according to my knowledge. I browsed through to comments to look up other thoughts, and I agree we your look-ups and other comments, it's def. some rat snakes (Phanterophis ssp.) Knowing where you are located made it also easier to narrow it down, since so many species look alike. - I'm from Austria, so I haven't had to opportunity wo meet them all in the wild, yet. Keep your eyes peeled for the 3 viper species, I worked with all of them in captive holdings, altough I doubt much will happen if you don't disturb them in the wild. Biggest chances I see to get bit, is by not being aware of your surroundings. Massasaugas (Sistrurus ssp.) tend to be more defensive then the others, but I only have a small stock of captive animals to compare, so not really sure how they compare in the wild. I wouldn't let Max play with hognose snakes as well, since he may have an allergic reaction and light swelling, if he should get bitten. Altough I recommend watching them If you find some, since they can be so "dramatic" when trying to play dead.

[@WildWeRoam]

wow this is amazing! such incredible wealth of knowledge. we really appreciate it :) - Dana

[@rebenaq4506]

The life you wanted , created and built takes courage and determination. It takes strength and faith in each other. Enjoy, you both deserve it. Your bath looked amazing, Lou did an awesome job ❤

[@WildWeRoam]

gosh this was really special to read. thank you. i appreciate it so much. it really feels like we're in the right place working on something special as a family here. So happy that it resonates with you too ❤️❤️❤️ - Dana

[@michaelamaestas4950]

THAT Knotweed is a remedy for Lyme disease.

[@luvslyfe1]

Yes, it is! It was instrumental in helping my daughter heal from Lyme several years ago!

[@TheEmbrio]

Is it? How do you go about it ?

[@Nathan-d8d]

When you live in your paradise, don't think about a vacation

[@earthangel8730]

How do you keep thr critters out of your garden without a fence?

[@WildWeRoam]

Freja!! somehow she manages to keep all the critters at bay. we're going to put some netting around the blueberry bushes soon cause feel like they will be too tasty with all the birds around :) - Dana

[@earthangel8730]

@@WildWeRoam yes the birds do love the berries and cherries too. Everything is looking great Dana. Best wishes for a Summer to make long lasting memories. ❤️

[@veronicabalfourpaul2288]

Wow! You both look so well. Farm life and family life suits you.

[@WildWeRoam]

thank you so much veronica!! so grateful for summer weather on this land :) big hugs xx Dana

[@sofia_sarijn]

I currently watch your videos as a break from writing my thesis. So this jungle junk drawer situation made my day

[@WildWeRoam]

wow this makes me so so so happy!! cannot wait to hear what you think of Unwind :) please keep me posted and good luck on your thesis. you got this!! inch by inch ❤️❤️❤️ - Dana

[@kimlee6970]

🙏🏻 Thank you for creating UNWIND……I’ll be purchasing soon~ will need it after the dental surgery! Bless your family.

[@WildWeRoam]

thank you so much kimlee for this note! praying dental surgery goes smoothly for you 🙏🙏🙏 - Dana

[@brittanywinn3955]

I guessed a chicken tracker! When a bale wagon emerged I thought I was wrong. ☺️

[@WildWeRoam]

aww you were right brittany! really is the best next step for our little homestead :) cant wait to wake up and go feed the chickens xx Dana

[@heatherk8931]

❤ if you plan on pigs, they might eat that invasive weed. Or goats. ❤ 🎶🐣🐤🐥🐓 CHICKENS 🎉 You will love them, their personalities, and eggs are a bonus! 😮 But be careful of "chicken math"😂😂😂

[@voneyeva]

My heart feels called to try it but my wallet says no :(

[@WildWeRoam]

awww yes!! there's also stress melt which is totally free www.wildweroam.com/stress-melt and will be such a good intro to guided visualization for you :) big hugs Dana

[@Nae641]

You guys need a horse, a friend is still doing farming with a horse and a plow in the north of Germany. just reminded me of it.

[@WildWeRoam]

ahh that would be so dreamy!!! - Dana

[@foreverlovemountainhomeste5657]

You all just make my heart SMILE……..❤😊!

[@WildWeRoam]

smiling so big reading this right now :) thank you for all the love and support xx Dana

[@foreverlovemountainhomeste5657]

@@WildWeRoam 😊✌🏻🫶🏻💫

[@Truongthikimcuong92]

❤❤❤❤

[@jburbinski7057]

I dont recall if you guys have or plan to do a outdoor kitchen - but that old wood cook stove would be a nice piece to do it with

[@WildWeRoam]

ah outdoor kitchen is on our list!! we were thinking more campfire big bbq thing and hadnt thought about the cook stove but that is such a cool idea : ) thank you - Dana

[@jburbinski7057]

@@WildWeRoam there is a fellow up in Ontario Canada that did an outdoor kitchen with a wood burning stove - the channel name is My Self Reliance and his other channel where he speaks about the projects is Shawn James - the style is somewhere in your wheel house

[@robinseebach8967]

@@WildWeRoamyes, agree that the outside kitchen with the cook stove will be nice when you start canning.

[@laartjevanhorrik7336]

I knew I recognized your voice in the beginning of the video!! I always watched your vanlife videos about 5 years ago. Lovely to see how you have grown❤️

[@Cicadassound]

Would absolutely LOVE a food/diet update! So curious to hear about your thoughts and feelings about changes you’ve experienced!

[@bettyharper2214]

👍♥️

[@nereidgreen6653]

Wonderful video. Love the natural lifestyle.

[@WildWeRoam]

thank you!! appreciate it so much xx Dana

[@jvlcixm]

This video gave me so much calmness. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The next project sounds so exciting! Can't wait to see the process. And I'd be interested in hearing the food update!

[@Leona_lin]

You guys are quite dynamic. It's wonderful!

[@WildWeRoam]

thank you so much Leona! that means so much to us :) - Dana

[@rokodjurasaj856]

You look so beautiful Dana when you work and when you are relaxing muah❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ living in the forest practically do you ever feel like taking a walk into the woods to relax? ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@WildWeRoam]

aww thank you so much for this sweet note :) walking in the woods is such a nice treat though feel like i did it more in the winter than i do now. we're going to put the chickens in the forest i think so will start spending a lot more time in there very soon ! xx Dana

[@rokodjurasaj856]

Is there any danger for chickens in that area? Like maybe snakes?

[@REMONSTER]

THIS can not be stressed enough: “You have to give your poto to the nagual.”

[@haileypease3584]

i'm just in SHOCK about max! around 5:45 he starts looking over dana's shoulder at the pancake, watches it for a few seconds, and says "done!" before mama says so! What a smart boy 🥰 from the looks of it he gets a lot of practice in the kitchen

[@tayalashae8772]

I've been watching this channel since I was pregnant; my child Is now 4 years old. it's been such a joy to watch your adventures. so sweet to continuously watch y'all bring your dreams to life

[@EileenMetrejean]

Little Max had a haircut,so precious ❤❤❤❤.

[@WildWeRoam]

aww yes!! gave it to him last week! such a sweet moment and really transformed him into a little boy - Dana

[@lynnemac1402]

Lou you are such a wonderful husband, you set up the bath area beautifully for Dana. When you have so many tasks to do you share the load so completely right that you dont know how to do everything Dana. Good luck with unwind x

[@Peachlover345]

I’d love to hear your story not being vegan

[@WildWeRoam]

thank you!! will try to get an update on our lifestyle shift soon :) big hugs, Dana

[@sunnig476]

Does anyone else see how at 9:42 Dana looks like shes being wrapped up by an Orb? There isn't a dirt speck there in other shots so it really stands out to me. Dana, baby, You're either glowing from the inside or someone was visiting you! Love love love this. I also love the new intro. Blessings to you all!

[@forsbergmicah]

I saw that when I went back to watch. She’s standing and watching her baby and man work together. It’s like a strong aura of love. It’s pretty cool.

[@WildWeRoam]

wow just went back and looked and you're so right! so much love in that moment ✨✨✨

[@sgrvtl7183]

Adorable Max❗before you say what it is, I would say the trailer is going to be a' chicken tractor'

[@cateparker9321]

You're videos have been perfected and are so calming and beautiful ❤ love to you all

[@emummy2]

Those storage containers are screaming for shelving and bins or containers to allow you to store well the things you choose to keep.

[@krewetkaaaa]

This plant will unfortunately grow back unless strong fire put over there 😢 It is almost impossible to get rid of it 😢

[@ryana1486]

I did a quick google.. safe for livestock to eat, so could possibly be a renewable source of nutrition for cows/goats?

[@WildWeRoam]

yeah lou chopped it all down last year and it just came back - he needed to clear the area so we could get a supply delivery at this part of the land. love this idea of using animals to manage it for next year though!!

[@georgeheidrich5463]

It is one of the worst invasives going. Worse than bamboo. Check with your local Invasive Species webpages. Herbicides are the only permanent control unfortunately.

[@tammyg679]

Wow! When I saw all that Japanese knotweed, I thought you need to get some snake boots. Then the next thing I saw was the black snake on the tarp and so I was motivated to send this message to you. I live in an area where there’s a lot of snakes and snake boots are required when walking in swampy and overgrown areas.

[@WildWeRoam]

oo such a good idea tammy!! ill let lou know :) - Dana

[@Forresthawk33]

May be Eastern rat snakes

[@WildWeRoam]

just googled it and seems like the black rat snake is the most common in NY state so maybe it was that one!

[@nourishmentality1916]

I love and have supported you guys for years, but this week's video lost me at the word "livestock". Animals aren't food. So far I've respected the way you told us honestly that you aren't vegan and haven't showed us the nitty gritty of killing and chopping up their bodies, but now I fear watching a den of death be built. #conflicted

[@WildWeRoam]

Totally understand how the shift in perspective can be challenging. We are moving towards a self-sufficient homestead and plan to have animals for meat (not just chickens for eggs), so if that is going to be challenging, we might not be the best fit anymore. Saying that all with love. here if you are interested but also no need to stay if our new life doesn't resonate ❤️ - Dana

[@forsbergmicah]

The Native American who lived these lands before we brought big agricultural and industrialization lived in harmony with the land. Which means using all the resources available to the best of their ability, animals included, I have no doubt our friends will do the best they can. They are truly conscientious.

[@iSpike]

💛SO MUCH LOVE 💜

[@WildWeRoam]

thank you so much!! xx Dana

[@lydiastevenson8502]

I'm allergic to Japanese not weed!

[@isabelfarist221]

❤

[@WildWeRoam]

thank you so much isabel!!

[@JDronePics]

It is incredibly inspiring to see how far y’all have come. I remember watching your van build videos and more. Even the video where you sold the van. It made me tear up a little as I have done the same. I love the life y’all are creating for yourselves! Living a dream!! 🎉❤

[@WildWeRoam]

oh gosh that makes me feel so many things! thank you for being here for so many different adventures over the years. it really has bee a wild ride from the van to get to this moment and im so grateful for all of it. sending all our love! - Daa

[@jkilpat513]

Cluck, cluck,cluck

[@WildWeRoam]

cannot wait for that sound!!! 🤩🤩

[@erikowren7894]

I heard goats will eat the knot weed.

[@WildWeRoam]

oo yes! good idea erik! just another reason to get more animals :) - Dana

[@erikowren7894]

@@WildWeRoam or maybe a local farmer can drop some off for a bit.

[@ThiaTruth]

Love to see you'll thriving ❤

[@lydiastevenson8502]

What was that snake?

[@williamhamill813]

Are those Cottonmouths?

[@williamhamill813]

Are you in NC?

[@kimlee6970]

NY

[@WildWeRoam]

hmm not sure! just googled and seems like they aren't in NY

[@janaesluys9559]

Would love a garden tour including the mushrooms! That little glimpse is so beautiful ❤️

[@WildWeRoam]

ooo garden tour can definitely be included in the next video jana!! lous working on a big mushroom video about the whole process. not sure when it will come out but hopefully in the next couple of weeks. thanks for all the love !! xx Dana

[@justtanja7327]

Everything you post is interesting.

[@WildWeRoam]

thank you so much! glad you enjoyed this weeks video :) - Dana