I Have GOOD News and BAD News + HOW TO ORGANIZE A LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUP OR MAG

When something bad happens, having a support system is so very important. We recently experienced an unexpected, not-fun event, but our local community was there to bless us. In this video, I share how I started up a local group focused on homesteading, gardening, food preservation, and self-sufficiency. This kind of group is a blessing to have around during good times, but vital to have nearby when an emergency occurs.

[@susaningram6360]

It’s wonderful to see a young lady going to these meetings. She will be able to manage a homestead someday! Y’all have exposed your children to so many different ways to be self-sufficient. Wish we had more families with these same family values.

[@16CENTS561]

Greatful for the community you created both locally AND virtually! You're such a blessing to many❤❤❤❤

[@margaretfiggs2606]

So happy your alright, sorry for the doe .And bless those ladies for stopping and checking on you and Sarah.

[@natalielebron5532]

Thank god your ok

[@garyrogers8688]

God is so food. So happy and thankful yall are okat praying foe you and your family

[@crisbush2034]

Oh wow! I'm happy to see you are both ok.

[@irenagallagher8053]

Oh my goodness. I'm literally without words as I watch this video. God is good. He protected you and Sarah. Thank goodness. Bless your beautiful ladies for helping you in your time of need. I love your channel and I love all you guys. xx

[@JuliaM215]

I’m watching your older videos and this one touched me. I think it’s wonderful that your neighbors live far away but you are very connected. I live in the suburbs with neighbors all around me and I don’t even know them. Some don’t even wave or say hi when I see them. Your video inspires me to reach out more and maybe my neighborhood could eventually become a community of neighbor helping neighbor. Bless you 💕

[@Susanjoc]

So happy you and Sarah weren’t injured. That’s the most important thing. We’ve had some unexpected things lately too. It’s easy to become discouraged. Great to hear about your community coming to your rescue. That’s when we see God has us in His hands. Love you guys. See you on the next one.

[@alanholder245]

I'm so sorry for your accident, but glad you and Sarah are ok. That's the important part.

[@FosterChicken]

I am a member of a small church that is very local. We are very involved but there are so many ways we are pleased by this group. All good to go!

[@HHteach2001]

I’m glad you guys are ok. What a blessing your community is. So special!

[@tinkerdee5923]

Love ❤️ the story ❤

[@Justmeeee2]

Im glad You and Sarah are okay! Thank you to the ladies that helped out and prayed over them! Absolutely Amazing!

[@anitapantoja545]

Your videos are such a blessing and so glad you and Sarah are safe! 🙏

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

Thank you so much, Anita! 💕

[@athenacasper9127]

I am so glad that you and Sarah made it home safe and that you where not injured! Sounds like a wonderful little community

[@laurarysedorph7200]

Thankfully you were all safe. That poor dear on the other hand. Glad you made it all home safe and great full for all the ladies of your community

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

Yes, Laura, I'm very grateful - both for our safety that day and for our very sweet community! :)

[@kims.1869]

Glad yall were O.K. Couple of months ago, we're we driving down a curvy road, it was dark. A big deer just jumped out of nowhere it seemed and hit the front of my car.

[@deborahwarren5856]

God bless you and your daughter 🤗🙏

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

Thank you, Deborah! :)

[@Golden_Pilot_21]

So happy you have a good community of girls to help and support one another. ❤ So hard to find that here in Oregon.

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

We just had our monthly meeting last night and I can tell you that I look forward to it each and every month! One of the ladies was selling a cookbook of her family recipes for $5. I was able to bring home some cabbage because another lady had a surplus from her garden. We discussed joining together to buy some bulk produce for canning. One lady helped another figure out how to go from milking her cow twice a day down to once a day. It's just a wonderful resource. I so hope you can find something similar where you're at! :)

[@conniebarber4582]

Y’all were so lucky!! Well,not really lucky, our precious Lord was right there with y’all. You are truly blessed. Please keep your videos coming. I enjoy them so much and your family (all of them) are so loving and precious. May God truly keep on blessing y’all.🙏🏻❤️

[@garyrogers8688]

Just remember thus too will pass 🙏🙌🙏🙏🙏

[@donadavis1178]

Oh my, I'm so glad you are ok. You had Jesus watching out for you❤

[@fayehickey3804]

No one was hurt, thank God! You have swayed me to attend a ladies group who meet once a month. I’ve lost loved ones and it’s easy to withdraw so on the eighteenth I will meet them for lunch! Thank you for the encouragement.

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

Oh, I'm so happy for you, Faye!! I hope you're blessed with your group as I have been with ours! :)

[@jackiejermeay6568]

God is good😊

[@karenhoffart7431]

So glad you were both ok!! ❤

[@wendyomalley6433]

God truly protected you!

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

Yes, He truly did! :)

[@juliahunt4526]

God is good … I love your channel

[@angeliabarkley3134]

I really enjoy your videos and the content you have, keep up the amazing work

[@melissagahn]

I am so sorry to hear of your accident, but glad that you and Sarah are ok. You have a great community to have those ladies be there and offer support to you and your daughter. In this day and age of "me, me me" it's nice to hear of people caring about another person needing help.

[@carolwhisenhunt7504]

So glad you are safe. So sorry for the accident. God was indeed looking over you.

[@natalielebron5532]

I really enjoy your videos!! Your a very genuine person and your family is lovely

[@LisaShankk]

Thank the good lord above you 2 we're ok.❤❤❤❤

[@GrowingRootsHomestead]

Don't mind me just binging some of your old videos 🙃I'm so glad you and Sarah were ok during this! And I'm also so glad to have found this group of ladies 🥰 Did you go back and get the deer? lol

[@marthaperkins1845]

I am so glad you are both ok.

[@AnonJess]

I LOVE being part of your community! The monthly meetings are such a blessing to me too! I always leave with my heart feeling so full. Thank you for creating this safe space for fellow homesteading women to come together and fellowship and share wisdom regarding the things we love to do and learn about. I am so glad our other sisters in the other county were there for you and prayed with you. That is so special, and God is so great!

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

Jessica, I'm so glad that you're a part of our community too! It's hard to think about all the ladies that I probably would've never had a chance to meet if it hadn't been for our group. :)

[@sherrycrutchfield2890]

Im so glad that y'all weren't hurt and the damage to the van wasn't as bad as it could have been 😊

[@Brendaa-dh1bh]

Going to pray for you a better van you can pray for a better van for me God supplys

[@vikkibyington3066]

Loved this sad but beautiful account of yours & Sarah’s day. Sad because of the deer and the van, but beautiful that God knew what was lying ahead for you and He had already made preparation in placing the other ladies where they could see you. He not only walks with us but he goes before us. Your community of ladies in your group sound amazing. As a matter of fact the whole reasoning behind the group is wonderful. I know this was a couple of months ago but I’m still watching your older videos. So thankful you and Sarah were not hurt in the accident. I live in TN and esp in the mountains we have those curvy roads. We call them”hair pin curves”. Thank you, Lord. 🙌🏻🙌🏻❤️❤️

[@trenarexroad4083]

Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry about your accident😢 I had this happen to me but I was only a little ways from my home but I had barely any steering I had to coast down the hill to my home, had driven on this road for 30 years and never hit a deer, was able to repair my van....Thank God y'all were not injured❤

[@wendyomalley6433]

God bless you and your family!

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

Thank you so very much, Wendy!!! :)

[@geraldinelucas3143]

I live in a senior mobile home park with only 68 spaces surrounded by nature. I go out really early and always afraid one of the deer will cross in front of me. We have a community here watching out for one another supplying food if someone is down etc. etc. Most of us are involved in making this the best community possible being a widow I have been helped many times by residence when I needed assistance. I myself bring in food from pantries they call me the "food fairy." God is so good having lived in many states you don't often find this. PTL you were not hurt.

[@sheilamcgaughy6277]

So gad y'all are ok

[@eileenfleming7115]

Good golly, am I behind. This is a vlog that’s a month old that I’m just seeing now! Sorry to learn of the accident but thrilled that you n Sarah are ok. Listening to you speak on this one, do you realize the gift you have in reaching others. I would go so far to say that you are inspirational. The emotion is heard in your voice and does touch one’s soul. You are blessed and we are blessed to have found you and your family. ♥️♥️

[@grandmashomemade9204]

I wish we had that here in NE Arkansas may do but im not on Facebook or any of those so i dont know. Thanks for sharing

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

It's very possible that you have a group in your area similar to ours! I know gardening, homesteading, food preservation, and self-sufficiency are pretty popular in our area. Our ladies group focuses on those four areas and we have such a good attendance at our monthly meetings. Maybe ask around at your local library or county extension office and see if they've heard of any groups like ours? :)

[@Donise-ro9jg]

Love this blessing story! Glad you are both ok.

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

Thank you, Donise! :)

[@willowzoey3096]

I am so sorry for what happened between you and the Doe... That happened to me once, it was just there, and no time to brake... I am glad you and Sarah were not injured badly, because that can happen so easily... The most important thing is you are both alive, and that is what matters...

[@user-lq2ii4ny1w]

Love this story of fellowship.

[@helenmorgan4003]

Here in Australia our main problems with wildlife are the kangaroos but one early 2am morning driving through almost desert area the roos were quite thick on the sides of the road eating the green pickings after rain a couple of weeks earlier whe all of a sudden some thing jumped across our bonnet, at first I thought it was a goat but a few days later someone told me it was more likely a feral deer, I was so greatful we didn't hit it,my son was with me, he was sleeping as he had to be at work at 5am that morning and we still had 2hours to go before we got home. God sure protected us on that trip.

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

Yes, I definitely felt God's protection as well! My husband mentioned that the air bags would've deployed if the deer had made more contact with the bumper instead of higher on the hood of the van (I think we call it the hood and you call it the bonnet.) :) If the air bags had deployed on that curvy road, then we probably would've ended up in the trees because I couldn't see to control the van. There are so many things that *could've* happened, but we were taken care of very well.

[@susansparanormalpennsylvan81]

by an electronic deer whistle, i moved to pennsylvania which is the worst state in USA for hitting deer, it also helps with children, pets, other small mammals, birds, skateboarders, people not looking while walking and texting, etc....___LOL___it helped me from hitting deer, owl, turkey, raccoons, cats, kids, squirrels, chipmunks, birds etc...

[@terrymartinez7209]

​@@susansparanormalpennsylvan8113:38

[@donnad-ej8rl]

Enjoyed the video, love a praying community

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

A praying community seems to be a rare novelty nowadays and I feel so blessed to have one. I truly appreciate you watching, Donna! :)

[@latanyafrancois6108]

I sure hope 🙏 Deep down that things will get better soon

[@wendy5443]

Sorry about the accident. Very pleased that nobody was injured and that ladies from your group were there to support you and Sarah. Id do hope that you will be able to repair the van. 😊

[@cathyneel4409]

That's what it's all about... being there for each other, putting yourself in the other's shoes and treating them like you would want to be treated. Showing God's love for each other!🕊️💜🕊️

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

You're such a blessing to me, Cathy!

[@cathyneel4409]

Awe ..bless you, Janice!🕊️ You guys are such a blessing to us and SO MANY others!🌹 Thank you and your family for being such a light in the darkness!🕯️💗 HUGS

[@sharonnewson82]

I would have loved to be there but I'm in England Brighton 😢xx

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

Sharon, we would have loved to have had you here! :)

[@7kinhomestead]

Wow, I'm sorry about your accident. My wife has been looking for a group like that. Haven't found one locally and it never occurred to us to start one. thanks for the idea.

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

You're very welcome! I would love it if every area in the country had their own little, close-knit, homesteading community. :)

[@debrasnipes7431]

Same thing happened to me in June when I was on my way back from my daughters house. Huge deal just was not there in one minute was there the next and I hit her dad center of the ribs. Thankfully it was on a rural, 2 Lane Rd. for the speed limit was only 45 mph.If In had been out on one of the bigger roads with a higher speed limit Damage to the vehicle would’ve been much worse and I very well may have been injured. I also had to have a radiator, radiator support, headlight assembly, fog light assembly, new hood, and a couple of other things I forget now, but It was a little over $5700 in damages that luckily my insurance covered. I also had to drive a little while before I could find a good place to pull over as I was in 5 PM traffic rush hour and there was a huge line behind me when I hit the deer. Luckily, I didn’t have time to hit the brakes either because if I had slammed on brakes I’m sure I would’ve been rear ended and it probably would’ve set off a chain reaction. The whole thing scared me to death and really rattled my nerves. I’m so glad those ladies were behind you to help you! I was able to call my daughter as I was only about five minutes from her house and she and one of my granddaughters came to help calm me down. A couple of gentleman from the store across the street came over when they saw was looking at my car and they determined that I could probably get back home. I had the insurance company on the phone and they arranged for me drive it straight a repair centers for assessment. I am gun shy now every time I get in my car to go somewhere. lol 🚘🦌

[@susansparanormalpennsylvan81]

buy an eletronic deer whistle for 25 - 35 dollars takes about 45-60 min to install, i am from california where i have only had a deer run in front on my car maybe 2 times my whole life, i moved pennsylvania in 2012 where it happens 2 or 3 times per year, i have had about 5 close calls, but the deer heard my whistle and sped up, so i missed them, or 1 turned and ran along side my vehicle at the last minute before impact, others have turned and ran back the way the way they came, also helps with pets, children, raccoons, people texting and not looking where they are going, squirrels, skateboarders, bicyclist__LOL

[@CheapsKate77]

Thank God you and Sarah weren’t hurt in that crash ❤ I know this is an older video but I still haven’t watched all of them and when I do, I like to comment so it helps your channel. So I apologize for always commenting but that’s partly why I do. 😅

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

I LOVE your comments! Please don't stop because it does truly help our channel (plus your thoughts make me smile!) :)

[@CheapsKate77]

@@ozarkfamilyhomestead Aww you’re so sweet 😊❤ My mind is always full of questions and comments about everything and I’m one of those people who isn’t afraid to ask or comment, but I try to be cognizant of whether I’m being too annoying 🤣😜🫣

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

@@CheapsKate77 Not annoying at all! You're a blessing to us! 💕

[@CheapsKate77]

@@ozarkfamilyhomestead🥰🥰🥰

[@lornafester133]

What a wonderful community!

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

Oh, it is, Lorna!! I feel so blessed to have such a large group of like-minded, local ladies surrounding me and I'd love for others to have the same. :)

[@christinamillington2342]

I'm so glad you and Sarah are ok. That is so nice that your lovely community rallied around and helped wgen you needed them. Xxx

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

Thank you so much! We're still on the lookout for a replacement van. We have determined that it wouldn't make sense to spend the money to repair this old van, so we're going to search for something newer. As always, thank you for being such a supportive part of our channel, Christina!!! :)

[@marciebray5303]

I would love to live closeout you

[@beverlymatthews2693]

Watching your channel from mineral wells Texas 😊

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

I'm so glad you're here, Beverly!! The children just love knowing where everyone is watching from, so I appreciate you sharing your location! :)

[@kellyvernon6074]

My hometown is Houston, Mo , we plan to move back in a year to retire as my family lives there and in West Plains! I hope your close would love to be a part of this group!!! The road sounds like the one between Mt view and Poplur Bluff ! Hit a deer there my self one day... Glad your ok .. God bless!!!

[@saltyanchorfarm]

I would love to start something like this. My husband just retired from the military last fall. We left a community we've known for 21 years and moved to our farm in a rural area. We've been here since June and don't really know anyone but would love to connect with community and like minded people. Not even sure where to start. Thanks for sharing this. Glad you ladies are ok.

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

First of all, thank you so much for watching! Next, I really encourage you to reach out to your new community and see if others are interested in gathering together. Are there any FB groups specifically for your county? Maybe a buy/sell/trade group or a page that lists local community events? Maybe you could put a flier up at the library and see if others connect with you that way? I really believe, that if you can get a small gathering organized, it will snowball into something bigger just through word of mouth. My experience here is that people are yearning for something more local. The world has changed and people are choosing to reconnect with the old ways of living instead of the fast-paced, overwhelming, worldly ways.

[@Brendaa-dh1bh]

Did anyone find the deer so it could be dressed out

[@jessicah.1828]

How can I find out (privately, of course) where the ladies homestead group is in the Ozarks? I might be close by? I am in Baxter Co Arkansas. Thanks!

[@lizbolick5591]

Thank God

[@CatherineKitty480]

Yikes Janice I'd say you and Sarah got such a fright. Someone was surely looking over you guys 😇

[@staceya.8779]

I love the group in “the big town”. I’ve learned so much and met such wonderful people. I always look forward to those classes! I’m glad you and Sarah are ok!

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

Thanks Stacey and I'm so grateful that you're here supporting our family! I'm always looking forward to the next meeting! :)

[@Barbara-qj3nk]

When are you going to oprn the packages ?

[@sylvianolan2185]

Glad ye are ok,is that common in your state,wild deer?

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

Oh Sylvia, we have a lot of deer here! I'm so glad they're around when it's hunting season, but I didn't appreciate this one crashing into my van! :)

[@kathynester5217]

👍🙂

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

Thank you so much for watching, Kathy!! :)

[@joylovingyeshua5861]

Hi... where in the Ozarks are you, or closest to, we want to move there, but don't know anyone. Please help..

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

Hi there and welcome to our channel! Based on your name, I'm going to assume you're TO and keep a 7th day Sabbath. Is that correct?

[@joylovingyeshua5861]

I'm a born again Jew (Messianic) :) love Jesus!!!

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

@@joylovingyeshua5861 We're a Jesus-loving family too! If you are on Facebook, I recommend a group called Ozarks Set Apart. There's a wide group of TO people throughout the Ozarks and you'll be able to ask/answer questions more freely on that FB page. I pray that you're blessed with your heart's desire to move here! :)

[@joylovingyeshua5861]

@@ozarkfamilyhomestead I don't blame you for not wanting to share your location, but thank you so much for your help.. God bless you!!

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

@@joylovingyeshua5861 You're welcome to email me at [e-mail] if you'd like some more info. :)

[@marywalsh8344]

So sorry Is that not covered by Insurance!

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

(from Shawn) The van is a 2006 model so it hasn't had full coverage in many years, just liability. Since deer are wild animals, there is no one financially responsible for damage they cause. Hitting deer is a common problem in this area. Thanks for watching!

[@lanatrapp1589]

Can everyone please pray for me? On 4-22-23. I was in a fatal car crash. My fiancé and I were coming home from dinner at his brother's house. We have those windy roads also. Sometimes when you go around one it's a blind spot. We went around one. A impared driver hit us head on. He was going 95 in a 35mph zone. My fiancé was killed. I was life flighted to a hospital. I'm still suffering the repercussions from the crash. Please pray for me. My heart is shattered. The love of my life is gone. 😢😢😢

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

We are praying for your comfort and healing in Jesus' name! Sending lots of virtual hugs your way too, Lana...I'm just so very sorry for your loss.

[@cindyupton7357]

So much love and hugs to you.

[@lanatrapp1589]

@anniejones5806 Seriously. This is your answer? He died, I almost died, and I need to repent? You need to stop judging people. Take a look in the mirror. It's this how a Christian responds?

[@ozarkfamilyhomestead]

@@lanatrapp1589 Lana, I'm so sorry about the other comment. I've deleted it and I hope you can focus on healing. We love you and know that you love the LORD!!! 💕

[@lanatrapp1589]

@ozarkfamilyhomestead-lc1cn Thank you, honey. My heart is so broken. Thank you for being a person who makes me believe there is still good in humanity.