A Hand-full of Seeds (The most ridiculous feeling) | VLOG

How to grow carrots: • How to Sow Carrots See...
Hey ya'll, I'm Jess from Roots & Refuge Farm
Welcome to a place that feels like home. A small farm with a big family. We hope you'll pull up a chair, grab some coffee and visit awhile.
There was a time that all I wanted in the world was a little farm where I could raise my family and grow our food. Now, that is exactly what exists outside my door. In watching it unfold, a new dream was formed in my heart - to share this beautiful life with others and teach them the lessons we've learned along the way. Welcome to our journey, friend. I am so glad you're here.
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Leesville SC 29070
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-The music in this video is by my friend Daniel Smith
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PRODUCTS WE LOVE - You've probably heard me talk about these things a million times, so here's where you can order them (and get a discount with my code!):
- Greenstalk Vertical Gardens (Use code "ROOTS10" for $10 off your order): rootsandrefuge.com/yt-greenstalk
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#rootsandrefuge

[@user-no1vl3uy8o]

This is embarrassing to even admit now, but about 7 years ago my dad and now husband made me my first raised bed. A coworker of mine gifted me some of their extra spring seedlings. I planted my first ever raised bed full of kale. I was sooo excited about it. Then a friend of mine commented on how adorable my "baby kale" was and I thought wow. I had no idea I planted BABY kale instead of regular kale. (I am coming to this conclusion based off shopping at the grocery store and having the choice of buying a clamshell of baby kale or a bunch of kale from the produce wall). I went about my spring harvesting deliciously tender baby kale every few days. A few weeks later, that same friend came over. She saw I had been harvesting the kale and asked if I was going to let any of it mature until full sized kale -___- in that moment I realized what I was doing. I have never admitted this to my clearly more experienced gardening friend but I hope y'all get a kick out of this.

[@darcysimental5299]

Took me a moment to realize you thought the variety was specifically BABY kale😂 100% understandable as newbies. Even though there are some seeds marketed specifically as micro greens 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@jericox1813]

Completely understandable!! Lol. Last year was my first ever garden and I totally sucked at it!! I had such a massive garden and it was just ruined with my mistakes! Well I hope after nearly a year of research and a lot of KZbin videos I am better prepared for this upcoming garden season. I just placed my first order from a seed company and oh my gosh I wanted to try everything!! It all sounds so good. I did order a few seeds that I can’t even pronounce but it looked so pretty I had to try it. Good luck gardening .

[@leeoregan9766]

my grandad always reminded me 'You can count the seeds in an apple, but you can't count the apples in the seed' - i've never forgotten it ❤️

[@virginiaallisonpeck2517]

Big smile ❤

[@ginnysulya9805]

Hey Jess, I am always amazed at the way plants grow but last year I grew a Black Hollyhock from a single seed in a single cell challenge! I planted it in honor of a dear friend who always loved my garden and passed in 2021! I planted it in the center of my garden and last year it grew but only got a few feet tall and never flowered! This year that little plant came back and grew to about 12ft tall! It truly was the star of the garden with beautiful black/ mahogany flowers I now have thousands of seeds from that plant and I now know that Hollyhocks are biennial and amazing! So much to learn and experience in the garden! 💚💚💚

[@lorimcmillon3217]

Hollyhocks start blooming in the second year. I love them. They remind me of my grandmother as she had them. I planted some. After working in my flower bed I noticed my hands were itching. I had an allergic reaction to them. Ended up in the ER. The ER had lost their ring cutter, so they called the fire department. Here comes two firemen in full gear carrying a little ring cutter. I told them they could cut them all but to please try and save my wedding ring. They soaked my hand in ice water until I couldn’t stand it any more and wrapped a suture around my finger and really worked to unscrew my ring off my finger but it was saved. I still want to grow hollyhocks but my husband says no. Not even if I wear gloves (because he knows I am bad about not wanting to wear them). I wish my neighbors would grow some so I could at least enjoy seeing them but neither of them do any gardening at all. I bet the black was gorgeous and had to have been a happy plant because I have never seen one that tall!

[@ginnysulya9805]

@@lorimcmillon3217 thanks for letting me know about the allergy! Yes it was very beautiful

[@Dawnbolduc44]

I grew up with a garden in my backyard, so I never really thought about where vegetables came from. I assumed everyone knew where they came from. As an adult I kept a little garden on my little 75 x 100 lot in the city. Several summers we participated in the Fresh Air Fund. It's a program where inner-city kids from New York come stay with a host family in Maine. The little girl that stayed with us was helping me weed my garden when I pulled out a carrot and gave it to her. She was so surprised. She never knew Carrots grew in the ground or how most vegetables grew. She is grown woman now with children of her own and she keeps a small vegetable garden.

[@jamjar5716]

What a happy program! And to know that you opened a child's eyes and heart. You are wonderful for doing that!

[@nmdispatchlady]

I think it's so cool that you haven't lost the amazement of miracles. Each seed that sprouts is nothing short of a miracle. God had a wonderful plan for everything and he shares it with us daily.

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

I show people my asparagus patch in summer and they look at me sideways, like "How can this ferny mess relate to asparagus??". 😆

[@jessgirl19832000]

I think my wildest realization was that seeds from spice jars could totally be planted. Blew my mind!

[@reneemorgan9320]

Jess, I just want to say thank you for sharing all your knowledge! You made me a gardener. I am wrapping up my 4th year gardening thanks to you. I even have a little greenhouse. I don't know if I will ever have the privilege to meet you but I would love to just give you a hug and say thank you. I also related very much to your health video. ♥️ I am thankful to Jesus for you! I pray He expands your reach even more with your story and knowledge. Your boldness and honesty is refreshing. Blessings and hugs to you and your family!

[@beverlyvandyke5770]

I had a friend Nancy she passed last year. When we were 7 she came the first time to my house. We were in the garden and I pulled us two nice carrots. Her mouth dropped open and she said, I thought carrots grew on trees. I remember how funny that was. Nancy was funny and very fun to have over. We picked berries and my Mom made jam. We had French toast and jam. At school she told everyone we could grow all this stuff. Some kids laughted and said, well my family buy that at the store. I started grow food like your little Ben. My parents both grow up during the depression. Gardening was a way of life for us. And for that I am grateful. Jess you every want to come to Smith River, Ca. You have a bed at my house. I have learned to garden for two now and have only chickens. No cows,. Goats, pigs, lambs, ducks, geese or horses. Just me, my husband Ed our dog Lucy and a small flock of chickens. It’s a learning process to cut back that much. Oh and I forgot the kids and lots of guest. All gone. After raising our family, it’s very strange. Life is so enter resting. At 50 plus years of gardening I watch you and love it. I just have a food garden for two now at 69.

[@jeanrichards8042]

My biggest "aha" moment was the 1st time I saw potatoes growing...I never knew they had plants above the ground! I just thought, well, potatoes grow underground so there should be bare ground where they grow. The gardener who planted those potatoes laughed at me, but I learned something so I didn't care 😊

[@acebuggers2744]

My first year gardening I was super surprised that each flower seed I planted grew an entire plant with multiple flowers...I just assumed 1 seed equaled 1 flower. The garden holds endless magic for me.

[@MissBetsyLu]

Well, some flowers grow like that. Many grand blessings everyone everywhere and always

[@jo-annlanders1286]

Hey all, I got this idea this spring to grow luffa to try to make soaps. My daughter harvested Jewel weed and made an oil to use with the soaps. I bought the seeds from MI gardener so they were good. In the spring I planted them in cells indoors, no good. I tried planting them in a container near a trellis, no good. I tried to direct sow by a cattle panel, no Bueno. I tried one more time indoors. 2 grew. Planted them out, one took. By July the vine had taken over the cattle panel trellis. Full of blossoms and pollinators. I wasn't seeing any gourds. I went away for a week and came back and stared at the enormous vine where the blossoms were and I see this little tiny size of a pin gourd. I was gob smacked. At this point the one vine has 30 gourds. Most are the size of my entire arm! None ripe. Its mid October. I have learned it is best to dry on the vine. So now every day I go out and again stare at the gourds to see if any are turning brown. Fingers crossed. I have learned that this bad boy needs his own space in the garden with a trellis and to start earlier. Even if I have to cover them in the spring some nights.

[@heartscapesreiki1496]

Love the stories about realizing how a plant grows. For me it was beans. The first time I grew then, and the little smooth round white flower buds started emerging, I exclaimed, "Oh look! The beans!" I literally though the individual bean seeds grew on the plant fully formed. Then the flowers opened up, abd I got a while education on growing process! 🤣

[@julie-annepineau4022]

Seeing the garden go from empty mounds of soil, to jungle full in just a couple months is such an amazing experience. I am in the process of removing the summer veg right now. I put the chickens in half of it last night. So now watching it go from full to empty again and full of possibility is amazing too. Would it be possible to make that multiplication video into a podcast? Oh and yes I make up all kinds of drama stories for my chickens and cats. And sometimes the squirrels and wild birds

[@cherylirvin3919]

I heard an old farmer say, “Anyone can count the seeds in a pod but only God can count the pods in a seed.” I, too, love to see the abundance from a handful of seeds.❤️

[@the_Fat_Catz_Farm]

I have been growing plants and sowing seed for 35+ years. It never ceases to fill me with awe and glee when I see a seed germinate or see roots form on a cutting stuck in water. Oh Lord, how great Thou art!

[@virginiaallisonpeck2517]

Yes it’s amazing ❤️🎚🕊

[@bethb8276]

It always feels so right to me, isn't that what Adam and Eve were meant to do? Tend the gardens, name the animals, watch things grow, and worship the Lord our creator for all of it?

[@iwanttobelieve5970]

My mom (RIP) had a garden when I was growing up and I had gardens and we loved fried okra but we only ate it growing up from Churches Chicken. As an adult I would buy the frozen ones and fry them or buy okra and fix them up. So about three summers ago I decided I would grow okra and my mom was so excited because neither one of us had ever seen an okra plant. And I discussed with her my excitement about trying new okra varieties but unfortunately she never got to try it last year before passing. This year I grew them and my ex son in law came in and said, what are those purple tree things? And I kinda laughed because he was just as perplexed as I had been the first time growing it. I told him they were okra plants. 😂😊

[@kats3520]

I grew up in Georgia near Atlanta and I’ve eaten fried okra my whole life and loved it, but I never paid attention to how it grow. Then in my 50’s as a Property Manager I saw a beautiful plant with a beautiful flower on one of my residents back patio and I asked them what that was. When she said okra I was stunned! 😂. It’s a beautiful plant and I have since learned it’s also fantastic grilled. Who knew! 😂

[@tinabloomfield7228]

I want to move to South Carolina now....I hate Michigan and so does my body🥺 I can't grow anything now until spring....I want to grow year round ( for the most part) 😜 My granddaughter who is three helped me shell dried pole beans today that we grew, and she ate off the plants every day this summer....I bawled like a baby lol granny is teaching her good 😊

[@Safari-Scarlet]

I felt the same way so I set up racks with shop lights in my basement. I grow all kinds of things, micro greens with seeds from Dollar General, lettuce in old pans, micro tomatoes and peppers, basil, just whatever makes me happy.

[@virginiaallisonpeck2517]

I remember shelling peas and beans with my mom and Granma… the sweet bliss of summer days ❤️🎚🕊 Maybe your sweet one will remember too💖

[@elizabethlink3993]

💚 Palm full of seeds...1500 square feet of growing plants ..Love it! 💚

[@martharice4916]

When you showed us the beets growing in your high tunnel, I went right back to my childhood when we would thin the rows of beets in our garden, clean the greens and baby beets and my mom would cook them for dinner. It's been a long time since I've eaten beet greens. Maybe I'll plant a few in my Greenstalk next spring. Thanks for a great video!

[@MimiLulu23]

Your garden wisdom is one of my favorite aspects of your videos/channel, it feeds my gardening soul. I think the geese agree.

[@darcysimental5299]

When I first open a seed packet and realize the seeds that grow food are the same ones we ingest unnoticed in food all the time! I remember having to watch a video about why my tomato plant wasn’t growing tomatoes and realizing the flowers become the tomatoes!

[@deborahnelson7907]

I love what you said about how seeds in the garden surrounded you with abundance when you have experienced so much lack in your life in the past. For the past six years, I have had a plot in a community garden and taken photos of all of the beautiful flowers others have grown in their plots. This year I asked some of my garden neighbors to share their perennial flower seeds so I can plant some next year. I was amazed at how one plant produces so many seeds! After hearing your comments, I realized that the abundance we see in the garden speaks to God's character. Seeds are just one evidence that He wants to bless us and surround us with food, beauty and abundance. Thanks for deepening my love and appreciation for growing a garden.

[@wandakelly2173]

I’d never seen an artichoke plant before you showed us growing Artie! 😊Thanks! So beautiful.

[@belieftransformation]

Amazing life of plants! I was amazed when I planted little asparagus seeds & the tiny plants survived our harsh Alberta winters. Then after 2 more years, their abundance multiplied. Now, about 7 years later they’ve filled the south side of my house & have given so much food. I love the ferns they produce the rest of the fall & into winter! Thanks for sharing about artichokes & okra! Blessings to everyone 🤗💕🇨🇦

[@dlsdyer9071]

Just said “happy birthday” to some carrots in my Greenstalks out on my deck this a.m.!

[@MissBetsyLu]

Okra in Alberta??? Blessings all.

[@crissiekberg7259]

One of the many reasons I watch your channel is for the inspiration and the knowledge you impart every.single.time! It helps me dream bigger and pray harder. Thank you for sharing the realness of growing your own food. We’re here and listening! 🥰

[@DM-kt8rd]

I heavily sowed 8 year old carrot seed, thinking they would have low germination. I regretted it! I had to thin them significantly. They were just fine for germination. They did take longer to sprout, though.

[@samanthahoos9827]

My “hey, I’m a gardener” moment was when I planted radish seeds in containers on my back porch. I was hooked! I’d always planted flowers and herbs, but food - who knew it would taste so deliciously different than grocery store food. Thank you for all you videos!!! ❤

[@faithf4988]

I'm in Phoenix and we're still having days over 100 degrees ...I sowed my carrots in mid September and they've all germinated and growing fine...I wonder if it's because the night time temps are down to the 60's and 70's...last year I made the mistake of trying to start them in August...that was a nope🤣

[@jks9204]

It’s amazing that u always say Celsius values too, and u know how to convert for us on the spot.

[@pattipate9732]

Although there are so many things in the garden, that I am in awe of, two stand out for me right now. One is sweet potatoes. This past summer was our first garden of any size. We grew six 4x8 raised beds with one just of sweet potatoes. The greens were beautiful, but of course you don’t know what’s going on underneath! When it came time to harvest, I had my kids and grandkids out, and we made it a family event, and every single potato that came out of the ground we were like, oh, look at that one! Look how big that one is! So much fun and a good chance for the grandkids to get dirty and learn! The second was ground cherries. I’d only seen ground cherries in videos. So I planted two plants. Not knowing that it would be the first thing my grandkids ran to every visit, and how much enjoyment my husband and I got at checking to see if there were any ready to eat, which we snacked on while we were gardening. But mostly it’s the peace I feel while out there. Everything else just falls away!

[@dreamagayeconrad7366]

Iv'e been a gardener for many , many years. But I did not have any idea what a pineapple plant looked like until this year.. I had that ah-ha moment like you said. I had no idea that it grew that way.

[@judysonger814]

I've been gardening for almost fifty years and I'm still in awe when the seeds come up!

[@alamo2211]

One of my Aha! Moments was when I had a planter full of lettuce seeds that just didn’t sprout. It was on a side of the house I didn’t go by often, but one day in December I went that direction and discovered a lovely big bed of lettuce! This is when I really got a clue about growing seasons and germination temperatures. We learn more all the time.

[@Benz1659]

For me, the awe came with the fact that ANYTHING I'd planted, produced! To say I had a brown thumb was an understatement! My mom could grow food on a rock. I, on the other hand, killed cactus. My arch nemesis are aloe vera plants. I HEAR they're pretty hardy, but I haven't unlocked that hardiness...yet. So if anything I've planted germinates, matures, flowers/produces - I'm over the moon. A lot of that doggedness comes from following good folks like yourself. Ty so very much! God bless you too, Jess. Be well. 🙏🏽

[@jcunningham1321]

I discovered this year how many people didn't know how potatoes grew! So I posted pictures and explanations on Facebook and educated a good number of friends. Who knew!

[@MissBetsyLu]

Enjoy even the doubting about gardening if you want. Savor the whole thing. Give thanks for everything. Blessings everyone everywhere and always

[@melissagannon5711]

Ive grown a huge veg garden for 25 yests,but my aha moment happens every summer when I pick blackberries. I fill my freezer just by carrying a basket when Im out with my dogs. It's every fall when I forage for apples and pears and nuts. There's literally fruit dripping in wild and abandoned places. That's abundance left over from decades ago when someone planted the trees.

[@Michellegrows]

It's funny you talked about growing broccoli for the first time. I've been gardening for over a decade, and this is the first year I've tried it. I'm excited!

[@MissBetsyLu]

I still didn't dig potatoes bad me. Blessings everyone everywhere and always.

[@Jess-kd3su]

My mom never had a garden so when I was a teenager we decided to buy some tomato plants and grow our own tomatoes. It’s super funny now, but back then we didn’t know ANYTHING and we ended up buying determinate tomatoes that stayed as little bushes and we thought that was how they were supposed to be. Later in life when I got married and decided that I want a “real” garden, my hubby bought a bunch of plants (his parents are from Ukraine and they gardened their whole lives). I was so surprised when he taught me to prune tomatoes, how to train them up a string, and then I was just STUNNED at how fast they grew to be taller than me! It’s definitely a darling little memory now 💛

[@Fatimasroots]

Your videos just make me dream so big🥹 for now I’ve turned my waiting room into a classroom and am hoping to inspire my audience the way you’ve inspired me🫶

[@GardeningwithSteph]

Subscribed! I hope you reach all those dreams💖

[@NicoleSmithGardening]

Just subscribed!

[@tarabrickle8745]

I am always amazed at how many seeds come from just 1 fruit from 1 plant with just 1 seed. Every time I am dumbfounded that hunger exists in the world and awe struck by God's handiwork. You, my dear are one huge inspiration with your gorgeous gardens. Thank you for sharing them with us. Ps: how is Ben's foot? If you've mentioned recently, I apologize.

[@katiebrodeen4241]

I've become a big seed collector and I think when I started getting into it one of the first things that amazed be is watching the process of petunias. Seeing what happens once the flower has been pollinated and has finished being beautiful is beyond fascinating to me. And now it's become my hobby, I am so passionate about it I literally feel pure joy when I see a seed pod that's finished its cycle. My dream job would be to collect seeds from any plant. I have chronic extreme pain and getting lost in seed collecting is the only moment in any day that physical pain doesn't consume me. 🥰

[@jessicacote3124]

I was amazing at how fast cucumbers go from “I don’t think I see any” one day to “holy moly, that cucumber is bigger than my arm!” the next 😂

[@wendymontgomery5635]

The way brussel sprouts grow just blew me away! 🤯

[@susiesalazar7360]

Hi Jess, my aha moment was when I harvested my first cabbage ever. I honestly didn’t think I was ever going to. Let me tell you, when I harvested that beautiful “small” head of cabbage …. that was one of the best days of my life. And when I served it to my family for dinner that night…I was so proud and happy. Thank you for all the encouragement you give us. Truly, thank you.

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

I like this board method, I recently saw this and I think I'll try it next year 😊

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

I love when you say Happy Birthday to new seedlings! It warms my heart! ❤

[@thesimplehomesteadlife]

I grew broccoli for the second time (a storm destroyed my first ones) and I was in awe watching it grow. I even brought my mom out to the garden and showed her, she was like I had no idea!

[@steveegbert7429]

I just have to say, of all the various channels I am subscribed to, this is by far the one I look forward to the most. Come to think of it, R&R might be the first one I ever subscribed to. Thank, you Jess for all you do!

[@staroxiasgarden9700]

Corn and peanuts really surprised me on how they grew! The first time I made a garden, I remember thinking the corn was going to come from the tassels and thought the peanuts grew from the roots. Learning to garden is so awesome and a wonder you behold!

[@crazychickenchica7018]

Last year I grew a small garden and my wow moment was with okra. I was amazed at the shear size of the plants, the amount of okra just a few plants could produce, and the amount of seeds from just one pod. I grew so much okra I ran out of room in my freezer and was giving it away!

[@MissBetsyLu]

Awestruck That's it exactly. Praise God and Blessings everyone everywhere and always

[@lorenawaller457]

I experienced okra growing for the first time two years ago and was so amazed at how tall they grew and how much they produced. I was up to my ears in okra and only planted five plants and all different varieties and seeing the difference was amazing. I’m mostly the only one that eats anything out of my little garden that I’m allowed to grow on our rental property and each year amazes me. I love plants and that love I know I got from my Mother, God rest her soul, and I fall in love with my little garden each year because I always plant something different with the tride and trues just to see how it grows. This year 2024, I’m not going to plant anything but flowers along with what’s already out there in my pots and grow bags that are perennials because I have enough to last me for a while and I just want some beautiful flowers around me this coming year. I have a few pepper plants that I brought inside for the winter and testing to see if they will survive our very harsh winter indoors. I planted them on purpose in pots and grow bags just to see and so far they’ve been thriving and still have peppers on them but, it’s only been a week so, time will tell for these precious babies. Anyway, I love the way you share your experiences with your garden because it always makes me feel like I’m right there with you experiencing it with you and always takes my breath away in awe so, thank you for everything you share with us and thank you for all you do. We bless you until next time ❣️🤗❣️

[@jenniferhoy7544]

I was really surprised to see an artichoke flower the first time. I knew what an artichoke looked like, but not when it actually bloomed that purple bloom. That was mind blowing.

[@caydancebloom]

Envious of winter gardens! I was going to try making the solarium a four seasons greenhouse, but after trimming the lilac bush I see the foundation of it is leaning! 😮 so now I’m thinking the extra weight of soil and water is probably not a good idea. 😢 and I’m not sure we can come up with a fix quick enough before it snows. Still excited for next summer!

[@tericamcginnis5848]

Brussel sprouts! Love them planted and when plants grew didn't know what how or when to pick! All the formed Brussel sprouts ended opening up. It was years later I realized what had gone on! Good luck at the doctor!.💙💚💛🐸😎🐸

[@soymilkmuse]

I grew up with a Mom, Aunt and Grandma who had gardens and we always took it in turn to go to each others homes for coffee and walks around the garden. I can't remember an aha moment for myself (although there probably is one somewhere in my head 😂😂) but the most interesting one I observed in visitors to my garden was asparagus. They see it all huge and ferned out and are blown away that that's asparagus, and I get to tell them about the spring shoots.💕

[@jenipiechocki6925]

I knew sunflowers grew tall , but i was in aww this whole spring/summer watching the sunglower seeds i sowed grow and soar to 12-16 feet, everyday it was a joy to go check on them.

[@kmarshall53]

I have had so many revelation moments - with corn, Brussels Sprouts, Garbanzo Beans, Peanuts, and on and on. This year, I learned that carrots need to be harvested earlier than I thought. I got some massive carrots, and they can become tough if they get too big. I’m also learning that abundance means I can’t eat all of what my little garden produces, and I need to plan to preserve the excess by canning. It’s so satisfying to see beautiful jars full of delicious food on my shelves! Thanks in large part to you, Jess, I’ve had the joy of experiencing all of this! 💗

[@fadedrose100]

One of my surprises was that a so called weed growing voluntarily in my garden, the mallow plant, is a relative to okra. It grows very small little okra like seed pods smaller than peas that make a nice little snack. I haven't had success growing okra here in the north but I've been encouraging the mallow and it comes back more prolific every year.

[@jennifervoss8549]

Brussels sprouts blew my mind. The first time I saw them in trader Joes for sale on the stalk, I could not believe it. I always remember that day when I see the beautiful Brussel sprout

[@kellygreen8255]

You are just about the COOLEST CHICK in the whole world! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and insight with us.

[@kariannecrysler640]

Chives! My awe struck plant from seeds 🤭

[@scofieldfarm]

I think how simple it is to save seeds and what the plants actually look like when they go to seed... that was mind blowing to me. I love how much the garden wants to reproduce itself.

[@hollynelson543]

Walking next to the greenhouse, welcome to the jungle❤❤❤it.

[@michelewhite1150]

I luv how you make up lil stories about your animals so please don’t ever stop. I luv all your stories xx

[@Pausereflectandbreathe]

My aha moment was when I was in 3rd grade I think. My stepfather’s parents had a garden so he knows how to garden. He gave me a little pack of bokchoy seeds to plant in his DIY box planter for seedlings. I wasn’t really expecting much about it but I think after 3 days, the seeds started to sprout. Every single day after that I was excited to visit the seedlings to check. I was amazed how a tiny itty bitty seeds can grow into a big plant for us to eat! It’s very exciting! I still have that feeling every time I plant seeds. The sprouts are cute and always amazes me how they grow so fast. I Love your garden! And yes, the abundance is mind blowing! ❤️🙏

[@barbaramix1683]

Of course it is going to work, seeds just want to grow. You taught me that. I grew up very poor and my mother was too proud to get food stamps. We suffered from lack constantly. That changes a person. Living with much is so awesome. I grew pumpkins this year and gave them to my neighbors. When I have a lot of seeds I feel rich. I don't have too much money, but I am not poor anymore because I can grow some of my own food so I won't be hungry.

[@stacyvenancio6030]

The way you speak about the garden and your genuine awe that is so captivating, is what got me started to begin with. I will definitely be forever grateful for the way that you’ve introduced me to my newfound passion of five years now. And I am so excited to hear that you’re coming to New England next year, please keep us posted on details as soon as things are signed and finalized so that we can plan also. I can’t wait to finally be able to say hi and thank you in person.

[@MissBetsyLu]

Wow!!!! Thats a lot of pansies and stuff!!!! Blessings everyone everywhere and always

[@christyh.4092]

My aha moment in gardening was when I had my first garden and grew yellow squash. I was amazed at the incredible rich beauty under the huge green leaves - the intricate abundance of flowers and fruit next to the red soil. I even made a sketch of it.

[@jessie-2023]

I’m so happy to see your carrots process. I also live in the south .. I planted some and they are doing pretty well at the moment but we shall see. Also happy to see you just planted calendula. I’m in the Deep South and was hoping I didn’t wait too late but maybe the first frost will be later so these can get established. Our first frost is rather inconsistent.

[@sunsetsky594]

The amazing power of seed-time-harvest that God put into each seed is amazing and quite a lesson of faith as well in the thoughts of planting a seed of faith for something in our lives.

[@WelcometomyCapeCodlife]

I’ve been gardening up here in Massachusetts for a very long time and it is still awe inspiring to me! I’ve seen just about every vegetable grow over the years, but I hadn’t really seen okra grow until watching your channel. My friend here who originally came from Texas told me it was too cool here to grow. Challenge accepted. I didn’t even know if I’ liked it but I decided to give it a whirl so I started with Perkins long pod. Turns out I love it and you can grow it up here. I don’t get bumper crops like you do, because as you know Okra she likes it hot, but I get enough to keep me interested in growing it. Thanks.

[@DIYbri]

You’re coming here to Idaho?! Hooray!!! ❤ Hope we get to see you

[@ilenehorowitz3060]

I have a simple backyard garden, but I also love bringing people to see how food grows and sharing samples off the plants.

[@NancysBareFootBackYard]

We had crazy huge okra this year. I cut them down a couple weeks ago and they've decided they were not done and they're still growing big ole okras. LOL Its awesome!

[@Joyfulfarmer]

Jess, have you thought about sowing some cool hardy annuals for cut flowers?? If you have a little bed space left over, it could be fun! And gives us a head start for spring blooms! I just got done reading Lisa Mason Ziegler’s book Cool Flowers and I’m transplanting and direct sowing oodles! In our growing zones we can get away with overwintering most of the flowers in her book!! 💚🌱

[@dbruce5760]

You amaze me, teach me, and inspire me. Thank you for being you and so real and a wonderful heart and soul.

[@gardenrowes]

I’m a new gardener, this year was my first year 😊 I was blown away seeing and learning how all the individual seedlings grew into huge plants! Especially the corn - the way those seedlings grow up a single stem was so amazing to watch. At first I thought it was a weed! Thanks for all the videos you share - you’re super inspiring and I’ve learned so much from you. I even read your book over the winter last year to help me prepare for gardening this year, and have your homesteading book to read this winter to prep for next year. Hoping to get chickens! 🫶🏼💕

[@HeatherNaturaly]

I did your carrot sowing routine, but the pill bugs and tiny centipedes ate most of them. They love the cardboard under the board.

[@shannonz9211]

LETTUCE GROWS FLOWERS FOR SEEDS!!! I never thought about how we get the seeds for lettuce. This realization had me floored. Lol

[@dldzioba]

I love lessons from the garden. This summer's garden include needing to start my tomatoes a little sooner, having to be more diligent about picking grass weeds from my landscaping, and burying my squash/pumpkin vines to avoid borers. But I am still bringing in a bunch of food in the form of beans, late tomatoes, and rainbow chard.

[@carolynerickson6365]

Marveling at all of the sunflower seeds on one giant bloom from a mammoth sunflower… That was a beautiful "aha" this summer! Great to meet you last weekend, Jess & Miah!

[@MissBetsyLu]

She got an Amen from the geese?? Blessings everyone everywhere and always

[@dhansonranch]

I like to grow something new every year and so there is always an amazement of how big, how slow they grow or how much they produce. This year it was the tomatillo's - who knew they got so big and produced so much! LOL. However, what never ceases to amaze me is just how fast thing will grow. Good video.

[@Homestead-ish]

It truly is just an amazing feeling that will never get old! ❤❤

[@krussell9995]

When I was little my granddad showed me a sunflower that had gone to seed. I was amazed at how many were in that flower head and how they just brushed off with your hand. Okra was another amazement, mine also get tall with massive "trucks" for stems. Brussel sprouts is another one. They look like alien plants lol. And I'd never seen how artichokes were grown until this year and you showed us on a video. Plants are just amazing!

[@AnnieandCC]

Radish pods: I was sad that I didn’t get to harvest any radishes one too-warm spring. Then I saw the pods forming on the stalk. Thought i would try one and voila! Magic moment. Really, the big idea was that you can eat multiple parts of many garden plants: carrot tops, broccoli leaves, sugar snap pea tendrils (delicious), radish pods……

[@emiliasadler7707]

My favourite is watching the stone fruit develop from blossom to tiny fruit, it's so amazing and beautiful to see the bud burst into a fresh little blossom and then see it visited until it becomes all raggedy and just as that is happening the central stamen gets a little longer and the tiny fruit starts to swell and finally the dried up petals fall away. So exciting. Still so much that can go wrong before we get to harvest. ❤

[@maplenook]

I’ve always had trouble growing carrots and gave up. Then this year I got a ton of volunteer carrots that came up through wood chips. The seeds came in with compost.

[@ehsanihomestead]

I was born and raised in the Midwest and my husband and I lived in Arizona for a time where we saw a pomegranate plant and I remember thinking how wild it was that it could grow perennial like that anywhere the US I had always thought it was something that grew in a rainforest or somewhere tropical... and there it was thriving in the middle of a desert valley! Plants are so much fun and gardening is such a cool skill that you can constantly build on every single day even without the perfect conditions, tools, skills, knowledge, etc. you can also glean knowledge from a garden regardless of its performance or magnitude. One of my favorite things about gardening in Wisconsin is all of the opportunities to be challenged and try new things while still being able to experience the beauty of snowy winters and 90F+ summers. I understand this region isn't for everyone but I think gardening is, especially when you consider how many different options there are... you don't even have to go outside to garden at all if that is what you want. The sky is the limit! Happy New Year & Happy Gardening!

[@ingridskitchengarden]

Back in the 80’s we had a few from NY NY staying with my family. They must have been in their 20’s. We had gone to the river for a picnic. On the way back we stopped at the Apple tree and grabbed an apple for the road. I remember one of guys asking if it was ok to eat the apple. It’s amazing how people are so clueless as how and where our foods come from.

[@caraoiler711]

I remember the first time I saw Brussels sprouts at a Whole Foods on the stock still. It blew my mind. Kinda reminded me of those rain sticks my teachers always had in school lol

[@dasherfay3201]

The first thing that took me by surprise was Tabasco pepper plants! They look like ornamental landscape trees and for having such tiny fruits they're the largest pepper plant in my garden. I find them so beautiful and grow them every year now to make homemade Tabasco sauce!

[@alyssafox5249]

I love to watch my plants mature. I have a bad habit of planting things then leaving them throughout their whole life cycle. I had so much dill this last season!! And I only picked a little of it... the rest flowered and I left it there for weeks watching the flowers blossom ❤️

[@marilynschultz5802]

What words can express the exquisite elegance and luxurious beauty of the burgundy okra flower? Music, perhaps

[@YACABE]

Jess killing vampires with overgrown woody okra pods? I need this episode.

[@doinacampean9132]

Actually, you started me on this journey, 5 years ago :) In the words of You Can't Eat The Grass, I'm a tomato-based life form :) I still have the okra seeds I bought then - never sowed them - I remembered I don't like okra :) But I do have over 100 types of tomato seeds and lots and lots of other seeds, some that are very little known - such as minutina, for example... So yes, thank you for sharing your love of gardening, and also for the very useful narration.