Harvesting Dinner (Farm to Table harvest and Cook with me) | VLOG

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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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[@tinymillymakes]

Rarely do I come out of lurking to comment but I just gotta say THESE are the videos I miss the most. Not necessarily the cooking (while I do love that too) but the HARVEST. I love watching you harvest such abundance. It's so inspiring to be honest.

[@littlecountrykitchen]

❤yes love it! Jess, Wondering if the Nasturtium helps ward off the squash bugs, that is what I've heard. Wondering your experience!! 🤔 Next time we love to see the plate ready and what Ben... thunk of the meal! 😂❤

[@Onniesprairiegarden]

Yes! Harvesting videos are one of my favorites!

[@huizy9793]

Dido

[@lastnamefirstname612]

​@@littlecountrykitchenmy

[@amandafrederick8308]

LOVE THESE COOK WITH ME'S!!!

[@muhleekuh]

I don’t know what it is about your videos, but they truly inspire me to go out into the garden every time. I will literally pause the video take a walk in the garden and then pick up where I left off. Thank you for sharing with us, Jess!

[@RootsandRefugeFarm]

That is awesome!

[@JennaGoforth]

I do this same thing! Love being in the garden ❤

[@WOODARD-hp6qt]

Every, single, time. Sit to watch and then next thing you know here I go with my seed book headed to the garden.

[@growingingracebyhisgrace3927]

I just did the same and harvested a round of peas! Praise the lord for such encouragement 🙌🏼

[@user-ct6gy3dg1j]

Thank you for bridging the gaps between growing, harvesting, and eating REAL food. :)

[@Mikosun]

“Jess looks at camera and tosses a half cup of butter in pan.” 😂😂😂 me: YES! #buttermakeseverythingbetter 🧈🧈🧈

[@denisescull4227]

So glad you understand the value in showing how you use what you grow. What seems simple or mundane to you has great value for so many of us. Thank you for sharing ❤

[@heathernotzdaniels6350]

"You are highly favored.". Couldn't say it much better, Jeremiah!! ❤❤

[@dianabrock6383]

New follower here. Is her husband's name Jeremiah? And she calls him Miah? We have a Nehemiah and call him Miah. He is our 4th son.

[@heathernotzdaniels6350]

@@dianabrock6383 Yes, his full name is Jeremiah. 😊

[@michellestjohn4826]

Jess, Last night I made sausage, potatoes, and green beans for dinner. The green beans came from our garden. I was able to harvest enough to feed us for dinner and leftovers for lunch. I cannot express to you how proud I was to harvest just this one product and have it be enough to make a healthy side for my family. This channel gave me the confidence to just get started with gardening. I spent two years overthinking and feeling too uneducated and crippled by analysis paralysis to actually grow things. Watching you gave me permission to just put some plants in the ground and get started. I have already learned so much and cannot wait to improve with each season. Tonight we will be having potatoes from our garden, garden fresh cucumber for snacks, and later this week I’ll be using my home grown peppers in some chili. I’m nowhere near making a complete meal from my homestead like this, but I could not be more excited about where we are. Please make more content like this! I love getting produce from my garden, but sometimes I look at it and think “so what do I do with this now”. We have been so conditioned to only use the limited selection of fruits and veggies at the grocery store. We go out and buy what we need to make a recipe from Pinterest. We don’t learn how to look at what we grow and develop a meal for our families. This type of content is so helpful to reframe how we eat, and I know that the more of this I watch, the more confident I will become to grow “unusual” foods and know how to actually use them for a meal.

[@donnaharratt]

Well said!!

[@angelad.8944]

I love the ending 😄 🎶I hope this inspires you....makes you wanna go pick your dinner....first you gotta grow it!🎶 There's gotta be a shirt or a sticker in there somewhere.😁

[@TheEmbrio]

Miah must have missed you, he is very presentnin this video ! So cute to have parents helping get dinner ready together

[@ingenoordam7422]

Thank you 😊

[@lionheartfarmandgardening]

I love to walk through the garden to figure out dinner as well. I agree with you, it is really hard to then go back and film the whole process. What a lot of people don't see is filming things makes the task take 2-3 times longer than it normally would. Filming food and getting it done while the food is hot takes a lot, you did a fantastic job with it all! It's so nice to see like minded people! Thanks for the hard work Jess! ❤❤

[@angelasmith4286]

Love the last couple harvest videos. I say a mess of beans at least 40 years since I was twenty two a mess of greens it means alot enough for a large pot full of beans or greens tell Miah. Love to watch you and cooking what you pull for dinner. Peaches are so expensive now due to freezing. You lucked up this year . Bless you and family.. ❤

[@fraherfarms]

I love your spirit, and you have a way of making things look so easy! I wish you peace and happiness

[@jenniferrichardson5106]

I just want to acknowledge and show my appreciation for the TLOTR movie reference when you said potatoes are back on the menu, boys! I LOVE that you sometimes throw movie and random quotes out. My family and I do it all the time, and lots of times people have no idea what we are talking about. Gotta love random quotes and songs popping into our heads! 😉 Oh, and I love the rest of the video, as well. 😁

[@terriebrecheisen1875]

Jess, plant DILL with your squash - pumpkins, yellow, butternut, zuchinni... The squash bugs avoid dill. Because of the tachnid fly/bug. You can look this up. I rarely see squash bugs, and I plant a lot of squashes.

[@angelad.8944]

The adults also lay the eggs in the soil around the base of the plant so I have put diatomaceous earth in abundance around there. I wonder if the chickens are able to do anything about that. 🤔 I also dump a generous amount all over the area right after I rip them out to get the eggs and babies when they hatch.

[@Woodlandhoneyco]

Thanks for this tip! I’m going to try it!

[@tess5564]

I appreciate you taking the time and effort to make the cooking content as a busy mama. It is an area I struggle with and this was greatly inspirational.

[@candacebruner9805]

I love your cooking videos! They are so relaxing and fun to watch! I'd love to see more of them even in the winter when youre having to use more preserved food. Its wonderful to watch someone cook a wholesome meal with everything from their farm. Not common to see this now days and super informative info on all your plants!! All the knowledge that you have about caring for your plants has been lost to a lot of this generation. We forget the work and effort it takes to keep things healthy and going, common practice of the old days but not so much now. Grocery store food cant compare to this as if you put in the effort to tend to something and without pesticides at that, I'd imagine you are so much more fulfiled and appreciative of everything you eat! Not to mention the taste is 10x better! Keep it up Jess!! Thanks for inviting us into your dinner routine!!

[@EmmaMG21]

Watching while I roll up my sarmale/stuffed vine leaves that I picked from my garden. Amazing feeling 😊

[@littlecountrykitchen]

🎉 watching with cc on and when she said comfrey salve. It was comfreys have. And helichrysum = hella prisons. Rofl 🤣 😂 🤣 😂 i was laughing hysterically. So funny. ❤

[@poplarcreekfarm19]

😂 the salt and pepper being too personal comment had me dying. That may be my favorite Jess line ever.

[@tammipadilla2774]

I didn't think Basil tea would be very good, but watching this time, I decided to try it. I picked a little Tulsi and Opal basil and steeped while I was making dinner. When I poured the tea into my jar of honey and lemon, it turned a beautiful bright pink from the Opal basil. I refrigerated it, then served over ice. And oh. em. gee. SO GOOD!!! I am scrounging the local nursery for more plants, and starting more from seed, too. My new favorite beverage!

[@freeomelettefarm]

I love your "Potatoes are back on the menu, boys." A LOTR reference is always appreciated. Thank you for the kitchen inspiration!

[@denam3]

More of these farm to table videos please! Love them and as a newer gardener I don’t have as much trouble growing the plants as I do cooking with them and finding that inspiration! Thank you

[@jennifergasiorowski7471]

No measuring, fly by the seat of my pants home cook here! The abundance is coming here in zone 6b Michigan! I've been picking a little here and there from my garden (which is about a third of one of your high tunnels)! This is the second year of fully organic and it's doing well. Last year was weak but produced, this year is much better and i expect next year will be amazing! I'm going off your statement of first year it sleeps, second year it creeps and third year it leaps! Your garden is a testament to that! So inspiring! My favorite fast food, home cooked, fresh veggie meals are stir fry style like this and i can't wait Thank you thank you thank you for sharing all your knowledge! ❤

[@vickiblizzard1001]

When I lived in Indiana and had a big garden (many years ago), I'd frequently have dinner based on what was ready to harvest. One night it could be the last of the spinach before it bolted, green beans that were just maturing, baby onions with chicken over rice. Later in the season, it would be a stir fry of Christmas lima beans (which turn an unappetizing gray when cooked, but are still delicious), green beans, assorted summer squash, various types of tomatoes and baby corn mixed with smoked sausage. In the fall, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, acorn squash chunks and onions mixed with ground pork. I miss that garden - I've never grown one like it since. I loved seeing your harvesting/cooking video today - please show us more as the season progresses and different vegetables are ready for harvest!

[@RevLetaLee]

You all have more energy than 10 people. Fun to watch, especially the cooking cuz that's my focus this year, learning to cook all I grow, in ways I enjoy eating.

[@jenedge5579]

Lol, loved the butter toss and the badass look on your face at the moment... “come at me, I dare ya.” 😎

[@jenniferdruery8661]

Been listening to your podcasts and you mentioned “what do I do with this food” issue a few times and I get excited hoping someone could give us more content and inspiration on that very subject! Thank you so very much for sharing this!!!

[@ddossman60]

My love!! Happy Friday! Lord you make my days better and we appreciate all these videos!!

[@LaBonnevie61]

I know you don’t like to do these sorts of videos but I love when you do. Thank you. ❤

[@sonjasnelling3068]

I was just thinking the other day, “I would like to see how Jess puts together meals from her fresh harvest” Thank you, looks so yummy and YES I am Inspired 🥰

[@robinwillis7203]

You are such a blessing to watch and learn from. Thank you for sharing your life and family with us. May God continue to bless you

[@Rosaprep247]

Miah, yes per my grandma, the proper term is a “mess” of beans 😊😊 8:59

[@dawnmorris3252]

My mind was telling me “You Smell It All “ really need that incredible 7th sense 🤣💚

[@sandieweatherup]

And a classic Georgia blue denim Hedley & Bennett apron. ❤

[@whiskeywomanwhisks]

😱your tulsi is beautiful! Tulsi is amazing for anxiety & depression!!! Picking dinner & breakfast & lunch from my backyard is my favorite thing ever!🙌🏻

[@perfectlyimperfect2023]

My aunt always said she would add a pinch of sugar to her fresh veggies just like she added a pinch of salt to desserts. She used to have an acre garden every year and some of my best memories was picking peas out of her garden in the summer when we were there on weekends. Now I send pickles and peas to her and my uncle out of my garden

[@yeevita]

I do love videos on what to do with harvests from the garden. I think most people never knew any of this. My parents were farmers and we have always grown things. I enjoy getting dinner from the garden or at least making one dish from the garden. i think if everyone can grow something, it will help with food security and with climate change, as well as give everyone much better food and flavors to eat. All good things for people to have in their lives.

[@heatherpahl6927]

How in the world do you simply reach your hands through the thorny squash plants?! Tough skin, sister!

[@DjChelan]

Thank you #RootsToRefuge Jess for cooking today after harvest! I so learned so much! Love you all!

[@sabrinaduk646]

That butter toss felt the equivalent of a mic drop, lol 😂🎉

[@iartistdotme]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE when you do this kind of video - cans were where veg came from as a kid and I never learned how to cook like you do. I've tried and have some success but oftentimes I don't. Never saw anyone pick and cook a banana pepper in my life and have a bunch growing in my garden just waiting for you today - so grateful for you! I always stick my leafy 'gleanings' from the day in a large bowl of cold water just to keep them until I can get to them and they always seem so much better for it. Now I learned why BUT also learned I can do other beg that same - carrots for one. Thank you again.

[@missouribroad978]

Love these cooking with the harvest videos! It can feel overwhelming and it’s always great to get some new inspiration.

[@loribethartist6353]

I have hardly ever watched someone cook so much like I do! Love these videos ❤

[@sajmt1414]

Thank you for all the tips. I know how to cook, but boy do I need lots of tips and tricks like these. Thank you so much.

[@sandykincaid7576]

Sometime I go into my garden not intending to harvest but find things to harvest. Im unprepared with no container. I have used my shirt or if wearing an apron, i have used the shirt or apron as a harvesting container. I just fold up the bottom and make a pocket for produce. I love the old-fashionedness of doing this.

[@debraalldredge3032]

Oh my goodness I love you Jess!! ❤ I love how you paused at telling us your salt and pepper ratios, then threw the biggest honker of butter in that pan 😂. I just love you so much. That dinner looks amazing by the way.

[@deborahhilton]

We don't grow out meat but we do get it from Butcher Box. My sides tonight are squash, onions and cucumbers from my garden. I love being able to harvest and cook what I grow.

[@diannegriffith5444]

"Potatos are back on the menu boys!" Best line! Great video.😂

[@debbybrady1246]

I harvested my very first potatoes two weeks ago and roasted some for dinner last night. They were delicious and I felt so proud and satisfied. I also canned the rest for later.

[@stacyB783]

Thank you for this!! I really hope you do more content like this. It gives ideas of how to use fresh home grown ingredients but that it does not have to be complicated. I appreciate that as I don't usually have time for complicated. 😊

[@suewhalen3919]

Thank you for you! My problem is, the same with the garden as with my canned goods- is that I covet them. To the point they are past prime. I will remind myself to give my self grace, to use and savor that food that I have grown and saved while it is at its best.

[@karensheart]

I enjoy you Jess and all you generously teach! I also enjoy the whole family together! Those boys are soooooadorable! ❤

[@theresekirkpatrick3337]

I learned a lot about harvesting and I’m a 55 year old pretty good cook and I agree with your tips. Peace from Arizona

[@jcthompson7666]

This was inspiring, I like that you spoke about the many ways to take the veggie/ground pork mix. Please do more of these when you have time.

[@charmainemrtnz]

TELL BEN I PLANTED BANANA PEPPERS BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE OF THEM.! Those onions look great!

[@user-rz7fy1bf4p]

I just came across your channel today. So amazing thank you! I've been vegetable gardening for a year now and have already gotten more tips from your channel than any other I follow! ❤

[@lifeinthepiedmontVirginia]

My sister told me about your Roots n Refuge channel and started following you and then one day your face popped up on this channels so I subscribed and told my sister about your new channel. I just watch a variety of channels and always learn something. Blessings

[@joanneganon7157]

Thanks Jess ,I can smell the Freshness from the Green Mountains 🤭. Enjoy! JO JO IN VT 💞

[@sherrybacon8041]

I love this kind of cooking. I hope I have great luck with my garden. Fresh is the best❤

[@Britt1586]

absolutely loved this! I vote for more videos like this in the future :] What a blessing it is for those who dine at your table, Jess!

[@thedragonflyquarter6480]

Love seeing those Pampered Chef scissors in the WILD

[@elsaault8642]

Amazing dinner! We call it grocery shopping when i walk out with a basket to harvest. You are so right that homegrown food taste so much better. It must be the dirt that’s on it when it comes to the kitchen 😊 Mother Nature’s seasoning lol

[@gelwood99]

In your squash, the only thing I add would be cream! That is my favorite way to eat summer squash!!! Sauteed in butter with onion and add cream at the end, cook to thicken it a bit, the cream takes on the flavors.

[@judifarrington9461]

Thank you, Jess! So many of our meals have been inspired by you. I learned to love roasted cabbage, root veggies and pork sausage, stuffed in a tortilla with a dollop of Baja sauce because of you. Thanks! ❤

[@mothermedicinemusic]

Looking forward to that sourdough bread grilled tomato sandwich you love, as I love them too!! Nothing compares to homegrown tomatoes flavor!

[@dawnwilliams8766]

Love your vids and really enjoy it when your family is there too! Thank you for all you do!

[@victoriouspeople1]

"soaking the heat off" - up here in Canada, I learned that we were "taking the heat off", so same same north and south!

[@chelseyyoung8460]

"Ok, we can stop here...." almost like saying just one more cast 😂 if you know, you know.

[@MTAElite]

Love it! Thank you for that. It helped me to feel validated in directions I don’t wanna go with my business and embrace expressing myself through my business.

[@marycook9607]

You take the patty pan that are getting a little big, cut the top part off to make a lid, scoop out, stuff with some stuffing of your choice and bake. Called spaceships.. you are so good at creative cooking, i know you can figure a concoction. ♥️🇺🇲

[@theresaglass1831]

Oh goodness! 🙏🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. My husband calls it my kitchen battle scars. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. He says I’m dangerous to myself. Actually it’s always because I’m always rushing or in a hurry. Absolutely no reason for it either. 🤷‍♀️🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@suenavivedisfruta558]

I harvest onions, elephant garlic,oregano, and thyme from my food forest recently. I used some of it for today dinner. Thanks for sharing your harvest. 😊

[@tinabloomfield7228]

Oh my GOODNESS ....I tried roasted radishes for the first time today and o boy!!!! You have changed my life lady 😂😂😂

[@vonniemerriam974]

When you tossed that mountain of butter into the pan, did you hear me LOL and shout, "That's my girl!!"??? 😂

[@ladonnawoodley5279]

Thank you for this video Jess! I was inspired by your love of Holy Basil and planted my own this year. I had no idea what to do with it other than enjoy its beauty and smell but now I can't wait for my tea to steep.

[@allisonusry4519]

This was amazing!!! As someone who doesn’t have the big garden yet it inspired me so much. I’ve decided i’m going to go to the Farmers Market and pick a bunch of stuff at random (may even as the seller to pick for me) and make a meal out of it! Just to practice that “cook what you have fresh” mindset!

[@jessicakivett7838]

LoL I love how you nonchalantly tossed the massive clump of butter into the pan 😂 *chef's kiss*

[@jessiortiz3191]

Thank you for going over the little tips like how to wash/take the heat off the harvest. I had no clue lol😂

[@therusticroad]

I know these videos are tricky to pull off in a busy household right at dinner time, but THANK YOU SO MUCH for doing these types of videos!! So super helpful to see how to utilize these amazing foods we can grow! ❤

[@ScottandAshleyPullen]

I know you're a homesteading channel. But.. maybe some affiliate links for your dresses/aprons. ;) In all seriousness, I love these videos. Thank you so much for all of the inspiration and encouragement, Jess.

[@annamorlett]

Dang Jess! You’re getting BUFF 💪🏽 girl. Get it!

[@debinbc]

I love 🧄 garlic 🥰 and squash and butter now I'm starving

[@jotsntittles5783]

hahaha When a small to average size garden you've tended for years is exchanged with one you now need an ATV to harvest with. Girl you need more project j/k

[@paulaboudreaux5598]

Cutco!!!! My dad sold them way back in the day (60s/70s) I still have some of it. Great knives!

[@jmac9199]

Hey there Jess‼️👋🏾🥰 Farm-to-table is “AWESOME “‼️🫶🏾

[@kayleenvanderhorst]

Love this! We grew turnips for the first time this year. They were so surprisingly delicious, can’t wait to plant more next year. Sending you positivity and love.

[@Inkiequill]

Ohh I love this style of video!! Yes please to more garden to kitchen videos!

[@WindyRidge3348]

Awesome! When we make a meal like that and scramble the eggs right into it, we call it shipwreck. If we then put it all in a tortilla, we call them shipwraps.😊

[@FaithfulFarmstead]

Ok officially putting dragon tongue bush beans on my list for next year 😍

[@vbo9872]

I agree that it would be ideal to have an outdoor faucet to do an initial rinse off of the dirt from produce that you bring inside

[@christinebodkins1655]

Thank for bringing us in the kitchen with you ❤ from farm to table 👩‍🌾

[@ss12015]

Oh I think you out did yourself with this video. Love this information and hope you continue doing these style videos. We are in our second season on our homestead. This type of video helps us know how to use our home grown food. ❤. Thank you!

[@lorismith2484]

Oh my! Such good information. My brain is full. I'm trying to do this with my garden foods. You're the best!

[@brownfamilia4]

Miah cut his hair!!! And this dinner looks amazing.

[@jantinascheltema8106]

Thank you for sharing, i like to see what you are cooking with your produce!

[@SunnyDay-kw1pd]

We also put a lot of salt in our food. But when you don't eat all the salt that is in all the processed foods, IMO you can have as much as you feel is right for your family. Also, I don't think the kitchen battle scars are from being lacksadaisical but from the frequency of which you are cooking. My son always gives me a hard time about how much I cut and burn myself but I never had cuts and burns until I started cooking real food for every single meal. More time using kitchen tools means more battle scars from kitchen tools. ❤

[@Truelaine1]

I love this video! Harvesting and then cooking is my fave!

[@heidiweinert3260]

I brush and clean them off in a big paper grocery sack or my kitchen compost bin so it goes back to the garden.

[@katb.5859]

I love this kind of content. And... starting at 23 min - that Jenner girl should watch this to learn, how to cut food 😉