We are Planting Again! (And making the most of dinner) | VLOG

Lemon Balm Syrup (aka Honey Medicine): rootsandrefuge.com/simple-lem...
Basil Tea: rootsandrefuge.com/basil-tea-...
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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WHERE TO FIND US (Some of the links here are affiliate links. If you purchase through our links we'll receive a small commission but the price remains the same - OR BETTER - for you! Be sure to check for any mentioned discount codes.)
- Our Website: rootsandrefuge.com
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- Join our Patreon to get early access to podcasts and other information, plus monthly LIVES with me and Miah: / rootsandrefuge
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- Email Us: [e-mail]
- To drop us a line:
PO Box 4239
Leesville SC 29070
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- To support us through PayPal: www.paypal.com/paypalme/jessi...
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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
- Squizito Tasting Room (Use code "ROOTS" for 10% off your order): rootsandrefuge.com/yt-squizito
- ButcherBox: rootsandrefuge.com/butcherbox
- Growers Solution: rootsandrefuge.com/growers-so...
#rootsandrefuge

[@deewinston5651]

Thank you Jess. You continually teach this old grandma some helpful hints. Be blessed.❤️✝️🙏

[@Joyfulfarmer]

Thank you for not being a garden bully like those mints, Jess! So thankful that you make space for us to grow too. 💚🌱

[@shannybug04]

Fr!!!

[@Lollylobacres]

You can always roll the stem of an herb between your fingers. If it is a mint, and in the mint family, it will have a square stem. Basil is round.

[@jamjar5716]

How interesting and helpful! Thanks!

[@nikkiholton6318]

Very cool.

[@missthang4770]

Basil is actually a member of the mint family.

[@LoveGrowLiveFree]

I love your practical and everyday tips. Thank you for being human, too, and not fake.

[@fullybelly.farm2023]

The conversation at the beginning is every happily married couple. "I just ask a bunch of pesky questions." "Every thought I had left my mind when you asked that" To funny.

[@lindabrinson3999]

The bathtub would make a beautiful indoor pond. Fountain and water garden theme. 💗🌾🐸

[@emilybarnes5920]

Sitting here sipping coffee watching it freezing rain outside in South AR and I sure needed this! 💚

[@outbackbreathing361]

Really appreciate you sharing the whole process of not only what you cooked but plans for the leftovers and the reasoning behind it. It gave suggestions of what people could combine that would be available and seasonal. The more ideas the better to eliminate the sense of “now what should I do with the abundance I have?” Really helpful. Thanks!

[@WinkTartanBelle]

I didn't ever really think much about it, but I have had a "Mint and Melissa tea garden" for years. My iced tea isn't complete without it! I has a corner or a bed wherever I go to garden. I had to move some once because we were installing an outdoor air unit in that spot and it came back all around that new pad the very next year. I swear I can smell it inside when the air conditioner starts up.

[@WillowPixi]

This video is a ray of sunshine on a bleak day. i needed a Jess smile today.

[@stephenpmurphy591]

Yeah, it's not warming up here in upper Northern California home of the coastal Redwoods! Temps still below freezing at night and only low forties during the day! A Jess smile was a nice surprise this morning.

[@jackcsaffell5641]

@@stephenpmurphy591 Hi Stephen I live in Rio Dell. Happy to see you at Roots and Refuge.

[@lesliecastle6791]

Jess, about the bathtub. You could set it up as a hydroponics system with a fountain. If you could figure out how to pump water from the pond, then you could use that as a mild fertilizer water- perfect for seedlings.

[@erikas974]

That is a fantastic idea. Last year in our school we did just that with extra had fish in it. The water from that is gold. 😊

[@PrairieDawnC]

Sounds like a job for Miah, the handyman who doesn't enjoy gardening. ;)

[@Graveflowerrrr]

I am truly obsessed with your greenhouse! Miah has done a beautiful job 💖

[@michellesnetzko9157]

Love Mias's personality... reminds me of my husband, SOOOO sarcastic, but in a good way. ;) Makes you laugh!

[@dawnjessen2914]

Jess you and your videos brings me such joy in my very dark space lately 💛 You are so blessed to have a husband who can build you all your beautiful spaces 💛💛💛💛

[@kimkerley4218]

Lol the black church like look with the bathtub for baptisms. PERFECT!

[@deborahcaldwell9775]

This was so enjoyable that I listened to it twice, second time in the background. Blessings on you and love and continued happiness and of course good health.

[@brihawks]

I love seeing all the kitchen inspo lately 💚 It's in my heart to grow more of our own food, so now I'm learning how to utilize all the delicious ingredients!

[@tinatippin5705]

The circle of life. It's so satisfying to use the bounty to it's fullest. Thank you, Jess.

[@taraconroy6631]

I can smell the earth of your beautiful property and it's helping me dream under a meter of snow 🌞 Just last month it dawned on me that your greenhouse was a holy space. Before that I just saw the aesthetics of the incredibly gorgeous stained glass!! Then I saw a deeper meaning and was further in awe of your passion and vision Jess. Blessings to you all! 🙏💗🙏

[@johnjdumas]

The greenhouse is a holy space a great place to extend, collect, work with, and display a tiny part of God's miracles.

[@robingirven4570]

Exactly!

[@carolmcc59]

I have no land, no garden so my chicken is supermarket roasted. Next morning the carcus goes in my pressure cooker (instapot) for 2 hrs andI turn that broth into a chicken and veg soup that tastes sooo yummy :D Thank you for continually sharing all you do and think with us Jess. It is a huge help to so many.

[@rchic09]

I love that you showed us your meal process. It helps so much to conceptualizo how to go about it. Thank you!

[@irenesgardenandmore]

❤ incredible how the cycle of the animals you have on the homestead goes through ! Thanks for sharing Jess !

[@joannchase3966]

I can see the cottage garden and greenhouse beautifully externally lighted at night 🤗

[@shamancarmichael5305]

It's cold and rainy here today, some chicken soup sounds wonderful! Love to see how you cook so mindfully from your homegrown ingredients, yet include little reminders that us city folk can do the same with a rotisserie chicken.

[@sheilaholmquist6648]

Your joy and laugh brings me such joy in your joy 😊

[@shannongriffin63]

I love you in the kitchen showing how you use what you raise and grow I pray for this 🙏🏾

[@trueblonde316]

My grocery stores have had an abundance of chicken legs/drums for cheap. I’m talking like $2 per pack of 6-8. I cook them in various ways and save the bone to add to a rotisserie chicken carcass and make broth. They accumulate pretty quickly and I’m only cooking for myself so it’s perfect.

[@diannemiller4754]

I am so engrossed in your chicken dinner. I placed my coffee in the microwave and realized it was still on the counter. I actually put the cold pot of coffee in the microwave.

[@diannemiller4754]

Oh my Jess, my lemon balm is all over my yard. Creeping into my garden. It was planted over two years ago. My daughter makes lemon balm salve for me. I am going to make tea with it next summer. Thanks for the recipes.

[@karionhawkins3091]

It is 26 and freezing rain here in Bells Texas today, yesterday and Monday 🥶 Thank you for sharing your life on the farm 🙂

[@reneemorgan9320]

I absolutely love your laugh! Especially when you are excited about something! Its so cute. I still haven't fully cleaned out my summer garden. 😂 But so excited to start planting in a few months. Well, next months for potatoes and seeds but almost 3 months before I transplant those. Roast chicken sounds amazing!

[@josiahbowden1451]

I love gardening because it helps my autism sensory issues

[@soulspaces]

You are the most beautiful person. Inside and out. I have been watching you since pretty much you started and I just wanted to pop in and say how much you inspire me. Not only about planting, but actually more so how you carry yourself through this life as a child of God and a nurturing mother, wife and friend. I started making my own videos and I know you have inspired me to have the confidence to be able to do that. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you are and do. You are a true blessing to this world.

[@susieclark1498]

The mint bed will be full soon. Thank you for sharing the circle of life, it is how it should be. Blessing from San Diego.

[@alfrescoacresfarm]

Love seeing this! I started watching in 2018 to start my garden and here I am starting my own channel - sharing the knowledge just in case I can help teach anyone what has helped me so much 🎉 praise God for the lessons we can learn and share to each other. ❤

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Jess you're so peaceful to hang out with.

[@WeirdHeather]

Just wanted to thank you for being the positive influence you are. You always seem so cheerful and upbeat and I really value that, especially on days where the rest of media seems to be pushing either misery or wild conspiracy theories. I’m grateful I get to watch your videos. 😊

[@jeannieselzer7984]

Love those stain glass flower windows !🌾🥀🌼🌹👩‍🌾

[@bufforpingtonlife]

Hey Jess, miss having you up the road from us. We would have made Chicken and rice soup out of that for tonight! Add a little celery, carrots, onion and rice. Dinner is done! I love seeing your videos.

[@Thetimecapsuletx]

Square stems = always mint. I hope you don’t get this ice storms we are having in Texas right now. Yikes! My poor plants haven’t seen daylight in 3 days.

[@theoneandonly1158]

3 days? *Laughing in east coast*

[@vickiseaburg4597]

Jess you have been so blessed hubby did a great job building your farm and greenhouse is beautiful

[@JeanneKinland]

I like how everybody stands at attention the minute you walk into the room with your camera. You are right about that mint. It only takes a little bit to fill in that container. It will be full in no time. Plenty to divide and give away to others. Good Content as usual. Looking forward to seeing your greenhouse take shape with new shelving. Glad to see your husband is feeling better.

[@tgaskins5650]

Starting off laughing out loud with you and Miah! Lol. You two are so funny and sweet. Made for each other ❤️. Loved this video! Ok...back to the sunshine! It’s shining and 70 degrees 🙌

[@WildHeartsHomesteadSC]

Love hearing you talk through the meal planning! I am trying to get better at eating what’s in season and what we have growing

[@clarissamiles]

Sitting here watching Jess talk about her rainy and not to cold weather, while in Chicago we were 10 degrees in the day and was -10 last night.☺️

[@hoffmannhomestead]

I love the trip to the kitchen!! We’re starting to look for more ways that we can recycle our energy and I appreciate this view into your world and how you do that!! ❤

[@eugemerl6578]

I can't wait to see your beautiful garden again.I'm in Missouri Zone 6a.. ❤️❤️❤️

[@sharonhaas8503]

🌿Realizing more and more what a great childhood I had. We had mint growing on the side of the house in a long narrow garden and it always smelled so good. My dad always made mint sauce to go with the lamb chops we usually had once a week. We ate well back then, and it is great to see a family eating well from what they grow now. Will be looking forward to seeing your raised garden bring joy to all very soon. Take care! ❇❇❇

[@jobeale4394]

My favourite mint to add to my water bottle is strawberry mint, it really does give a strawberry kick!

[@jenessparker]

Lovely video as always! Thank you! Re: the broth….we keep a freezer bag of veggie scraps, onions skins, paper part too, celery and carrot pieces….when I make the broth from our chicken carcass, we toss those frozen scraps in also for added goodness.

[@Kimstage]

You’re such an inspiration and i thank God for you. Thank you so much ❤

[@janetdierker5700]

Basil and mint are a classic flavoring combination in Vietnamese food. Yummy together!

[@kathymcmc]

I love Vietnamese food...

[@tamararoberts9307]

I love watching you and Miah converse together ❤️ 💕

[@autumnbranagan5068]

Garden math is easier than chicken math lol. Love your vedios

[@caydancebloom]

I concur with extra layers of nutritional value. I did a similar thing tonight. I save veggie scraps (dried onion layers, asparagus ends, onion butts, etc) in a baggie then in the freezer. I made a broth from some of that for cooking quinoa. Even though the veggies left the water really dark, I couldn’t tell by sight nor taste in the cooked quinoa. For yet another layer of nutrition I boiled egg shells in the water/broth as well.

[@joannedonovan9489]

I'm worried about you planting too soon. I've been in SC since 1988, and February is our ice month! Be sure & protect those really good!!

[@elizabethrios9926]

Jess, thank you for teaching me and showing us the options/how to's of chicken and making and using broth. Learning lots!!! Also planting the herbs, good to know stuff. Really appreciate it. Liz

[@tracyzabelle]

Always a joy catching you

[@melinder2103]

The best deal I ever got on nursery plants was from a box store and in a 6 cell tray for $2.49 I got 27 tomato plants. I felt like Oprah giving out all the seedlings I potted up.

[@yeralizardjerry7716]

Truly cannot wait to watch your garden (and mine haha) burst into life again! That greenhouse is a work of art!

[@susancole5834]

That’s exactly what I do when I get rotisserie chicken! Makes such good bone broth!

[@emilygardner]

I am so enriched by seeing you plant some herbs on this cool, cloudy February day. It makes me want to run out to a garden center. I have to someday know what basil mint smells like! I love lemon balm. I hope my chocolate mint and common mint make a come back; they really got zapped in that December cold front (they're in pots).

[@greenlessthumb]

I always make broth with my rotisserie chicken carcasses. Sometimes I'll throw in a couple of dried mushrooms, or vegetable trimmings if I have some around.

[@belieftransformation]

Great ideas that you shared! Thanks & blessings to you & your family!

[@hansonrh]

I am glad you are including your preparation of the chickens. Roasting chicken is so easy and you can really stretch it. So many people default to store-bought roasted chicken,. But I think roasting a chiicken is super simple. At our house I call a roast chicken a "shove it in the oven" dinner. Throw in some potatoes to he oven, and dinner is underway.

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

Only a mint would have roots that tough and vigorous! I'm looking forward to smelling the Holy Basil I started this year after hearing you rhapsodize over brushing against them in the garden.

[@kaylaehnat6600]

I love my basil mint! I use it as basil year round! It has a good basil flavor in dishes and it’s hardier than basil. I have one in my house right now for the winter!

[@RootsandRefugeFarm]

Good to know!

[@MelissaBeesHomestead]

Thank you for this video Jess! Just what I needed as I declutter and clean up my kitchen. I feel like you hang out in here with me more than my friends. 😂

[@amyroberts7248]

I love your green house, I have that same cubby with the different colored drawers. I love it I keep all my craft stuff in it

[@southloupriverhomestead4696]

Jess Your a treasure! Thanks for sharing your knowledge today!

[@phyllisbruce213]

Wow Jess, I try but still cannot use everything as you do. I love that you tell me what I can do with everything so I try my best. That’s a good thing and worthy of attention. There are so many things I just used to throw out! Beef broth for a soup base is a minor example.

[@letsgrowtexas7391]

JESS, YT suggested one of your videos from 3 years ago to me last night so I watched it. It just so happened to show your mint and lemon balm bed at the old farm and your talking about your hori hori and it was the first time you were using it. I thought it was crazy that today's video you planted mint and lemon balm using that hori hori! Ha!

[@rchic09]

Love lemon balm. I make a refreshing light soda/tonic with them where I crush or muddle (like a mojito) lemon balm, pineapple mint, spearmint, and sometimes a bit of pineapple sage with a bit of elderflower simple syrup (I use one made by Belvoir Farms), a splash of lemon juice (I use the volcanic rock lemon juice), add ice, and finish it with club soda. Swirl it a bit and drink up. So refreshing, not too sweet, and best of all yummy. ❤

[@aura-leekistner1810]

Jess, i absolutely adore your greenhouse! I would pretty much live in one like yours, lol, talking to my plants 😁❤️ Have a Blessed day , friend!

[@KathysTube]

Thanks Jess 🤗❤️

[@debihuntsman9314]

Fun and a little sad to watch you planting. It's 21 degrees and snowy here. 😢 But I'm keeping busy during this waiting period. My hubby has built me a table with light set up to start seeds indoors. I'm excited to learn this new skill. I feel like I learn something new from each of your videos. Bless you Jess!

[@jackiestoppel4086]

Thank you for this.

[@Elizabeth45840]

❤Thank you so much for sharing this with us ❤

[@melodiedeguibert3394]

Lemon balm is also is really good with chocolate mint.

[@janetdierker5700]

Mint family plants all have square stems, that's one way to distinguish them.

[@janeshaw24]

It’s so crazy I had a dream about my roaster oven, before putting in to storage after one use. Now you showing a cooking video with yours now it’s destined to go pull it out and make dinner 😂. Thank you Jess ❤😂

[@deannewilliams3321]

Nice to see yall out and about, feeling better. I’ve been putting my mint in pots around the house to keep spiders and other bugs away. I wish my roots looked like yours so I could divide them up. I was really glad when they survived the arctic blast! Have a great day!!

[@eileentenenbaum1613]

An easy way to tell if it is a mint, is if you feel the stem and if the stem is square, then it is part of the mint family.

[@maryturner3534]

I love the full circle of life on a farm ❤

[@rainspringing]

An hour or so away from you... Outside, but in a less frosty shaded herb pot pocket, near the house, my Lemon Balm - Limoncello is making a huge come back. Has been for about a month. Such a delicious smell! I'm going to need to get plant supports around the outside of, and occasionally frost cover, the whole pot collection there because SC is so not done with the swinging. Sure it's 80F now, but that makes things take the cold hit harder. It has just flat out snowed for days here in March. The flying ice is usually worse for the plants though. Especially hail. We've had snow flurries in April. Called for 40F many times in May yet plenty of places got the full killing frost treatment. Nov-Dec, and then Feb-May are what I call the spiky garden months. All those plant supports everywhere in the garden, ready to throw things over. Plus the stacks of bins (to turn upside down and cover with) and cloth stuff by the back door. Slowly getting enough frost covers each year to look less like a rummage sale. lol I've only had common mint survive the summers here. Trying more and more shade, especially for the roots, and soil volume, before attempting my favorite mints again. Brought the whole mint collection down from Kentucky, in the same big heavy thick pots they had THRIVED in, for years. All died that first summer. Had no idea mint had any problems. lol Never tried mint plants, growing up in Florida, or maybe I would have known. Looks like that lip/top will be enough root shade, plus so much surrounding soil, and many hands ready to water, so yours will have no issues. :)

[@tamararoberts9307]

I like cooking my pastas in my homemade broths and rice and beans and other things too. 😋

[@preschoolhomestead]

I love the cycle of food from the farm. We're not there yet but hopefully one day!

[@robingirven4570]

Thank Jess! Your greenhouse is an inspiration- mine is so very small compared to yours but we are only two. I’m itching to use it for the first time 🌺

[@sheilak4493]

I love Mia… you both are so precious!

[@hannahrosefl]

I've put off seed starting for several weeks now. I should have started my tomatoes 7 weeks ago in SWFL. With hurricane clean up, the flu and just life, I've put it off. I need motivation but everything has just been "alot" lately

[@robingreany899]

Your greenhouse is absolutely beautiful and your chicken broth is a great way to go with your bones. Love ya.❤️

[@joannevenere3552]

I live in the NEast and my Lemon Balm has survived 3 winters. I’m having trouble finding ‘true peppermint’ Mentha Piperita seeds or plants. There’s usually just variations like sweet mint, chocolate mint etc. True peppermint has an abundance of medicinal properties. Such a hardy plant, hard to believe it’s so hard to find

[@Tablerocklake]

I added wheels to wire shelving, they are great!

[@BradfordHomestead]

I am using my giant picture window that faces south to start basil. I’m just starting basil and calendula right now. Well, and Broccoli and cabbage 😁Zone 7b Got the fever too Jess!!! ❤🤟

[@caravanmassennhoven4004]

I had a lemon, basil, mint Gelato in Quebec a few years back. It was very refreshing and delicious!! I regret tearing out my lemon balm last season. As you say it is invasive. I should have saved a part of it and given it its own space. Be well from Canada 🇨🇦

[@deetheodoreleafe1581]

Watching from hospital trying to stave off preterm labour and keep my bubba in and cooking a bit longer, your videos are so soothing, thank you 🙏❤ I live in the UK, and my name finally came up just the other week for a council allotment plot, after being on the waitlist a few years, really looking forward to also being someone making decisions about herb plants and smelling them this spring, and its nice to be thinking about that over worring for a few minutes right now 😊

[@RootsandRefugeFarm]

I’m praying for you and your darling babe right now!!

[@deetheodoreleafe1581]

@@RootsandRefugeFarm thank you, means a lot ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@kath-phlox]

I never thought I would get through the stock I made last week so fast. I've made gravy, veg soup, with everything in the cupboard added and sweet and sour chicken and there's still some left. I'm only restricted by my freezer space.. I have to eat out of it for a week or two so I can fit in more goodies.

[@RootsandRefugeFarm]

All of those things sound delicious!!!!

[@robinjohnston8180]

I made home made soup once over the years! With every piece of white meat I could locate.

[@honestly27]

I saw the cows laying down there at the beginning of the video and the first thing that came to mind was Miah, in the podcast, talking about them laying in their poop...LOL.

[@rachelgalus]

So good to see you planting ❤