The Four Alpaca Blanket Plan (And Massive Mutant Tomatoes!) | VLOG | Roots and Refuge

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/ @danielsmithpsalmist
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______________________________________________________
Want to Support Our Channel?
Shop for our favorite things in our Amazon Storefront- support our channel at no additional cost to you!- www.amazon.com/shop/rootsandr...
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[@meike1155]

Ben is so cute I laugh so hard when he says something "I wanna run in the bushes" and "I can handle this" it's sooo adorable

[@ako4101]

Miss Jess, I have to tell you I'm 34 years old and have never wanted children, but your little Ben just makes my heart swell. I love him so much! I hope gets all the tomatoes and alpaca blankets his big heart desires from now until forever.

[@nmdispatchlady]

Ben is so adorable. His enthusiasm is contagious. What a wonderful way to see things in a whole new way.

[@hicat808]

5:56 that smileee! 🥺 My heart melted! "You wanna go to the bushes?" "Yeah, with you!"

[@tammyhanson7843]

I can’t get enough of Ben. He is one happy child. Were the older brothers similar to Ben at his age? 🦋💜

[@izholmes]

Knitters LOVE alpaca fiber! You'll have no problem selling/trading your excess fiber, raw or spun, to the fiber arts community. Ben is the cutest!

[@wilmagregory8967]

I could watch you and the family interact with each other for days. Laughing and loving seems to be the way to go, congrats on those massive tomatoes and new chickens too. The Alpacas will have a hard time keeping up with Ben's need for those blankets, lol. 🐸

[@marileepower4712]

I'm not sure if anybody has mentioned this yet, but regarding your fiber situation... There is a group on Facebook called Spin a Pound, Get a pound that does bartering exactly as you mentioned. They help pair up fiber growers and experienced spinners. The deal is that the grower sends however much fiber to the spinner and they get to keep half (essentially), and they send you back the other half cleaned and spun the way you want it. Some of the spinners will even work up the yarn into something for you if you ask.

[@teresabourgoin2948]

I am a spinner. And you said you have a alpaca farm not to far from you. They will have a lot of connections they will share I’m sure. Local fiber guilds are a great source for selling fiber or spinning on shares. There are also mills where you can send it off and they will send back yarn but that can be a bit pricy. Also fiber guilds love field trips to watch and help on sheering day. I use to go to a big sheep farm on sheering day and everyone who showed up and help pick and skirt fiber got great deals on buying fleece. She sold it to us for half of what it went for on the Internet. She didn’t have to skirt all that fleece, sort it, list it and ship it. It was a win win for all of us. We also made it a pot luck which was fun. When all the work was done food and good conversation was a wonderful way to relax after a hard days work. Congratulations on your new fiber babies

[@vickirayburn1805]

You just have to love little Ben..He is nothing short of precious!

[@nikitasgarden]

You can just see little Ben's mind at work processing whether or not he should keep his 'Boomer' froggy. 🐸

[@emilyb4583]

Spinning is not difficult, but alpaca is not the best to learn with. I love knitting with it, but I found it relatively difficult to spin. Ben's excitement is so infectious!

[@lindamoore8594]

Tori says "I spit in your general direction" lol

[@VannaWhiteboard]

You are not going to have any trouble finding someone who wants Alpaca yarn! I have a Puerto Rican Alpaca scarf that is 30 years old and like new. I did not learn about walkabouts until I was in my teens. It's so cool you are teaching that kind of cultural diversity so young!

[@PleasantPrickles]

The alpacas have brought the kids a lot of joy! So nice! 🌱🌱🌱😀

[@simplelifeathome]

My name is Tori and the sweet things you say about your alpaca with the same name just warmed my heart. Lol! She is a beauty. ❤

[@stephrager7555]

Alpaca droppings are great for your garden! They love to eat dandelions and they have like 3 stomachs so you don't have to compost their manure. How exciting to see you have a them!

[@sowmanyseedlings]

Bens face while processing the facts regarding the alpaca fur is just priceless ❤😂❤ and running into the bushes awwwwwwwe hahahahaha What a life you live

[@dreyno64]

A bunch of us knit an d crochet I bet. Maybe we need to have a spin party and help u!

[@cmaur811]

I’m a spinner..

[@heatherhineline9481]

I'd drive all the way to Arkansas with my spinning wheel to join that party. Though I fear Jess would end up with a new addiction which she definitely does not have the time for. Lol.

[@megangray7769]

I'm stunned at the giant tomatoes 😱sayy Whaaat!?! 28oz ?? I'm convinced you have tomatoe super powers.

[@RAYOFSONLITE]

Ben the adorable, is quite the little thinker. You can see him ponder things, the wheels are turning.

[@tjwilson1591]

I love Ben, he gets cuter every day! Your garden IS special!

[@jenniferrescott1149]

Ben is so entertaining.. I want to see his alpaca blanketslol I think of just make one with all 4 yarns.. just noticed how much Toby looks like Maliyah/Miah

[@craincountryhomestead7390]

I so wish Miah would have had a victorious laugh like Ben's over all of his tin. That would have been awesome 😂

[@Ann-jg3mk]

Oh, my ❤️, Benny is so adorable.. he and the laugh and anticipation of the alpaca blankets!!! God love and bless him!

[@allenfarm]

Over the past year i have much enjoyed watching Benny grow up and blossom into a gentle young man. "Getting a lot of poop" is almost as good as "wood wood wood"

[@FairilyFiberFun]

I am a commission spinner. I love to get paid with fleeces to play with. However, I don't care for alpaca fiber, preferring medium course wools to super fine fibers like angora and alpaca. I am sure you will find someone who is closer to you than me who will be happy to spin yarn in exchange for lovely fiber. Your alpacas are so pretty! Silly Ben... He knows quality!!! 4 alpaca blankets!!! giggle... you should felt a small blanket for him using wool from all 4 of his favorite pacas... giggle... your family never fails to brighten my day!

[@armofinney4606]

I usually don't like kids or pets on videos!!! They take away from the subject, but I love seeing Ben,he is so sweet and well mannered

[@waynettecrenshaw4041]

I so enjoy the kid interactions with you and Mia and of course the animals.

[@shesellsfish]

"I want 4 blankets." Brought the biggest smile and pure joy to my heart. Such a pure farm boy thing to get excited about and wish for. 👍💕👍

[@CosmopolitanCornbread]

LOL!!! Tori had a look like, “What!? I don’t know what he’s talking about!” Love the alpacas

[@shylawetmore910]

Ben’s dreams of having four super soft alpaca fiber blankets is goals honestly

[@melissabutts6694]

Shyla Wetmore true story! He is just the sweetest boy ever

[@paulabuhrmann3558]

I have watched a lot of your videos and this has to be one of my favorites! Your son is absolutely adorable and the joy on your faces and in your laughter makes my heart smile❤️❤️❤️

[@tinamccartney3778]

Oh my gosh!!! Girl...you send me that yarn when you get it spun and I will make you all the blankets you want!!! Crochet or knit, I do both!

[@grettagiesbrecht5772]

Benjamin is just the sweetest little boy 😍

[@masmojo8220]

I know you hear this all of the time, but Ben is so adorable and cute that it’s almost painful! You have a beautiful family. Thanks again for sharing them!

[@meganstevens827]

Oh my gosh, this video made me laugh so much! Benjamin cracks me up and I just love you and Jeremiah and all your children!

[@julierowdon3631]

You can go to off the grid with Doug and Stacy. They gave their alpacas to a friend that actually has a business with the fiber. It's a really cool video. You might send it off for processing. I crochet and would buy it!!!!! It sells for$$$. 🤩

[@gointothedogs2]

Bens eyes when you asked him if hed like it if someone took him home to keep and would put him back home....lol drops frog and runs to dad...lol Learning a new perspective changes everything...now he cimes all soets of questions...lol

[@sandrawidboom9135]

I could just squeeze that lil Ben. Sorry Mama but when that little guy is on screen he takes center stage. Hi five Lil Ben. He makes me laugh.

[@kimcritchfield5796]

If it were me, I would seek a trade wherein you give them all the fiber, and they give you back whatever items are appropriate value. Like 4 blankets. lol. Or mittens. Or sweaters, or whatever you need each year. Saves you time spinning, gets you back a great piece for your family.

[@erinnkemp]

Make Alpaca yarn and sell the balls on Etsy or farmers market.

[@talkandeattv]

erinn kemp OMG YES

[@rachaelfoote905]

I love Ben's openness and cute enthusiasm

[@OOMerci]

That little angel boy is such a blessing from God! How sweet and kind. I think he had an old soul. Just Love him! Italia Patterson from Uncasville,Ct

[@wisewomanhealing]

Boy howdy is, Ben thinking hard about all the projects he wants to make out of Alpaca hair!

[@MYPERMACULTUREGARDEN]

STOPPED AT 4:48~~~~~ That face ~~~~ the wonder of a child ! Love your little Ben so much ! stopped at 11:56 ,, oh yes !!! I would love, love ,love, some of the Alpaca poop !!! Yes serrie !!!

[@ctimms417]

You can send your alpaca fibre to small mills specializing in alpaca processing who will spin it for you. I don't know of any specific mills in the US because I'm in Canada but other alpaca folks in the US should be more than willing to give you some tips. Incidentally, I started some raised vegie beds this spring and filled them entirely with pure alpaca manure that wasn't even that old - maybe 6 months. I didn't add anything else; no soil, peat moss, sand, nothing. My vegies are growing gangbusters!!

[@kathleenschaefer8208]

Tin for raised beds For your next gardens... Or a shed for the horses... Or hay... Gramma made a winter quilt using loose sheep wool for stuffing, perhaps alpaca fiber could be used like that...

[@MidwestGirl]

OMGoodness - Ben was so adorable in this Vlog......what a cutie-pie.

[@elenacuthbertson2954]

OMG that Ben is just so huggable 🤗

[@shihtzusrule9115]

Off grid with Doug and Stacy have a video where they go to this guy's place who raises alpacas. They have machines now, but they used to card? their hair by hand or manually..

[@patmaier6917]

Ben!, a section of each fur in one blanket. That way you can enjoy each one.

[@thetinyshinylife]

Wyandotte are amazing chickens. They go broody at drop of a hat 🙄😜 but are the BEST mothers. 🌷

[@arjunlama5373]

The alpacas are cute 😍

[@gloriakelley7383]

just noticed Ben has Alpaca eyes!!! sweet!!

[@michelep1130]

Beautiful land and family (not in that order). Wow. Huge tomatoes. Touch r family mak 23rd s me smile going through the day so cute and great love emitted by all.

[@TerrieAllred2023]

Tin on the roof of your garden gazebo would sound so wonderful in the rain! We have plans to build a screened porch with a tin roof soon. Won't match our house but who needs matchy??lol

[@ameliakat9982]

Alpacas wink! How cute are your kiddos 😉💕

[@caroldenton9966]

I've spun a lot of alpaca fiber and almost always blend it with about 20% wool to increase stability. Alpaca yarn can stretch over time if it's 100%. I'll spin some for you! And I'd definitely love to come help on shearing day!

[@MidwestGirl]

I always thought Toby looked like Jess (those big beautiful eyes!), BUT he and Malia look SO much alike, he must take more after Miah.

[@RootsandRefugeFarm]

He is almost identical to Miahs youngest brother when he was little!

[@azzzonline]

I am a spinner. I have an single treadle Ashford spinner. I take raw sheared fiber and clean it, card it (dye it if i want another colour) and spin it into yarn or use it for felting or other things.

[@amoore0713]

Ben is totally your kid!💕

[@brandyD33]

Oh sweet baby. Man this video makes me miss this tender innocent age so fiercely. My youngest is now 8 going on 15 (so he thinks), and of all 5 boys my youngest was the most like this. Purely alive. Radically random. Full of the joy of the Lord. Thank you for posting these videos. What a beautiful world we've been given huh. May the Lord bless you guys and keep you 💛

[@sherylannejacobs7235]

Oh my gosh. Ben is adorable.

[@badassmommy6527]

You can make him one very special blanket out of all 4!

[@Carrie82157]

You can send the fiber to a mill to be spun, you can then sell it. I would totally buy yarn made from your alpacas.

[@pamstout]

I have never grown big tomatoes until this year. I can't wait to see what I end up with.

[@aileenludlow275]

That would be A LOT of fiber to hand spin. Have you considered sending it to a mill to be spun into yarn? You could sell the yarn and use some for crafting. I have heard that weaving uses up yarn quick and look like fun.

[@makerofstuff]

Cleaned and set out in a mat it makes a lovely quilt batting. My friend had some shorter fiber than she liked to spin so she used it in quilts.

[@landdesigner4195]

Hi guys! Great chickens and my lovely neighbors.

[@renitahebner3084]

Your boys are adorable you are truly blessed.

[@Silly-Little-Mama]

One of my boys calls all the lizards he finds “Lizzie.” One day he found a baby lizard that let him hold it and carry it around and he fell in love with the darn thing. Every lizard is now Lizzie returned. We promised him a lizard as a pet so ... soon we will have a lizard pet. 😄 Im hoping he forgets. 🤫

[@mlang3066]

Ben has that same sparkle in his eyes when he laughs, just like his momma.. the smile and laughter light up the world. I so enjoy all that you guys share.. ❤️❤️

[@heidilarkin3074]

This is cool I follow Heirloom Permaculture and they are only about 50 mins away from me YAY....the Alpacas are so cool

[@pattigsbh4392]

Wonderful adventures with great visitors, farm animals, imaginative children and giant tomatoes! What more could anyone ask for but those blessings. I am growing Trip L crop tomatoes for first time and they are huge and can grow in interesting shapes. Love them and will grow again. Love and prayers

[@devsnik7003]

We love our black australorps!!!

[@flutterbykissez]

Benjamin made my day, such a sweet boy!! His excitement is contagious! 😁

[@shannonstephens4245]

BOOM!!!! 35!!!!!!!!

[@HomesteadingHijinks]

If you get a drop spindle, you can spin in the car. If you put your spinning wheel in front of the computer when you're editing you can spin then too. :D

[@branditweedle9057]

Yay..new chick-a-boos . 🥰🐤🐥🐓

[@89aprilwoodward]

You can always take your alpaca fiber to a fiber mill and they can process and spin the fiber for you. I would just google fiber mills in your area and compare pricing.

[@maesardsara]

I would straight up buy some of the rose alpaca blanket fiber from you. Because rose grey! *heart!eyes!*

[@brillyintt]

Thank you for all the joy you bring into my day with your awesome garden, tomatoes, alpacas and exuberant sweet boys! Your smile, your giggle, your pleasure in all living things blesses me. May you continue to prosper in every aspect of this life. I pray God multiply back to you & Miah all you give and share with us. It always reflects God’s love, joy and goodness..

[@bbjcassteen4714]

Your little Ben is just so precious. His zest and adventurous spirit is so endearing. Love that little guy. The alpaca's are so beautiful their faces when they look at you is one of innocence and yet I bet they have a lot of spunk. Thank you so much for sharing your everyday life. Love all your knowledge your parenting and your insight in all that you do. God Bless you all.

[@catfunkcriteser3495]

One summer we had 5 days of rain and all my ripe tomatoes were splitting. I picked them all. I took them to the kitchen, cut out all the bad spot and put them in a huge pot as I was cutting away. I cooked them down, they were from about 7 different varieties of tomatoes. I made the best homemade spaghetti sauce from those tomatoes. A friend came to visit, she said she was staying for dinner because it smelled too good in my house for her to leave. She loves tomatoes and spaghetti sauce as much as I do. I still got to can some the next day. It was divine.

[@jameslingenfelter5136]

Your son is adorable I love the things he says

[@JeannetteShoreland]

John and Angela are a great couple! Thank you for introducing your viewers to them.

[@shannacraft9371]

Awwww! Those alpacas are so beautiful! 😍

[@mallorypannell4215]

We just bought alpacas last summer! You can look for a local fiber mill that you can pay to spin your fiber. I know that there are also some places that go by the policy that they keep half as payment. Right now we actually board at a fiber mill. They’re very timid animals. I’ve been spit on many times by our animals. Jeremiah is right it smells terrible

[@lenellamaxwell6934]

The Alpacas are so cute! What a nice harvest. Blessings!

[@tgolobic94]

I really enjoy your videos. They lighten me up. Thank you for sharing.

[@ashleyohrtmann5201]

Seeing the alpaca litter box first hand! So happy to see Ben’s excitement for alpaca blankets!!!

[@liltbennet]

Y'alls kids are adorable and I love this channel. It is so informative and I gain a lot of inspiration from watching. Thanks for sharing your farm life with us. ❤😉

[@kimanderson9135]

LOVE your family! What a great life! Thanks for sharing. You are such an inspiration!

[@CandySoulAndSoil]

That’s so so lovely .... 4 blankets waaahaahaaa! Then the walkabout! Too cute ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@flyingpigpreserve8562]

Ben is adorable. So interested in everything and a very happy boy. Peace Be With You All ☮️

[@addieanderson2043]

I have a Friend from Peru who brings me many Alba items. Love the items. You are so lucky to have such a unusual animal. Ben is adorable.

[@mzabs1871]

I used to have lots of toads in my yard but I think the feral cats took care of them, unfortunately. I used to be like Ben and want to keep them. I can feel his pain.

[@sharonpack4696]

I watch them all the time. I'm in Enid Oklahoma. They are in Tulsa. Ya they are great!

[@thedisneykid2884]

I love Ben’s heart. He is so precious