We Don’t Know How to Do Stuff | VLOG
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มิ.ย. 2024
- The Farmer’s Table: youtube.com/@The_Farmers_Tabl...
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.
*********************
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
- Sign up for our newsletter: rootsandrefuge.com/yt-signup
- Join our Patreon to get early access to podcasts and other information, plus monthly LIVES with me and Miah: / rootsandrefuge
- Abundance+ (Grab a FREE 7-day trial): rootsandrefuge.com/yt-wilder-...
- Shop our Stickers & Shirts: rootsandrefuge.com/yt-shop
- Order my first book, "First Time Gardener": rootsandrefuge.com/yt-ftgbook
- Order my second book, "First Time Homesteader": rootsandrefuge.com/first-time...
- Instagram: roots_and_refuge
- Facebook: / rootsandrefugefarm
- Email Us: rootsandrefuge@yahoo.com
- To drop us a line:
PO Box 4239
Leesville SC 29070
- To have a gift sent to our house from our Amazon wishlist: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls...
- To support us through PayPal: www.paypal.com/paypalme/jessi...
**********************
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...
- Neptune's Harvest Fertilizer: rootsandrefuge.com/neptunes-h...
#rootsandrefuge
![[Full Episode] MasterChef Junior Thailand มาสเตอร์เชฟ จูเนียร์ ประเทศไทย Season 3 Episode 1](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Qs5zdBqLn_8/mqdefault.jpg)
I would add to your words, Jess, to say that it’s never too late! I am 70; my fiancé is 82, we will get married in early Spring, and we plan to be as self-sufficient as possible on his property.
We are both gardeners, both have experience with preserving food and cooking from scratch, and using herbal remedies, and more.
We are very excited to team up and see what we can do to grow the majority of our food, provide some for our families, and store enough to get us through the winter.
You have been such an inspiration and encouragement to me for this journey! ❤
BEST WISHES AND ABUNDANT BLESSINGS FOR TWILIGHT DREAMS!!! 🥰
Congratulations, it’s never too late to be happy together ❤❤❤😊
Congratulations. We celebrated our 51st anniversary last June. There's always something to do, to learn, and ways to grow, if you rely on each other to be your rock. Jesus is always first, but my husband is second. That's what has worked for us.
Wishing you many happy years together and sincere congratulations on your upcoming marriage.
Congratulations! Gives me hope! A widow since 2005, 69 years old, and still believing that there is someone for me.
This is awesome and congratulations in advance on your marriage ♥️
This so hit home…I’ve been working my ass off 8yrs in regenerative farming…finally got the opportunity for land…and it just fell through…passion does cause heartache…its also what gets us back up and moving forward again.❤️ Thank you Jess…this helped…that’s a gift❤️
Hi jess happy birthday I live in Calgary Alberta Canada
I feel for you. It’s been 5 years for me, several properties fell through, two were taken from me under the radar by the real estate agent. It sucks.
You my dear are a very wise young lady beyond your years!! Happy Birthday 🎉🎉🎉hope it's so very wonderful!
Happy birthday
Sound like you need to start a TH-cam channel. ❤ I’d watch it
Jessica, I am 76, my wife 72, we have been trying to tell the younger generation this is how to live , they don’t listen, so we shared your video to Facebook in hopes at least one young person learns from this!
You are amazing!
Semper Fi
Love this. This is me in my 50’s and how I dream to continue into my seventies and beyond. Blessings to you both.
If this makes you feel any better about it, I am a 15 year old gen z, and I am planning to start up my own garden this year at a much larger scale than I ever have. My dream is to have all the skills necessary when I'm old enough to live out on my own to garden and homestead. Thank you to people like you who promote gardening! Maybe gardening can be made cool again for my generation.
I was raised on a farm, and we were very poor. If we didnt grow it or raise it, we didnt eat. We didnt have indoor plumbing nor electric, and had a pot belly stove for wood and coal heat, and cooking. We were country, through and through. We learned all the survival skills, as necessities. My Mom passed away last year, at age 91. My Dad passed a month ago today, at nearly 94. I'm over 70 years old, and the second of eight kids. One of my brothers is only 6 years younger than I, but had things much easier than I. He didnt have to work in the gardens or fields as much as I. He didnt have to take care of the livestock as much as I. He didnt have interest in learning those things, either. I was absolutely and totally shocked, aghast, as my siblings were cleaning stuff out of our parents' home. The 'youngers' took it upon themselves to get a dumpster and almost gleefully throw away 100s of jars of my Mom and Dad's home canned foods, and many 100s of empty jars, and many jars of home dehydrated herbs, fruits, and veggies, and a couple freezers full of food. I was so upset!! 'MY' parents scrimped, pinched pennies, and did without, so those younger kids wouldnt have to work so hard on the farm, and THAT is the 'respect' they showed!?!?! I told them that our parents would be so hurt and disappointed in them. I wasnt able to salvage what was destroyed in the dumpster, but I was able to prevent more from being tossed. I loaded stuff for me, got a few of my country neighbors to get stuff, got some more friends to come get stuff, and tried to honor my parents with being a better steward over what they had worked so hard for. It really broke my heart. And I'm the only sibling who seemed bothered by it. I dont think I shall have the same relationship with any of them again. One of them made a disparaging comment about me being 'just like Mom.' Our Mom was a good, God-fearing Christian lady, and my Dad was a minister, whom she helped with everything. If I can be only a fraction of what my Mom was, then that is okay. When I do my veggie garden; when I work in my orchards; when I preserve my harvests; when I play in my flower gardens; when I call my chickens, and collect,their eggs; my Mom and Dad are right there with me. I pray I CAN give them the honor and respect they earned through their hard work on our behalf. I'm grateful that they were my Mom and Dad, and that they taught me so much self reliance. Thank you, Jess, for your message, and forgive me for 'venting' here. I appreciate you! 🥰
Thanks for sharing your story. It was very moving. I believe many are alone when it comes to biological family. I know I am and have been for 40 years.
God bless you.
Just had a similar experience. God Bless you! God help the "youngins" and open their eyes!🙏
What a disheartening thing for your siblings to do. I'm glad you were able to stop the waste and pass things along to others who could make use of them. It really is a sad thing seeing people who should know better just throw things away. I felt bad having to throw stuff away when cleaning out my ex husband's low-income rental, but I was not in a position to be able to take ALL that stuff and clean it up. He also had tons of food that was expired, as he suffered from dementia/anxiety. What a waste, people could have used that food but the food bank doesn't take expired stuff. We did drop off what we could though.
What a shame! They will think diferently when times will get hard and find themselves with not much food and no skills! So unfurtunate, that hard work is not appreciated anymore! People think that they deserve everything, I have news for them, nothing is free and no one will give you stuff for free especialy when times get tough! Blessings! Just forgive them because they don't know what they are doing!
The flip side of "what skills do I need" is " what skills can I teach". You and others have educated and encouraged me to get back into cooking from scratch and canning. If I was 40 years younger, I could totally get into homesteading. My raised beds are my spring and summertime friends.
Yes! You're totally right! I think the same 😊
I was going to write the same thing. What skills can I teach? I have been gardening for 50+ years, but really still learning. I grow a lot though, and process my own food for storage: freezing, drying, but I'm not confident with Canning. I've done a little, but it makes me nervous that I might do it wrong and the food will go bad. Anyhow, yes, teach! as well as learn!
Hi again Jess, I think you will like this story. My dad, who grew up on a farm during the Great Depression learned how to Crochet when he was very young, and at home sick. They had nothing, so the medium he crocheted with were strips of rags, the items he was crocheting were rag rugs! He taught me how with the same medium. Rag strips torn from old clothes!
I must have the sewing interest from my Grandma. She would use the flour sacks that came in calico floral patterns to make my mom's clothes. She also took apart adult jackets to make a children's coat. The beautiful wool from old coats is amazing. I pieced the bleacher seat covers for my grandkids to watch hockey a few years ago. I'm hoping to make some mittens this year. Two of our sons are great crocheters! We call it yarn sports! Blessings to you. Thank you for sharing!
Yarn sports!🤣I love that! I do crocheting and some knitting for my yarn sports. I’ll definitely remember that one.😂🧶
Have some rag rugs made by my great grandmother. I treasure them and it’s on my list of things to learn.
Those feathers would make gorgeous earrings
Happy birthday, Jess!🎉 My dad was 47 when I was born. As a child I always wondered why he hoarded food like he did. When I got older and really thought about it, he was born in 1921. He and his family and community struggled through the Depression. Having food security was very important to him. The anniversary of his death was Thursday. He has been gone for 24 years. If he saw my canned and frozen goods right now and all that I cook from scratch, I think he would be so proud of me and my accomplishments. I owe a lot of this to you, Jill, Becky, and Carolyn. Thank you!! You make every day better and have introduced me to so many great TH-camrs. I bless you always. ❤
Oh, Jess!! How do you always know just what to say.
There are so many reasons I watch your videos. You teach me so much.
And, who needs a therapist when we have you??
❤
Absolutely beautiful put.👏.
"you are never as stuck as you feel" 😢 Needed that today 🙏
Same ❤
I just love you! I’m 62 and grew up gardening and canning. I’ve always had a huge garden during my 31 years of marriage and raising my 3 girls. We added chickens 4 years ago to our country acre. It was a decision be a homemaker and have less stuff (old cars, ancient couches etc) so we could live on 1 income. I’m feeling very validated and grateful for this life! God bless you and thank you for sharing your passion and story.
Im pushing 60..when a child we got a toy ,some chocolate a handful of nuts and some pjs. My parents on a good year,got a wooden top or skipping rope and home made socks or mittens. On a bad year they knew they were loved..with no gifts at all.
After dumpster diving for food the last couple months, I went to buy clearance food and could barely afford it. The things I grew this year helped a bunch. Thanks for the encouragement to keep on keeping on. May your birthday be blessed with as many blessings as you have bestowed upon your viewers.
I'm sorry you are struggling..been there..still there,but determined to overcome..I hope 2024 is kinder to you.
May Almighty God bless you abundantly in the new year! Hugs, love, and prayers to you!! 🤗🥰🙏
Jess, several years ago I was watching Jeopardy and one of the categories was gardening. I was amazed how people could answer all kinds of history, and movies, and literature and music questions, but not one of them could answer a simple gardening question! Sad.
Love this ❤ id love to see you do a "heres the scenario " series on the farmers table with random ingredients or main ingredient substitutions 😊
Yes!!
Smiling, because while I don't have a homestead, I do know how to make a rug, and how to cook from scratch (and we do), and how to sew, and... I'm crocheting a beautiful sweater while watching this. I'm right on board with you Jess. I, too, like to help people. In fact I work at our area agency on aging and get the rewarding pleasure of helping people every weekday. Yes, life is challenging and the grocery store prices are stunning in a bad way, but life is good too. All I can say is this. In these challenging times, the key to thriving is: eat as healthily as you are able, stay as physically active as is feasible for your personal ability. Get good rest, and stay socially active in a face to face manner, with friends, loved ones, and your community - neighbors, church, activity centers, etc. They are all key factors in being your healthiest self no matter what your age may be.
Good advice!
Jess my granddaughter Piper has so many food allergies its unreal,,, milk protein allergy, soy, tree nuts, gluten, eggs, mustand and cinnamon. As a result she had been a failure to thrive baby that ended up developing gastroparesis and now has a G/J tube. she gets an elemental tube feed throughout the night. Now, as a result, my daughter had a garden last summer as I brought her hundreds of plants that i grew in my greenhouse and got her garden in since the baby had spent a month in the hospital. She did great. She also is onto chickens and eggs for her and her husband as well as having the food security of having meat on her land. She may grow up into goats this spring. As a result of all of this, Piper is limited on what she can consume and at this point its infrequent BUT my daughter is exploring canning as I brought her a canner, jars and gaget set up and even the Ball book. Jess, this year foe Christmas I bought her a greenhouse that is 10x26ft. She has her garden tarped and steaked off for spring. She lives in NY and I live in Central Maine about a 7 to 8 hr drive one way. I have turned her onto many youtube content creators YOU were the first one I suggested to her and her friends as a solid resource. I have another granddaughter that also suffers from the milk protein allergies that is 5 yo. Piper is 3yo. You are such an amazing advocate foe your child simply by lifestyle that supports their needs and making it a norm. I have a strick rule when my grandbabies come to visit, we plan for their allergies, we make choices that INCLUDE them, their needs and they dont even know that a food doesnt have an allegen bc I work so hard....holidays, birthdays etc is planned around them. I make special mashed potatoes, and other dishes JUST FOR THEM so their plate looks like everyone elses. I do not want them to feel that their allergies define them because it doesnt. Thank you for sharing about the food allergies....its why I learned how to can and started back gardening. You are amazing and I love you and your amazing content!❤
Happy birthday, Jess!! 🎉 Elder millennial here. I completely agree with this message. Thankfully, our generation has TH-cam and the rest of the internet to help us learn what we weren't taught.
Working on bread baking. Adding new skills, I would like to make soap and cheese with my goat milk. We have 3.65 acres in the Ozarks with goats, chickens and a garden. We want to add turkeys next year. I had no animals two years ago and God gave us goats again and chickens! We are older but this keeps us active and moving.
This is exactly why I'm here. Gotta learn how to do stuff. We gotta learn to do things ourselves and do them together.
I'm 68 and my family always had a garden. We would always set aside a day that we would work the garden and plant everything. I would always grow vegetables as my kids grew up. My son recently bought 40 acres up in the California foothills and he and his wife are starting a garden, raising chckens, and living their dream (which has always been my dream, too). I'm so proud that this tradition has been passed down to him and love watching my granddaughters work with them in the garden, help with the chickens, and enjoy the simple things. It makes me proud to teach me granddaughters how to sew, knit, and crochet. I want you to know how much I enjoy your channels and you're sparking a new interest in cooking in me. Thank you!
Been with you from the beginning, love you and your family (and your garden) so much! One group you left out of your list of people who are old enough to know how to grow food is those of us who were part of the LAST homesteading movement, of the 1960s and 1970s (I'm 65, growing my own food since 1973, when I created an organic garden for my high school : ). We were enthusiastic, even though (or because) we knew---EVEN THEN---that our work could help prevent the future's mass starvation, climate change, and so on. But surely, we thought, as soon as everyone has heard the facts we have to tell, the world will turn from the crazy course its on right now, and then all will be well---it just makes SENSE! Hmmm . . . now we know how well that turned out. So, your message is as essential as it ever was: learn now. And, to paraphrase what Mother Teresa said, don't wait for leaders, do it yourself, person to person. Thank you for your channel, it is invariably thoughtful, uplifting, and educational.
I also watch Mary. I taught my kids at the age of six how to bake homemade bread with simply flour yeast and water. Couldnt afford sugar. It didnt hurt us for sure. Now I have taught my grand daughters how to bake bread also, when my youngest grand daughter was six she loved baking bread with me. Now she insists on making suppers, ect.. I see her becoming a chef. shes amazing at baking especially
I love Mary Nest. I watch her videos on fermenting. My kitchen is looking like a science lab.
As a sixty something lady that came from a farming background I’m trying my best to teach my grandchildren as we’ve taught our children, the basic of tending the earth. With growing food, animals etc. It needs to be taught from generation to generation y’all. Great job Jess…🤍🥰
It is so awesome watching the 'likes' pile up while I watch. I didn't like it the second I started watching and I was #776. I am only 13 minutes in and it was posted an hour ago. The likes are up to 830 and the views to over 3200. YOU are so inspiring! God Bless! (I had to adjust the number 3 times in the short time it took to type this because of how quick the numbers rose.)
Oh Jess, you are like warm oil on my soul. I enjoy you so very much. I just brought my sweet husband home from the hospital today. What a long long week. I fretted that all my Christmas shopping was now off by a week. Honestly, it doesn’t matter. I’ve made jams all summer, I’ve stashed away nice things all year. I’m good!!! You gave me such a gift of hope!!! I love you so much!!!
Blessings, debby
I’m 62 and would have to go back 3 generations to get to family that grew their own food. I’ve been trying to grow a garden for two years. SO much to learn and living in the suburbs my learning is from TH-cam and channels like yours. Thank you!
When you said "donating plasma" a tear dropped..... Thank you for your 'channel' being so understandable and relateable. So many have become something that does NOT reach the average person, especially the person struggling. I sooo look forward to your video pep talks and it helps me, even though I personally am going through the same. I literally gave plasma to get groceries and also was told I can't give plasma today because my pulse rate was too high!🤦"OF COURSE ITS HIGH"... I AM STRESSED LOL
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR UNDERSTANDING but at least I figure it out and have a warm blanket, a small garden, unlike so many others. ❤
❤🙏
Happy birthday Jess! I’m 63, retired early and recently moved to Tennessee to homestead on 8 acres. Had gardens and chickens growing up in Florida, thanks to great parents.
We really really appreciate you!
It is never too late... for all of us who have HAD this dream... and have the skills and experience... we are responsible to pass these skills on... that is how we got them... for those who truly care to learn... give them a fighting chance for a hand up and not just a hand out... you tube is great for teaching and learning but face to face with a caring heart (family or friend) seals the memory. My sleeves are rolled up and my apron is on. Let's do this. ❤
I've been struggling with being considered a "grinch" for not wanting to participate in the commercialization of Christmas. My heart aches for it to be about Jesus and the gift he didn't have to give us. Thank you for the reminder that though it may be an unpopular opinion, it isn't one I'm alone in. ❤ I truly love giving and receiving gifts and I'm not inherently against that, not to be misunderstood.
My husband and I have been pulling away from traditional consumer Christmas as well and turning our focus to Jesus!! Definitely, not a popular opinion but important and worth it. Hugs!!❤
I’m so on board, Jess! Three years ago I heard you say “Turn your waiting room into a classroom” and I jumped all in. I’ve learned so much - sourdough, growing food, raising red wigglers for worm castings, collecting and learning how to cook with cast iron, canning, & so much more. Im so grateful to have stumbled across your channel at the start of the pandemic. Y’all taught me how to take control when all seemed uncontrollable and now I’m teaching my family the importance of doing the same. I so thankful to God for you & the Sowards crew! ❤
Of all the videos you make, these are one of my favorites. Such an important message. I am you 10 years ago (and I'm 10 years younger almost to the day 😂). Small kids, rental home, lots of limits, but also unabiding hope for the future that my wildest dreams for our little family will come true just as yours did. Everyday is just doing "the next right thing" and never loosing faith while gathering as many skills as I can. ❤
Animal, Vegetable,Miracle is one of my all time favorite books!
I hope you never get tired of doing TH-cam Jess! You always make me feel hope. Your humility is inspiring!
Thank you for this inspirational talk, Jess! Indeed, let's stop feeling powerless, replaceable and useless. People, let's learn stuff, support our community and get our power back!
Former farm kid, current avid gardener and high school culinary teacher here. I include lots of scratch how-to, label reading/ingredient research, and class gardening in what I teach. It’s so hard getting this generation of instant noodle and artificial cheese consumers interested. I can only hope that one day they will remember the lessons.
Jess,
I'm in your age range. I love your encouraging talk with us! I agree we need to learn as many skills as we can. Which is why I watch you. You have skills that we need to practice. We need to rely on ourselves!
We had a contractor working at our house on the day we needed to butcher some chickens. When he found out what we were doing he chuckled at me and said, "I prefer to buy my chickens already plucked." I was dumbfounded. What a naïve thing to say. This gentleman was 67 years old. I would have thought he'd lived through enough to know better. Another contractor came to chat with me while I was in my garden. He was asking some questions about my garden and admitted, "I don't know anything about this stuff." Sadly, there are so many more like them. Talk to people whenever you can. There are so many that need to learn.
We still put oranges in stockings! Ever since reading Little House on the Prairie when they were young I've put an orange in their stocking. They are now 15 to 22 years old.
"Turn your waiting room into a classroom" was a total game changer for me several years ago when I found your channel! We have been rebuilding from the ground up for over a decade. Just as we were getting a tiny bit back on our feet the housing market took off and left us in the dust. We are renters, but I grew up on 5 acres and have always wanted to own some land. That one mantra made me stop saying, "We can't because..." and I started saying, "How can we." We now have laying hens, have raised meat birds for two summers, had bees for a bit, and I've grown a garden and sold seedlings for 3 seasons.
I've learned SO much and all of that knowledge and practice is so incredibly valuable. I hope we will own land, but even if we don't, I'm doing what I can with what I have. I've been in the place where I can't buy groceries. I've had to live with friends or family because we had absolutely nothing. I've put my kids to bed hungry and that type of thing changes you for life. It feels desperate and I have so much compassion for those who find themselves in that situation, but there is hope! It does take a bit of tenacity like you mentioned, but there are ways to work toward these goals.
"You definitely don't want to milk the bull" ... I feel like that needs to be on a T-shirt!
This is totally where you’re your best. Never hesitate to share these messages.
This stuff-filled consumeristic world weighs on me with words I can’t muster. This ain’t my home, praise God.
Thank You for trying to wake up and empower the generations who do not know how to do things.
So spot on. My aunt grew up in the Depression. She grew everything. Canned. Sewed. Prepped. (If it's on sale buy 10!)
I'm kicking myself now for my younger self's attitude and lack of attention.
Jess, this is where you are at your best, discussing the big stuff. For me the most important gift from growing as much food as I can in my suburban backyard is the feeling of agency and empowerment I get from cooking, canning, and preserving that harvest. Knowing that I have taken back a lot of control over what my family eats and their health is priceless! 💚
1985 baby here! My grandparents knew and did all this but did not pass it down. Now, I’m doing stuff they had watched their parents do and they are just blown away. I got my mom on board with growing and canning. It’s feels like we were sabotaged, in a way, but we refused to fail and picked up that batton and kept running.
I've been gardening for 65 years and I just discovered how little I know!!!😂 Now that we are facing real food insecurity I am so grateful for both your channels 🙏 ❤😊!!!
Bless you both for all you share on how to do things to survive !
Beautiful words of wisdom; thanks for sharing! I’m 71 years & love learning new skills & am trying to share my knowledge of homemaking with the younger generation. I still re-wash ziplock bags until they’re unusable. I was raised by parents who started farming with nothing but their learned skills. I bless you & all 🤗💕🇨🇦
“…I don’t know numbers… I can tell you how to grow a purple cauliflower, but I don’t know numbers..” had 👏 me 👏 rolling 😂 well said dear friend
I feel led to take young people under my 64 year old wing and teach them what i know. Starting with my oldest grandson. Thanks for the encouragement
Jess, I’m standing here, cutting my sourdough slices, spreading them with homemade butter and sprinkling on garlic powder for garlic bread, to go with our home raised beef steaks, homegrown russet baked potatoes and veg for dinner. And wondering what it is I can learn. 🤷♀️ We are older 62 & 66. We do it all. BUT! Wait a minute. I’ve got a DIL with 3 kids who lives next door. I need to start teaching her. I need to get into her classroom and teach her. That’s what I need to do. Stop just giving her all the things and teach her to do for herself. I won’t be here to give to her forever. Thank you. Yup, stop saying it and start doing it!
We recently 'retired' to our 43 acres and added another 20. We have a house to finish. Seven kids are grown and one still at home. After a 6 week bout with a severe case of pneumonia, I am hoping and praying we can stay healthy enough to live this dream. I always enjoy your talks. Thank you for what you do.
Jess, I just wanted to say thank you. Many years ago I was in a pretty rough emotional season and I was searching TH-cam for encouraging videos. One of those videos was a devotional that you had shared. It was just the encouragement I needed in that moment. As I watched this video, today, a lot of what you said struck a chord with me. Christmas blessings to you & yours!
Those who love more, feel and suffer more in life. Keep sharing and educating, not everyone has that gift.
You have no idea the piece of mind you have given me Jess. Finding your channel years ago gave me the inspiration to build my 40x50 garden. Having the infrastructure in place to keep my family fed keeps my mind at ease.
My baby sister and my granny share your birthday Jess! What a special day! Happy early birthday, friend! 🎉❤
Tell them Happy Birthday from me & that's my birthday as well❤❤
That’s wonderful ❤ Happy Birthday to you!🎉
Christmas: My daughter's father-in-law grew up poorer than dirt. He and his siblings often did not receive any gifts. The few old toys they had were cleaned and put under the tree. But there were always several balloons, placed high and low, around the tree!!! It made a spectacular sight! My daughter now puts a few balloons above their tree at Christmas.
My mother used to say, " Anyone that can read and follow a recipe, can cook." It isn't a big mystery. Also anyone that can read ingredients on a package from the center of the grocery store can figure out how to create that product from scratch. Nowadays with all the cooking channels, anyone that needs certain skills such as knife skills can learn from the plethora of chef's on cooking channels that demonstrate how to acquire those skills. THE JOY OF COOKING is a great "how to" reference when it comes to many skills you may need and it contains all the popular time tested recipes.
This hits home with me as my father who can fix everything is now 70. I was the "girl" at a time that the closest to getting to learn mechanical things, was the freezing cold nights I held a flashlight in the driveway as he repaired a vehicle so he could get to work the next day. That is a place I've failed myself. I smiled as I listened to this knowing that the last week of January I'm taking a small engine repair class. I am so excited and thankful for that opportunity. It's far from the knowledge I need on this farm, but it's a step in the right direction. Thank you for sharing!
Happy birthday on Saturday! My birthday is Monday and I will be 66. 😀My fruit and veggie garden is my meditation spot. My family knows I am in a happy place when I am in it and seeing me happy makes them happy!
"Winter has a lot of good ideas that spring time might not find as important."
I sure relate to that! 😂❤😊
I love Mary's Nest too! You're still my #1, but Mary is a very good teacher. She goes into great detail and does have a ton of healthy recipes on her channel. My daughter is 30 yrs old and I worry about her lack of knowledge on how to do stuff. I'm hoping my new found love of gardening and cooking will rub off though. Thanks for your compassion and sharing the knowledge. ❤
Happy birthday to you Jess. I hope there are young people watching these vlogs and taking an interest in everything you do. People need to know how to grow things, sew, crochet and knit. How to make candles and fix things. There is so much to learn.
Yes,.... consumerism is wrecking our holidays and fond memories of time. Commercialism is sad . I like your artistic thoughts .... helping people through these hard times. I love your positivity.... You go girl !!
Keep talking about these topics. It’s important.
Christmas for my mom, as a young child, consisted of a stocking with a peppermint stick, an orange and a little chalkboard. Her doll was made by her mom. There were 12 bothers and one older sister. So only the little ones received stockings. Her brothers loved her so much they all worked one season chopping wood to buy her a store bought baby doll.
Great video Jess. I grew up dirt poor too but my parents never made us feel “poor in spirit”. I grew up in a 600 sq foot brick block house that my father fixed up. He grew up on a farm. I got married and had 2 sons and got divorced. I finally moved onto my homestead 2 years ago. I have a lot to learn but I’m moving forward. I have myself a few chickens and a few raised beds Life is good. Keep being the shining example you are for people. And happy birthday!😊
I swear, you always say exactly what I need to hear when I need to hear it. You're so encouraging. Thank you for being who you are. You are such a blessing!
I used to make and sell cloth diapers and I started having this lofty (very lofty) dream that I could make all my family’s clothes. My grandma one told me she got her first store bought pair of panties when her older sister bought some for her for Christmas. Only two generations ago, my great grandmother was making all of her 13 children’s clothing. Down to their undies. She made all her aprons I’d kill to have today. She made her bed clothes and oven mits and her curtains. She made her babies diapers and sanitary pads and wipes. They didn’t have disposable like we do. That was just normal life. How I wish I could bring back the great grandparents and just talk to them about all these things.
Somehow strange to say but being poor can also be a blessing somehow, don't get me wrong on this! My parents had 5 children and not a lot of money that time, but my mother new how to sew clothes or crochet, cook from scratch out of our veggie garden, my father new how to make wooden furniture and how to butcher rabbits and forage mushrooms. When I was young I sometimes was embarrassed not to wear the actual fashion and not to eat canned food that time expensive and also in fashion. Others could afford that. Today I am so grateful I learned all these skills and feel so much more resilient. Also I give my knowledge for free to anyone who likes to learn such skills. Happy birthday my Angel😊.
I just loved this content! Never too old to learn and something everyone should know how to do. If something happens, you will be more able to do for yourself and others! A gift that keeps on giving! I would teach anyone who needed to know how to cook. You know the saying, ‘Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.’ and this holds true for all kinds of things. Learn... teach... it's so rewarding! 🤗 Thank you, Jess, for all you do! 💖
Honey…
I just turned 69
I’m here to tell you my older siblings who are above 70, where not involved in growing Victory Gardens, WAY before our time.
We are however AWARE OF Victory Gardens through our education of history.
I love you to here and gone, but don’t make us feel any older than we really are.
💝😘😁
I just had this discussion with my best friend yesterday. She is city and I am country, we have different lifestyles, but we both agree that we need to have the skills to survive. Self sufficiency brings me peace and I love the fact that she wants to learn.
That sign-off was for me today, Jess... thank you.🤍
A beautiful feather, a beautiful Soul, wise beyond your years! 🎂Happy Birthday, Jess! Much love and as always, Thanks so much for sharing yourself with us!💗
I see other comments from some of us more, ahem, seasoned ladies and gentlemen. I am so thankful for the abundance of information and instruction out there. May have said this before, but anyway...I am a retired special ed teacher (homeschooler before that), and I had a poster in my classroom that proclaimed, "Today is a great day to learn something new." That is true for everyone, especially me, not just school-aged kiddos. I am so thankful for the skills I've mastered and for the new things on the horizon. Makes life so interesting! Blessings, Marie
Watching how much culture has changed in the last almost 50 years is educational. As mother's lives transitions from home based to work based the time requirements to pass on skills and knowledge just wasn't there anymore. I am part of the transition generation where about half my friends had stay at home Moms and half had working Moms. Very different skill sets to each group. Anyone else notice that? I love scratch cooking now. I was a very broke 20 something and had to learn, but now I know how to make things I enjoy. This month I am learning to knit to add to the skill sets.
From my welfare days, I still have my one sauce pan with a broken handle and one small scratched up saute pan, which were the only 2 pans I had for a long time. I learned timing, creativity, and what rules to break in cooking. Cooked for 2 kids and myself for years. I pull them out and remember what's possible when you need to. I learned what I can substitute in a recipe, based on what on sale.
Take a picure of those, print off on a printer the size of a christmas ornament and laminate OR do that, curl up int a tube and put into one of those do-it-yourself ornaments and give to your kids or grand. Label them the Secret to Happiness. Hugs.
Thank you jEssica so much for drawing attention to our broken society and encouraging us all to learn to grow to do better be better. I have taken your advice and found it very valuable. I’ve asked for a sewing machine for Christmas so I can learn to sew mend quilt. And I asked for a drill to begin to learn carpentry. I’m watching animal husbandry videos so I am capable to steward my own herd and flock one day. It does so seem so far out of my reach. But I know a guy that can walk on water and he is making all things new in my life. Thank you for being you. God Bless you and your family and all of us followers and fellow travelers. 🙏❤️
My parents grew up in dust bowl western Oklahoma. Many of my earliest memories are being in the garden with my dad. My parents instilled the consciousness of food security in me from birth. Now as I approach retirement I have moved back home to our farm and my goal is to be able as much as possible be independent and self sufficient. I am called a prepper or a homesteader by people, but all I am from my view is a farmer. I sure don’t know everything I would like to know but the little bit I do know, allows me to move forward and gain more skills.
I'm listening to this getting over my first time having covid, telling myself, "ma'am, you do not need to be making bread right now. Finish the laundry first." 😅
Feel better soon!
@@cathyburnett5094 thank you! The fever was the worst but that's over now. Just to get through the cough congestion and my ear being muffled. 😅 I actually made spaghetti so I feel accomplished.
I'm in total agreement with you about getting back to the basics. I'm a boomer and have always depended on buying my food at grocery stores and buying things that aren't necessary. Our economy is forcing many of us to discover a more simple lifestyle and stay in touch with the things that are truly important.
I loved this whole conversation...I'm 68... Have gardened since in my thirties...raised 2 kids and became a widow at age 47....8 years ago I started raising goats...a year after that sheep....have grown willow for baskets...can sew and just about cook anything. I learned how to milk a goat and make cheese and soap BECAUSE I WANTED TO LEARN . and pass it on to my kids and now my 2 granddaughters....my son thinks I'm nuts...my daughter gets it...the world and our country is changing ..and we need to be prepared....loved your thoughts and conversation! GOD BLESS YOU! and your family....I'm a happy follower!
Thank you for all the years of empowering me to learn how to do stuff
You are the dreamer whose dreams come true through hard work, hard times and sheer-will-power. WE LEARN STEP BY STEP AS WE TRAVEL DOWN THE PATH OF LIFE. I have loved your real- deal homesteading channel since day 1. You are still my favorite Homesteader though I enjoy many.... you are so detailed and real and tell the true story poetically and with grace. Thank you.
Jess, I just want to say thank you. I've been watching you since 2018 and turning my waiting room into a class room since well before without knowing that was what I was doing. Watching you has been such a comfort to me, I'm excited to watch every video and ones like this feel like you're reaching out and squeezing my hand. Thank you so much for speaking to people's concerns, and spreading the precious gift of hope to me and I know many others. I hope you feel some of it coming back to you from us on your birthday and in this season ❤
The last two Thanksgivings we have done survival training with our family. We are all blessed to have land and animals and gardens. We built fire using flint. Shot guns and arrows. We foraged for eatable food and hand fished.Opened cans without a can opener or a knife. Built shelters and several other things. I think it is good to teach our children how to get by without electricity or modern conveniences. I pray they never have to but it’s always better to have a plan.
Happy Birthday! 🎈🎉🎂🎉🎈
Another great message. I grew up were we did not get much. I remember one year we were so poor that we got used toys. I always loved getting my stocking with an orange, nuts, and a candy cane. Just going to my grandparents house was the best.
This year I am driving to TN to spend Christmas with most my kids and 2 grandkids. My best gift I can receive is hugs from them.
Somedays I can actually feel my heartbreak for families today. Ty for sharing.
"Anything worth doing, is worth doing poorly at first"
Good talk! I am "75 and still alive", though I'm past most of the struggles you are talking about, I have been having a good time learning new homesteading activities through TH-cam in hopes that it keeps my brain in good shape as long as possible. I am concerned about the future generations in general and I support your efforts to teach as many, as much, as you possibly can.
Sometimes I forget how much the garden has taught me about the food we eat. I will take people around my garden, they will ask crazy questions and the answers seem obvious to me, but then I remember that 10 years ago I didn't know this stuff either. I learned so much from your videos, reading books and trial and error. I'm thankful that God put on my heart to get debt free 12 years ago and to start growing things 8 years ago. Still so much to learn, but so much progress we have made as a family. Still praying for that plot of land to raise animals. Hopes and dreams.
I am so grateful for the skills that I was taught by my parents and grandmas. I was able to pass them down, first to my kids and now my grandkids. It is something that no one can take from you once it's learned.
It’s funny because just today I told my family and friends that in 2024 we will no longer buy gifts for adults but that I still want to give it will just look like pickled carrots and homemade relish from garden veggies etc… we are in a small scale homestead and we keep learning and growing. We don’t want to have to rely on the stores or government for stuff.
I loved hearing your story! I've been a single mom for 13 years, and about to buy a property in SC. I've been through struggle and poverty. Impossible dreams are totally possible, sometimes it just takes time. As I get started here from scratch, I'm thinking I need to check out your older videos too.
I appreciate The Farmers Table so much. If I can reduce my grocery budget, it's going to make a big difference at my income level. You are having an impact on our lives Lady.
I'm almost 60 and I remember my grandfather working in his garden, eating kumquats in my Grandmother's backyard, and my parents even had a veg garden for maybe 10 years. I think everyone should grow some food, just for the experience, just in case.
Thank you for loving us❤
We don’t “do” Christmas like we used to do it. We stopped the rushing and extras that pulled us all over the place. I’m enjoying it more than ever.
Both of my parents grew up on very struggling farms. My Dad's Mom died when he was 2 but his Grandma used to say," 'Can't 'is not a word in my vocabulary! I feel very blessed to have learned by watching and working alongside my parents. The garden, preserving, rasing rabbits, sewing, and much more! I know you and many others are here for such a time as this. Happy birthday blessings to you!
This is so close to my heart. I moved from the US to Georgia in the Caucasus about 15 years ago, and I’ve stayed in large part because of the cultural dominance of seasonal eating and more natural living. Kids for the most part know which fruits grow in which seasons. The menus on most people’s tables are from produce and meats produced within a 100 mile radius of where they live. The imported specialty products are treats and not the norm.
And so I’ve learned to make a lot of local dishes, and I’ve learned how to recreate some of the things I miss from the States. And I’ve found TH-cam to be such an amazing resource for skill building. It’s how I found you initially. I was struggling with my garden and needed some insight, and Jess came to the rescue. And I’m so happy you gave a shout out to Mary’s Nest. She’s the sweetest, and she has such a wealth of knowledge. And she doesn’t assume you know anything at all, just patiently takes you through all the steps with a smile.
In any case, thanks for being part of the solution and contributing to a global community of skill seekers. My project in the next year is to start a blog of my husband’s family recipes that reflects the seasonal food culture here. I’m probably not ready for video just yet, but I want to document as much as I can while the older generation is still with us to guide me. Thanks for all your inspiration. ❤
TH-cam was my classroom during covid shut downs. I watched and learned how to bake bread. I watched and learned how to can or dehydrate foods for my pantry. I watched and learned how to grow herbs and vegetables in buckets and bins. Your lettuce in the bag of potting soil with an inverted clear bin greenhouse was my "gateway" drug (lol). I recall Kitten George in that video and subscribed. You have taught me so much. I thank you and bless you and your family.