Hey, y'all! Join me for episode 51 of the Roots and Refuge Podcast.

Don't let the title fool you; this isn't a scary talk. I love to challenge myself and grow. I'm always looking for ways to make steps towards better. Today, I'm talking about what it actually looks like to grow your own food sustainably. What does it really look like? Can we honestly assess our dependence and think about it practically?

In today's podcast, we delve into the resources it can take to become self-sufficient and the importance of being a long-term thinker.

We also explore the reality of cultural roadblocks to living a homesteading life and we trace the origins of the sustainability or back-to-the-land movement. Today you'll also gain insight into the historical context of my interest in food growing self-sufficiency and the wisdom of learning from human history.

We touch on worst-case scenario thinking, envisioning what a sustainable chicken operation could look like on our farm, and exploring the details of a sustainable beef, dairy, & pork operation. We emphasize responsible stewardship, discuss the concept of community sufficiency vs. self-sufficiency, and share thoughts on sustainable gardening, including improving soil health. Ultimately, we're here today to reflect on symbiotic relationships, doing what we can where we are, and regoznizing that there is good, better, and best in everything we do. You'll also discover my next goal to learn to be more sustainable in our household.

Thanks so much for listening. If you’d like to join our Patreon page, you can get early access to all our podcast episodes and monthly live Q&As with Miah and me (including past lives). Visit our Patreon Page to learn more and check out past episodes of the podcast on our website, rootsandrefuge.com.

Hey, y'all! Join me for episode 50 of the Roots and Refuge Podcast.  

In today's podcast I'm excited to talk about getting back into the garden for 2024. I talk about my strategy of waiting until after the holidays to begin my garden planning, seed shopping, and general dreaming for my favorite season of all. Planning the garden is easily my favorite part of the dreary winter season, so listen along to hear my thought process and to talk about why it's so important to deeply understand WHY you are gardening!

In this episode, I also share with you my earliest memories of gardening when I was younger, and the unfortunate sad story of my first attempt at gardening. I am glad to share that I didn't give up after that challenge, and I am still here to share the rest of my gardening journey with you today. Becoming a gardner has had a profound impact on me and my whole life. I hope you'll join me in learning to become a gardner together! 

Thanks so much for listening. If you’d like to join our Patreon page, you can get early access to all our podcast episodes and monthly live Q&As with Miah and me (including past lives). Visit our Patreon Page to learn more and check out past episodes of the podcast on the website.

Hey, y'all! Join me for episode 49 of the Roots and Refuge Podcast.  

In todays podcast I’m speaking specifically to the homemakers, stay at home moms, and all of you raising your children and balancing life, who might feel overwhelmed or exhausted.

I’m opening up about both the struggles and the joys I’ve experienced in my own journey of motherhood and homemaking, as well as the experiences and lessons I’ve learned over the years that have helped me really become intentional about my heart towards raising my children and keeping my home.

Thanks so much for listening. If you’d like to join our Patreon page, you can get early access to all our podcast episodes and monthly live Q&As with Miah and me (including past lives). Visit our Patreon Page to learn more and check out past episodes of the podcast on the website.

Hey, y'all! Join me for episode 48 of the Roots and Refuge Podcast.  

The past few weeks I've talked about creating Hygge, having intentional downtime, and putting off the garden planning for another day. 

I’m diving into the conversation around traditions and building legacy in today's podcast. I was blessed to glean so much from my grandmother, who passed away 15 years ago. She was one of those matriarchs that knew how to create an atmosphere. I strive to pass along that same splendor to my family by cultivating and creating an experience that I also get to share in.

Giving is something that I’ve felt passionate about since I was in middle school (and I’ll share that story with you in today’s podcast). But giving and building tradition doesn’t have to be complicated or extravagant. 

Traditions are created by a person who cares to establish them. Once my grandmother passed away, I decided I was going to be that person. 

Thanks so much for listening. If you’d like to join our Patreon page, you can get early access to all our podcast episodes and monthly live Q&As with Miah and me (including past lives). Visit our Patreon Page to learn more and check out past episodes of the podcast on the website.

Hey, y'all! Join me for episode 46 of the Roots and Refuge Podcast.  

In today’s episode I’m sharing the importance of the balance of rest. Living on a homestead and living this lifestyle can wear you out, quick! Especially if you’re not being conscious of how hard you’re working, as well as how intentional you are about rest. 

Learn to take care of yourself instead of your body forcing you to do so (like I had to learn from). 

Links mentioned in this episode:

• The Hard and Worthy Work of Homesteading

Check out past episodes of the podcast on the website.

Remember, join our Patreon page to get early access to all our podcast episodes and monthly live Q&As with Miah and me (including past lives), visit our Patreon Page to learn more.

Hey, y'all! Join me for episode 45 of the Roots and Refuge Podcast. 

It’s official, the frost has come, and the summer is finally gone. For many people, this is a time of year that brings with it seasonal depression. In my life, I’ve experienced deeper levels of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), however, I’ve found ways to embrace these slower months and cultivate cozy. 

There’s a concept that comes from the Danish culture called Hygge. It’s defined as “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture).”

In this episode, I’m sharing some of the tips I’ve used over the years to help cultivate cozy and get through the dark, sunless winter months. 

Remember, join our Patreon page to get early access to all our podcast episodes and monthly live Q&As with Miah and me (including past lives), visit our Patreon Page to learn more.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Art of Hosting Well

Hey, y'all! Join me for episode 43 of the Roots and Refuge Podcast. 

Though I generally focus on sharing all things homesteading, food growing, gardening, raising animals, as well as using food (enjoying it, preserving it and sharing it), today's podcast is largely about the mindful relationship with the earth and each other.

The theme of anything that I do... at least I hope, is to be mindful. To make conscious choices in consumption, interaction and engagement.

I don't want to waste my one and only life, and that's what I hope to share today.

Remember, join our Patreon page to get early access to all our podcast episodes and monthly live Q&As with Miah and me (including past lives), visit our Patreon Page to learn more.

Hey, y'all! Join me for episode 42 of the Roots and Refuge Podcast. 

This life can be a journey that's both exhilarating and frustrating. We want to learn all the new things and go to the deepest depths possible (but it always goes deeper), all the while never forgetting just how far we've come and being proud of the changes we've made over the days, months and years.

I hope this podcast can be an encouragement to you to continue on, keep pushing forward, but always remembering where you've come from.

Remember, join our Patreon page to get early access to all our podcast episodes and monthly live Q&As with Miah and me (including past lives), visit our Patreon Page to learn more.