Roots and Refuge Podcast

By: Jessica Sowards
  • Summary

  • Hey there, darling! My name is Jess. 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's 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 the Roots and Refuge podcast, friend. I am so glad you're here.
    2023
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Episodes
  • Homesteading Chat with Jesse Bickley
    Mar 12 2025

    Hey y’all, welcome back to the Roots and Refuge Podcast!

    Today, I’m joined by my good friend Jesse Bickley for a conversation about homesteading, raising animals, and the realities of growing your own food. Jesse and his family also homestead here in South Carolina, and over the years since we've moved here, they’ve become some of our closest friends. In this episode, we chat about the real costs of homesteading, why people start (and sometimes stop), and the deeper value beyond just saving money.

    Rising grocery prices have a lot of folks considering chickens, gardens, and food preservation—but does it actually save money? We dive into the true cost of homegrown food, why access matters just as much as price, and the unexpected benefits that come with this lifestyle. We also talk about hard decisions on the farm, keeping livestock manageable, and how your "why" should always guide your choices—not just what seems practical or popular.

    This episode is full of real talk, a few laughs, and plenty of stories from the farm. Whether you're just starting out or deep in the homesteading journey, I hope it encourages you to think about what truly matters in your own home and how to build a life that reflects those values.

    Thanks for being here—we’re so grateful for this community! 🌱💛

    If you’d like to get early access to episodes and join our community, check out our Patreon

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    52 mins
  • Homestead Chatting with Morgan Gold
    Mar 5 2025

    Hey y’all, welcome back to the Roots and Refuge Podcast!

    Today, I’m joined by my dear friend Morgan Gold of Gold Shaw Farm for an honest and fun conversation about homesteading—the dream, the reality, and everything in between. Morgan and I started our homesteading journeys around the same time and have been good friends ever since starting YouTube. Over the years, we’ve learned a lot about what works, what doesn’t, and the importance of staying flexible as life changes.

    In this episode, we talk about the biggest surprises of homesteading, scaling up (and scaling back), and learning to prioritize what truly brings joy on the homestead. We also chat about Morgan’s unexpected love for goats (despite swearing he’d never get them), the importance of knowing your “why,” and how to avoid getting swept up in doing too much, too fast.

    Whether you're just dreaming of a homestead, knee-deep in farm chores, or somewhere in between, we hope this conversation reminds you that there’s no one right way to do this life. It’s about finding what works for you, embracing the process, and making space for the things that truly matter.

    Thanks for being here—we’re so glad to share this journey with you! 🌱💛

    If you’d like to get early access to episodes and join our community, check out our Patreon

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    55 mins
  • After the Pivot
    Feb 26 2025

    Hey y’all, welcome back to the Roots and Refuge Podcast!

    After a season of big shifts and deep reflection, we’re talking about the art of the pivot—when and how to reassess, downsize, and realign with what truly matters. In this episode, Jeremiah joins me as we dive into the changes we’ve made on our homestead over the past year, from scaling back our dairy operation to shifting our focus toward resilience and sustainability.

    Homesteading isn’t just about growing food—it’s about knowing your why and making sure the life you’re building actually aligns with your values. We’ve learned that more isn’t always better, and this past year, we took a hard look at what we really needed, what was serving our family, and what was simply too much. That reflection led us to make some major decisions, including bringing our kids back home for homeschooling and simplifying our farm to make it more manageable for us—not for the expectations of others.

    This conversation is all about intentionality, resilience, and making mindful choices as we continue on this journey. Whether you're homesteading on a large scale or just dreaming about a slower, more connected life, we hope this episode encourages you to take a step back, reassess, and move forward with clarity.

    Thank you for being here—you are so welcome at this table. 🌱💛

    If you’d like to get early access to episodes and join our community, check out our Patreon

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    38 mins

What listeners say about Roots and Refuge Podcast

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Down to earth views

The cherry on top!
If you enjoy this podcasts I urge you to look for Jess and Miah on YouTube.

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So real and wonderful

From the opening notes of the music to the “I bless you” at the end, this podcast is warm and kind and thoughtful; it’s funny in self deprecating and sweet ways and I learn so much I’ll listen more than once! I enjoy the YouTube channel a lot. But I really love these longer, relaxed chats. That’s how they feel- like you get to just hang out and enjoy. Thank you for sharing your time with us Jess & Miah. I do feel truly blessed.

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everyone loves jess

She is educational, inspirational, and kind. You can't watch or listen to Jess and not love her to death. I love listening to her podcast while I get work done in the garden.

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Jess is a natural teacher

Love R&R. Glad she now has this podcast and looking forward to future episodes. Love learning from her.

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When Stuff gets hard listen to this one!

I loved this one! it's nice to really listen to in depth reasons to live homesteading that aren't solely revolving around food security!

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wonderful

Enjoyed listening! Nice to hear more of your story and excited about future episodes. I love your YouTube channel, but hard to watch when milking or cooking. So glad you ventured into podcast!

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Absolutely amazing

I have enjoyed everything Jess and Miah venture into. They’re Faith and love keep me going in so many ways.

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lovely

love it! I love listening to your Podcast. A lot of reflection comes with them. I truly have Is been inspired by your lovely words.

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Finally!

I’ve been waiting for these amazing content creators to create a podcast…and I am absolutely not disappointed by it! Jess speaks to us like we are friends just visiting her home, for a walk around her garden. It’s a few minutes of peace and happiness anytime I hear her speak.

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Thank you

This was uch a wonderful talk! Just a true thank you today Jess! Thank you.

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