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

This week, I’m sharing some thoughts from the middle of a very full season—spring is here in South Carolina, and the weeds are wild, the animals are having babies, and I’m neck-deep in garden work. But in all of that, I’ve been thinking a lot about the difference between the idea of a thing and the reality of it. In this episode, I talk about the hard-earned truth behind romantic dreams, what it really means to “be the kind of person who bakes bread,” and how choosing to show up—again and again—is where real transformation happens. If you’ve ever longed for a slower life or felt stuck waiting for better circumstances, this one’s for you.

Thank you for spending time with me today. If you’ve found encouragement here, consider supporting the podcast on Patreon, where you can listen early and join our monthly Q&A.

As always—I bless you, until next time.

Hey y’all, welcome back to the Roots and Refuge Podcast! This week we’re continuing the conversation we started last time—shifting from understanding the nervous system to really choosing to slow down and live simply. In this episode, I’m sharing what it means to build a slower life on purpose and how the richness of presence can change everything. We talk about romanticizing the everyday, practicing gratitude, and letting peace take root in our routines. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by hustle culture or longed for a quieter, more meaningful way of living, this one’s for you.

Thank you for spending time with me today. If you’ve found encouragement here, consider supporting the podcast on Patreon, where you can listen early and join our monthly Q&A.

As always— I bless you, until next time.

Hey y’all, welcome back to the Roots and Refuge Podcast! I’m your host, Jessica Sowards—my friends call me Jess—and around here, we talk about all things homesteading: growing food, raising animals, preserving and preparing what we harvest, and living more mindfully in relationship with each other and with the Earth.

This week, I’m sharing something that’s been heavy on my heart—how we care for our minds in a world that feels loud, fast, and anxious. I’ve been spending long hours in the garden, weeding and thinking, and it led me to reflect on the nervous system, trauma, and the way we sometimes try to bully our way into peace instead of nurturing it. I’m talking about what it means to pursue a sound mind—what that really looks like on a practical, daily level—and how I’ve found surprising healing in something as simple as crochet. This is a conversation about choosing slow and quiet in a world demanding fast and loud. It’s about protecting your peace, holding space for healing, and doing the inner work that creates a secure home for ourselves and the ones we love.

Thank you for spending time with me today. If you’ve found encouragement here, consider supporting the podcast on Patreon, where you can listen early and join our monthly Q&A.

As always— I bless you, until next time.

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

I don't have a neatly written description for this podcast because things are hectic here on the homestead and I'd rather just get you this audio this week, even if the upload isn't perfect. Thanks for understanding! I hope y'all enjoy this one I recorded in the fall and I can't wait to be back next week.

Thanks for spending this time with me today. If you love these podcastsand want to support the our homestead, be sure to check out our Patreon, where we post episodes early and do a monthly live Q&A.

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

Food isn’t just something we need—it’s something we get to enjoy. In this episode, I’m diving into the idea of food as both a necessity and a passion. For generations, people spent most of their time and energy simply securing food for their families, but in today’s world, we’ve outsourced so much of that work in the name of convenience. What are we doing with all that extra time? And what happens when we take back some of that effort—when we slow down, grow what we can, and put intention into cooking real, nourishing meals? I’m sharing my thoughts on why it’s okay (and even good) to spend time thinking about food, how I’ve balanced making things from scratch while still allowing room for convenience, and why feeding people is one of the most beautiful ways to show love.

Thanks for spending this time with me today. If you love these conversations and want to support the podcast, be sure to check out our Patreon, where we post episodes early and do a monthly live Q&A.

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

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

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