October, 2023
The life of a homesteader by definition and successful practice requires a lot of ‘home’ time. The daily routines of animal and garden care need constant attention. Many times the farming and gardening life can be a lonely and long trudge of hard work… super rewarding and invigorating and wonderful but still sometimes long and lonely. So it is truly worth it, to occasionally take time out to connect with others on the same path and encourage ourselves a little.
We recently went to South Carolina on our first family holiday in America, for the Farm Where You Live Festival. Initially we planned this trip to celebrate our 20th Wedding Anniversary doing something we both love – hanging out with like minded people at an inspiring and educational event. We wanted to do something significant for our 20th Wedding Anniversary but had no idea just how special it would be.
It was a time of refreshment and inspiration. A weekend of connection, community and camaraderie. Friends were found, decisions were made, memories were created.
For us at this time, we hadn’t spent months or years toiling on a plot of land somewhere. But we were tired. Tired from months of house hunting, job hunting, living out of suitcases and generally feeling unsettled. So it was with a lot of excitement and anticipation that we drove out of Texas headed for South Carolina.
With the providence of perfect timing, the festival fell on the few weeks after we had moved onto our new farm. We booked the tickets for the festival months in advance (not knowing where we would be or what we would be doing) and it just happened to coincide with a time when we had very few commitments. We had chooks and two dogs but that was all. Our eldest son had to stay home and work, so he was able to hold down the fort.
We left in the evening and drove through the night. Living in Australia we did a lot of big road trips and developed the habit of driving at night so that all the littles would sleep for most of the journey. We drove to Tennessee first to see my brother and his family, who were there at the time. It was a sweet reunion. So good to see them and catch up for breaky at Cracker Barrel before continuing our journey to South Carolina.
We drove through the Smokey Mountains which were just beautiful. The kids searched out windows to see a bear but never did. An hour or two into the drive we stopped at a lookout for a picnic lunch and while we were there saw our first ever chipmunk! So exciting!
Finally, tired and weary, we arrived at our air-bnb.
The Farm Where You Live Festival
The Farm Where You Live Festival was created to bring together likeminded folk who wanted to grow food, no matter where they live. Their website says, “Farm Where You Live was born from the belief that you can homestead anywhere- regardless if you have a tenth of an acre or hundreds. Join our community as we grow, and we will see how supplying our own basic needs will change the industry and the world as we know it.”
We really didn’t know too much about this festival, other than the fact that several of our favourite teachers/mentors were going to be speaking there. Joel Salatin, Shawn and Beth Dougherty, Jeremiah and Jess Sowards… these were all people we have learned from either by reading their books, watching them on Youtube or listening to them on podcasts. We were all very pumped to hear them speak and maybe have a chance to shake their hand.
Our expectations were surpassed. It was an incredible weekend. I think there was a small part of me that was quietly hoping I wouldn’t be disappointed when I met these people I had been looking up to and learning from. Would they be the same in person as how they seemed online or in a book? Or would they be impersonal and indifferent?
Meeting Mentors at Farm Where You Live Festival
It was so refreshing and encouraging to discover the warmth, kindness and genuine interest shown by not only all the speakers we met, but all the attendees and stall owners. It is true we learnt from the speakers and classes we attended. But I honestly think the true value in being at this event was connecting with like minded people. It was a refueling of the tank. Like an energy boost to spur us on to keep going.
Meeting Joel Salatin was a true honor. He was every bit the gentleman I imagined. We have purchased and read a good number of his books over the years and I just have so much respect for what he represents and the work he does at Polyface Farms. Known by many as the grandfather of regenerative agriculture, Joel is a former journalist, who has done more to turn around the misconceptions about farming and farmers being uneducated dolts, than anyone I know.
We need thinkers – intelligent, compassionate, hard working, logical thinkers growing our food. Now farmers are some of the smartest people I know as far as intelligence goes. But for too long agriculture has been viewed as an occupation you pursue if your grades aren’t up to scratch. If you make good grades then surely you would want to be a doctor, lawyer or such. I love that he challenges this mantra so effectively. Not to mention his methods of farming that work with nature not against it, that are teaching us all how to heal the land and grow strong healthy plants, animals and people. Yes, as you can see, I am a fan.
Shawn and Beth Dougherty were equally as engaging and wonderful to meet. We have read their book “The Independent Farmstead” and taken some of their classes on Abundance Plus and The School of Traditional Skills. First class information. They are born teachers. And I can now say having met them, they are also delightful people. Warm, friendly, chatty and keen to help in any way they could. That to me is delightful.
Then as wonderful as these meetings were… the highlight of the weekend was meeting Jess and Jeremiah Sowards. They are of course, very well known in homesteading, gardening circles for their Youtube channel @rootsandrefugefarm I had discovered Jess through Abundance Plus and been watching her channel for a few years. Her down to earth, friendly manner and open book, faith based approach really drew me in and kept me coming back. There was always something in her message that spoke hope to my heart – even back when we didn’t have the land, or the ability to grow all that we wanted, she kept saying “turn your waiting room into a class room”. And we did.
The children often watched @rootsandrefuge with us, so they were also keen to be introduced. Many people wanted to meet them so we waited in line and said a brief hello, took a picture and moved out of the way. A little while later we had a chance to chat to them again and for reasons known best to them, the Sowards invited us to go meet them later where they were camping and join them for a chat. Of course we were delighted to do that. It was a wonderful evening of laughs and good conversation. To our great surprise, they then invited us to visit them on their farm after the festival was over. It was one of those moments that happen in life, when you know God has orchestrated the whole thing. I love those divine appointments. You can’t chase them or find them, they find you. They are moments in time, sent to remind us that it is the Creator who directs our steps and has our back, if we let Him.
Visiting Roots and Refuge Farm
So before we headed back to Texas, we traveled to Roots and Refuge Farm where we were hosted to a memorable couple of days. It was both a delight and a privilege to get to know Jess and Jeremiah and their family just a little in those two days. We staying in a lovely little cottage on their farm. I think one of the biggest shocks was how talkative and hilarious Jeremiah was! So many laughs. Of course we had to introduce them to the Tim-Tam Slam and there was lots of friendly Aussie vs American banter.
As fun and entertaining as the Sowards are, there is a depth to them that is unusual to find in people you have just met. Perhaps it is because we have watched them online for so long. But they put you at ease and immediately we felt like we had known them for years. There is something soul satisfying in people that are not afraid to have open honest raw conversations about life and all its challenges.
We toured the farm and the almost open, Beulah Roasting Company shop front in nearby Batesburg. They then took us to the Zoo which the kids loved and took us out to eat at a lovely local restaurant. Best of all was watching the kids connect and take off to different parts of the property to fish, play games and just be kids. So good.
In another surprise, Jess asked me to record a podcast with her. That was a fun, new, humbling and nerve racking experience. It went to air a few weeks later on the Roots and Refuge podcast. You just never know what is around the corner in this life.
So with our hearts full and new friends in South Carolina, we headed back to Texas. Our bodies were tired but we didn’t feel it much because we were all so encouraged and uplifted by what God had done on that weekend away. Memories that will last a lifetime.
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