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.
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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: https://rootsandrefuge.com
– Sign up for our newsletter: https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-signup
– Join our Patreon to get early access to podcasts and other information, plus monthly LIVES with me and Miah: https://patreon.com/rootsandrefuge
– Abundance+ (Grab a FREE 7-day trial): https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-wilder-still
– Shop our Stickers & Shirts: https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-shop
– Order my first book, “First Time Gardener”: https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-ftgbook
– Order my second book, “First Time Homesteader”: https://rootsandrefuge.com/first-time-homesteader-yt
– Instagram: www.instagram.com/roots_and_refuge
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/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: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/SFA0IZHZRCOZ?ref_=wl_share
– To support us through PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/jessicasowards
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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): https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-greenstalk
– Squizito Tasting Room (Use code “ROOTS” for 10% off your order): https://rootsandrefuge.com/yt-squizito
– ButcherBox: https://rootsandrefuge.com/butcherbox
– Growers Solution: https://rootsandrefuge.com/growers-solution
– Neptune’s Harvest Fertilizer: https://rootsandrefuge.com/neptunes-harvest-fertilizer
#rootsandrefuge
34 Comments
We switched from 7b to 8a as well. But I’ve been doing this long enough to know that we can not grow 8a perennials. Just because they changed the map doesn’t make it so.😆
Why don’t you use auxiliary heat in the high tunnel on unusually cold nights? Solar generated heat? Water towers?
For any of us that lived through the Texas Snowmagedeon in 2021 will laugh at this stupidity coming from the government. My location now solid zone 8a (nearly 8b) was in the single digits for 2 days straight with a low around -5. Time to ignore the government "experts" again.
In the 4 years that we’ve lived in our new home and I’ve kept some notes on basic things I’ve seen more of a shift of seasons that warmer/colder across the board. So basically for me where we are my spring weather seems to be starting a bit later each year and likewise the first frost seems to just come later. And I’m good with that. 🌎🌡️
Another consideration with zones is the other end where some plants require a certain amount of cold hours during their dormancy. Trees and shrubs usually are the ones that have these dormancy requirements so it can be a costly mistake if you don’t realize that your region doesn’t get cold enough. I know there are lots of trees and shrubs that I can grow up here in freezing eastern Washington that would ultimately die in more southern areas because they need to be able to go fully dormant in winter in order to recharge and set their buds and all that good stuff.
If the last few years has taught us anything it's that we should listen to our own inner teacher. Or bodies and minds are a diary of events. Fortunately most of us know BS when we hear it. Butl for people that are new to this, they rely on people who have their own narratives and may be fearful; that's where community comes into play. You make this more approachable Jess and that's important! You're a fear smasher girl!
For me, this primarily applies to me for choosing fruit trees–I have over 40 on my 7,000 square-foot urban lot. My zone didn't change though, so it's the same for me.
Fake climate change… global warming … sure… just pushing there agenda
Why did they change it?
They are lying about the “new” zones! They are setting people up for failure to discourage them from gardening. Stick with what you’re zone has been in the past. The sun causes the climate to change, not people. Do your research on this!
Great information! Also, I read somewhere that the changes are based on the averages and not the extremes. I think that makes sense because I agree with you that there have been cold records in winter in recent years but across the season it doesn't seem to be as many days of the extreme cold in my experience in zone 5b now 6a. I also don't plan to change my gardening plans based on this new assignment.
In the midlands with you Jess. Nothing has changed much. Still enjoying the warm weather.
We've entered a grand solar minimum, so colder winters are likely going forward, and that's what I'm assuming when I choose perennial plants for my Massachusetts property. I like that your videos always encourage people to focus on their own expperience and experiment where their riisk tolerance allows.
Supposedly I used to be in 8B however my microclimate follows 7A. I've killed a lot of things(bushes/trees) when I first got to my property because I followed the zone. I now track cold and hot weather in my phone calendar with annual reminders. Google has lost some of my data so I'm moving it over to paper. Jan 23rd, 11 deg F and 45 mph wind. Sept 23 first frost 31deg
So glad to hear the voice of reason. After the last few frigid winters, I felt that this zone map could lead to some major losses.
I Bless You too Jess! Thank you for emphasizing that people lean on their experiences & use the brains that God & granny gave them rather than give the digital maps & AI systems the last word! I think too many people rely on the zones & the end goal of this is to kill most people's independence!
Wonderful video! For perennials I have always used the formula (current zone -1), everywhere I go, and try to provide some shade in the summer with excellent results. My biggest issue is dealing with the heat. We are experiencing much higher temperature for longer periords here in North Florida. I have been using the Heat Zone map from the University of Florida, and now buy annuals recommended for zone 10a-11 and also follow the planting calendars for those zones. Even though I am on the border of zone 8b-9a. Hope that helps someone. Thank you so much for your videos. I have learned so much from them and from your book.❤
I’m sure there’s no agenda at all to claim our zones all just got “warmer”.
I am the upstate of SC and I haven’t had a frost yet. I pulled 5:35 my butter beans up a month ago based on the projected first frost. I still have my bell pepper and tomatoes producing.
Canada uses this as well, we just know we can't grow a ton in the winter, lol
The birds are too much I can't hear you.
Exactly Jess, I don't pay much attention to the zones either, except to maybe tell someone in a conversation where I'm growing.
The thing is, apparently,
I'm now in zone 8b.
But I'm in Texas,
and we've had Arctic storms here every year the past 3 years which had temperatures that would EASILY be designated to zone 6a!
And I grow a lot of perennials.
Both food perennials,
and decorative perennials.
So if I'm going to "garden by zones" I'm going to need plants that can survive zone 6a Winters, and at least zone 9 Summers!
I feel like those zone designations don't really have anything to do with where I live.
The key word is AVERAGE. Extremes can still happen.
Here in my spot in California we stayed the same 😂
Hey!!!! It’s a big deal that Minneapolis went from 4b to 5a. Winters vary but it’s HOPE for me!!!!
Is the government trying to kill each life sustaining vegetable garden? It sure does sound like it!
Jess, I'm so thankful your awake and speaking it out loud. Rezoning as if winters are getting warmer…? Hmmm. How absolutely malignant this rezoning is, is demonstrated by a seemingly "begine" act from the policy makers. People, please look at your own climates, feel it for yourself, touch it and learn to get to know weather patterns.
God bless you and yours.
Jess, I get notification of your videos on my cell. I then watch on my TV. What is the best way to get you credit it has been watched?
Can you show us the Orchard again? I know they are probably bare.
Faithful viewer here! 🤟
My zone updated from 5b to 6a. KC is split in half by that line tho, so it's best to just stick with the first/last frost dates around here.
My zip code’s hardiness zone has not changed this time. Officially we are 6a. However, we used to be 5b before they added the interactive map online and people relied on a printed map. My yard’s microclimate is colder than the average for my zip code. Last year I got -8.8f which is 6a but is too close to -10f so I go by 5b for my perennials.
So very helpful, as you always are!!!❤❤❤Thanks for caring and sharing❤❤❤
Hey I live in Charleston SC. We do go to MaKenzie in Spartan SC for our citrus. He grows and graphs everything and maks hardy for SC. I think he is a 7A. Even last year during the really bad winter (for us lol) my Meyers lemon and my Paige orange is still in ground and ok.
I am 8B. However last winter we were well below. Pipes froze for many.
I'm on 8b now.
Best explanation of zones I've seen. Thank you! I'm in the PNW zone 8b, but we dont get as warm as many other 8b areas in the country and grow different perennials, trees, shrubs, etc.
I'm autistic so na. I'm keeping it. 😂