"People want somebody who's real, more than they want somebody who's exactly like them." This is so important, and a huge part of why I enjoy your channel so much. I live in an urban area, no kids or plans for them anytime soon, and while I have dreams of a property that can accommodate a bigger garden and maybe a few chickens, my goals are much different than your beautiful small farm. My faith is also drastically different from yours, even though I'm not Christian I still enjoy your devotionals just because of how passionate you are. Your authenticity is the best part of your content, and it warms my heart to see you continuing to value and embrace that as your channel grows. Thank you for this video, and continuing to be so real with us, I have learned so much from you and Miah and know I will continue to do so. ❤️
I agree with this comment. Our personalities and lives are very different, but I love watching your channel. People can be different, as long as there is kindness and authenticity. My wife and I do not have any property, we rent because we are stationed abroad, and only in one place for a few years. I am of a very different faith, but just as devoted and it fills my heart to see faith in others, no matter the creed. We have no kids, but love our furbabies. My "garden" consists of an aloe vera plant and an indoor avocado tree that I sprouted, and am VERY proud of 😂. I love watching your channel with my morning tea, learning from you, dreaming about someday growing roots in one place, and living a vicarious experience of having a big loving family full of children. Blessings💜
Jess I could b so wrong, but I think the reason so many of us absolutely love you and ur channel is because of just who u r....I personally think, you being the person u r comes through effortlessly and u r just real goodness! Yes we love the content of gardening and your farm....but it is totally the real YOU that is the reason we love your channel. And of course we also love Miah too, if he was the least bit a jerk it would leave an icky feeling of watching, but what u all do is what is good and right for why God put us on Earth. I thank you so much for bringing good to our world.
Something i remember often, basically every time i turn on my camera to film, is Jess saying a few months ago verbatim "You can only wear a mask for so long. So be genuine from the start so you never have to fake a persona because it will get tiring." It has been ingrained in my brain since I started. Sometimes I'll catch myself 'showing up' for the camera or saying something i often wouldnt say just because I'm recording. I shut off my camera and try later. I never want to see fake or artificial. Great lesson guys! Thank you for doing this! Being embarrassed about a passion is something I currently struggle with. I am so passionate about knowing where and how food is grown, but I have been torn down because of it. I do love i can surround myself (virtually) with people who support my hopes in life. Wow wow wow! You speaking about the buffet of your life and people leaving fot not liking one dish. Thats something I needed! I love speaking about the grace period of youtube. I never thought of it like that.
I came and subscribed to your channel because of your faith, I saw you at the Deep South Gathering and found your channel. Everything else you share is a total bonus, blessings always Jess, thank you
My husband mentioned starting a youtube channel because we do have so much we could post and talk about. Gardening is my PASSION! He has a HVAC business and we are building things and starting new adventures non stop. However(I feel like that should be your word now lol), we just don't have time or a need to start a channel. I'll just watch you lovely people. :) Bout to go back and watch some of your first videos, I've never done that and now I'm curious.
Roots and Refuge Farm, Beautiful Jess and Sweet Miah, the kids, bring so much joy to my life and got me back into my garden and back to me...love you guys. Who you are is wonderful.
Great video Jess. The reason I keep watching you and Miah is for the simple reason that there’s no “stage” or made up scenarios!! What there is is what you video and share. That’s what’s so real about you. And then there’s your Faith. That you share it on such an open platform is awe inspiring. I’ve had 3 horrible breast cancer surgeries and when I’ve told my doctors that I have no fear because God has me in His hands, they don’t believe me! I cherish hearing you talk about God and how you walk with Him. God Will Continue To Bless You!
Thank you so much for taking this challenge serious and teach us. I am at a point in my life where I tell myself over and over again that I have to document my art-making and our start of a veggie garden, and our chickens. That stuff. Because I want to for myself, for my friends. I'm a storyteller from childhood on, making stories in my head, with my toys, in my drawings. When our teenage kids were young, and I told them stories or read books to them, got totally entangled in the story. So when things got tense or exciting, they came closer or even started to cry because they got scared... They felt drawn into the story that much. What you told, Jess, completely snot-faced because you 'feel' the story. My mother-tongue is Dutch, and I would love for all my international friends to follow what I'm doing and telling them too. So try my English, or do subtitles, or both... that's a thing to try out I think. But that outgoing person I was, centre stage in big crowds, get people laughing and having fun, and teach something in the meantime, is hidden somewhere in the past. The rock people were leaning on for helping them get up and get strength from, is gone. Exploded or something. These days, I talk too soft, so people often ask if I want to repeat what I said. People just don't see me when I'm there, they don't miss me when I'm gone. (okay, now I hear that song in my head... Aaaargh!) Now that I write it all down, it's hitting me. I think the urge to film what I do, might come from the 'old', real me, wanting to be back, live again. I do indeed feel dead. When I started this comment, I didn't know where it would end, I'm sorry. I'm leaving it like it is. I guess for the sake of being real and honest. For all those who read it to the end: thank you
I thoroughly enjoyed this video from start to finish and while I stashed away quite a few nuggets of wisdom for unpacking later, the quote "You're never disqualified by something" really hit. Whatever YOU are is special and worthy and your tribe is out there, however, they can't find you if you aren't your truest self.
I AM one of THOSE people! I started watching because of the gardening, I won't leave because I believe you are gifted in sharing your faith and have stepped out to do it. May God continue to bless you and yours.
Not a creator here. But a follower. The biggest thing we look for in a channel is truth and consistence. This was such a good video. I sincerely hope that creators both large and small can really take head to the words and advice being given.
I used to just not watch the Devotionals since it’s not my scene, but now I usually give them a chance because sometimes I get something valuable from them. 🥰
I’ve been on the fence about starting a channel for myself, thinking my life is so boring and wouldn’t be worth watching... but you keep posting videos encouraging people to “just start” even with an iPhone and I’ve been slowly climbing over that fence. After watching this video, I feel as if you’ve come up from behind me and pushed me right over that fence! I’m gonna start filming today. Thank you! #jessmademedoit
I honestly can't wait. I was drooling. I made roast and potatoes and carrots today and thought of you. I cut my pieces way too big...and left them that way. I am not good at doing videos yet but I'm sure having fun.
I was fascinated and grateful to watch this...I know I'm called to have a channel someday. I couldn't help but notice that a lot of the advice applies to life, with or without a channel. If you're trying to hide part of yourself to please some folks you miss out on the folks who would love what you are. And what a waste. LOVE you JESSICA!!!! I bless you!
I know that whether or not I ever get monetized, I want to be authentic, if no other reason than I want my videos to be a record for my kids to be able to look back on and remember. Thank you for your sound advice.
Making Lemonade From Lemons if nothing else comes from my channel, I love the thought of having the videos of my family to look back on and remember! And we’re really having fun making these videos!
Jess, you have inspired me and my wife for years and we are finally taking the plunge this year. We hope to have a homestead, too, one day, and I thank you for inspiring us to try. We hope you, Miah and the kids are well. Thank you for all you've done.
I loved that you mentioned the struggle of wanting to sharing your faith. I am not religious exactly but I think its a great part of who you are. Thanks for being real girl
Stay true to you Jess! I love your content on all the things you talk about. I am not a Christian, I am a spiritual person. I love seeing the passion you and your family have for your farm family and faith. Hugs from North Carolina 😊💖
Jess, I love that you share your faith because I believe you are being the best gardener ever because you are also planting seeds in the spirit for Christ.
Authenticity is a huge part of your charm. Are there other homesteading channels that do devotions? I haven’t seen any. You ignite my soul for life. 💕💕blessings
I watch a few homesteaders regularly, not to learn (although I do), since I was born, raised on a farm, have owned several farms and currently own a farm, but because I love to see all these young folks getting their hands dirty and working hard...something we seem to have lost as a society. Hang in there kids, yes it's hard but it is totally worth it.
I just want to say how much I appreciate these videos you did with Morgan. I just started my channel in January and found it to be so very encouraging and affirming. As a fellow gardener (although many years behind you) I appreciate your wisdom and how open you are to sharing it.
That's very true what Morgan said about finding your voice. I've found with my channel that it is so much more important than having the best quality camera, best microphone, etc.
This is golden for so many reasons. Can’t wait to watch part two & three here in a few mins. God bless you guys. Had me laughing hard because my boys and I are new to farming, new to vlogging, new to gardening, & anxious about what we say and do because someone we know might see it someday. Never gave it a second thought that there might be 1k subs or 10k someday picking us apart 😂. Appreciate you both. #releasethequacken Also see you at the shindig Jess & Miah!
Jess and Morgan thanks for putting us in the little montage of people having fun. Of course you had to put the whip cream face in😄. Heather and I have a lot of fun making videos and sharing a little bit of ourselves. It feels great to know you saw it. ~Kevin
You are both so correct. I am not a homesteader. I lucked into 2 ducks. and i'm trying to get back into gardening. I watch both of your channels and Justin Rhodes not just for the homestead information but for the family and the content that is unexpected. y'all are so real!! I am in zone 7b so im close to Jess but I stayed because of your enthusiasm.
I’ve been wanting to start a channel for a while but I struggle with the part of sharing my faith and how much to share. Mine is not very popular and I feel like I would get a lot of heat Thanks for the encouragement, I’m going to give it a shot
I had to comment and say - I am an agnostic atheist yet I LOVE your videos, I watch y’all almost every day. I watch you because you are passionate and genuine and I believe your message applies to everyone regardless of their faith (or lack of). I even enjoy your devotionals because I can see and feel your passion and good heart and it makes me feel good and warmed. So I agree - if you want to start RUclips be YOU - it’s in the name 😆
I so love y'alls message, could not sleep, your show popped up! This could help anyone, including those that will never have a Utube channel. Keep it real, thanks for sharing.
This was great advice! We can absolutely relate! We got lost in the YT shadow realm for just a little bit but found our way out and are now just sharing our journey with the motto of we are a first generational farm who happens to have a YT channel instead of a YT channel who happens to have a first generational farm! Love what you guys are doing!
Thanks so much for posting this! I just started my RUclips channel a couple weeks ago and I'm trying to manage it with 3 little ones and a job! It's not easy. I hope to be as successful as you one day! You are what inspired me to start my channel :)
Jess, I love what you said about enjoying the grace of the up the start up period. It is so disheartening to see your efforts receive so little return, but I just keep reminding myself that this is my learning phase. And I have learned a LOT. I had no idea you made these videos but I sure am glad for them. A well timed dose of encouragement 😊 thank you
Jess & Morgan, this is such a fabulous video and each point you made is impactful. When I first started watching YT videos almost 2 years ago, I could tell immediately those people who weren't authentic-it turned me off and I stopped watching them. Thank you for your thoughtfulness in providing this for people. God bless.
This was so helpful! I have been on youtube for 2 years doing teaching and lifestyle content and I love it, but just recently, my husband and I started a second channel (this account) for our homestead!! Starting from scratch all over again on a channel and making those new connections is so fun and rewarding. Hearing your input was super beneficial! Thank you!
Thank you Morgan and Jess, I too have been wanting to do RUclips videos for years now. Yet I always hold myself back. I love her comment about disqualifying ourselves. I totally do that! I am going to change that, and hopefully you will see my videos on RUclips soon! Thanks again for the information and the content!
I just wanted to say thanks, I needed to hear this. Not so much for RUclips, but because I launched a blog a few months ago, and it's been hard to stick with it. So many people are telling me no one really reads and I need to get on RUclips, forget writing. Writing is what I love, not making videos, and I love the story of where I'm going with my homestead, because there is no real ending and I'm never sure where today is going to take me. I now plan to stay with it, buckle down, be more consistent and just see where it goes.
This is like a master class! So very good guys! In my first year I built up pretty good had good viewership, lost my way, lost tons of views and then I stepped back. I decided because my work schedule was making gardening so hard that my weekends home were better spent making memories with my family so I started making more dad vlogs. I feel like I've started over but I love the videos I made this summer and they are now memories my whole family can keep forever. While gardening is a passion I don't want it to get in the way of being the dad I want to be. It was hard to figure that out. Can't wait to see the rest of this series! You guys are both so inspiring!
Morning Jess. Thank you for doing a video like this, and thanks to Gold Shaw Farms for his input with you. I'm a newbie and still learning the ropes of all this. Have a super day. from Benton Arkansas.
Thank you for this! I have been going back and forth for a year now about starting my own channel, but I could never find a person on you tube who told the full truth and their personal process! you may have given me the push I needed to just do it!!!
Great video that applies to much more than RUclips content. Being authentic and true to yourself is ultimately going to engage others more deeply. I think most people connect much more with something in this format (especially when it comes to the topics of homesteading and gardening) that is presented in the light of reality rather than something that is heavily edited and manufactured to present those topics in a more aspirational light.
Thank you so much for this video! We recently started our channel and all your advice has really hit home. Especially when you spoke about obsessing over the numbers. It is very easy to become stressed and second guess yourself when videos aren’t getting a lot of views. You’ve motivated us to find our voice and stay true to ourselves!
You and morgan are definitely two of my favorites! I tend to stay more on Instagram telling my own personal journey versus RUclips. I'm a thick skinned person, or I like to think I am, but the nastiness that I've experienced on youtube just in the comments, deters me from posting videos. And actually, its affected me wanting to even comment on a lot of the videos I watch. I hope to get over that, but so far it's my biggest obstacle.
Thank you so much for making this series! I just started my RUclips channel and you are a huge inspiration. Thank you for giving so much to this community.
Such great advice thank you both for sharing it. Sometimes I get caught up in the numbers and I forget to be true to myself and my family. We started this journey to document it for our kids I needed to be reminded of that so Thank You and God Bless y'all
G'day guys, This is really great I'm always learning from your channel. Jess your videos have helped me through a lot and you have inspired me to start my channel. God bless you guys.
Hi Jess! you are part of my family! My husband and my 90 year old mother know you well. I've been a subscriber since before you had 5k of us subscribed. I am not a homesteader and I bet there are lots of us. I am retired, from suburban Long Island, NY and and I love your whole approach to life. My husband & I rehabbed a very old Shaker style house in upstate NY and I am now enrolled in a horticulture program at Berkshire Botanical Gardens in nearby MA. You are my inspiration. I Have created a few gardens & I will cultivate some land to create veg gardens in my clay soil-have to keep the deer out. In the meantime my dream is coming alive. Better late than never. Don't under estimate your reach! No homesteader here (though my husband would love it was 10 years ago) but working that soil and feeling the beauty of things coming alive takes my breath away. Thank you for being in my home,, sharing, every day. Love to you and Sweet Miah and all the children. BTW, Mom loves the way you relate to your children, teaching them in the garden & the kitchen. Here's to pre-fried okra! Thanks for being real.
I really needed this today and took 2 pages of notes. Look forward to the next session but in the mean time will put my notes to use in my next coming videos for sure. Thanks for sharing
I bless you both and thank you. This is a good lesson on how to live well, to know who you are and what you're passionate about enables you to live authentically, to live your own story. This is not just for content creators but for everyone to aim for.
I had a chance to meet Luke at MIgardener yesterday and he is such an advocate for people starting youtube channels. I've had the thought in the back of my head but i've been hesitant. It's so funny because I used to be into drama club and was never afraid to be in front of people. I remembered you making videos about this so I had to come back to watch them ❤️
WOW! This video is right on time. When we first started this YT journey I did not want to be on the camera and netiher did the Mrs. Yet we wanted to have some vitual document of gardenings and being self-sustainable. Our first video, I hated the way I looked. Talked. Sound. Moved. It was horrifing. I was not enjoying making the videos. It wasn't until you came to Dallas and chatted with everyone and told them to just have fun doing it. Just keep putting out videos and it will come to you. Every since then I have been having fun with our videos and not judge myslef too hard on the outcome of the video. I thank you soo much for your words of encourgement. You help and Mrs. NG helped me find my voice.
Thanks, great food for thought! Am only a small channel now but am already getting messages from people I don't know who love to watch me and want to do the same thing, really rewarding :)
Thank you! Thank you! I have been looking for a way to start a channel on my interests on my farm! I was never sure about my story, but after seeing your Video, I have sat down at my computer and thought about a plan for the next year of what Kind of content I wanted to put out for my story. Think I have a decent plan so far. So thank you so much for this great starter.
Jess,if someone loves your channel for your farming life,but no so much the devotional part. It's ok. they can choose not to listen or watch that part. Keep doing your style my dear. It's you and so refreshing...much love to ya'll from PA.
I love this video! Well, I love all of your videos, but this one really spoke to me where I am right now. I have a small homeschooling channel that I am slowly growing, but it doesn't seem the right place for my garden and orchard content. So now I am starting up a second channel to share that part of myself. Taking to heart what you all said about sharing a story - that gives me good guidance for moving forward. Thank you!
Great information. I watched both these videos and can relate to so many things you say-like the big mirror in front of making you aware of things about yourself that perhaps you didn't realize before. I have been inspired by several youtube homesteaders and have been wanting to share our journey as someone just starting out and encourage others to follow their dreams as well. "Growing Together" in sense.
Wow! That was incredibly helpful. I had a hard time telling people who I am at HOA. I realized how hard it is to tell my story. There’s some stuff I don’t really want to share, or don’t know how to share, but I know I’ll have to for it to make sense and even have value to others. Yikes! Looking forward to more of this. Very very helpful! Thank you Jess and Morgan!
"People want somebody who's real, more than they want somebody who's exactly like them."
This is so important, and a huge part of why I enjoy your channel so much. I live in an urban area, no kids or plans for them anytime soon, and while I have dreams of a property that can accommodate a bigger garden and maybe a few chickens, my goals are much different than your beautiful small farm. My faith is also drastically different from yours, even though I'm not Christian I still enjoy your devotionals just because of how passionate you are. Your authenticity is the best part of your content, and it warms my heart to see you continuing to value and embrace that as your channel grows.
Thank you for this video, and continuing to be so real with us, I have learned so much from you and Miah and know I will continue to do so. ❤️
Thank you so much for this encouragement ❤️❤️❤️
I was just about to make the very same comment! Thank you for being real, Jess.
I agree with this comment. Our personalities and lives are very different, but I love watching your channel. People can be different, as long as there is kindness and authenticity.
My wife and I do not have any property, we rent because we are stationed abroad, and only in one place for a few years. I am of a very different faith, but just as devoted and it fills my heart to see faith in others, no matter the creed. We have no kids, but love our furbabies. My "garden" consists of an aloe vera plant and an indoor avocado tree that I sprouted, and am VERY proud of 😂.
I love watching your channel with my morning tea, learning from you, dreaming about someday growing roots in one place, and living a vicarious experience of having a big loving family full of children. Blessings💜
I wanted to leave the exact same comment ❤❤❤
Jess I could b so wrong, but I think the reason so many of us absolutely love you and ur channel is because of just who u r....I personally think, you being the person u r comes through effortlessly and u r just real goodness! Yes we love the content of gardening and your farm....but it is totally the real YOU that is the reason we love your channel. And of course we also love Miah too, if he was the least bit a jerk it would leave an icky feeling of watching, but what u all do is what is good and right for why God put us on Earth. I thank you so much for bringing good to our world.
Roots & Refuge + Goldshaw; you guys make a great team! I loved listening to this discussion. Thanks for posting!
Something i remember often, basically every time i turn on my camera to film, is Jess saying a few months ago verbatim "You can only wear a mask for so long. So be genuine from the start so you never have to fake a persona because it will get tiring." It has been ingrained in my brain since I started. Sometimes I'll catch myself 'showing up' for the camera or saying something i often wouldnt say just because I'm recording. I shut off my camera and try later. I never want to see fake or artificial. Great lesson guys! Thank you for doing this!
Being embarrassed about a passion is something I currently struggle with. I am so passionate about knowing where and how food is grown, but I have been torn down because of it. I do love i can surround myself (virtually) with people who support my hopes in life.
Wow wow wow! You speaking about the buffet of your life and people leaving fot not liking one dish. Thats something I needed!
I love speaking about the grace period of youtube. I never thought of it like that.
Two great channels coming together! This was so full of awesome advice! Thank you!
I came and subscribed to your channel because of your faith, I saw you at the Deep South Gathering and found your channel. Everything else you share is a total bonus, blessings always Jess, thank you
I like that you don't let fear stop you.
My husband mentioned starting a youtube channel because we do have so much we could post and talk about. Gardening is my PASSION! He has a HVAC business and we are building things and starting new adventures non stop. However(I feel like that should be your word now lol), we just don't have time or a need to start a channel. I'll just watch you lovely people. :) Bout to go back and watch some of your first videos, I've never done that and now I'm curious.
Roots and Refuge Farm, Beautiful Jess and Sweet Miah, the kids, bring so much joy to my life and got me back into my garden and back to me...love you guys. Who you are is wonderful.
Great video Jess. The reason I keep watching you and Miah is for the simple reason that there’s no “stage” or made up scenarios!! What there is is what you video and share. That’s what’s so real about you. And then there’s your Faith. That you share it on such an open platform is awe inspiring. I’ve had 3 horrible breast cancer surgeries and when I’ve told my doctors that I have no fear because God has me in His hands, they don’t believe me! I cherish hearing you talk about God and how you walk with Him. God Will Continue To Bless You!
Devotionals are why I resubscribed! I thought you were here just selling for baker creek but I adore you! GOD bless your family abundantly!
Thank you so much for taking this challenge serious and teach us. I am at a point in my life where I tell myself over and over again that I have to document my art-making and our start of a veggie garden, and our chickens. That stuff. Because I want to for myself, for my friends. I'm a storyteller from childhood on, making stories in my head, with my toys, in my drawings. When our teenage kids were young, and I told them stories or read books to them, got totally entangled in the story. So when things got tense or exciting, they came closer or even started to cry because they got scared... They felt drawn into the story that much. What you told, Jess, completely snot-faced because you 'feel' the story.
My mother-tongue is Dutch, and I would love for all my international friends to follow what I'm doing and telling them too. So try my English, or do subtitles, or both... that's a thing to try out I think.
But that outgoing person I was, centre stage in big crowds, get people laughing and having fun, and teach something in the meantime, is hidden somewhere in the past. The rock people were leaning on for helping them get up and get strength from, is gone. Exploded or something.
These days, I talk too soft, so people often ask if I want to repeat what I said. People just don't see me when I'm there, they don't miss me when I'm gone. (okay, now I hear that song in my head... Aaaargh!)
Now that I write it all down, it's hitting me. I think the urge to film what I do, might come from the 'old', real me, wanting to be back, live again. I do indeed feel dead. When I started this comment, I didn't know where it would end, I'm sorry. I'm leaving it like it is. I guess for the sake of being real and honest.
For all those who read it to the end: thank you
I thoroughly enjoyed this video from start to finish and while I stashed away quite a few nuggets of wisdom for unpacking later, the quote "You're never disqualified by something" really hit. Whatever YOU are is special and worthy and your tribe is out there, however, they can't find you if you aren't your truest self.
"The buffet of my life." Yes, your real and true life...perfect.
👍💕👍
I AM one of THOSE people! I started watching because of the gardening, I won't leave because I believe you are gifted in sharing your faith and have stepped out to do it. May God continue to bless you and yours.
I'm one of your people Jess. God is the main part of my life. You are just one of God's Blessings in my life.
Not a creator here. But a follower. The biggest thing we look for in a channel is truth and consistence. This was such a good video. I sincerely hope that creators both large and small can really take head to the words and advice being given.
I used to just not watch the Devotionals since it’s not my scene, but now I usually give them a chance because sometimes I get something valuable from them. 🥰
I’ve been on the fence about starting a channel for myself, thinking my life is so boring and wouldn’t be worth watching... but you keep posting videos encouraging people to “just start” even with an iPhone and I’ve been slowly climbing over that fence. After watching this video, I feel as if you’ve come up from behind me and pushed me right over that fence! I’m gonna start filming today. Thank you! #jessmademedoit
Go for it! I already subscribed and waiting for your intro ❤️
That's neat! I'll subscribe.
If you haven't watched her video yet. It was really good and she has obvious camera skill.
Mary Carder thanks Mary! I’ll probably post again next week. :)
I honestly can't wait. I was drooling. I made roast and potatoes and carrots today and thought of you. I cut my pieces way too big...and left them that way. I am not good at doing videos yet but I'm sure having fun.
That is what I said, O my, she is my kind of people, when I saw your devotional
I was fascinated and grateful to watch this...I know I'm called to have a channel someday. I couldn't help but notice that a lot of the advice applies to life, with or without a channel. If you're trying to hide part of yourself to please some folks you miss out on the folks who would love what you are. And what a waste. LOVE you JESSICA!!!! I bless you!
A word spoken that is only truly heard by one person...... is worth speaking..... Keep up the good work Jess!!!
I know that whether or not I ever get monetized, I want to be authentic, if no other reason than I want my videos to be a record for my kids to be able to look back on and remember. Thank you for your sound advice.
Making Lemonade From Lemons if nothing else comes from my channel, I love the thought of having the videos of my family to look back on and remember! And we’re really having fun making these videos!
Morgan is one of the best storytellers on RUclips. His RUclips channel and his podcast should easily have 500,000 viewers/listeners
I agree
StephT5 💯
Jess, you have inspired me and my wife for years and we are finally taking the plunge this year. We hope to have a homestead, too, one day, and I thank you for inspiring us to try. We hope you, Miah and the kids are well. Thank you for all you've done.
She is definitely my people! I love the devotionals! ❤️
I loved that you mentioned the struggle of wanting to sharing your faith. I am not religious exactly but I think its a great part of who you are. Thanks for being real girl
Stay true to you Jess! I love your content on all the things you talk about. I am not a Christian, I am a spiritual person. I love seeing the passion you and your family have for your farm family and faith. Hugs from North Carolina 😊💖
Jess, I love that you share your faith because I believe you are being the best gardener ever because you are also planting seeds in the spirit for Christ.
Authenticity is a huge part of your charm. Are there other homesteading channels that do devotions? I haven’t seen any. You ignite my soul for life. 💕💕blessings
GREAT JOB FRIENDS!
I watch a few homesteaders regularly, not to learn (although I do), since I was born, raised on a farm, have owned several farms and currently own a farm, but because I love to see all these young folks getting their hands dirty and working hard...something we seem to have lost as a society. Hang in there kids, yes it's hard but it is totally worth it.
I can’t possibly love this video enough!
What a great collaboration of two amazing people sharing so much knowledge. Thanks y’all.
He nailed it! Your devotional s is exactly what drew me to your channel!!!!
I just want to say how much I appreciate these videos you did with Morgan. I just started my channel in January and found it to be so very encouraging and affirming. As a fellow gardener (although many years behind you) I appreciate your wisdom and how open you are to sharing it.
I enjoy how real and honest you are Jess. Your videos are great. I want to encourage you to just keep on keepin on. Thank you. God Bless Y'all.
One thing I absolutely love is when you’re saying temperatures that you put the 🇨🇦 C (Celsius) 🌡 so I don’t have to stop watching to do math.
Great discussion between you and Morgan. This is something a lot of people will want to hear. Really great advice.
✋👍
That's very true what Morgan said about finding your voice. I've found with my channel that it is so much more important than having the best quality camera, best microphone, etc.
This is golden for so many reasons. Can’t wait to watch part two & three here in a few mins. God bless you guys. Had me laughing hard because my boys and I are new to farming, new to vlogging, new to gardening, & anxious about what we say and do because someone we know might see it someday. Never gave it a second thought that there might be 1k subs or 10k someday picking us apart 😂. Appreciate you both. #releasethequacken Also see you at the shindig Jess & Miah!
Jess and Morgan thanks for putting us in the little montage of people having fun. Of course you had to put the whip cream face in😄. Heather and I have a lot of fun making videos and sharing a little bit of ourselves. It feels great to know you saw it. ~Kevin
You are both so correct. I am not a homesteader. I lucked into 2 ducks. and i'm trying to get back into gardening. I watch both of your channels and Justin Rhodes not just for the homestead information but for the family and the content that is unexpected. y'all are so real!! I am in zone 7b so im close to Jess but I stayed because of your enthusiasm.
I’ve been wanting to start a channel for a while but I struggle with the part of sharing my faith and how much to share. Mine is not very popular and I feel like I would get a lot of heat
Thanks for the encouragement, I’m going to give it a shot
Do it!
I feel really empowered after this video. Please continue this series!!
I had to comment and say - I am an agnostic atheist yet I LOVE your videos, I watch y’all almost every day. I watch you because you are passionate and genuine and I believe your message applies to everyone regardless of their faith (or lack of). I even enjoy your devotionals because I can see and feel your passion and good heart and it makes me feel good and warmed. So I agree - if you want to start RUclips be YOU - it’s in the name 😆
Thank you for this!
Hello Jess! Thanks for sharing your joy! Peace and love!
I so love y'alls message, could not sleep, your show popped up! This could help anyone, including those that will never have a Utube channel. Keep it real, thanks for sharing.
Morgan is such a good story teller...I really enjoy watching his videos...and yours too!
This was great advice! We can absolutely relate! We got lost in the YT shadow realm for just a little bit but found our way out and are now just sharing our journey with the motto of we are a first generational farm who happens to have a YT channel instead of a YT channel who happens to have a first generational farm! Love what you guys are doing!
Thanks so much for posting this! I just started my RUclips channel a couple weeks ago and I'm trying to manage it with 3 little ones and a job! It's not easy. I hope to be as successful as you one day! You are what inspired me to start my channel :)
Wow, I really needed to watch this! This flashback gave me so MUCH confidence to be authentic, no matter the results, with my new youtube channel!
Jess, I love what you said about enjoying the grace of the up the start up period. It is so disheartening to see your efforts receive so little return, but I just keep reminding myself that this is my learning phase. And I have learned a LOT.
I had no idea you made these videos but I sure am glad for them. A well timed dose of encouragement 😊 thank you
Jess & Morgan, this is such a fabulous video and each point you made is impactful. When I first started watching YT videos almost 2 years ago, I could tell immediately those people who weren't authentic-it turned me off and I stopped watching them. Thank you for your thoughtfulness in providing this for people. God bless.
Thank you both for the help. Cannot wait to get a bit more serious and intentional about our channel.
Thank you so much for sharing. I’m still in the stage of why would someone watch me. It’s time to jump in and just do it. Be blessed!
This was so helpful! I have been on youtube for 2 years doing teaching and lifestyle content and I love it, but just recently, my husband and I started a second channel (this account) for our homestead!! Starting from scratch all over again on a channel and making those new connections is so fun and rewarding. Hearing your input was super beneficial! Thank you!
This came to me at the right time. You speak to all kinds of worries that I am having about being a content creator. 🙏
Thank you Morgan and Jess, I too have been wanting to do RUclips videos for years now. Yet I always hold myself back. I love her comment about disqualifying ourselves. I totally do that! I am going to change that, and hopefully you will see my videos on RUclips soon! Thanks again for the information and the content!
I just wanted to say thanks, I needed to hear this. Not so much for RUclips, but because I launched a blog a few months ago, and it's been hard to stick with it. So many people are telling me no one really reads and I need to get on RUclips, forget writing. Writing is what I love, not making videos, and I love the story of where I'm going with my homestead, because there is no real ending and I'm never sure where today is going to take me. I now plan to stay with it, buckle down, be more consistent and just see where it goes.
This is like a master class! So very good guys! In my first year I built up pretty good had good viewership, lost my way, lost tons of views and then I stepped back. I decided because my work schedule was making gardening so hard that my weekends home were better spent making memories with my family so I started making more dad vlogs. I feel like I've started over but I love the videos I made this summer and they are now memories my whole family can keep forever. While gardening is a passion I don't want it to get in the way of being the dad I want to be. It was hard to figure that out. Can't wait to see the rest of this series! You guys are both so inspiring!
Thank you thank you thank you !!!! 😃😃😃
Morning Jess. Thank you for doing a video like this, and thanks to Gold Shaw Farms for his input with you. I'm a newbie and still learning the ropes of all this. Have a super day. from Benton Arkansas.
Thank you for this! I have been going back and forth for a year now about starting my own channel, but I could never find a person on you tube who told the full truth and their personal process! you may have given me the push I needed to just do it!!!
I LOVE this! Thank you two for the great info and perspectives and your support of our authenticity!
This. Is. So. Good. I love how you talked about owning your story and not trying to make yourself into something. Be who you actually are.
Farmer Jesse from no till growers made a really great point. DO NOt measure your success against other farmers. That was a big reminder for me.
Great video that applies to much more than RUclips content. Being authentic and true to yourself is ultimately going to engage others more deeply. I think most people connect much more with something in this format (especially when it comes to the topics of homesteading and gardening) that is presented in the light of reality rather than something that is heavily edited and manufactured to present those topics in a more aspirational light.
Thank you so much for this video! We recently started our channel and all your advice has really hit home. Especially when you spoke about obsessing over the numbers. It is very easy to become stressed and second guess yourself when videos aren’t getting a lot of views. You’ve motivated us to find our voice and stay true to ourselves!
Stay real, amen.
You and morgan are definitely two of my favorites! I tend to stay more on Instagram telling my own personal journey versus RUclips. I'm a thick skinned person, or I like to think I am, but the nastiness that I've experienced on youtube just in the comments, deters me from posting videos. And actually, its affected me wanting to even comment on a lot of the videos I watch. I hope to get over that, but so far it's my biggest obstacle.
Thank you so much for making this series! I just started my RUclips channel and you are a huge inspiration. Thank you for giving so much to this community.
Such great advice thank you both for sharing it. Sometimes I get caught up in the numbers and I forget to be true to myself and my family. We started this journey to document it for our kids I needed to be reminded of that so Thank You and God Bless y'all
This is great, Thank you both!
This is wonderful that you both stay in touch with your subscribers. Mrs.Jess Love your livestream with your followers.
G'day guys, This is really great I'm always learning from your channel. Jess your videos have helped me through a lot and you have inspired me to start my channel. God bless you guys.
You should feel totally validated after this conversation 👍🏻❤️!
Hi Jess! you are part of my family! My husband and my 90 year old mother know you well. I've been a subscriber since before you had 5k of us subscribed. I am not a homesteader and I bet there are lots of us. I am retired, from suburban Long Island, NY and and I love your whole approach to life. My husband & I rehabbed a very old Shaker style house in upstate NY and I am now enrolled in a horticulture program at Berkshire Botanical Gardens in nearby MA. You are my inspiration. I Have created a few gardens & I will cultivate some land to create veg gardens in my clay soil-have to keep the deer out. In the meantime my dream is coming alive. Better late than never. Don't under estimate your reach! No homesteader here (though my husband would love it was 10 years ago) but working that soil and feeling the beauty of things coming alive takes my breath away. Thank you for being in my home,, sharing, every day. Love to you and Sweet Miah and all the children.
BTW, Mom loves the way you relate to your children, teaching them in the garden & the kitchen. Here's to pre-fried okra!
Thanks for being real.
I really enjoy when you do devotions👍❤️🙏
I really needed this today and took 2 pages of notes. Look forward to the next session but in the mean time will put my notes to use in my next coming videos for sure. Thanks for sharing
I bless you both and thank you. This is a good lesson on how to live well, to know who you are and what you're passionate about enables you to live authentically, to live your own story. This is not just for content creators but for everyone to aim for.
I had a chance to meet Luke at MIgardener yesterday and he is such an advocate for people starting youtube channels. I've had the thought in the back of my head but i've been hesitant. It's so funny because I used to be into drama club and was never afraid to be in front of people. I remembered you making videos about this so I had to come back to watch them ❤️
love morgans comments
WOW! This video is right on time. When we first started this YT journey I did not want to be on the camera and netiher did the Mrs. Yet we wanted to have some vitual document of gardenings and being self-sustainable. Our first video, I hated the way I looked. Talked. Sound. Moved. It was horrifing. I was not enjoying making the videos.
It wasn't until you came to Dallas and chatted with everyone and told them to just have fun doing it. Just keep putting out videos and it will come to you. Every since then I have been having fun with our videos and not judge myslef too hard on the outcome of the video.
I thank you soo much for your words of encourgement. You help and Mrs. NG helped me find my voice.
I love your transparency. We just started a RUclips channel and I loved all the advice. Thank you for sharing this.
Such wisdom from two young humans! Love it. You’re way ahead of the life “game” when you can embrace who you are. Fabulous y’all!
Thank you so much for this!! Please add another soon. This is exactly what I’ve been needing to hear and you both have some amazing advice!
Great video , it is nice to see people who are real and talk about there passions . Always look forward to watching your videos.
Thank you for adding celsius degrees to your videos, it is so helpful, as an Aussie IMAGRATEFUL.
Thanks, great food for thought! Am only a small channel now but am already getting messages from people I don't know who love to watch me and want to do the same thing, really rewarding :)
slightlyboilingmother I’m going to check out your channel, Portugal sounds intriguing!
Thank you Thank You THANK YOU! A lot of great info...and thanks for the heads up on taking notes.
Thank you! Thank you! I have been looking for a way to start a channel on my interests on my farm! I was never sure about my story, but after seeing your Video, I have sat down at my computer and thought about a plan for the next year of what Kind of content I wanted to put out for my story. Think I have a decent plan so far. So thank you so much for this great starter.
We love you jess!!
Jess,if someone loves your channel for your farming life,but no so much the devotional part. It's ok. they can choose not to listen or watch that part. Keep doing your style my dear. It's you and so refreshing...much love to ya'll from PA.
Thanks Jess!
What an amazing discussion!
Awesome. Inspiring. Love it and you. Bless you!
I love this video! Well, I love all of your videos, but this one really spoke to me where I am right now. I have a small homeschooling channel that I am slowly growing, but it doesn't seem the right place for my garden and orchard content. So now I am starting up a second channel to share that part of myself. Taking to heart what you all said about sharing a story - that gives me good guidance for moving forward. Thank you!
Great Points! I learned a few things. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with others!
Great information. I watched both these videos and can relate to so many things you say-like the big mirror in front of making you aware of things about yourself that perhaps you didn't realize before. I have been inspired by several youtube homesteaders and have been wanting to share our journey as someone just starting out and encourage others to follow their dreams as well. "Growing Together" in sense.
Wow! That was incredibly helpful. I had a hard time telling people who I am at HOA. I realized how hard it is to tell my story. There’s some stuff I don’t really want to share, or don’t know how to share, but I know I’ll have to for it to make sense and even have value to others. Yikes! Looking forward to more of this. Very very helpful! Thank you Jess and Morgan!