Spring is in full swing on our South Carolina homestead. Goats and cows in milk Eggs are coming in strong Three ewe lambs born this week So. Many. Strawberries. Chamomile harvesting Artichokes setting The last of the beets and rutabagas pulled Onions are bulbing. Hog processed, filling the freezer after winter. Seeds are popping up, plants transplanted. What food are you growing? What is your favorite season of harvest?

Sometimes I’m overwhelmed by the corruption and control I see in the world we live in. It’s overwhelming to be aware of but I’d rather have awareness than the blissful ignorance I observe so many enjoying. I’d rather know and prepare, to build alternate sources of sustenance, to build something that isn’t so easily destroyed. It gets a little hopeless when I observe through the phone in my hand. But when I go outside and feel the spring clover tickling my feet, hear the cicadas loudly droning, smell the roses, welcome the newest life, I realize there’s a great steadiness. And then I keep building, planting and growing, and I think that it can make all the difference.

One of the things I love most about the garden is though she may fiercely humble you in one moment, she gives you a mind blowing win the next. #gardeners #grownostr

GM, Nostr! #coffee #coffeechain

It’s strawberry season in SC. Anyone have any ways they love to use strawberries? In the next two weeks I’m planning on freeze drying a lot, and making strawberry jam and strawberry jalapeño jam. Of course, we will also eat lots fresh and make a good deal of ice cream. What else?

Big ole shell cracker. We’ve worked to balance our farm pond’s population and fish like this show me it’s working.

I have countless childhood memories with a Zebco in hand, and now my boys do too. Any fishermen (or women) here? #fishing #grownostr

The Iris blooms are magic this week. #grownostr

I love this time of year. The farm is so alive and so peaceful. #grownostr

Bocephus is a sweet, big boy and throws lots of heifers but he will never be remembered for his good decision making. #homesteading #grownostr #devoncattle

Nostr, meet William Wallace.

Goose egg, duck egg, 9 year old hands. #homesteading

The future is looking bright. #grownostr

I am a content creator. I’ve been creating on YouTube since 2015 and have one of the larger channels in the homesteading and gardening spheres (Roots and Refuge Farm). I spent this weekend in NC with some girlfriends whose families also have some very large channels in the same niche. This gave me further insight into the things I’ve been pondering since joining Nostr this week. I do know the average content consumer doesn’t give a second thought to the reality that they are the commodity on current social platforms. They don’t care and it’s disheartening. BUT there are a lot of very experienced creators that are exhausted by the constant algorithm game. I haven’t convinced anyone to join me yet, as a lot of people simply aren’t willing to overcome the hurdle of the learning curve of a new platform. I think it’s getting ripe though, especially in regard to certain genres of content that just don’t fully work on a highly censored platform. Most homesteading content creators I know who have refused to indulge in algorithm-driven fear mongering have watched their reach dwindle and subsequently the monetization for their work drop by half or more. I can’t teach or share about butchering, guns, inflation, putting animals down, or anything the mysterious “community guidelines” deem unmarketable without risking losing monetization on 9 years of work on YT. At the very least, when I don’t play by the rules (and often, I’ve not), I go from averaging 100k views a video to spending a few weeks only getting 20k per video. It’s maddening but like any employee, you mostly play by your bosses rules even if you hate them. You do what you have to keep your job and pay your bills. Eventually though, tyrannical bosses drive good workers away. This is an oversimplified view of course, because there are other factors. I love what I do. I love homesteading and teaching it and I love the people I’ve connected with over the years and currently YT is my avenue to reach them. I would really really love another way though. The appeal of Nostr to me was seeing the potential for true freedom in creation and reaching a community with honest and untainted information and content. I agree, it’s going to take more development and ease of use for the masses to come, but I think the trajectory is very good. View quoted note →

My most happy place, the greenhouse where the garden is born. #grownostr

Good morning, darlingstrs! Breakfast anyone? #homegrownfood #grownostr #foodstr

Garden goal- Make Dwight Shrute proud. ✅ #grownostr #growyourown

A different kind of #coffeechain GM post. Our coffee packaging is being considered for an award at the Speciality Coffee Association trade show this weekend. We only opened our coffee roastery in October of 23, so this is our first year to even be represented at the show. Seeing this was pretty exciting, no matter the outcome. #coffee

Eating asparagus daily while it grows like wild. Ribeyes and bourbon are always in season. #foodstr #growyourown #dinner

Top of the morning to you all. Who are the coffee lovers here? #coffee