Whats on my mind July 31 2020 

You just expressed my exact thoughts. I truly think we’re in big trouble. I’ve been doing everything I can for what’s to come I don’t say much, cuz when I do, people look at me like “oh you’re one of those crazy doomsday Preppers” & laugh. Then later ask if I’ll share what I’m growing in my garden I’m not afraid of Covid, the media has everyone so scared. We are being controlled

Hello from Canada. I feel your pain. The isolation. The stupidity. The propaganda. The deception. The economics. The health situation. The lawlessness. It is crazy making and that is just want the " powers that be" want. I try to explain to loved ones etc what is going on, I see the eyes roll and my heart sinks.

Renee, once again, you have been in my head. You have expressed EVERYTHING that has been going through my head. From the wearing of masks all the way to what is lurking just over the horizon. You are fortunate, your husband is on board. It makes things sooooo much easier! Mine, he's more interested in spending hours on end following politics (even though he can't vote) on his laptop. We are living on his SS until I start collecting mine in November. Thankfully, we own our land. We don't own our home yet, even though my husband could pay it off if he chose to do so. I have been doing what I can to get us in a better place. Using the money that my father left me I have purchased livestock, had the barn built, and hopefully soon we will have running water. It has been an up hill and stressful battle. I don't know what I would have done if it weren't for my Amish friends who offered me a job driving for them. And I had no intention of getting a job! I was going to focus on getting my homestead set up. I do find that God puts things in our path that we need, even if we think we don't. You are doing awesome, Renee! And about the homesteading style videos? That is called L I F E. That window of normalcy in a crazy world. Don't feel guilty about making that type of video. These days, we need all the "normal" we can get our hands on!

I feel the exact same way as you. You said everything I've been thinking but keep to myself because of the responses I get when I mention anything about going against the herd. In the background I've been trying to get more set up to be prepared for the future but it's hard when it's your first year on a homestead. It's quite an investment to get everything. I thought I'd have a few years to get a tractor, mower, rake and baler for hay, time to put up more reliable fencing, improve the sandbox my property is built on to grow a decent garden, etc. but this pandemic has put me into panic mode. I feel like I need to get everything now because who knows what it'll be like next year. Just trying to keep my head above water right now. And it's exhausting. Both on my mental state and my bank account. But like you said, it's an investment. Just one I wasn't planning on making until later.

Greatly agree with all said. Thank you most kindly.

I totally agree, it’s overwhelming. So much deception. We know we have to prepare for what’s coming but there’s always a cloud following me around. Plus there’s just sooo much to prepare for. God Bless your family!

I think most people feel the same way. I think we're heading for another great depression. We are all just trying to survive all this.

Tougher days are coming, all we can do is pray and try to prepare.

You nailed it! Comfort in watching your videos, please keep them coming when you think it is best for you to share your talents. Homesteading is a blessing in so many ways. ☺

Thank you Renee for truth.This is the perfect video we don’t want to talk about it but we all see what’s going on. I am a fellow Michigander from the UP, I have a hard time even wanting to cross the bridge I am not fearful just more comfortable close to home. I am with you on seeds, also putting potting soil and fertilizer away to seed start in the spring. I have almost doubled my garden this year.

Dear little one. Yes, you are feeling what we are feeling. Words we don't want to say or voice for fear they are true. There is no escape. We are in the middle of something ominous and we all can feel it. This reset is partially manufactured and we know that too. How far they will take it is anyone's guess. History is repeating itself but this time I think more than one thing will break, all we can do is ride it out. This is not the retirement I thought I'd be enjoying. I think. making garden videos and cooking videos are perfect things for you to do because we need the relief of watching something practical, like being over at a friend's house and enjoying their company and learning at the same time. Even if you made this video before, you did not do it in the middle of the world breaking around you. It will help us all just to keep on keeping on.

Well said Renee. "As always" it was like you've been reading my mind.

We haven't had a tv in 10 years...dont miss it a bit..I just started a new medicinal garden..note to self...dont grow pumpkins in your flower bed...🤣. We dont go to the store much...havent grocery shopped in 4 years...we know what's in our food

I was going hang busters building my raised beds until I started having a health issue. Mini strokes or TIAs. Was admitted on the 10th with a full work up. They found nothing. They have me on plavix and baby aspirin. I have not felt right since. So all work has stopped for now. And there is also a cedar wood shortage going on as well. My next order has been back ordered. Because I have not been out working on my beds, my anxiety has gone thru the roof. I rarely watch the news. I have ordered my seed for next season. And when I get more wood, I will start building again. I have been off work since February. I was to look for new work, but decided to lay low and see what covid would do since I have asthma and my mother to worry about. So I say do your upbeat videos. We need to keep moving forward with our learning.

My lovely Michigansnowpony, it is exactly the times to hear about your everyday tasks and plans, "Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love."

Now, more than ever, the skills you teach us are so critical. Thank you for sharing your time, knowledge and energies with us. Bless you Renee! xo I don't fear the virus...I fear what the politicians are doing to Us in the name of COVID!

We are all weary of this election-infection and all the hype! At 64 I’ve watched a lot come and go, good and bad! Oh to have been sitting on your porch with you enjoying the fireflies we could have solved the worlds problems and laughed the whole time. I’ve been a Believer since I was 21 and I literally mean one of those people who pours myself into His words daily to be fed. For me I know we will never be able to second guess evil and what may come so we keep our eyes on Him! I live my faith out loud because I want to be a beacon of faith to Him! Beyond a shadow of doubt I know that whatever comes our way if we follow Him He alone will meet our needs! This is a calling to all those who have never called on Him for a savior to do so before its to late. With that said 😇 a couple weeks ago I heard one of the female haters in the House talk about taking everything we all have and passing it out as they see fit. That sent a flash of panic through me the way she said it! Being married over 40 years we have been public servants our whole adult life’s! We have military retirements, law enforcement retirements and Social Security retirements. So up till now we have worked very hard and believed no matter what comes we will have those retirements to keep us secure. By what she said our security would be stolen and divided with all. My daughter in love showed up to drop off my grandson and when I briefly mentioned it she looked me dead in the eyes and said “now you of all people know that even if that happened God would still meet your every need”! At that moment I needed normalcy so I could refocus from words of doom to where my faith is from. So when you said it seems so trite to be making Willy nilly videos right now for some of us that is exactly what we need because it is our normalcy. It is our comfort zone and it allows us to shut of the world and visit with a friend that brings us pleasure. Last week Susan (imstillworking) put up a video on cooking green beans! Do I need to learn to cook green beans 😂 heavens no!! But at that moment did I need to hear a friendly familiar voice, heavens yes! For those of us who have already turned off the tv’s you are the ones we turn on if even to just hear the voice of calm. I hope you really know how many friends you really have out here you’ve never met yet that don’t care what you talk about we just want you to show up. Did you ever come up with a email address so we could contact you?

You pretty much expressed exactly how I have been feeling and the things that have been on my mind. You are not alone, and many I talk to seem to feel the same. God bless you and your family!

I agree with you. We have invested in a collection of really fun board games! Our favorite way to spend an evening nowadays. We just leave the media off, make some tea, and have some real family fun. There are plenty of good RU-vid sights about best board games.

Oh I've been doing that forever. I don't care for box stores what I can't make I buy from my farmers in my state. I've been saving my seeds and packing ahead of time. I've been ordering fruit trees for my tiny plot. I've been decluttering since I retired in July 2019. Sell it reuse it etc.

YOU speak TRUTH that's why we keep subscribing. THANK YOU! SHALOM

I agree 200% You interpretation of 'things' and your plan is spot on. I wanted to tell you that I used to follow you for a couple of years. You were my favorite channel and I would watch you from my laptop at night and love to learn what you had to teach--it was my 'relaxing' time during a very stressful life. I have not seen your channel for the past few years as my husband got sick with cancer and passed away (this is the second husband to do so). I just reconnected with your channel and am so happy you are still making videos. I just wanted to tell you that although you may think that what you have to talk about regarding homesteading is not important in the realm of all the craziness in the world, you have helped me so much during some really rough times. These times now are rough and I think what you have to teach and share is more important than ever. Thanks for doing what you do.

gardening and putting up food is helping me to be distracted from current events, etc. I love your videos (we're in MI, too)

I am in total agreement with you Renee. We need to prepare to get through this like our families and neighborhoods of long ago. Unite with like minds and create a strategy to survive whatever is ahead. I'm lucky enough to have had parents that came through the depression and all of the wonderful you tubers, like yourself, who have taught me canning. Much Love and Respect sent to you!! ~ Jan :)

Well said Renee! I am not afraid but I am cautious. All I can do right now is collect food and supplies to keep me going as long as possible. I leave everything else in God’s hands. He has his plan. His will be done!

Renee, I just found your channel. I watched a few before i subscribed. You are wonderful! This video is what most, or at lease what half of our country is thinking. Hang in there, We got this.

Hello from southwestern lower Michigan! I just found you the other day. I'm not a traditional homesteader, but have had horses and dogs with a few rabbits here and there. Just the dogs now, trying to manage on social security. I do have a small garden except beans which the baby bunnies ate even with a fence. I do can...whatever I can get my hands on. I hate the "VIRUS"! I'm sick of it!. I just put it in God's hands! I go about my life as normal, well except going to the store. Not my new normal for sure. I have an advantage over a lot of people. I can cook and survive on what don't seem like much. People that grew up eating pop tarts and pizza are not going to fair to well unless their taste buds change. Hope things go well for you. Have a great evening!

Good to “see” you! Don’t worry if things seem too trivial to post because we need distraction from the doom and gloom. Try to stay positive and yes, having a homestead to work on is the best thing! Always something to do, planting, harvesting, canning, animals etc etc. I decided early on that I would still visit with my daughter and family and grandkids! I feel for the people who live in big cities. Everyone needs their bit of land! Stay strong and know that there are a lot of people out here that look forward to your updates once in a while. :)

Weary. My main symptom recently is being weary. Weary of work, weary of media, weary of societal fear, rage, blame, and anger. Just weary. Under all that fatigue is gratitude for the humble but helpful set up we have. Goats, poultry, orchard, garden, and living outside the city. After gratitude comes a deep, bottomless grief that my country is gone. I'm not an alarmist or particularly dramatic but I do believe there is no coming back from this. I don't know what we will look like in 12 months but I know we will never look like we did 25 years ago. American pride is gone. Patriotism is gone. Heritage, history, and tradition all gone and not only gone, but damned. I would go so far as to say the time for revolution may be over, we started too late and don't have the organization or funds that the other side dedicates to it (because we're feeding our families and going to work, and just minding our own business). I wish I had something positive to say.

It was indeed a strange year,its a global thing,i was glad i do gardening for a couple of years and made it possible to get some fresh vegetables without going to the store Greetings from a Belgian

Been following you for a long time. Thank you for sharing your heart with us. I agree with every single thing you said. I hate to see you feeling confused but I think many of us feel the same way. I can only say : But God. He is still in control and we must lean on him because he has the answers and he can be trusted in spite of what we see in the flesh.

Scary world. But, I enjoy your videos. Takes my mind off of what we can’t control. So, please keep doing what you’re doing.

I just had to come back here and say...about the Mom stuff....I gave birth to 1/2 of my children and gained the other half of my blessings through marriage. You, on the other hand chose to receive the gift of motherhood...not an easy gift to receive when you think about it. This tells me that you have a kind and loving heart. The experiences you have shared with your girls most children couldn't dream of. If you feel you showed up late to the party I beg to differ....and I feel in my heart your daughters would agree..you became a wonderful, loving Mom just in time. You and I may have different views on a lot of things but I want you to know that I feel you are a very good and descent human being.

You are such a comfort. Just read the comments of your community! It is a relief that you will be staying on your homestead, that your family is well and still going strong. Happy to know you are still able to work, and your job puts you in a position to see what is actually going on way better than most of the rest of us. You are a like-minded, level headed "voice in the wilderness" and have been since I found your sheeple videos. We appreciate that you keep in touch, and love that you share your concerns, comments and common sense advice. I am looking forward to any videos you find time to give us and hope your husband is able to get back to work, but growing food is like growing money, and he is able to do that while he waits. Bless you all.

Congratulations to both of your girls! Never mind that having kids when you are supposed to stuff we don't decide that...something bigger than us does. I also have a 16 year old working on a drivers license who btw is graduating this year. Don't be afraid, be proactive, wear your mask, wash your hands and understand many ppl aren't like you. They don't care about others. As for the hype, In may the Yoop was holding steady at 122 cases, we now grow by over 100 cases a day because some ppl feel no responsibility to protect the least of thee. Being I still haven't laid eyes on my grandson and being I couldn't be there when my MIL died and being that I still haven't been able to go back to my job yet when I venture out for groceries I see as many out of state plates than I do our own I felt it needed for you to understand today that we do have to be responsible and take precautions. If you don't know who Dr Redfield is and what he has had to say on this situation I'm going to beg you for your own sake to do a lil homework. When I get sick I call my doctor...not my friends or any politicians or pundits because they are not doctors. We are now being bitten in the but. I agree with you about growing food and dollars not representing wealth completely. What I don't agree with is putting my head in the sand and pretending that this isn't happening because it is and we can make a difference if we care enough for others to do so.Obviously we can't count on our government officials to do the right thing with few exceptions...we need to count on each other to do the right thing.

I feel the same way also. While my husband and I live on a suburban homestead at the moment (we are not allowed livestock), we do as much possible as we can for ourselves. I have a 25' x 64' garden right now with plans for expansion (if we're still here next spring that is) next spring. I have been working hard to succession plan too...and have bought seeds in preparation for next year as I truly believe there will be a big shortage too. I think that we are headed for another lock down also. And I think it will be much worse than the last one! Stay safe!~ Stephanie

A video of the fireflies would be great. Some people do not get the joy of seeing them where they live. Thanks.

I live in the city.Almost a year ago i started purchasing land in the country.The reason i haven't gotten further with planning the move, my sister with Downs syndrome became ill with Alzheimers.I'm packing and as i purge belongings singing"Let it go!" from Frozen lol.I feel an urgency like i will get out of the city by the skin of my teeth

Oh my goodness I get to see Renee! 🥰

Yes and amen!

I do feel the uncertainty of our future..have had this since last summer when I saw our grocery stores shelves had stickers everywhere saying *out of stock*..before this virus hit.

You are so on track!

We will have to barter in the future. We need to work harder and wiser. Planning all year long. Perhaps we should get a greenhouse also. Stay safe.

My thoughts exactly! If you are basically where you want to be in terms of preparedness and have some extra money, precious metals is a good idea. When we started buying silver we were thinking mainly to have something for future property taxes. If there will be any sort of government, they will want taxes! Once we had enough for a few years of taxes we kept buying because silver prices had gone way down and was fairly cheap. We were not buying it as an investment, but just something to have in case. Recently our broker talked us into buying some gold. We didn't know that you could buy smaller coins, 1/10 ounces, 1/2 ounces. He showed us how much gold has gone up just in the past 6 months. We are NOT keeping extra money in the bank anymore. We now have something IN our hands that will ALWAYS be worth something. Even if it is only a few pieces you will have something of value. You can always sell it if you need to.

I understand what your feeling I’m there as well. But I think that those video ideas is a good distraction for you and your viewers. We’re all in this together!

Fear and isolation is a good way to control people. You are 100% correct.

Thanks for a great video we have the same thoughts We have a huge garden this year plan to do the same for next we are looking forward to watch videos on canning my daughter Shayla was thinking of getting meat birds I thought that’s a great idea

Hi, I’ve been pouring over Pinterest looking for old “war farm posters” that have plans for small lots, there are quarter acre, half acre, one and two acre plans that the a Government made to help the people at home to know how to grow food abundantly for themselves, so our men fighting got plenty of food from farmers, one of the things that I noticed in one plan was a 25x50 area for growing oats or wheat once you harvest it you can use fertilizer and plant again for a second crop so that you can have your own wheat berry’s for grinding flower or rolling oats, how cool is that! My mother said you just cut a handful and beet the berries into a barrel, she said it’s not a big deal, who knew!

As I said on Mrs V stream you talk sense (mostly lol) I like when you do videos like this opening people eyes making them think. I understand what you mean about thinking doing canning videos seems unimportant in times like this. BUT think about new people are coming to growing their own food because they cant get it in stores with the shortages. So they need good people to teach them how to store the food, they stopped teaching things like that in schools. You and a few others are what I would call educators. You communicate well on how to do things, so if you can find the time I would ask you to do what you do on your channel and continue teaching, how to grow, how to look after animals, dehydrating canning. Hey maybe 1st aid.

I totally understand how you are feeling. I can't wear a mask due to chronic bronchitis . Two weeks ago I was on the verge of bronchial pneumonia, and wound up with antibiotics, steroids and my maintenance inhaler. Yet, my doctor's office makes me wear one! Go figure. Hugs and Love.

Prayers

Give your fear and worry to God to jesus and he will give you peace and joy hope

I think the stock market is going to go sideways, which will throw some people off, and I think people are going back towards more local options. And I don't think the debt is impossible if we would quit going further into it.

God didn't give me a spirit of fear. Jesus is coming, people need to get right with God. The money thing ..one world order...its all in the end of His Book 😉

We are testing anyone that lets you. The results are only good from that moment backwards. If negative you have been good at protecting your self. The crazy thing is you can leave testing site and get exposed. The numbers are so skewed. I agree with you! Hang in there. We all need to pray until something happens! P.U.S.H.!

But what you talk about and teach helps us through this very trying time. Homesteading is just another word for preparation. The virus is in God's hands and His only. God says we are not to fear because He has us covered. If you don't believe, I'm really sorry, talk to me if you want to know more. Cases are going up because of positive tests. Today, the president said the deaths are going down... Yes, even my tiny homestead on 3 acres is a sanctuary from the outside world.. its insane,, but im not worried because God has my back!

Where do you order your garden seeds, everywhere I have been checking they say sold out, wanting to get my seeds for next year.

Come back

Ask jesus to come into your heart

I agree with most of your thoughts on the future of the economy. It's a scary time but the best way to fend that fear and that stress off is to work on being prepared! One thing I want to push back on from a lot of the comments I see below is this concept that masks don't matter and are just a control tactic. Wrong. I study disease, and I can tell you that masks are a WONDERFUL tool to protect our vulnerable. The key to wearing masks is that you're protecting others, not necessarily yourself - let's all be a little less selfish! Leave the N95s for those that are vulnerable and/or front line workers and wear whatever you can to prevent your droplets from landing on anything or anyone else. Even a 4% mortality has lead to 1000s of lives lost, and wearing masks could save your loved one. Not to mention the 1000s of people with lingering symptoms months after being sick (that are considered "recovered" in the data)... We shoudn't live in fear over the virus, but we definitely should be considerate of those particularly at risk.

I miss your common sense