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zakruti.com » Do it Yourself - Handmade » Epic Gardening
I Left My Dream Homestead.

I Left My Dream Homestead.

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Rating: 4.0; Vote: 1
I Left My Dream Homestead. Channel video: Epic Gardening - Category: Do it Yourself - Handmade
Date: 2026-01-23

Comments and reviews: 20


Its crazy because just yesterday I was thinking about that guy (you) that uploads really cool gardening videos (I dont even garden) (I dont even have a balcony to garden lol.
I remember watching your experiment with growing tomatos while buring different type of foods before planting, and then compare the yields at harvest. I looked it up yesterday. And then this videos pops up in my feed today.
Life is a rough rollercoaster. I didnt have any physical issues, but I had severe depression for about 5 years. To the point I didnt leave my room for days. I didnt see a way out except for the ultimate exit, as you are calling it in this video. Thank god I managed to resist the urge, and somehow I managed to get out of the rot. There is hope ahead, even if you cant see it.
This was about 10 years ago. I wouldnt say I am happy now. But I have known peace. I have a great girlfriend and we adopted two wonderful boys (cats. Sometimes I think again, once in a while, about ending it right now. Is any of this worth it Life can be good. But also life can be bad. It depends on us what we do with it, I guess.
I will tell my story and I want it to end heroically. I realised that this mentality helps me a bit. I want my gf and my (future) kids be proud of me.
This isnt 100% relatable to the video, but I felt like sharing my short story as well.
Someday I will have my own little garden. Your videos inspire me to try to live a greener life, if that means anything to you.
Thanks for opening up. Good luck with your future projects! Take care and stay safe. Lets not compost ourselves yet.

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I literally had the same journey. I abused nicotine and caffeine from around 21-28 years old. I started building my own home and out of nowhere experienced crippling panic attacks. I cold turkeys the nicotine and caffeine because while in the ER for a panic attach they noticed i was Afib. thankfully i also fell back into rythm on my own. I went on Lexapro and that helped but after about 6 months i continued to feel terrible. i started looking at holistic solutions to help alongside medication and found the GAPS diet which is essentially just an elimination diet. Read up on some interviews Dr. Rhonda Patrick did with other doctors about supplementation for the heart, hormones, and brain. essentially after about 2 years I have no signs of Afib, I'm off of SSRI's. the only thing i do is supplement Vit D, Mag, B complex, Fish oil, Selenium, Iodine, and Ashwagandha. I do enemas, coffee, chamomile, and probiotic for my crohns disease, and i stick to the GAPS diet. I've never felt better in my life and i'm medication, anxiety, and depression free for the first time in almost a decade. the GAPS diet is essentially Meat, well cooked veggies, meat broths (soups, fermented dairy, fermented veggies, some fruit on occasion, no refined sugar or carbohydrates, no grains, and no preservatives. absolutely changed my life. looking at european/Eastern medicince brought me so much relief where Western Medicine just made me wose.
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Years of extreme stress at work took its toll on me. I moved to CO and got a 100 yr old fixer upper in the plains, thinking I'd work during the week in Denver for a few years while fixing up my home on the weekends. I suffered a sprained ankle, so it made me stay put in my house in the country while I got major electrical and plumbing needs taken care of. In the time it took my ankle to heal, I decided I wanted a dog and a garden, and did not want to go back to a high stress job. so I retired.
Retiring was THE best decision for me! It saved my life, without a doubt. I started my garden small, learning as I went. I got a dog. and life became so good. My garden is my passion, plus preserving and cooking what I grow gives me so much joy and fulfillment.
Take care of you, first, and thanks for sharing your journey. it helps others who are coping, I'm sure. All I know is if things are that stressful, life is knocking and saying, time for a change. If we are living our highest passion, we may be led to situations that are much better, situations we could not have envisioned while feeling stressed. Sometimes stress makes those knocks and nudges hard to hear. But if it aint working. slow down, be silent, and just listen to your heart. you'll hear it.

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I’ve been there a few different times of not wanting to be here. I have lived as a farmer 25 years. Psychedelic therapy really helped me when I would get into those dark places. That coupled with finding a therapist I could relate to. The therapy modality, internal family systems change my life and help alleviate a lot of the symptoms I experienced that were very similar to what you described. I’m also autistic and most people wouldn’t be able to tell but learning those things about myself help me be able to regulate my sensory environment and accommodate myself to be able to function without burning out. For me it had gotten so bad that here in Canada, I was looking to sign up for the medically assisted in dying program. Sending you love and I hope that you continue to make progress in creating a life and business that works for you so that you can thrive epically. One of the things that I’ve learned in 25 years of farming is that plants need stress just at a certain and duration. That’s what gives them flavor. The same goes for humans.
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I so like when people share their stories. Panic and anxiety still aren't talked about enough. I've had anxiety, panic, depression and agoraphobia for a good part of my life. I have fought medication like crazy. I haven't really left my house much in the last 5 years. Last November I had enough. I hadn't left town in 12 years, so I went on medications. And I left town in January. My Dad died January 3rd. I wanted to be there, he lived 30 miles from me. He was always the one visiting me in the last 12 years. More than a anxiety/panic disorder I wanted to be with him. It's amazing what will spur you on. I saw him laid to rest with no panic and anxiety. I encourage people who think they are alone to seek help. You don't need to be embarrassed or ashamed. It happens to some people, it's just life. I'm actually sleeping now. When this 2 feet of snow, starts disappearing - I can dream lol - still a couple more months, I plan on going everywhere. I'm in Canada now but will be moving to California next year. Thank you for sharing your story.
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My daughter suffered from severe anxiety. She would start shaking so hard that she ripped her face up with her own nails while she was crying. She's was very close to a 5. I looked up anything that could help her. One day I found an an article somewhere of a lady who inhaled burning BAY leaf. At first I was critical, but I was also desperate. I lit the end of the Bay leaf half covered my nose with my hand to keep the smoke in. I inhaled, got a 10 second headache and then I could feel the effect. So we waited for her next attack. When it happened we ran to the kitchen and tried it. She had the same headache (that only happens the first time, and never repeats) and then she stood there a minute grabbed her phone and continued chatting with her buddy. She didn't even remember that we were experimenting. I just stood flabbergasted at how well it worked. Talk to you're doctor if you have one. I did the research. It's been used by the Egyptians for thousands of years. GOOD LUCK!
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I am grateful to you for still being here and for your honesty. This will help people more than you can imagine. In 2016 I lost my mom unexpectedly. truly, I lost my best friend and my last living parent in one heartbreaking moment. I became profoundly depressed and suffered through months of passive SI. Sounds strange, but a video posted by a person with a love of chickens and gardening hit me in an odd moment, and made me laugh all the way to tears and back for the first time since the worst had happened. That snapped me out of it enough to get on a short course of meds, get counseling and pull all the way out of it. You never know what's going to reach someone, maybe in that one remaining odd crack that'll let the light back in. Bless you and may complete wellness be yours again some time soon, hon.
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I've been watching you for years now off and on. Im glad you are still here with us bc the world would be a dimmer place without you. You've taught me alot about all things gardening, planning, homestead setups, etc. You've been very enjoyable to watch and I hope you realize the community is here for you. I also have sleep apnea. Mine is mostly central apnea (my brain tells me to stop breathing, it's been a drastic improvement with my overall sleep quality. I was feeling like a train wreck every morning for over 10 years. I never knew sleep issues could cause deathly side effects or permanent brain injury. At times I hate my machine, but i have to use it to be here with my wife and kids longer. Life can be dim at times but everything can turn around for the better at any moment.
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When something doesn't end for long enough, there's only one way you could think to get out. Goddamn, that hits the nail on the head. I really wish more people understood that suicidal thoughts aren't about wanting to die, but about wanting the pain or anxiety or trauma to stop. And when you're so deep in that all you experience is that pain, anxiety, or trauma, it's almost impossible to see any other solution.
Therapy, SSRIs, my late therapy dog, my cats, my partner, my friends, and my family have all saved my life in so many different ways. I'm really glad you have the support you need, Kevin - and never doubt that we're all here behind you, supporting you 100% of the way.
Also, your art ROCKS! I love it!

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You're not alone. I wake every morning wanting not to wake up since 2015. I'm exhausted and mentally done. I'm blind and haven't been in public more than twice a year in the last 5 years. My blood pressure is soaring and i pass out when stressed. I tried gardening, but everything died because my migraines keep me in bed. Also gaining weight (100lbs in one year eating healthy) due to stress and inactivity. I want out. I'm trying to start a tiny garden again. I have 2 greenstalks doing amazing, and i just cleared a spot yesterday for two small raised beds for spring planting, but it's hard living on $13k/year. Here's to fighting for another day, happy and healthy.
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My younger brother kept having panic attacks. Back in 2022 he went to the emergency room and while there he took two heart attacks went into AFib then a coma. After 3 months of the coma the neurologist came in and said the family needs to make that decision to unplug him. She said there was no brain activity but we knew different. He would squeeze your hand. To make a long story short he came out of his coma finally and is doing wonderful him and his little dog. Besides being diagnosed with sleep apnea and taking medications along with oxygen he takes care of himself and panic attacks are minimal. Biggest thing that helps is he doesn't watch the news anymore.
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Kevin, this was very emotional and hard thing to admit. Thank you for your honesty and transparency. You have inspired me so much to start my homestead, as a full time worker and mother it has been my sanctuary after hard days. I started watching you about 4 years ago and I have accomplished a large garden that i look forward to harvesting from every year. We are here to support you during this time, continue to give us updates, it is good to talk to others on how your are feeling. A lot of us that follow you actually use your methods of gardening to cope with our depression and anxiety, we understand each other more than you may know.
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it's crazy to always be around your job, in a way. we need to be 'off' regularly. so glad to hear you are taking care of yourself. I understand your thoughts. It's logical, we get them, with all that stress and pressure. make sure you get rest & relaxation. and don't do it. the sun will always shine again! you will feel better, every time. i have memories of little, magical moments, and i remind myself, i can't have more of those, if i quit. also would not want to hurt others. i would surely make them sad. but i do understand standing at that threshold. but there's always a way out of the darkness. so glad you chose to stay!
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Kevin, When I began my gardening journey, I stumbled upon your videos and they warmed my heart. I have spent the past two summers elbows deep in my garden working out so much grief and anxiety through one of the hardest multi year seasons of my life. Hands in the dirt was how I got through the toughest parts. I love your videos so much, and thank you for the update and sharing your life with those of us whose lives you feel a part of. Please, please, please take care of yourself, it would be such a loss to not have you here with us! And if you ever come to Colorado, make it very public because it would be an honor to meet you: )
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I just joined the greenhouse. I am excited to try the software soon to plan my garden. I have used your grow lights for several years and have had wonderful success. I have several of the Birdie beds as well.
I lost my husband very suddenly in August and I understand how you are feeling. I often struggle too and wonder if it is worth it to plant this year. I know deep down in my heart that if I don't plant I will miss those beautiful and wonderful tomatoes in the summer. So tomorrow I am starting my indoor seed planting.

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I needed to hear this today. I'm a homesteader, gardener, and I dabble in professional avenues around homesteading, including social media. I went from having 200 friends, to having 2000 followers on FB, almost over night, with some real fans, and real potential. including monetization. And while this isn't anything huge, as my brand, and orders began to grow, I started to feel the sense of responsibility beyond the land, my family, or animals. I suddenly felt so pressured, and I had to take a break. Thank you
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Oh Kevin. Thank you for the authenticity, for sharing the personal side of this part of the story. I've followed you for almost my son's entire life. He was born in 2013. It was a tough time and I needed something like a lifeline. Epic Gardening was that. It has been through the years. Adding two more kids, having our own business, watching you grow the homestead. I'm so glad you didn't compost and leave completely. Thanks for helping us grow and sticking around. :) Your seeds are some of my favorite. :)
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It's a tough time to have panic attacks. It's happened since I was 17. I'm 43 now. It's a time of learning to slow down by force. No more coffee, it has to be a choice. Insomnia too. I started painting more, and I spent the whole summer out of the garden. There's a need for a change. I'm proud of you for trying to find some place new to go. Maybe a change of scenery or teaching others how to garden might help. A place that has a hard place time growing plants like Arizona or New Mexico.
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I so appreciate your passion and work. I'm a Psych NP and I know how people are struggling with their mental healh. I'm so glad you listen to your boby and mind, and accepted the treatments that are available. Additionally, I am so excited about the Greenhouse membership. It looks like you are working with a diverisity of people across the country. I would like to see more Black women partnering with you. It sounds like something I need. I will be purchasing. Thank you!
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Totally backing you, your team and your business. Panic attacks (via PTSD on this side of the fence) is real and potentially debilitating. You are doing good acknowledgement, pro-active thoughts and actions, authentic emotional/psychological/spiritual support systems. Proud of you. Every morning is a new chance for at least one genuine smile, one moment to be grateful, one step forward (and my personal chuckle: and a chance to aggravate at least one person )
Big hugs.

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