The video follows the Rhodes family in Western North Carolina as they introduce their newborn, Henry, who was born unexpectedly at a gas station. The parents explain the circumstances of the birth, share the family’s deep roots on a 75‑acre farm purchased by Grandpa Henry in 1932 for $500, and describe how the land has been passed down through generations. Throughout the day they showcase typical homestead chores—deep‑bedding cows and sheep for winter, building a mobile chicken coop, constructing a new shed from reclaimed wood, and composting manure with carbon additives. Interwoven are personal reflections on the meaning of the farm, the memorial nature of the land, and the naming of baby Henry (including his middle name Brave). The family also prepares a grain‑free pizza crust, demonstrating their food‑preparation practices and celebrating the birth. The vlog blends practical farm‑life instruction, historical storytelling, and intimate postpartum moments, highlighting the regenerative lifestyle, intergenerational connection, and the joy of sharing this way of life with viewers.
Chapters
Oh my word, mucho huevos!
Keep filming while you wash.
Oh my word, a dinosaur egg! It's a goose egg. You guys want to have it for breakfast this morning?
Sure.
Look how much bigger that goose egg is. I realize we may have a bunch of new interest here because of Henry, our 5th child's birth at the gas station. He's crying. Okay, we gave birth in the gas station. So a little introduction: we are a family growing most of our own food in Western North Carolina. Now, we're not just growing our own food, we're growing our own food in a regenerative way, which means it's good for people, so it's good for us, it's good for the animals, and it's good for the planet. Food growing for us though became a lifestyle, a homesteading Our cows and sheep are currently being deep bedded for the winter, building up compost for our pastures. Henry and Mama are right in there. But that homesteading lifestyle satisfies our natural desire for hard work. And then when you sit down to a meal of food, you not only know the story, you were a part of the story. That's special. That's joy. Because homesteading has brought us so much joy, we naturally as humans want to share something good. And so we share our lifestyle with you. Oh, we've been working on a pretty shawl for the beautiful one before she went into labor with Henry. How appropriate. And Arun finished up the paint job. And doesn't this look nice? Finally, a mobile coop that's pretty. Functional and super pretty. Oh, sharp! Looking sharp, man! Flat-free tires, chrome. Mmm. Every day we do chores, but we also usually have a time for a farm project. I think this week is going to be getting those chrome wheels on that Pretty Shaw. Sally was left out. I need to put her in.
Right now our Project is taking care of Mama and baby Henry.
Kids! And keeping up with my children. I know today you probably just want to see Henry and Mama, and that's fair. We're just going to show a little bit of chores and we're going to show a lot of our day with the baby. But first, Henry, where does that come from? See that little old house? That is the original farmhouse. That Grandpa Henry bought with the 75 acres. We're using 10, but we have 75 acres. A lot of it's— most of it's in forest, and he bought it in 1932. I mentioned in our first episode of Rooted how much Grandpa bought it for. You can watch Rooted at watchrooted.com, docuseries we're producing. But Grandpa bought the farm for— you want to guess?
Grandpa Bought this land in 1932, the little house, no running water, no electricity, for $500. He was making $1,000 a year. He put half his income, he put $25 a month on it for 2 years and paid it off.
$500. That's special, but this is really special. Grandpa built this. With the tools he had, no power tools. This barn, almost 90 years old. Grandpa Henry, he was 90 years old. He was not. Did I say that? Sorry, I don't know how old he was when he built this. This barn is 90 years old and it's— and we still use it. We really enjoy it. We've got our mower in here right now. We've got our, our livestock trailer in here. We've got our chicken butchering stuff in here. We've got various farm equipment stored in the old corn crib. The kids have built something over— over the stall there. Grandpa had envisioned an office there, so maybe a playhouse is— maybe that's close enough. I never met Grandpa Henry, so I never know.
Yes, is it— wait, is that— is it gonna be the first day of spring?
Well, it feels like the first day of spring right now, but I don't know, it feels pretty warm.
Yeah, it does. Uh, but I saw a bird yesterday, looked like a spring bird.
Oh, okay. All right, so I don't know how futuristic thinking Henry was when he built that barn, but he built it to last. So I built— I'm building a shed in honor of him and as a gift to my grandchildren. And that shed, the walls will be from the land. The wood from the land, just like Henry's barn was from the land. Did you guys know that? And I'm building a barn from the land for you guys.
Yeah, no, for your— from our children.
That's right, for your children. But hopefully I'll meet— those pastures are the very same pastures that Grandpa Henry's sustenance homestead. That means if you didn't grow it, you didn't eat. That creek, that's where my— no running water, no electricity— that's where my dad would bathe once a week Saturday before, so they'd get cleaned up for the— they went to church on Sunday. How would you guys like to take bath once a week down the creek?
Even on the wintertime?
I think so, even in the wintertime.
Oh, I don't like it.
This is where they would do it. They'd bathe in your pretty place. We call this the pretty place because boom, we love that view. What are you guys gonna do? Go over. It's the wrong way.
Well, I could push him over.
You think you can send him over? What if he gets hung up out there?
Then let me go over and get him.
Spoke about it and rooted about how when we farm this land, I didn't even know my grandpa— Go ahead. Oh, you're pulling. Okay, you guys, when they play on this land that my dad played on they connect with him. My dad is now gone, never met Henry, so this land becomes a memorial.
I never met my grandfather. I only had heard stories. But in some ways, when I sit down to the table and I have pride rise up in me because of what we're consuming, it gives me chill bumps sometimes because I connect with Grandpa. Didn't even know. Now this land is a memorial. We name our fifth son in honor of my dad and his dad before him, who bought and built on this land and cultivated it.
One day's manure load, we cover it up with carbon, which wood chips in this case, spent hay, and eventually that turns into compost to fertilize our fields when the weather turns and becomes warm and we get more light and things things start growing again. That's the story of how our baby Henry got his name. The middle name Brave, let's save that for the next episode of Rooted.
Uh, that's got a lot of significant meaning too. But fun fact, Henry was married to my granny, who I knew, who I loved, who loved us. She was famous for She'd give you anything. In fact, before you would leave, she would say, do I got anything you want? And I'm telling you, if you said, yeah, Granny, I like those pants you got on there, she would give them to you.
That's the kind of person she was. She gave us quilts, handmade quilts, countless, that will just be in the family forever-ish.
And that's who married Henry. So you know what's really special about Henry's birthday? Henry's birthday was also Granny's death day, and I didn't know that.
And I was just texting my mom and saying, I, you know, I didn't remember that.
I was texting my mom and letting her know the baby was coming, and, and she said, oh, that's, that's your Granny's death day. I don't think your Granny could be any more honored than a birth take place on her death day. And as a giving lady, I think that's true and that's special.
Hey, look at you, designated babysitter this morning. He's looking grumpy. He's what?
He's looking grumpy.
How's my baby's mama? Good. Nice setup here with the table. Are you in some mood? You in a good mood?
I'm in an okay mood.
Okay, good.
I'm in a mood that I gave birth 5 days ago.
Bless you. 5 days ago. You feel like you're healing?
Yeah.
It's rough. I saw it.
It's hard. It's, um— It's a lot. There's just a lot that goes into it, because like, you caring for a newborn your body's healing, it's making food for that child. You don't sleep all night, which would be very helpful in healing. It's just this very interesting thing. Like, nobody, like, if— if anybody went through some sort of medical procedure that did this to you, no one would be like, here's a baby!
I'd be terrified. Yeah, I wouldn't. Oh, mister man. You done pooped, little man? No, he did not poop. What do you say? Oh, she heard you crying. A milk drop.
Are you about to get the mama? Are you about to get the mama? Are you excited about that? Are you excited about that? Can you look at me? Can you make eye contact yet?
You're trying crossing those eyes. He hasn't quite learned how to make eye contact yet. But one day soon. You hear me though, don't you? Hey everybody. I'm new here. What is your name?
Eh.
He doesn't know everybody yet. What is your name?
Josiah.
Okay. Get in. What is your name? Gideon. Oh, that's a beautiful name.
Are you hungry? Are you hungry? Okay.
Leftover beef burgers, lamb burgers, and leftover chicken. Spice it up a little bit by wrapping some bacon around it, baking it for about an hour. He likes the ice cream maker.
You like the ice cream maker?
Oh, never mind. Celebrate. Henry's birth. We're gonna make the perfect grain-free pizza crust. Grain— what's this? Grain-free Family Table. 2 cups tapioca flour, 1 cup of water.
This is why I call it the Burn It Up Cooking Show.
Totally did that wrong. This is not gumming up.
Why?
Because I didn't heat the water up first. This time we'll follow the instructions. And let this simmer. Do we really do 2 cups of tapioca?
All right, well, it still worked even though that doesn't look good.
That is actually how it's supposed to look. 1/2 cup coconut flour, teaspoon salt, 3 tablespoons olive oil. We're gonna mix that for 20 seconds, then start adding our eggs and cheese.
On what level?
I don't know, do low. Too much more yellow than I remember, but I think it's okay.
Now for the hard part, winding that down into 4 crusts.
I got the crust done. How's my baby and my baby's mama? Honking his shoes.
Yeah, he's enjoying a nap. He's getting a little double chin. Isn't it cute?
That'll make a mama happier than anything, right? Oh, I know.
I'm so excited. I feel like his cheeks are chubbier too. I feel like he's changing before our eyes.
There it is. I got the pizza ready. He's got 4 jobs. Eat, drink, pee, poop, and I guess sleep. How's the pizza, guys?
Good.
Hey, is he pooping well?
So good.
Okay, good.
Makes your mama happy.
I am. I have to say, for the drama that was the birth, postpartum is going much—
