Our Story: From Honey Bees to Homesteading
We never set out to become farmers. Neither of us grew up farming, and owning a homestead wasn't something we'd ever imagined for ourselves. But sometimes the most meaningful journeys begin with the simplest things.
For us, it began with a shared love of honey.
Our farming journey began in 2021 with a few honey bee colonies and a growing appreciation for the land. In 2023, we welcomed our first chickens, gradually turning a passion for beekeeping and homesteading into what is now Secret Meadows Homestead.
It started during a trip to Asheville, North Carolina, while my wife and I were engaged. We tried some local honey and discovered just how different it could be from what we'd known before. Later, after our wedding, we honeymooned by driving out west and sampled more local honey during a stop in New Mexico. Somewhere along the way, our appreciation turned into a conversation: What if we kept our own bees?
Eventually, we purchased some land, welcomed our first honey bee colonies, and began learning the art of beekeeping. What started as a hobby quickly became something we genuinely loved. We enjoyed the honey we harvested so much that we wanted to share it with others, and that simple idea became the beginning of Secret Meadows Homestead as a small business.
A Growing Family, A Growing Farm
As we began growing our own food in a small garden in the city, we discovered how rewarding it was to produce something ourselves. With a child on the way and a desire for a healthier, more intentional way of life, we decided to make our home in the countryside, closer to our property and our bees.
Chickens entered the picture almost by accident. A friend needed someone to care for her flock while a new space was being prepared for them. What was supposed to be temporary turned into us keeping the chickens, and we quickly fell in love with raising them. Before long, we were gathering fresh eggs and sharing them with others, adding pasture-raised eggs alongside our local honey.
Building Our Dream, One Day at a Time
Today, Secret Meadows Homestead is a growing family farm that we manage alongside our full-time careers. Between my work as a truck driver, my wife's work as a travel nurse, and raising our daughter, our days are certainly full. But every spare moment we invest in this land brings us closer to our dream of making farming our full-time livelihood.
We're not there yet, but we're building something we believe in—one pasture, one season, and one step at a time.
Farming With Nature, Not Against It
As our interest in farming grew, we began questioning how food was traditionally produced. We wanted to raise healthy animals and provide wholesome food, but we also wanted to care for the land that made it possible.
Discovering the work of farmer Joel Salatin introduced us to a different approach—one that emphasizes working with nature rather than against it. Through rotational grazing, thoughtful livestock management, and a focus on soil health, we began learning how farming could help restore and improve the land instead of depleting it.
Today, those principles guide how we're building Secret Meadows Homestead. We're still learning and growing, but our goal remains the same: to raise animals with care, produce food we're proud to share, and leave our little piece of Tennessee better than we found it.
Growing Something for Generations
Secret Meadows Homestead is still growing, and so is our vision for what it can become. What began with a few honey bee colonies and an unexpected flock of chickens has grown into a dream of providing our community with a wider variety of locally raised food.
In the years ahead, we hope to expand into pasture-raised meats, seasonal produce, and opportunities for families to experience the farm firsthand. We envision a place where people can reconnect with the land, understand where their food comes from, and create lasting memories.
Above all, we're building something for the next generation—a farm rooted in faith, family, and responsible stewardship, where the land is cared for, animals are treated with respect, and good food brings people together.