Secret Garden Farms

06/20/2026

06/11/2026

One of the coolest parts about life is how a simple shared passion can bring amazing people together.
Five years ago, I met Melissa through Facebook because of our mutual love for chickens—especially Mottled Javas. Over the years we've shared photos, stories, breeding discussions, and plenty of chicken talk, but we'd never actually met in person.
Well, this week that finally changed!
As luck would have it, Melissa lives only about 45 minutes from our dear friends April and her family, who we originally met on vacation in Florida five years ago. Even crazier, they now live in Tennessee, and we hadn't seen them in over two years. So this trip became a reunion and a first meeting all wrapped into one.
Not only did we get to reconnect with old friends, but I also got to introduce April and Melissa to each other. Watching two wonderful people connect was such a special moment.
Melissa has an incredible passion for preserving the Mottled Java breed and is one of the most knowledgeable people I know when it comes to the breed standard. Her dedication to protecting and improving these historic birds is inspiring.
It's funny how life works. A shared love for a chicken breed led to friendships across multiple states, years of conversations, and eventually a day spent together laughing, catching up, and making new memories.
Proof that sometimes the best friendships start with something as simple as a common passion. ❤️🐔
Homesteading MottledJavas ChickenCommunity MakingMemories BlessedBeyondMeasure

05/31/2026

When a train ride is more than a train ride, and is a childhood dream come true. Choo choo.....