our story

It was June 2004 and two strangers entered a train station in Moscow, Russia, not knowing that it was a day that would change their lives. These two strangers became fast friends, staying up and talking by a campfire late into the night. As God’s providence would have it, she was preparing to start her senior year at East Carolina University, located in the same town his family lived in, and to which he was returning in just a few weeks. Love blossomed that summer in Russia and what followed was a 3 year courtship with ups and downs and yet a certainty that they had both found the one they wanted to spend the rest of their lives loving. On May 19, 2007 the couple promised each other forever and their marriage began. Like all couples do in those early days of marriage, they began to dream. What would life look like? What did they hope for in their future? At the top of that list was to, one day, live in the mountains, and own a farm with a pond or lake, and a forest of trees.

In June 2011, he, a missionary, and she, a Physician Assistant and new mom to their first child moved to Greeneville, TN, a beautiful town situated in the valley of the Appalachian mountains. They kept dreaming and growing together. They built a house on a piece of land with a mountain view they loved and in 2013, added a second child, a son to their family. Even then they loved to drive around the countryside and look at farmland. Maybe one day, they could find just the right piece for their family.

In 2017 that dream and casual driving became a regular hunt for the perfect farm. It seemed they would never find the right place that would fit them. In February 2019 they added their third child, a girl who was a sweet surprise but who gave them a reason to drive around, still looking and hoping for their farm. In May 2019 God provided it and in July 2019 it went from a sweet family’s “pride and joy”, to theirs.

We are those two strangers who met in Russia in 2004. We are Daniel and Meredith Shrader and “Greenwood Oaks” is our dream that has become a reality. One of our favorite things about this farm is the majestic oaks situated at the front of the property. There is something truly humbling yet magical about looking at something that has existed long before you did and may exist long after you. Our farm is located on Greenwood Road in Afton, TN and thus the name “Greenwood Oaks” was born. In true Joanna Gaines fashion, we began renovations on our farm and farmhouse in September 2019 and officially opened July 22, 2020! It is our hope and prayer that our slice of heaven on earth, our family farm, will beckon and welcome you to its green pastures, quiet pond, spectacular mountain views, and beautiful farmhouse, and that it will be a landing ground for you to celebrate all those events in life that make life beautiful and worth living!