We’re so glad you’re here.
Where homegrown meets handcrafted — and life feels a little more beautiful, every day.
At Backyard Garden Lover, we believe the good life grows slowly. It’s found in the rhythm of tending a garden, the scent of bread rising in the oven, the joy of fresh-cut flowers on the table, and the quiet pride of a well-organized linen cupboard.
Whether you have a backyard brimming with vegetables, a windowsill lined with herbs, or just a dream and a sunny corner, you’re in good company here.
We’re a community of gardeners, homemakers, and curious creatives — people who take joy in doing things well, and doing them with heart. From tending chickens to setting a welcoming table, we’re here to help you live more beautifully and more intentionally, one project at a time.
What You’ll Find at Backyard Garden Lover
-
Seasonal Gardening & Homesteading
Tips for growing your own food, caring for chickens, and creating a sustainable home that works with the seasons. -
Home & Garden Projects
From DIY raised beds to natural cleaners and pantry makeovers, we share projects that are practical, beautiful, and deeply satisfying. -
Decor & Home Organization
Simple, elegant ways to bring order and charm into every room — with a focus on timeless design and functional beauty. -
Entertaining & Hospitality
Hosting doesn’t need to be fussy — we believe in heartfelt gatherings, seasonal recipes, and creating spaces that invite connection. -
Natural Cleaning & Everyday Rituals
Thoughtful routines that help you keep a tidy, welcoming home — using gentle, effective solutions that are kind to people and planet. -
Celebrating the Seasons
We mark the little moments that make life feel full: spring bulbs peeking through, an autumn pie on the windowsill, handmade gifts tied up with twine.
No matter your lifestyle — rural or urban, beginner or seasoned — we’re here to help you build a home that feels alive, abundant, and deeply yours.
Have a favorite tip, recipe, or home project? We’d love to feature it. Our community is full of brilliant, creative minds — and your ideas just might inspire the next reader to pick up their spade, paintbrush, or teacup.
So pull up a chair, pour yourself a cup of something lovely, and settle in. You’ve got plenty of company here.
Meet the Backyard Garden Lover Family
Adriana Copaceanu
Adriana planted the first seed of Backyard Garden Lover in 2016 and has been growing it — and her gardens — ever since. After 19 years of cultivating a small urban plot, she and Florin now tend a larger homestead filled with vegetables, herbs, chickens, and big dreams. She’s the author of two books on lavender and chickens and believes joy grows best in well-loved soil.
Check out her books here:
- How to Grow Lavender for Fun and Profit: Lessons Learned from Planting Three Hundred Lavender Plants
- How to Raise Chickens for Eggs: A Guide to Raising Happy, Healthy Chickens for Nutritious, Organic Eggs at Home
Florin Copaceanu
Florin grew up on an experimental farm in Romania and now brings his lifetime of growing wisdom to gardens in the Shenandoah Valley. Equal parts builder and dreamer, he’s as handy with a shovel as he is romantic — he once picked 150 roses the night before his wedding. When he’s not tending the garden, you’ll find him helping folks find their dream homes as a real estate broker.
Bonnie Ferrero
Bonnie’s interests include hiking, a passion she nurtured while living in Upstate New York, and cooking, gardening, and home decorating. These hobbies allow her to express her creativity and connect with nature, providing a well-rounded balance to her busy life. Through her professional achievements, community involvement, and personal pursuits, she embodies a holistic approach to life, dedicated to service, growth, and well-being.
Donna Freedman
She lives in Anchorage, Alaska, where she and her partner love facing cold-weather gardening challenges. Donna is a member of American Mensa but people are much more impressed by the fact that she was once a contestant on “Jeopardy!”
Serena Manickam
A sustainable gardener and editor, Serena started Fairydiddle Farm in 2020, growing herbs and no-spray vegetables in rural Virginia. With a background in environmental science and a flair for storytelling, she brings science to life in a way that’s clear, gentle, and deeply rooted.
Sheri Hayden
Sheri is our chicken whisperer, with over a decade of experience and a thriving flock of 100 birds. She blends country wisdom with real-world advice — and if you ever need help with hens, her Facebook group Virginia Backyard Chickens is the place to be.
Lisa Clark
A houseplant collector turned outdoor gardener, Lisa’s journey is a full-circle return to her rural roots. She brings charm, humor, and heartfelt insight into gardening with kids, container gardening, and finding joy in even the smallest patch of green.
Stella & Simon
These self-taught hydroponic enthusiasts transformed a dream into a homestead reality, experimenting with all six major hydroponic methods and even building their own survival greenhouse. Their journey proves you don’t need to follow the rules — just follow the light (and maybe a little inspiration from Epcot Center’s “Living with the Land” hydroponics exhibit).