Meet the Lawyer-Turned-Farmer Behind Tennessee’s 5 Porch Farm
Lawyer by day, farmer by … pretty much every other waking hour. Justine Moreau tells us about the unexpected journey that led her to 40 acres, a barn full of animals, and a life she never saw coming. Image: Kacey Chambers
When Justine Moreau moved South for a legal job 10 years ago, she had no idea a few backyard chickens would eventually lead to 40 acres in Bethesda, TN. Today, she balances her commercial real estate law practice with life at 5 Porch Farm, home to cattle, horses, sheep, chickens, an orchard, a greenhouse, and plenty of lessons learned the hard way. Along the journey, an unexpected friendship with farmer Danny Smith helped turn a longtime love of animals into a life she never could have planned.
Where are you from, and how did you end up in Nashville?
I grew up just outside of Albany, NY, and later moved to Baltimore, MD, for law school. In 2016, I was ready for a change and applied to legal jobs in a few different markets. The best opportunity was in Brentwood, TN, where I accepted an “in-house” legal position.
Essentially, a job posting on Indeed.com brought me here. I knew only the legal recruiter when I moved. It is hard to believe I have been in Tennessee for 10 years this fall.
You grew up in a big farming family but had never farmed yourself. What inspired you to start raising chickens?
I bought a house with a large backyard in College Grove, TN. I had always wanted to raise animals, and since this was the first time I had lived somewhere with a yard, I now had the opportunity to garden and keep some. Chickens are the gateway farm animal. They are not very expensive, don’t require much infrastructure, and are generally easy keepers.
That decision led to an unexpected friendship with Danny Smith and, eventually, to owning 40 acres of his farm. How did you meet him, and how did that chapter change the trajectory of your life?
I saw an ad for a cowboy church and decided to attend a service. The church was temporarily held on someone’s farm while it raised money to buy its own land. Danny was the farm manager there and also attended the service.
We ended up talking after one of the services, and I explained to him my big ideas for getting chicks. He could tell I had no idea what I was doing and politely offered to help. We became very good friends quickly. Danny was very generous with his time and knowledge, and he was dependable. He taught me to ride horses, slaughter chickens, and together we built a coop and a greenhouse.
I had been looking to buy a larger piece of land. Danny actually went with me to look at properties and then offered to sell me a part of his farm. I purchased 40 acres from him in early 2022. Danny died in July of that year. I certainly learned a lot from him, including the practical farming skills.
But now, being able to steward this property — caring for the fields, animals, and plants — and actively participating in this Bethesda community has enriched my life to an extent I could not have imagined.
Can you tell us all about 5 Porch Farm and what inspired its name?
John 5:1-9 is the story of the lame man lying by the pool in Bethesda. The pool has healing properties when stirred, and five porches surround it. Jesus approached the man and asked him, “Do you want to get well?” The man responded that he is unable to get into the pool when the water is stirred because no one helps him get in, and people cut in front of him. Jesus tells the man to pick up his mat and walk, and he does.
This farm is located in Bethesda, TN, and my barn has five porches. I have a degenerative neurological condition that affects my legs.
I did not know this Bible story, but a good friend pointed it out when I was giving him a tour of the barn. When I explained that it has five porches, he responded that the story of the five porches is one of his favorites and shared the details. My farm was named 5 Porch Farm right then.
What does life on your farm look like today? Can you tell us about your animal friends?
Each day varies greatly depending on the weather. Summer is a challenging season on the farm because everything grows rapidly and requires significant care. I also run a law practice. I left corporate in 2022 and started my solo practice focusing on commercial real estate.
Between client needs and the needs of all the plants and animals, my days are so full. I am building a herd of British White cattle. They are an English heritage breed, so beautiful and docile. They are the perfect breed for beginning farmers. I have two quarter horses that belonged to Danny, five pups, a small flock of sheep, lots of chickens, geese, guineas, and ducks, and a handful of barn cats.
I also operate a greenhouse where I put together beautiful hanging baskets and annual planters for the farm (for sale). And I have an orchard of heirloom fruit: apples, pears, peaches, cherries, plums, Asian pears, blueberries, blackberries, and more. The oldest trees are four years old, and this year is the first year of a very successful peach and apple harvest. The blueberry field should be ready for pick-your-own in the spring of 2028.
You’ve described this journey as “usually humbling, often comedic.” What’s a story that perfectly captures that?
The stories that come to mind are funny now, but not when they happened. I knew nothing about cattle when I bought my first cow in April 2024. I still can’t believe the size of the hole in the fence that she was able to squeeze through. Jenny is big! It was a 36-hour cow hunt to find her.
Fortunately, my cows have distinct coloring: they are white with black ears, noses, and eyes. Most folks out here have black cows. Jenny joined the neighbor’s herd, and she obviously stuck out. I got a call from my neighbor, “You missing a white cow?” My neighbors are so good to me.
What’s something most people would be surprised to find out about you?
Probably that I am a lawyer. I am usually in Carhartts and drive a worn-out Tacoma.
When you’re not working or tending to the farm, how do you like to spend your time?
I spend an embarrassing amount of time searching on Facebook Marketplace and then traveling to pick up the items.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I really resonate with David Goggins’s philosophies and have read both of his books many times. Specifically, David’s powerful visualization of meeting God at the end of life, where God shows David what He expected him to do with all the gifts He gave him during his time on Earth. David wants to be able to tell God that he made the most out of every single one of his gifts and lived up to his greatest potential.
LIGHTNING ROUND
One thing you’ll always splurge on? I can’t think of a specific item, but I do spend extra to buy “made in the U.S.” I just bought some beautiful cotton sheets for the guest room from Red Land Cotton. The cotton is grown in Alabama, and the sheets are manufactured entirely in the U.S. My living room rug was made in Rhode Island, and my couches (including the frames) were made in North Carolina.
What’s on your nightstand? A stack of books and magazines about cattle, garden design, and managing pasture.
What one self-care item can’t you live without? Good muck boots and the Kawasaki Mule I bought this past April.
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Jenna von Oy Bratcher
Jenna von Oy Bratcher is StyleBlueprint's Editorial Operations Manager and Lead Content Editor. The East Coast native moved to Nashville almost two decades ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.
