Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Savkov.
Hi Nicole , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in northern New Jersey, but I always dreamed of building a life that was more connected to the land, animals, and nature. That dream led me to Cape May County, where I created Meraki Farm—a place that has become both my home and my passion.
My professional career actually began in a very different world. I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan and spent more than 20 years in corporate America working in buying and product development. While I enjoyed my career, I always had a passion for animals and knew I wanted to create something that reflected who I truly was.
Outside of work, I began taking classes on candle making, cold-process soap making, and natural skincare. Everything changed when I welcomed my first two dairy goats, Hansel and Gretel, to the farm. As I learned more about the incredible benefits of goat milk for the skin, I started experimenting with formulations using milk from my own goats. Through years of education, research, and plenty of trial and error, I developed my own line of handcrafted goat milk skincare products.
One of the things that makes my products so special is knowing exactly where my ingredients come from. The goat milk is produced right here on the farm by animals I raise and care for every day, and I carefully source high-quality, natural, and sustainable oils and butters to complement it.
A few years ago, I added another passion to the farm—beekeeping. Today, our honeybees not only produce raw, unfiltered honey that we harvest and sell in the farm market, but they also provide honey and propolis that I incorporate into many of my skincare products. The bees have become an essential part of both the farm’s ecosystem and my business.
Education has always been a cornerstone of Meraki Farm. We recently installed a live observation hive inside the farm market, creating a dedicated educational space where visitors can safely watch honeybees as they build comb, care for their young, communicate, and work together as a colony. My hope is that people leave with a greater appreciation for these extraordinary pollinators and a better understanding of the vital role they play in our environment and food supply. It has become one of the most exciting experiences we offer, allowing guests of all ages to witness the fascinating world of honeybees up close.
I’m constantly learning and expanding my knowledge. Over the past year, I’ve studied herbalism and have begun growing a wide variety of herbs and medicinal plants throughout the farm. Using a traditional copper still, I distill many of these botanicals into hydrosols and other plant-based ingredients that become part of my product line. Growing, harvesting, and creating products from plants raised right here on the farm allows me to offer something truly unique.
This year marks the fourth season of our farm market, and it has grown beyond anything I could have imagined. Every year we continue to expand with new products, educational experiences, and thoughtfully curated displays. Each of my skincare collections is named after one of our beloved goats—like Lucy, our peppermint and rosemary collection, and Agnes, our lavender collection—because the animals are truly at the heart of everything we do.
Beyond the products I make, I also enjoy supporting other local artisans by featuring their handcrafted goods in the farm market. My goal has always been to create a destination that celebrates local agriculture, craftsmanship, and small businesses while giving visitors an authentic connection to the farm.
Meraki Farm has been a lifelong dream. It’s a place where every product tells a story, every animal is loved, and every customer becomes part of our growing community. Being able to share what we create here—from the goats and bees to the herbs and handcrafted skincare—is incredibly rewarding, and I’m excited to continue growing while staying true to the values that inspired me to begin this journey.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It certainly hasn’t been a smooth ride, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. Farming is incredibly rewarding, but it’s also one of the most demanding lifestyles you can choose. Animals don’t take days off, so neither do I. There are early mornings, late nights, middle-of-the-night births, unexpected illnesses, and countless moments where plans change in an instant. Add unpredictable weather, equipment issues, and the daily responsibilities of running a business, and every day brings a new challenge.
On top of managing the farm and growing Meraki Farm, I also work a full-time career, so balancing both worlds requires a tremendous amount of dedication, organization, and sacrifice. The work truly never ends, but it’s a labor of love.
One of the greatest personal challenges I’ve faced was unexpectedly losing my mother. She was my biggest supporter, my sounding board, and my partner in so many aspects of this journey. Learning to continue building the farm without her has been incredibly difficult. Even today, there are moments when I wish I could share a new accomplishment or ask for her advice. In many ways, her encouragement continues to inspire me, and I carry her memory with me in everything I do.
Another challenge has been location. We’re tucked away in a quieter part of Cape May County rather than on the island, so many people don’t discover us by simply driving past. Much of our growth has come through word-of-mouth, community events, festivals, and visitors sharing their experiences with others. That’s one of the reasons I love hosting workshops, educational programs, and special events on the farm. My goal is to create experiences that encourage people to slow down, connect with nature, and discover this little hidden gem.
Every challenge has taught me something and helped shape Meraki Farm into what it is today. Building something meaningful takes time, resilience, and passion, and seeing the connections people make with the farm, the animals, and our products reminds me that every obstacle has been worth overcoming.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Meraki Farm is more than a farm store—it’s an experience rooted in sustainability, education, and handcrafted quality. Every product begins with ingredients produced or thoughtfully sourced with intention. The goat milk comes from the dairy goats we raise on the farm, our honey and propolis come from our own honeybee colonies, and many of the herbs and botanicals are grown, harvested, and distilled right here into hydrosols and other natural ingredients that become part of our skincare collection.
We specialize in handcrafted goat milk skincare, beeswax and honeybee products, herbal botanicals, and seasonal farm offerings. Every item is made in small batches using natural ingredients, and I formulate with essential oils rather than fragrance oils because I believe in creating products that are as close to nature as possible.
Sustainability is another core value of our business. We strive to minimize waste by using reusable and recyclable packaging whenever possible, limiting our use of plastic, and even leaving our handcrafted soap bars unwrapped to eliminate unnecessary packaging. Every decision we make is guided by a desire to care for both our customers and the environment.
What truly sets Meraki Farm apart is the connection people experience when they visit. Guests don’t just purchase a product—they can meet the goats that provide the milk, watch live honeybees at work in our observation hive, explore our educational honeybee exhibit, and experience the peaceful surroundings that inspire everything we create. The farm market is intentionally designed to be warm, inviting, and calming, allowing visitors to slow down, learn, and connect with nature.
I’m incredibly proud that Meraki Farm has become a destination where people can experience authentic farm-to-skin products while supporting local agriculture and small businesses. Whether someone visits for skincare, raw honey, educational experiences, workshops, or simply to spend time on the farm, my hope is that they leave feeling inspired, refreshed, and more connected to the land and the people who produce what they buy.
At its heart, Meraki Farm is built on authenticity. Every product tells the story of this farm, the animals that call it home, and the passion behind creating something truly meaningful.
What does success mean to you?
Success, to me, isn’t measured by how many products I sell or how big the business becomes. It’s measured by the impact I can make every day.
Success is seeing healthy, happy animals that are loved and well cared for. It’s watching customers return because my products have genuinely helped them or because they simply enjoy spending time at the farm. It’s hearing a child leave the observation hive excited about honeybees or seeing someone discover a new appreciation for local agriculture and where their products come from.
I also believe success is staying true to my values. As Meraki Farm continues to grow, it’s important that I never lose sight of why I started—to create high-quality, natural products, to care for the land and animals responsibly, and to build meaningful connections with the people who visit the farm.
If I can continue producing products, I’m proud of, educate others about farming, beekeeping, and nature, support fellow local artisans, and leave people feeling inspired after they visit, then I consider that a success. Building a business that reflects my passion while creating something lasting for my family and community is more rewarding than anything else.
For me, success is creating a life with purpose—one where I can wake up each day doing work that I truly love while making a positive difference, one customer and one experience at a time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.meraki-farm.com
- Instagram: meraki.farm
