The mysterious history behind Nancy Drew wouldn't be complete without a visit to Bird Haven Farm. The farm was once Harriet Stratemeyer Adams's retreat, located in NJ. It's now owned by Janet Mavec and Wayne Nordberg and their restoration of the property and the old Sears kit home that Harriet lived in while at the farm, is a magnificent testament to its rich history and the beauty of nature and a peaceful balance. Members of my Nancy Drew Sleuths organization, a group of fans and scholars of Nancy Drew, visited the farm in 2015 and had an amazing time exploring and hearing more about the farm from Janet. It was somewhat surreal for us to be in such a lovely place, very serene and to be able to put references and stories about the farm from the New York Public Library's Stratemeyer Syndicate archives to real life moments, was a real thrill. Janet even has a neat key necklace inspired by a key to a lock on the farm, she sells in her Janet Mavec Jewelry line - it's the Nancy Drew mystery key.
Harriet spent a lot of time writing at the farm as well as hosting family and friends and employees of the Stratemeyer Syndicate on fun weekend events and holidays. She had a desk on the second floor she outlined a lot of her Nancy Drew books at. They even say her ghost haunts the farm and her presence is noted - a happy presence. It is at the farm, that she passed away in 1982 at age 89. Within two years, the Stratemeyer Syndicate was sold to Simon & Schuster.
I was happy to see that Janet had written a book about the farm and that it was coming out this month on September 2nd - Bird Haven Farm - The Story of an Original American Garden. I ordered a signed copy from her website and reached out to her to ask a few questions for this blog, and she kindly answered. I received a signed copy of the book and it's absolutely beautiful. It's a large hardcover with dust jacket. The book is full of the history behind the farm including a chapter on Harriet, and about how Janet and Wayne restored the farm to its current glory. The photos by Ngoc Minh Ngo are stunning and really help bring to life the flora and fauna of the farm in all the seasons. There are recipes and menus including a delicious applesauce recipe and I can't wait to try them.
Reading through the book took me back to the visit ten years ago, and I hope to one day visit again. There was something very prescient and calming about being there. Below is my interview with Janet and then also some photos interspersed that I took when The Sleuths visited Bird Haven Farm. There are a couple of shots of the chapter on Harriet and an image of Janet from the book as well as the cover below and I included one with my key necklace.
NDS: What's your connection to Nancy Drew? Did you read them as a kid or discover them more fully when you bought the farm and found the connection to Harriet Stratemeyer Adams?
JANET: I loved reading Nancy Drew as a kid in Ohio. To me Nancy was brave, adventurous, kind and determined- all the things I admire in a person. Plus, she was fashionable.
NDS: How surreal is it to live in the peaceful splendor that "Carolyn Keene" once loved and herself enjoyed for many years?
JANET: It is very inspiring rather than surreal.
NDS: When the Nancy Drew Sleuths organization visited back in 2015, you mentioned that Harriet's spirit was still lively about the farm. Do you still feel her presence there? Why do you think that she still lingers there? Any lessons learned from her presence there?
JANET: She is definitely still here- I can sometimes feel her presence. And she helped me write my book! I never got stuck/writers block- The flow was constant. She still lingers because her spirit got stuck in the thick walls. and lessons, yes, keep writing, tell the story.
NDS: How do you pay homage to the history of Harriet's ownership and how did this play into renovating the farm and rebuilding it into what it is today?
JANET: I did the research before making any changes to what was here. We honored her boxwood collection by making the upper boxwood garden wave.
NDS: If there was ever to be a fictional tale, The Secret of Bird Haven Farm, what would the mystery be about?
JANET: The Tale of the Missing Dahlia Tuber. A fine and rare dahlia tuner goes missing. Nancy is called in. The dogs are erroneously blamed at first. The Nancy uncovers that the bear is getting over the deer fence and ate all of them.
NDS: Tell everyone about the mysterious key and how that inspired the Key Necklace in your Janet Mavec Jewelry line.
JANET: This impeccably designed, rose-colored key necklace is for a woman who dares for something to stump her. She possesses the tenacity to figure out the real mysteries in life. Like which door this hauntingly well-designed replica unlocks. The Nancy Drew Key Necklace to Bird Haven Farm unlocks a stone 1700s farmhouse in New Jersey where books in the Nancy Drew series were written. The publisher and writer to the series, Harriet Adams, lived at Bird Haven Farm for over 50 years. Janet Mavec now lives there and designed the Nancy Drew Key Necklace to Bird Haven Farm to unlock the potential to solve all life's problems.
NDS: What was it like writing about the farm for this book and what do you hope readers gain from being immersed in the beauty of the farm and the wonderful photos and stories inside?
JANET: I hope the book inspired them to create something beautiful - plant more trees, bushes, flowers, entertain some friends with a home cooked meal, and honor nature.
NDS: Is there anything you'd like to add for the readers of this blog or the Nancy Drew fans about the connections to the farm?
JANET: To honor the past but live for today.
The window that Harriet's desk looked out over as she plotted her Nancy Drew books...
Bird Haven Farm tells the story of Janet Mavec's transformation of a historic property in New Jersey into a vibrant and evolving garden paradise. The book chronicles her journey from city dweller to passionate gardener, detailing the challenges and triumphs of blending the old with the new, honoring the land's history (including its connection to Nancy Drew author/publisher Harriet Stratemeyer Adams), and creating a space for community, celebration, and connection with nature. It explores the thoughtful design principles implemented by landscape architect Fernando Caruncho, the contributions of other gardening experts, and Mavec's personal evolution as a gardener and designer. Ultimately, the book celebrates the beauty and bounty of the land, emphasizing the importance of stewardship, sustainability, and sharing the garden's gifts with others. It’s a story about the evolution of a garden and its impact on the lives of those who cultivate and enjoy it. It includes recipes, beautiful photography, and thoughtful essays by contributors. Photography by Ngoc Min Ngo, menus and recipes with Gail Monaghan, essay contributions by Fernando Caruncho, Celia Hilliard, Wayne Nordberg, Stephen Orr, Lisa Stamm, and Angus Wilkie.
Published by Rizzoli, 9/2/25
Where to Buy:
Janet Mavec Jewelry Website - Signed Copies
Where to find Janet:
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