They often laugh about the phrase, “Old McDonald had a farm,” because, in many ways, it perfectly captures their journey. From farm to habitat, their mission remains simple: to bring health, enrichment, and love to animals everywhere through the highest-quality browse, grown with care and shipped with integrity.

Both were raised with a strong appreciation for the land. Melody spent her early years on a vegetable and flower farm in Maine, while Jeff learned to grow food alongside his grandparents on their farm in Wisconsin.

 

A mystical sign

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​While traveling in Utah, Melody encountered a sweet camel named Cooper. The encounter was unplanned. It is not every day you encounter a camel without intention, and only days after spending time on the browse farm trying to figure out how and if brokering browse was the right path for her to take. During a brief conversation with Cooper's caretaker, she learned just how much Cooper would benefit from fresh browse, tender leaves, branches, and bark that mirror what animals naturally forage in the wild. Melody took this to be a powerful sign to move forward in bringing animals and plants together.

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That simple moment changed everything. Seeing the direct connection between the right foods and an animal’s health and happiness made it personal. Cooper became a symbol of what so many exotic animals need: access to natural, chemical-free browse that supports both nutrition and enrichment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cooper, enjoying Just Be Browse

 

Discovering the importance of Browse

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As Jeff and Melody immersed themselves in the world of exotic animal nutrition, they came to understand just how essential browse is to an animal’s overall health and well-being. Its value extends far beyond basic nutrition. Browse provides vital enrichment that engages the mind, body, and instincts of the animals who would otherwise enjoy it in their natural habitat.

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We are deeply privileged to share this world with these incredible beings, whether in zoos, wildlife centers, or on private ranches. The best way we can honor them, and give back for the awe, wonder, and education they bring into our lives, is by creating the most stimulating environments possible. Providing fresh, natural browse helps mimic their wild habitats, allowing them to express natural behaviors and live richer, healthier lives.

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For animals like giraffes, camels, elephants, rhinos, primates, and tortoises, browse is not just food, it’s a vital part of their daily care.

 

Browse provides:

• Natural nutrition with essential fiber, vitamins, and minerals

• Dental health benefits through chewing and bark stripping

• Mental enrichment by encouraging instinctive foraging behaviors

• Reduced stress and boredom, improving welfare in captive environments

 

Standard hay and pellets can meet basic nutritional needs, but they can’t replicate the stimulation or natural experience that comes from fresh leaves, bark, and branches. Browse bridges that gap, bringing animals closer to what they would experience in the wild.

 

A Farm Built on Integrity

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The main farm Jeff and Melody work with has been producing browse since the 1980s, serving zoos and wildlife facilities across Florida and beyond. With a strict no-pesticide and no-fertilizer policy, every branch grown is completely natural and safe for sensitive species. Over time, land developers have acquired more land, leaving less to the agricultural industry. Jeff and Melody are also developing the a browse co-op to help ensure availability.

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Each plant is harvested at peak freshness, focusing on young, tender leaves that animals naturally prefer. From there, the browse is carefully packaged to maintain moisture and quality during shipment, ensuring that every delivery arrives ready to nourish and enrich the animals who depend on it.

 

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