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Fox 5 DC Names Bees & Trees One of Five "Must See" Spots In the Culpeper Area!
Bees & Trees Farm was recently designated one of the top five best places in the Culpeper, VA--defined as a "must see" if you are in the area by Fox 5 DC. Obviously, owners, Jeff and Teresa Gregson were thrilled with the designation.
"Nothing can prepare you for a compliment like this," said Teresa Gregson. "We have tried to create an atmosphere on the farm that brings people together and infuses joy in the lives of our guests, and to find out that other people like what we have created is tremendously satisfying."
Featured in the brief video clip are the farm's signage for the store, driveway, one of its goats (Sebastian), their honeybees, a number of their hens, their farm store, their Airbnb and even their event Gazebo!
"They certainly packed a lot in the 40 second clip," said Jeff Gregson, "but that clip really gives you a good sense of what it's like pulling into our farm and what you'll see once you get here!"
When it all started--
The Gregson's purchased their 43-acre farm 11 years ago and have tried to improve the farm's agri-business offerings to the public each year they have been open.
"We're just a big ole work in progress," said Teresa. "We believe if you're not constantly evolving, you're probably missing opportunities."
Bees & Trees first opened a Christmas store in 2013 and made it year around selling local wines, hard cider and specialty food products and gifts in 2015. They added their gardens in 2016 and 2017.
In 2020, they began construction on the "The Garden View Suite," their Airbnb, and completed it in the fall of 2021.
They began building out their event space (aptly named "The Gazebo") in the spring of 2022 and finished landscaping, installing a paved walkway and all the needed electrical work in 2023--they are about to host their fist wedding this summer and they say there are even bigger things to come in the future.
"We consider ourselves a gathering place, said Teresa, "a place to bring people together, share special times and create meaningful memories. The more opportunities we find and develop that embrace that concept, the better Bees & Trees will be.
"One of my favorite sayings is the best is yet to come," said Teresa, "and I believe it with with all of my heart."
Master Gardeners Symposium ~Tickets Available on Eventbrite.com~
This Year's Annual Culpeper County Farm Tour September 21st & 22nd
Mark your calendars NOW for the 2024 Culpeper County Harvest Days Farm Tour--a FREE event promoted by Culpeper County that will showcase a number of traditional and non-traditional farms in the county.
Bees & Trees is proud to be a part of the County's 2024 Tour again this year. We will be highlighting each of our vendors in the coming weeks so that you may learn more about them. Handicapped parking will be available.
For a detailed schedule of the events that Bees & Trees will be hosting during the tour, click here.
2024 Faces Of Culpeper
Jeff and Teresa Gregson are proud to be listed in the 2024 edition of the Faces of Culpeper!
To read their story--or stories of a number of other wonderful Culpeper businesses--be sure to look for the Faces of Culpeper magazine in offices and businesses throughout the Culpeper area or just click here!
Come visit Bees & Trees! Come stay in our Airbnb, See our Apiary and Pet our barn critters
Visit Our Barn Animals!
Tigger and Eeyore are two of the farm's most popular pets. Be sure and head down to the barn on your next visit! They love seeing all visitors--big and small--and putting their nose into everyone's business!
Bees & Trees Most Visited Farm on 2023 Farm Tour!
Soar with Earthquest held its demonstration at Bees & Trees wedding venue during the 2023 Culpeper County Harvest Days Farm Tour
Bees & Trees Farm was excited to learn it was the most visited farm at the Culpeper County's 26th Annual Harvest Days Farm Tour.
Thirty-eight percent of the over 2500 guests at the Tour visited Bees & Trees for the two-day event last September. The Gregsons are thrilled to have been asked to participate again in 2024.
The event, organized by Culpeper County Business Development Coordinator, Winona Pritts, and sponsored by Culpeper Economic Development, was created to promote farms and help them gain a bigger foothold in the community. The promotional funds used for this event allow the Tour to reach out to the community and beyond in ways individual farms couldn't.
Gates & Valerie Bierhuizen hold frames loaded with honey, pollen and honeybees during their Farm Tour demonstration
Tasting honey straight from the hive is a tasty treat for all ages!
"Guests always enjoy seeing these two demonstrations," said Teresa Gregson a beekeeper herself who, with her husband, Jeff, own Bees & Trees Farm.
"It's particularly useful for folks thinking about raising bees and especially interesting to youngsters wanting to see what goes on inside those 'secret boxes.'
"Gates and Valerie Bierhuizen have worked with us and our bees for a number of years and--at our age--we have a mutual appreciation for both their bee knowledge AND their youth!" said Gregson.
"They are truly a dynamic bee duo, they love working with the bees, they raise their own bees and now are even making and selling creamed honey, under their own label--Spirit Hill!"
Delicious on crackers and cheese, biscuits, or toast, their creamed honey was a big hit at this year's Farm Tour where guests had an opportunity to taste a free sample at their vendor booth!
Soar With Earthquest"was another demonstration that was well received during the Tour. This amazing nonprofit educated visitors on the capabilities of their rescued but non-releasable birds of pray. Featuring an owl, a hawk and a vulture, Earthquest stole the show at their demonstration Saturday afternoon.
Workers demoed the coping, tile and sandblasted the plaster base in February. The pool's plaster and tiling renovation is now complete and new photos will be taken and posted on the next sunny day!
Bees & Trees Renovates In-Ground Pool
After twenty plus years, the in-ground pool at Bees & Trees has received a much needed makeover! Built about 2001, the tile on the pool had started to chip off at the waterline and, as it turns out, that's not an easy fix!
"Once a pool starts to loose it's tile," said owner Jeff Gregson, "it has developed significant problems taking place behind the tile and under the coping (edge around the top of the pool.) "You could tap the tile and the coping and hear how hollow it had become. "
Although they could have let it go another year, they decided to tackle the renovation this year--not an easy task given the very limited number of folks that do this kind of work in the area. The demo took place in February and the re-plastering and tiling was completed the third week in July and is now open for swimming.
"It is absolutely stunning," said Teresa Gregson. "The tile we put at the water's edge looks handmade and unlike any other I've ever seen! The bull-nosed coping at the top is cement colored to go with the concrete surrounding the pool. And, the plaster inside the pool has flecks of blue and green granite which make the water shimmer a wonderful Caribbean blue."
As in the past, Airbnb guests will enjoy this upgraded amenity all to themselves when they stay at the Garden View Suite.
The Garden View Suite Earns Superhost Status For the Tenth Consecutive Quarter!
Bees & Trees is pleased to announce that, for the tenth consecutive quarter, their Airbnb property--The Garden View Suite--has earned the coveted Superhost status from Airbnb!
This status comes directly from guests' reviews and rankings on value, cleanliness and communication with the property's host. In addition, a minimum number of 12 guest stays must have occurred at the property during the four-month period being reviewed with little to no cancellations and the host must have secured an overall rating of 4.8 or higher out of 5.0 from their guests.
The Garden View Suite maintains an overall ranking of 4.99 and has had zero cancellations!
"We are so grateful to our guests for this distinction," said Teresa Gregson who with her husband, Jeff, manages the property. "We have enjoyed getting to know our guests and are honored by their ranking of our accommodations."
"You know you're doing something right when you have so many repeat guests who return to celebrate their anniversaries and birthdays. We've enjoyed getting to know our guests and always look forward to their return."
Bees & Trees Farm Launches "The Gazebo" For Small Parties & Micro Weddings
Bees & Trees Farm has finished their event space which is now available to host small, wedding ceremonies, family reunions and other special events.
"For years, we've been asked if we would consider allowing weddings, anniversary parties, baby showers and vow renewals on our farm, but we hesitated because we didn't feel we were set up to do it right," said owner, Teresa Gregson.
"Weddings, in particular, are one of the most important events in a couple's life and we want to offer a venue that will be unique and attractive--without breaking their budget--and create those lasting memories that every young couple deserves to have."
Now, with the addition of the Airbnb on the property, and now the completion of The Gazebo area for ceremonies, Gregson believes she will be able to offer a unique and beautiful event space at Bees & Trees.
"There are plenty of lovely farms and wedding venues that cater to large-scale weddings. There are plenty more that just throw up a tent and say 'you can have an event here'--offering few actual amenities" said Gregson, "but we want to book special events--those that cater to small, intimate groups. We want to be the venue that provides an intimate experience, in a beautiful location, at an affordable price."
With the landscaping and electrical work now complete, and a lovely stone path to the gazebo, Bees & Trees is ready to go and has already begun booking wedding ceremonies.
With The Gazebo overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains and framed by a grove of gorgeous Christmas trees, blooming landscaping and lush grass, Bees & Trees Farm offers a unique and idyllic location for any celebration.