February--Son Of A Bear Hard Cider (from Rapidan) 10% off February 12th--Lady & The Tramp Photo Contest ends...see more information on this page. February 10th-12th--FREE hard cider and cookie pairing/tasting (for those of age!)
Bees & Trees updated logo, recognizes a number of changes made to the farmhouse during the last 10 years it has been a farm store in Culpeper County, VA.
Bees & Trees Farm Celebrates 10 Years in Culpeper County!
Bees & Trees is celebrating their 10th year in business throughout 2023 and with that celebration will come a number sales and fun opportunities for our customers!
"Each month we will be highlighting one of our favorite local products and selling it for 10% off," said owner Jeff Gregson.
While some of the items on sale each month will come from Bees & Trees Farm, others will celebrate locally crafted products generated by other local artisans.
Gregson's wife, Teresa, said she and Jeff are having a hard time believing it's even been ten years since they opened!
"It's really been a whirlwind, said Teresa. We originally purchased the farm--which used to be Crazy Joe's Christmas Tree Farm--in April of 2013 and we planned to just 'chill' here. We wanted to have a place away from the city where we could bring our Richmond friends and just hang out.
"But the farm's previous owners, Jocelyn and Joe Lampert, were tremendously gracious and offered to come back that first Thanksgiving weekend and help us sell the Christmas trees they had planted! We had such fun that weekend that we were hooked, after that, Jeff semi-retired, I fully retired, we sold our Richmond home and we moved here permanently to start the business!"
Over the years, and with the help of a lot of market research, The Farm Store at Bees & Trees has been able to identify who their customers are and what they want--what they want to buy and what they don't want to buy.
With that research in hand, Bees & Trees has been able to source other types of products that fit the needs and tastes of their market base and then target that base in follow-up advertising.
Now, The Farm Store at Bees & Trees has expanded its offerings to include more of their own products (lovingly raised black Angus beef, honey, eggs and jewelry that Teresa makes) while also tapping the products of other local, small businesses. In doing so, they are constantly rotating their offerings with carefully sourced, local goods that fit the specific needs of their customer base.
"We really pride ourselves in helping other local businesses get off the ground by allowing them to sell their products in our store without taking a commission or charging a seller's or vendor's fee. These are small, mom and pop shops that offer local goods which we know fits the taste of our customers," said Teresa.
"Ours is a small farm store, so we don't have the square footage to sell everyone's local products," said Jeff, "but we really enjoy helping non-competing businesses get get a leg-up. It's always been a key component of our business plan."
The Gregsons have also found an additional source of revenue in their online store which sells many --but not all--of the products available in their brick and mortar store. Two major exceptions include their beef and honey.
For more information about upcoming sales and events--including last minute sales on products--be sure to follow them on Facebook at: beesandtreesfarm
10% Off Son Of A Bear Hard Ciders All February!
Bees & Trees is giving back to its customers by creating 10% off specials on its best selling products EVERY month this year! February's special discount has been designated for our Son Of A Bear hard ciders!
Made locally in Rapidan, VA by the McMahon Family, they carry both dry and sweet hard ciders which you can taste FOR FREE in The Farm Store on Saturday and Sunday, February 11th & 12--be sure and bring ID!
We will be pairing up their hard ciders WITH Pepperidge Farm cookies and you'll be able to taste for yourself whether or not we've identified the best cookie with the best hard cider! It'll be a fun time...and did we mention that it's FREE?!
If you like what you taste, then you can purchase your own six-pack which retails for $18 but is on sale for $16.20. Check around and you'll find that's a great deal for this delicious and LOCAL hard cider!
Come Taste the Tenderness of our Chuck Roasts
We kicked off our 2023 events this year with a big 10% off SALE on our chuck roasts and, because it's been so popular, we are continuing that sale through the month of February!
Never cooked a chuck roast before? Don't know what you're supposed to do with it? No worries! We'll show you a very easy way to turn it into a pot roast in the slow cooker.
This is a great deal on our black Angus beef (raised right here on the farm) and you won't find a more tender cut of meat...we're so sure of it we're letting you sample it before you buy!
EVENT SPACE UPDATE:
Bees & Trees is now taking meetings with those considering planning their event here in 2023.
Base price for using the farm for a wedding next year will be $250/hour and will include the use of The Gazebo for the ceremony, and a grassy-spaced area large enough for both a 38' x 60' tent and a separate but connected cocktail/lounge space.
Additional space for catering is also available at no additional cost. The Gazebo space and the adjoining spaces have full electric capability--for DJ, lights, live music and restrooms.
Spaces for other types of events will also be based on a per/hour price and that price will depend on the portion of the farm being used as well as the day of the week and any other amenities required.
Currently owner, Teresa Gregson, is developing a vendor list of local vendors who excel at what they do. Vendors for tents, tables, chairs, flowers, rustic decorations, linens, cakes and photographers are just a few of the vendors whom she has identified.
"The wedding venue is just one of the elements of a wedding--an important one to be sure--but still just one element, said Gregson. We want to offer as much help as we possibly can for our brides!"
The B & T Farm Store is FULLY Restocked With Its Own Black Angus Beef...mmmmm good!
The Farm Store freezer is NOW full of all your favorite cuts of black Angus beef. For those of you who can taste the difference between Black Angus and, well, the other stuff, your taste buds will be delighted to learn we will continue selling our ground beef for a deal. Now only $5.50/pound.
"We are thrilled to be able to sell our ground beef at below market cost to our customers," said Owner, Jeff Gregson. "We do that as a small thank you to those on a budget who are still willing to support local farms like ours."
Even more exciting, if you purchase 15 pounds or more, you'll take it home for only $4.50 per pound! If you're not sure how good a price that is, we encourage you to check with your local grocery store or other local providers! Be sure to compare apples to apples---ours is locally raised, black Angus!
Whether your favorite cut is bone-in rib eye, Delmonico, filet, NY strip, chuck roast or any of our other cuts, you'll find here at Bees & Trees. It's delicious but it won't last long!
Bees & Trees Ramps Up "Sarah's Garden" and Partners with Shamrock Acres for Second Year in a Row
In 2018, we created Sarah’s Garden, a commercial, cut-flower garden we named for Teresa’s mother. Although Sarah passed the next year, she was able to enjoy the blossoms on many of the 90 peonies and hundreds of spring bulbs we had planted in her honor that year. Sarah loved flowers of any kind--particularly peonies--and had even been president of her garden club in Winchester, Va. Sarah's Garden remains a living reminder of someone who deeply touched our soul.
Our original vision for Sarah's Garden called for us to continue planting and expanding our operation each year for the next five--then the pandemic hit and on top of that, Teresa was ill for a couple of years and so we had to put the completion of Sarah’s Garden on hold.
Now, however, we are back in expansion mode! We are excited to announce that we have just partnered with local professional cut-flower gardener, Sandi Lance, of Shamrock Acres!
Sandi is a one-woman-flower-operator that gets ongoing support from her husband and two children! Sandi's been growing cut flowers since 2019--you may have seen her at the Remington and Warrenton Farmer's Markets. Sandi has also partnered with other local flower growers to provide Virginia grown blooms to an even larger community!
Like Bees & Trees, Shamrock Acres cares deeply about the environment and is careful not to use pesticides or herbicides that harm the environment or our kill our native pollinators. Partnering with Bees & Trees, Sandi will be adding more perennials and bulbs to her existing line up which includes dahlias, peonies, sea holly, daffodils, tulips and hydrangeas just to name a few.
So look for cut flowers in The Farm Store each weekend during the growing season as Sandi will be providing her farm-grown bouquets and arrangements for sale! And, as we start offering weddings on the farm, Sandi will be our provider for farm-fresh local flowers!
Bees & Trees Farm Launches Event Space Ready For the Spring of 2023
Beginning the spring of 2023, Bees & Trees will be available to host small, micro weddings and special family events.
"For years, we've been asked if we would consider allowing weddings, anniversary parties or reunion picnics 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 and create those lasting memories that every young couple deserves to have."
Now with the addition of the Airbnb on the property, and the completion of their Gazebo area for ceremonies, Gregson believes she can offer just such a unique and beautiful event at Bees & Trees.
"There are plenty of lovely farms and wedding venues that cater to large-scale weddings," said Gregson, "but we will be booking events 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, all that is left to be completed before winter sets in is the stone path.
"We are thrilled with the landscaping plan and execution that Windmill Heights Garden Center provided," said Gregson. "They did an amazing job helping us identify plants that will be in bloom throughout the spring and summer."
Gregson expects that some special events will begin next Spring with most weddings not taking place until next summer or fall.
"A bride typically needs six months to plan her wedding so, with that kind of lead time, we expect our wedding season to begin the summer of 2023."
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.
Check back for more updates on The Gazebo--the name for the Bees & Trees wedding venue.
The Garden View Suite Earns It's Airbnb Superhost Status for the Fifth Time
Bees & Trees is pleased to announce that, for the FIFTH time in a row, their Airbnb property--The Garden View Suite--has earned the coveted Superhost status from Airbnb!
This status comes directly from guests' ranking 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 4.96 and has had no 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."
When A Cow is Not Just A Cow!
"We're raising better-tasting beef! It's all about the genetics of black Angus." --Jeff Gregson
Jeff Gregson, co-owner of Bees & Trees Farm has learned there are steer and then there are steer.
Having raised and commercially sold black Angus steer to the public for nearly seven years, Gregson has learned a thing or two about what works and what doesn't when it comes to selling a healthy and tasty beef product.
It might surprise you to learn, there's more to it then just raising a herd of cows on a grassy field! Turns out it's also very much about genetics!
Don't let anyone tell you different, where a steer comes from--the quality of the stock from which it was bred--is as important to overall quality and taste as how it was raised!
"We know there's a difference--we've tasted the difference--and we want to give our customers the very best black Angus quality we can by only purchasing calves that have very strong genetics--that is certified black Angus," said Gregson.
The black Angus breed has long been recognized for its high genetic quality. And it is that high quality which has made Angus beef a top seller on the beef shelf in stores everywhere.
Good genetics coupled with being raised in a careful and responsible manner--on grass and finished with grain--will deliver a high quality beef cut with the proper fat content and proper amount of marbling.
"Those qualities give our beef the flavor and tenderness our customers have come to expect," said Gregson. "It's just hard to find that kind of balance in other breeds."
Bees & Trees Farm now procures their certified black Angus cattle from Audley Farms in Clarke County, VA, a farm well known in the cattle industry for the quality of its black Angus.
Audley Farms takes pride in raising black Angus cattle of the highest standards and genetics. Their beef follows a "slow food” production model.
Similar to Bees & Trees, their cattle roam freely on acres of open pasture, and are never given steroids, growth hormones, antibiotics, or grain from unnatural feed sources.
So before you purchase your beef from just anyone raising cows in a field, be sure to check where that stock came from...you'll taste the difference!