Graystem Farm began as a dream that became a plan and is now a reality.
We grew up in farm country, or to be more precise, in suburban homes surrounded by Standardbred horse farms. It was always my dream to someday have a farm of my own with horses, dogs and a beautiful garden landscape inspired by English country gardens, the important women in my life, and early lifestyle influencers like Martha Stewart and P. Allen Smith. In my mind’s eye I would walk along winding woodland trails, cross large green fields dotted with horses and sheep, passing tall hedgerows, down stone steps and everywhere I look – flowers. We finally made those dreams come true in Powhatan, Virginia.
Though horses and sheep are no longer part of the landscape, we still take pride in cultivating a vibrant array of special floristry blooms that thrive in our southern climate - including flowers you would expect to see in an English country garden. Flowers like lavender, peonies, roses, clematis, delphinium, allium, snapdragons, and dahlias. Growing right alongside these classics are colorful “New World” natives like lisianthus, zinnias, Queen Anne’s Lace, rudbeckia, echinacea, liatris and solidago.
Trudy
The first ting you should know about me is that I am an introvert. Yet I still love to help people, one-to-one or in small groups, whenever I can. This is why we specialize in bouquet bars and workshops. Sharing tips and tricks for selecting the perfect blooms to create beautiful arrangements and floral crafts, experiencing new ideas, and meeting like-minded people make me happy. I love playing with flowers, artsy things, and edibles from garden. If you don’t share my passion for creating, no big deal. I’m not judge-y, but I am happy to make a bouquet or arrangement for you.
After hosting special events, I get out in nature to recharge my introvert’s social battery. Being out in the flower field makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop with blooms to play with in every color, shape, size and texture. I can lose myself and all my cares out there, and sometimes several hours too! Anyone who’s had a stressful day or week (I’m sure you know the kind I mean) and needs an emotional re-set should experience that child-like fun at least once in a while. Attending one of our open field pick you own events is the perfect opportunity to do it. Life is meant to be full of wonder and whimsy.
So this is who I am – an introverted flower farmer who loves creativity, nature and whimsy - with a partner willing to support my dreams. Come share the magic of flowers with us!
John
My ancestry is 75% Italian so it shouldn’t be a surprise that I love food. I especially love tomatoes – eating them, cooking with them, canning them and growing them. Some of my favorite memories are of me and my grandfather Frank inspecting my tomato patch. As I proudly showed him my plants, he would produce a salt shaker he’d grabbed from the kitchen, pluck a tomato from the plant, sprinkle it with the salt and pop it in his mouth, finishing with a satisfied smile. At the end of our tour he would congratulate me on a job well done. We left behind a much smaller crop, but that didn’t matter, because that is what gardening is all about; sharing the harvest and bringing joy to others.
I was so happy when we bought our farm. I had just planted a veggie garden and my first patch of corn when the Deep-Water Horizon disaster occurred and I was shipped off with my unit for a cleanup operation. When we returned home, I was transferred to a deployable port security unit and sent to the desert. No veggie garden for a while.
When you deploy on a mission you expect to miss your family and friends, especially during the quiet times or when you have to say goodbye on Skype. What I didn’t expect to miss was GREEN – the color, the moisture of a temperate climate, even the smell of green. Yes, green has a smell!
Now that I’ve retired, I get to spend a lot of time out in the gardens. Or you can find me tinkering with farm machinery and cars. I also love when people ask me about my current project, Hyacinth, our mini kei truck!
Life hack: Gift your significant other some flowers. You’ll thank me later!
The Farm Team
Farm Supervisors
Pest Control & Egg Production Team
“The owners are so kind and knowledgeable! Very willing to share their expertise. Gorgeous flowers. Met them at an annual plant sale at Reynolds in Goochland. I left with a new strategy to grow a favorite flower AND a new recipe! I cannot wait to visit the farm..”
- Ali N.