Bee Passionate
In 2014 Sugar Bottom Farm started just outside the little town of Ovapa, West Virginia with two bee hives and first-generation farmers with a lot to learn. What Eric Grandon, wife Mary, and daughter Abigail lacked in knowledge, they made up for with hard work and a passion for honey bees.
The farm had begun as a way to combat stressors associated with Eric's war deployments during his 20 year career with the US Army. They started producing molasses as part of the Veterans and Warrior to Agriculture program in WV. As the farm developed they added honey bees, produce, and layers to their line to help diversify their products. They had setbacks, like a 1000-year flood and a fire, but led by a disabled veteran of six tours, they didn’t give up.
The farm had begun as a way to combat stressors associated with Eric's war deployments during his 20 year career with the US Army. They started producing molasses as part of the Veterans and Warrior to Agriculture program in WV. As the farm developed they added honey bees, produce, and layers to their line to help diversify their products. They had setbacks, like a 1000-year flood and a fire, but led by a disabled veteran of six tours, they didn’t give up.
Bee Kind
They became interested in Farm to School and providing nutritious produce to their local communities as well as four other surrounding school systems. As they ventured into honey bees they realized the need for quality bees and education to help sustain and preserve the honey bee and its importance to our nation’s food chain. Eric became a certified Beekeeping instructor for the WV Department of Agriculture's Veterans and Warriors to Agriculture program. Their honey bee business began to grow as they started teaching and having farm tours with hands-on trainings.
Bee Sweet
In 2017, Sugar Bottom Farm transitioned into a full service honey bee farm with additional sales of honey bees, beekeeping equipment, and supplies. In 2018, Sugar Bottom Farm was voted Conservation Farm of the Year for the Elk Conservation District. In 2019 they added raw West Virginia Wildflower honey and honey bee value-added products as well as expanding to Hawaii’s Big Island with additional hives. From these hives, they harvest Hawaiian Tropical Wildflower Honey, Hawaiian Eucalyptus Honey, Hawaiian Christmas Berry Honey, Hawaiian Ohi’a Luhua Honey, Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Honey, and Hawaiian Wildflower with Coffee Blossom. In 2020, they added Georgia Tupelo Honey, “The Queen of Honeys” to their line of products. Shop Honey.
Bee Everywhere
Sugar Bottom Farms has successfully grown their company each year. In addition to this website, their raw honey products are sold through many retail locations that carry their products in West Virginia and Ohio. They attend events in various states. Their products are also available on the GovX a Military & Government exclusive ecommerce website for those who serve in the military, police and first responders. Sugar Bottom Farm is always looking for new retailers and opportunities to expand their business.
Their little family farm is “buzzing” with activity as they strive to provide quality products for their customers. They sell honey bees and equipment, train bee keepers, and harvest seven varieties of the best Hawaiian Honey, West Virginia Honey and Georgia Tupelo Honey. They are Certified WV Grown, Homegrown by Heroes, and a Pollinator Habitat Farm.
Their little family farm is “buzzing” with activity as they strive to provide quality products for their customers. They sell honey bees and equipment, train bee keepers, and harvest seven varieties of the best Hawaiian Honey, West Virginia Honey and Georgia Tupelo Honey. They are Certified WV Grown, Homegrown by Heroes, and a Pollinator Habitat Farm.
Bee Yourself
Eric Grandon is the go-to guy when it comes to anything honey bees, and he loves to share the knowledge he has gained. Since the start of his bee venture in 2014, he has amassed a vast knowledge of honey bees and honey production and loves to share his knowledge with others. Eric currently serves as the County Committee Member at the District’s Farm Service Agency representing Clay county. He has done numerous local, state, national, and international interviews with PBS, NPR, and the BBC. Eric has also been the focus of making 4 documentaries having just finished one recently from Zendesk entitled Eric and the Bees which focuses on his work with other Veterans with PTSD and using beekeeping as an alternative therapy.