We are Deb and Candy.
The owners of Barefoot on the James, LLC.
Barefoot on the James started quite a few years ago in Arlington, Virginia. As long-time daughters and granddaughters of avid gardeners/farmers, we know that home grown produce is much better than anything that can be purchased in the grocery store. And there is a sense of accomplishment in growing your own food. It is also beneficial for the soul to get your hands dirty!
Where Our Story Begins
While living in a row home close to The Pentagon, we turned the entire backyard into a garden. We started using the Square Foot Gardening method which, pairs compatible vegetables in small spaces and we built stackable gardening bins out of wooden pallets.
Our harvest was great, and we enjoyed fresh veggies each summer. One year we had so many habanero peppers, we were leaving baskets on all the neighbors’ front porches!
At Barefoot on the James, we practice eco-friendly, sustainable gardening methods that attract and protect our pollinators.
While in North Virginia, we decided to start our own bee hives.
Our tiny yard was not large enough for a hive, so a friend in nearby Alexandria said, “come put them in my garden.” Several classes with local master beekeepers to learn the ropes was the next step in the new venture. Another thing we learned from our fathers and grandfathers is that the honeybee is essential for our food sources, and we must do our part to help sustain their viability.
We were active in the Northern Virginia Beekeepers Association while in Arlington. Joining a local association promotes best practices and provides essential beekeeper education.
Retirement out of the city to Scottsville has brought more space and time for growing our own food and honey production. It also has
brought new friends. We currently have 7 Nigerian Dwarf goats with plans to begin a breeding program in the Spring.
