Meet Our Beekeepers

Matthew Lust and family are the newest beekeepers to join the Edgewood Collaboration Community in 2026. Matthew's bees forage in Natural Bridge, VA where he focuses on honeybee genetics "because it's fun and interesting." The honey is a blend of black locust and other wildflowers from the area and delivers a variation of rich floral notes throughout. The Lust family also takes care of a number of other animals, goats in particular. And, Matthew's wife, Samantha, tells us that Matthew is also "quite talented at making sourdough". We're thrilled to bring you this lovely floral honey from Natural Bridge, VA. Natural Bridge sits in a limestone gorge carved by Cedar Creek, a remnant of an ancient cave roof that still frames one of Virginia’s rarest karst landscapes, with caves, springs, and plant communities that depend on that stone. Long before it became a National Historic Landmark and a state park, the Monacan held the place as sacred, and later travelers ranked the arch with Niagara as one of the New World’s great natural wonders.

Whiskey Barrel Aged Honey is a fun collaboration with one of Virginia's leading craft distillers, Tarnished Truth Distillery, out of Virginia Beach. They empty one of their aged Virginia bourbon barrels, wood that already holds deep whiskey flavor, and we fill it with our raw Virginia honey.

That honey stays in the barrel for five months. Over that time it picks up Tarnished Truth bourbon notes, with oak and vanilla as stand out notes. There is zero alcohol in the jar and the honey is never heated. You may see small charcoal particles from the barrel. That is barrel work, not a cocktail claim.

We put it in morning coffee, on a charcuterie board, with apple slices or smoked gouda. Or straight from the jar. There's always a way to dress up brussels sprouts and this is certainly a favorite, with bacon, of course! Virginia Farm Bureau's Real Virginia filmed this collaboration and walked through the barrel process end to end. Check out their video, here.

Meet Mark, one of our new beekeepers based in Amherst, Virginia!

Meet Michael Tatum, our newest beekeeper! Michael is a multi-generational beekeeper based in Floyd County, Virginia, and he keeps bees in several locations across Southern Virginia as well as multiple other states. We’ll be collaborating with him on several different honey varieties, so keep an eye out for new product announcements!

Chris Shaw, a beekeeper from Augusta County, has been keeping bees with his wife for 11 years. They enjoy the nectar and honey their bees produce, particularly from redbud, autumn olive, and black locust.

Brass Bee Apiaries, located in Amelia County, Virginia, is dedicated to producing high-quality honey by allowing their bees to forage on blackberry, clover, and wildflowers.

Amanda Sweeney is the dedicated beekeeper at Edgewood Apiaries & Farm, situated between Richmond and Charlottesville, Virginia, in the scenic Piedmont region. She carefully tends to around 100 colonies, with a primary focus on producing tulip poplar honey. Amanda founded Edgewood Apiaries & Farm in Bremo Bluff, Fluvanna County, with a production and retail facility at Stony Point in Richmond. Raw honey, hive goods, and the farm story stay one brand across both places. Alongside her own yards, Amanda works with Virginia beekeepers in the Edgewood Collaboration Community, so customers can meet the keepers and find honeys tied to real places across the state.

Peter Hicks is the owner and operator of Springcity Bee Farm, located in Russell County, Virginia. At Springcity Bee Farm, Peter values the quality and authenticity of his honey, ensuring it reflects the diverse nectar sources of the region.