Meet Becca Crutchfield | Steward of Four Farms Place

We had the good fortune of connecting with Becca Crutchfield and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Becca, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Over the years I have made a living at basket weaving, baiting fishing boats, gardening, having a private practice in speech therapy and helping to start Camp REACH (for kids with complex communication needs.) I am now the steward of Four Farms Place where we bring people together in community, sometimes to just stay the night and other times to share in a special gathering.

For the most part my process to start a business has always been:
Dream up an idea around something you love.
Find out as much as you can about it and how it works.
Find people that know the business and ask them lots of questions.
Work through the legal logistics.
Then take a big leap of faith and never think you can’t do it.

Sometimes this process is simple and immediate. Other times like for Four Farms Place the pieces fall into place little by little over the years.
Just don’t be afraid to try.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have been an entrepreneur most of my life and I love the ability to create and make things happen.
The seeds of Four Farms Place started a while ago. In 2016 I felt compelled to try my hand at this new thing called Airbnb by renting rooms in my home, The Garden House. I loved the opportunity to meet new people but I didn’t quit my day job at that point.
A second home, across the lake became available in 2021. After a bit of soul searching and positive encouragement from my kids, the Lake House became part of what we call Four Farms Place. I filled it with repurposed and handmade furniture, organic sheets and towels and all the cleaning is done with natural products.
Four Farms Place has become a Natural Place to Gather for everyone. We believe that nature is our foundation and we hope to inspire everyone to practice living in ways that nurtures nature and themselves. We take care of the property inside and outside without using chemicals or pesticides. We strive to live sustainably, reduce waste and promote healthy living in body and mind.

Four Farms Place offers overnight accommodations as well as programs to bring communities together. We maintain a garden that provides CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) boxes for a few families and cultivate a variety of pollinator friendly gardens for our bees.

One of the things that I am most proud of is that we include nature in our planning and encourage our guests to do the same. For example an alternative to having balloons for a celebration would be to release butterflies or use flowers. We ask our guests to use the provided reusable dishes, silverware, napkins, glasses and compost any food scraps. Our bathrooms are stocked with bamboo toilet paper and we have info at the house to tell why this is better for the environment.
It may seem crazy but we love to look into the trashcan at the end of a gathering and see very little trash. This is not always easy and it does take some brainstorming but it is well worth it.

Being able to develop Four Farms Place gives me the privilege to connect community with nature. It has allowed me to combine my love of the outdoors and living organically with the talents and teachings of others.
We are able to offer space to stay and rest as well as congregate and connect.

I will have to admit there have been and will be bumps in the road, mostly due to legalities, that slow things from time to time. I have found that connecting with others often gives guidance in places you may not have looked on your own.
One big lesson I have learned is that we are not alone. Help can come from the most unexpected places. Everyone has a gift to offer if you are open to listening and accepting.
I would love the world to know that the simplicity of nature just the way it is can create an opportunity for community and healing on so many different level.
It is so important to be able to feel safe, loved and welcome.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have to say hanging out at Four Farms Place sitting on the deck sipping tea or foraging around the property are my favorite ways to spend time with friends.

I would probably suit them up and explore a bee hive before gathering vegetables from the garden to make a tasty meal.

If we were to leave Four Farms Place we could start at the Lake Brandt Marina and grab a couple of kayaks to explore the lake.

From there we might hike along the trails and greenways that weave around the area.

This friend would definitely come for the weekend. First Friday would be on the list for a fun night to check out the local artists, listen to music and eat some great food.

For another night out, Machete’s has delicious food and drinks and is always close to some awesome music.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people I have had the pleasure to know and or work with that have influenced where I am today. I would never be able to remember all their names. I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by others that encouraged my desire to try new things even if they sound crazy.
I would like to give a shout out to SCORE mentoring program here in Greensboro as well as the people at Guilford County planning department that listened to my ideas and guided me through the process.
Ultimately it would be my kid’s belief in me that gave me the courage to go for it and I would love to publicly thank Sydney and Weston.

Website: https://fourfarmsplace.com

Instagram: fourfarmsplace

Facebook: Four Farms Place