Working Farms and Food

Farmland and forests produce the essentials of life, from the food on our tables to clean water and air. In PEC’s nine-county area, approximately 200,000 acres of farmland and 198,000 acres of forests are protected through private, voluntary land conservation.

Buy Fresh Buy Local

PEC’s Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign helps consumers find local products while building relationships between growers, food artisans, farmers’ markets retailers, restaurants, and institutions.

Use our Buy Fresh Buy Local Piedmont website to find farms, grocers, caterers, restaurants, CSAs, and farmers markets.

The Community Farm

PEC’s Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows serves to connect area residents to Loudoun’s vital agricultural history while providing locally-grown fruits and vegetables for its food insecure population today.

Find out more at pecva.org/farm

Improving Pastures

At Bean Hollow Grassfed, Mike Sands wanted to use his training to revive Over Jordan Farm’s worn-out pastures and develop a financially stable farm model.

Learn more about sustainable pasture management in this conservation case study >>

Finding a Place to Grow

In order to help potential next-generation farmers, and non-farming landowners who are interested in leasing their land, PEC has put together “Finding a Place to Grow: How the Next Generation is Gaining Access to Farmland”, which includes eight profiles of successful farmland lease arrangements in Virginia. 

an aerial image of snowy mountains and fields in Rappahannock County

A Few Highlights From 2021

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Winter in Rappahannock County. Credit: Hugh Kenny/PEC. Despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and a global economic slowdown, 2021 proved to be a year of new opportunity here at The Piedmont Environmental Council. Last year, we promised to continue to strengthen our work in four key areas: (1) investing in access ...
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screenshot of a Zoom call, with a Black woman speaking in a home office

Webinar: Quarterly Keynote with Ebonie Alexander

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On December 14, PEC hosted its final Quarterly Keynote of 2021, which featured a discussion on retaining and protecting Black-owned land. We really appreciate Ebonie Alexander, Executive Director of the Black Family Land Trust, for taking time out of her busy schedule to talk with us about the work being ...
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Your Support is Doubled for Giving Tuesday

Your Support is Doubled for Giving Tuesday

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Giving Tuesday is a global movement dedicated to giving back to organizations and causes you care about. Today on November 30, your donation will go twice as far thanks to the generosity of a longtime supporter who is offering a dollar-for-dollar match on any gifts we receive up to a ...
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Moving the Needle

Moving the Needle

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Next Generation Making a Difference in Key PEC Programs Josh Press-WilliamsClimate Action Planning Resources Josh Press-Williams, who grew up in Charlottesville, returned to the city in early 2021 to help PEC tackle climate change communication. Working with Senior Conservation Fellow Kat Imhoff, Josh is co-authoring a briefing paper that details ...
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a heritage pig eating a flower

Summer at PEC’s Community Farm

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Our Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows ushered in its third growing season this spring and welcomed hundreds of volunteers through its gates. As we all continue to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Community Farm has served as an inspiring gathering place for community members to enjoy nature, give back ...
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