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. 


Getting ready for the 2023 season at the Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows

Getting ready for the 2023 season at the Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows

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Preparations for the 2023 season are well underway at the Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows! We can’t wait to have volunteers back out in the wake of Spring and to start planting. 2022 was another excellent year for the farm, with 33,000 pounds of produce donated to Loudoun Hunger Relief ...
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event photo solar on the farm workshop

Resources from our Solar on the Farm Workshop

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Julie Bolthouse welcomes attendees to the 2023 solar on the farm workshop. On Friday, January 27, 2023, more than seventy participants gathered together to learn more about small agricultural solar. This workshop, hosted by The Piedmont Environmental Council, covered the latest information on incentives offered by USDA Rural Energy for ...
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Eyes on Richmond / Call to Support Farmland Protection

Eyes on Richmond / Call to Support Farmland Protection

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The following text was sent out via email on January 24, 2023. Sign up for PEC email alerts → Photo by Felix Foto for Getty Images Dear Supporter, Hello! As you’ve probably noticed from an uptick in news out of Richmond, the Virginia General Assembly, which kicked off on January 11, ...
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Community Farm Internship

Community Farm Internship

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Join one of the most effective community-based environmental groups in the country. Title: Community Farm Intern (two positions available)Supervisor: Gilberts Corner Farm & Land ManagerLocation: Loudoun County, VAJob Classification: Part-time, seasonal, non-exempt (25-30 hrs/week for approx. 10-12 weeks, May - September with flexible start and end dates)Geographic Focus: The PEC ...
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2022 Highlights

2022 Highlights

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The Shenandoah River in Clarke County along Rt. 50. Photo by Hugh Kenny/PEC; flight thanks to Southwings For the last 50 years, PEC has worked to establish a better future for this region through sustainable growth and protection of the region’s natural, agricultural and historic resources. This place is special ...
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The Piedmont Environmental Council is a partner of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition. We support the 4 core principles of soil health management: Keep Soil Covered; Minimize Soil Disturbance; Maximize Living Roots; and, Energize with Diversity. Join the movement today at 4thesoil.org.