Working Farms and Food

Farmland and forests produce the necessities of life and provide essential ecosystem services. 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. 

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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a cow stands on a farm

PEC Study Seeks to Aid Local Meat Processors and Farmers

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Aided by Virginia’s northern Piedmont climate, pasture conditions, and open space, raising beef cattle has become one of the region’s dominant agricultural land uses. Cattle farming contributes enormously to the local economy, quality of life and vitality of all the region’s communities, and the growing retail market for beef may ...
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virginia capitol in richmond

Conservation Outcomes from a Speedy Special Session

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This text was taken from an email alert sent out on August 12, 2021. Sign up for email alerts >> View of the state capitol and General Assembly buildings in Richmond. Photo by Kate Moody. Well, that was fast! Less than two weeks after gaveling in on Monday, Aug. 2, ...
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Freshly butchered steaks on a metal table.

New skilled meat cutter training program will help region’s meat processors serve Virginia cattle farmers

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Photo by Hugh Kenny/PEC. For Immediate Release Contact:John McCarthy, Senior AdvisorThe Piedmont Environmental Counciljmccarthy@pecva.org; 540-347-2334, x7043 WARRENTON, VA. (August 3, 2021) - A recent study by The Piedmont Environmental Council and American Farmland Trust, spurred by pandemic-related breakdowns in national and local food supply systems, has led to the development ...
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