Working Farms & Local 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.

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red barn farmland photo by patricia temples

Action Alert: Protecting Farmland Now and For the Future

Farmland lost is farmland lost forever. Budget amendment 97 #2h (Gooditis) would provide an additional $2 million to the Farmland Preservation Fund grant program (current funding is only $250,000), providing much-needed matching funds and encouraging …
Wrapping Up 2020 at PEC's Community Farm

Video: Wrapping up 2020 at the Community Farm

We had an incredible 2020 season at the Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows! Thanks to the tireless work of over 470 volunteers, we donated more than 25,000 pounds of fresh, locally grown produce to our …
community farm volunteers packing eggplant

Farm to Food Pantry Initiatives During the Pandemic

Since March, with the help of partners and supporters, The Piedmont Environmental Council has provided 25,000 pounds of vegetables, 25,000 gallons of milk, and more than 11,000 pounds of local beef and pork to the …
Angus Beef Cows

Ovoka Farm joins Piedmont Environmental Council’s Farm to Food Bank initiative with 10,000 pound meat donation

Ovoka Farm owner Karen Way, of Paris, is donating 10,000 pounds of locally-raised ground beef and ground pork toward The Piedmont Environmental Council’s Farm to Food Bank initiative, which is supporting food banks throughout the …
Community farm volunteer Jaiden

Summer on the Farm

As of early September, we have donated more than 22,000 pounds of fresh produce to Loudoun Hunger Relief! Learn More …
Video: Connecting Local Beef Farmers with Food Pantries

Video: Connecting Local Beef Farmers with Food Pantries

Building on the success of our dairy initiative, The Piedmont Environmental Council worked with Fauquier Community Food Bank and Lakota Ranch to pilot a new initiative — purchasing high-quality, locally-raised beef to donate to local …
Strengthening Local Food Systems

Strengthening Local Food Systems

Early one May morning, a Maola Dairy delivery truck took an unusual turn through the gates and into the parking lot of the Fauquier Community Food Bank. Nearby, Director Sharon Ames’ excitement was palpable as …
Webinar: Strengthening the Local Food System

Webinar: Strengthening the Local Food System

Join PEC staff for a look at the importance of local farms and food during the Covid-19 pandemic. This webinar was recorded on June 5, 2020 …
Rappahannock Food Pantry van accepting dairy donation

Connecting Local Dairy Farm and Food Pantry Needs

Local dairy farms are being hit particularly hard by Covid-19, so we decided to step in with an innovative way to get milk they produce to those most in need right now. When schools shut …
Charlottesville's Drive-Through Farmers' Markets

Charlottesville’s Drive-Through Farmers Markets

Now more than ever, local food producers are demonstrating their value and continued dedication to serving our communities local, healthy, fresh foods …

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.