Improving Pastures

Farms are the heart of the Piedmont region. Creating healthy pastures means sustainable farmland and a strong local economy.

Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative

Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative

A collaboration to support bird-friendly practices on working lands. The Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative (VGBI) is a collaboration between The …
Cost-Share Programs for Land Management

Cost-Share Programs for Land Management

Learn about funding options for land management activities on your property …
a field with rows of cover crop between squash plants

Soil is Alive: How to Keep it Healthy

Healthy soil can make as big a difference for home gardeners as it can for large-scale farmers. We sat down with Melissa Allen, District Manager at the John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District to …
Video: Cover Crops with John Marshall Soil and Water

Video: Cover Crops with John Marshall Soil and Water

We partnered with John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District to produce this video about their cover crop cost-share program …
Carina and Dean Elgin at their fence.

Fronting the Costs: Fencing at Mountain Hollow Farm

Eight generations of cattle farming had taken its toll on the streams at Dean and Carina Elgin’s Mountain Hollow Farm in northern Fauquier County. Historically, “all the cattle had access to the creek. That was …
Productive Pastures at Bean Hollow Grassfed

Productive Pastures at Bean Hollow Grassfed

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. Read about our approach to this project, or listen to …
Grazing Along

Grazing Along

A large herd of fluffy, yet still intimidating, sheep run full speed through a gate as they’re rotated to an alternate pasture at Over Jordan Farm in Flint Hill, Va. “I don’t use herding dogs …
Sheep grazing

Renovating Worn-Out Pastures

Like many Piedmont farms, Over Jordan Farm in Rappahannock has been a pasture-based operation for decades. After 20 years of overgrazing, however, it’s facing issues that are common in the region—poor soil health, a lack …