PEC’s Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows

Connecting area residents to Loudoun’s vital agricultural history while providing locally-grown fruits and vegetables for its food-insecure population today.

Loudoun County is one of the wealthiest, most rapidly growing jurisdictions in the country. However, according to Feeding America, in 2020, 15,790 Loudoun residents were food insecure. Of these residents, 49% were ineligible for federal assistance such as SNAP. Since 2019, the Piedmont Environmental Council has been working to help improve access to high-quality fruits and vegetables for those in need in Loudoun County (and in 2023, Clarke County!) through our work at the Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows.

In its first season, the farm produced almost 5,000 pounds of fresh fruits and veggies including potatoes, tomatoes, squash, and melons. Since then, we have donated over 100,000 pounds of regeneratively grown produce to Loudoun Hunger Relief. Through our partnership with Loudoun Hunger Relief, the produce grown at the Community Farm goes directly to those who need it most as well as 15 other partner organizations.

Current events have put healthy, delicious food outside the financial means of many families. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, as food costs have skyrocketed due to inflation, and as our nation has suffered food supply chain breakdowns our local food pantries have continued to serve increased numbers. In response, we have continued to expand our production, adding laying hens, an orchard and more vegetable fields.

Volunteer

2022 was another excellent year for the farm, with 33,000 pounds of produce donated to Loudoun Hunger Relief (bringing our cumulative total to over 100,000 pounds!), our incredible volunteers donated over 1800 hours of their time and energy, and 500 students visited to learn about and connect with agriculture. Our 2023 volunteer season kicked off in late March!

Our 2023 volunteer season kicked off in late March! Learn about volunteer opportunities on the farm →

Gilberts Corner Properties

community farm location

There are several management areas within the 172-acre Gilberts Corner Properties owned by PEC, which also includes our Gilberts Corner Farmers Market and the Old Carolina Road Trail. The Community Farm is located on the approximately 40 acres within the triangle created by the traffic circles at Howsers Branch Road, Route 15 and Route 50. The address is 39990 Howsers Branch Dr., Aldie, VA 20105. If the gate is open, you’re welcome to stop in!

Questions?

Contact Farm Manager Dana Melby at dmelby@pecva.org or 540-347-2334 x7068.

This project is made possible through generous funding by Prince Charitable Trusts, the George L. Ohrstrom, Jr. Foundation, 100WomenStrong, the Chichester duPont Foundation, The Luminescence Foundation, David Ford, George L. Ohrstrom, II, Jean Perin, and Viviane Warren, along with other individual contributions from numerous members of the local community.

We're Hiring: Community Farm Specialist

Community Farm Specialist

PEC is seeking to hire a Community Farm Specialist to support operations at the Community Farm a Roundabout Meadows in Loudoun County, VA …
Farming for the Future

Farming for the Future

Planted, literally and not accidentally, at the edge of rural and suburban Loudoun County, PEC’s Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows plays many important roles …
Summer 2023 Piedmont View

Summer 2023 Piedmont View

The summer 2023 edition of the Piedmont View features articles about the PEC’s new strategic plan, an interview with PEC’s Senior Energy and Climate Policy Analyst Ashish Kapoor, the Land Preservation Tax Credit reaching 1 …
Growing healthy food and engaging volunteers at Roundabout Meadows

Growing healthy food and engaging volunteers at Roundabout Meadows

During the past nine years, PEC has been managing our lands at Roundabout Meadows near Gilberts Corner to restore its soils and streams, connect residents to agriculture and promote the Piedmont’s rural economy. Our efforts …
Leading on Local Food

Leading on Local Food

In light of the struggles over the last few years, PEC has doubled down on work to support a sustainable and resilient local food system in four key ways …
a group of young people walk through a field with binoculars

Free Upcoming Events at Roundabout Meadows

Spring is here and so is the event season at PEC’s incredible property at Roundabout Meadows in Aldie, VA. Over the next few months, we are so excited to be offering a number of educational …
volunteers at the farm

Volunteer Opportunities at the Community Farm

Interested in volunteering? Help us with planting and harvesting healthy food for Loudoun residents in need. On-site training will be provided. Previous experience is welcomed, but it is not required. Be prepared to work outside in …
Video: Gilberts Corner Regional Park: A Conservation Success Story

Video: Gilberts Corner Regional Park: A Conservation Success Story

Over 300 acres of land is conserved around Gilberts Corner, where Rt. 15 and Rt. 50 meet. The Piedmont Environmental Council has been working with NOVA Parks for over a decade to permanently protect the …
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

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 …
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