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
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.
2023 Highlights: A Holistic Approach to Conservation
Community Farm Specialist
Farming for the Future
Summer 2023 Piedmont View
Growing healthy food and engaging volunteers at Roundabout Meadows
Leading on Local Food
Free Upcoming Events at Roundabout Meadows
Volunteer Opportunities at the Community Farm
Video: Gilberts Corner Regional Park: A Conservation Success Story
