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.

man stands at fence with sheep

Improving Pastures

Farms are the heart of the Piedmont region. Creating healthy pastures means sustainable farmland and a strong local economy …
Properties at Gilberts Corner

Properties at Gilberts Corner

Driving west on Rt. 50 in Loudoun County, you may breathe a sigh of relief when you reach the first …
hands holding Buy Fresh Buy Local guide next to mailbox

Buy Fresh Buy Local Guides

The Piedmont Environmental Council’s Buy Fresh Buy Local program helps consumers find local products while building relationships between growers, food …
Leasing Farmland

Leasing Farmland

Access to affordable tillable farmland and pasture is one of the primary barriers for next-generation farmers and a healthy evolution …
aerial view of the community farm, a few acres of cropland surrounded by green space and buffered by trees and a roundabout

Bridging the Urban/Rural Divide

From my perspective over at Gilberts Corner, I can look in either direction and see these two very different, but interdependent worlds …
Reshaping the Future of Farm to Table: Expanding Local Meat Processing Capacity in Virginia

Reshaping the Future of Farm to Table: Expanding Local Meat Processing Capacity in Virginia

This video tells the story of partners coming together to give small Virginia producers more options to process meat products from their farms …
| | Video, Working Farms & Food
Bringing Solar to Farms in the Piedmont

Bringing Solar to Farms in the Piedmont

Whether it’s DIY or in the hands of the Commonwealth’s many trusted local solar businesses, now is a better time than ever to go solar …
Quick Update: Things to Know in Culpeper

Quick Update: Things to Know in Culpeper

Before we get to the end of the year, I want to give you a quick update on some issues we’ve been following in Culpeper …
man giving a presentation in front of a crowd of seated people

Resources from our Solar on the Farm workshop – November 14, 2023

On November 14, 2023, PEC hosted a workshop called “Solar on the Farm: Improving Your Ag Operation with On-site Energy.” …
Working With Farmers to Protect Our Waterways

Working With Farmers to Protect Our Waterways

Agriculture is Virginia’s largest industry by many metrics. It also represents the largest source of nutrient and sediment pollution reaching Virginia’s local streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay. Fortunately, addressing these pollution loads offers an …
Sources of Conservation Funding Workshop Resources

Sources of Conservation Funding Workshop Resources

If you were unable to attend our recent Sources of Conservation Funding Workshop and Social at Powers Farm & Brewery in Midland, VA, PEC and our fantastic conservation partners are here to help you explore …
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 …

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.