The Piedmont View

View articles published in our quarterly membership newsletter, The Piedmont View. To become a PEC member or renew your existing membership, visit our donations page today!

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Annual Gathering at Eldon Farms draw record crowd, features conservation & agriculture best practices

Annual Gathering at Eldon Farms draw record crowd, features conservation & agriculture best practices

Although The Piedmont Environmental Council’s Annual Gathering this year got off to a rainy start, there was no stopping our mission of coming together in the name of conservation …
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In the backround, people walk through a field harvesting cabages, while in the foreground a large crate of cabages sits.

Feeding the Piedmont

All of us here at PEC know that resilient food systems are crucial to building stronger, more sustainable communities. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to support and promote working farms and to bring …
Randal Fellows immerse themselves in PEC's work

Randal Fellows immerse themselves in PEC’s work

Twelve college students and recent graduates from around the country joined us this summer for the 19th annual Randal Fellowship, an eight-week immersion program in The Piedmont Environmental Council’s work and exploration of conservation-related careers …
Three children run along a trail through the woods, their backs to the camera.

A Conversation on Trails and Connectivity

While conserving the verdant landscapes of Virginia’s Piedmont is foundational to The Piedmont Environmental Council’s mission, making the outdoors accessible to everyone has become an equally vital goal. Over the past few years, we have …
A baby opossum in the grass.

Conservation Benefits Everyone

The car in front of me swerved to miss something in the road. I slowed, watching a small creature make its slow, plodding way across the asphalt. As I got closer, I realized it was …
An aerial view of transmission lines coming in to an electrical substation.

Questioning an Explosive Forecast: PEC Intervenes in Dominion IRP

Several years into the data center explosion in our region, the big picture is finally becoming clear to both the public and our decision makers. No longer are our communities just hearing The Piedmont Environmental …
Two people smile at the camera, holding a sign that says "Native Tree Plantings"

Plantings for the Piedmont: A Team Effort

It was a brisk morning in late January as I stood with a Fauquier County landowner. We leaned against a fence at the end of the site visit, discussing the coming tree planting projects at …
A woman smiles at the camera holding a newspaper that says "Buy Fresh Buy Local"

Growing Connections: How Buy Fresh Buy Local Guides Strengthen Our Community

When Mike Peterson walks the fields at Kinloch Farm each morning, he is doing more than checking on cattle. He is nurturing connections that stretch far beyond the rolling hills of The Plains — connections …
On the Ground Updates - June 2025

On the Ground Updates – June 2025

A series of short updates from around the PEC region – Albemarle & Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange & Rappahannock …
Rolling green farmland, dotted with trees.

President’s Letter: Innovation and Relentless Implementation

Innovation and relentless implementation. The combination of these two qualities is what makes The Piedmont Environmental Council particularly special in creating the space, the possibility and the foundation for conservation outcomes that endure …
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