The following text was sent out via email on May 10, 2023. Sign up for PEC email alerts →
Dear Supporter,
Spring is here and so is the event season at PEC’s incredible property at Roundabout Meadows in Aldie, VA. Once marketed as development parcels with vast commercial and residential potential, the 141-acre conservation area PEC has owned since 2013 offers the public ample opportunities to learn, recreate, give back to the community, and more.
Over the next few months, we are so excited to be offering a number of educational ‘walk and talks’ along the Old Carolina Road Trail and through the pastures of Roundabout Meadows, providing an opportunity to connect more deeply with the work PEC is doing to protect the air and water, habitat, and working farms of the Virginia Piedmont.
And, with this year marking the fifth season of our Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows, we’ll be celebrating by donating tens of thousands of pounds of fresh produce to food pantries and providing opportunities to get your hands dirty for a good cause!
Composting/Soil Health Workshop at The Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows
Sunday, May 21 @ 10 – 11:30 a.m.
PEC’s Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows utilizes regenerative and sustainable practices to grow a variety of seasonal produce for donation to local residents in need. This free hands-on workshop will cover composting and different soil building techniques to foster biodiversity. We will also cover soil biology and how it relates to nutrient cycling for healthy plants and healthy ecosystems, micro to macro.
Birding Walk at Roundabout Meadows
Saturday, June 17 @ 8:30 – 10 a.m.
Join PEC Wildlife Habitat Restoration Coordinator, October Greenfield, for a birding walk through the Roundabout Meadows pastures and meadows. Possible sightings may include eastern meadowlarks, field sparrows, indigo buntings, plus a variety of other grassland and shrubland species. The walk will cover approximately 1.3 miles through rolling pastures and across a small creek, be sure to wear appropriate footwear and clothing for longer grass and uneven terrain (sunscreen and bug spray recommended). Participants should bring their own binoculars.
Nature Photography Walk & Learn at Roundabout Meadows
Friday, June 23 @ 6:15 – 7:30 p.m.
Bring along your camera or smartphone for a collaborative photography walk and learn with PEC’s Hugh Kenny. Hugh will guide participants in how to take their best nature photos while enjoying the beauty of the Roundabout Meadows property. All skill levels are welcome. The walk will be approximately 1 mile long and will traverse a mowed walking path with occasional uneven terrain along the Old Carolina Road Trail.
Wildflower Walk at Roundabout Meadows
Friday, August 25 @ 4:30 – 6 p.m.
Join PEC’s Tree Planting and Stewardship Coordinator, Linnea Stewart, and Gilberts Corner Farm and Land Manager, Dana Melby, for an afternoon walk along the Old Carolina Road Trail and through the meadow while learning about wildflowers and PEC’s approach to restoring the meadow.All skill levels are welcome. The walk will be approximately 1 mile long and will traverse a mowed walking path with occasional uneven ground along the Old Carolina Road Trail (sunscreen and bug spray recommended).
Volunteering at the Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows
Ongoing, April – October
Since its first season in 2019, the Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows has donated over 100,000 pounds of produce to area food pantries. This would not have been possible without the assistance of our incredible team of volunteers. Volunteers help with planting and harvesting healthy food, among other farm tasks. All ages are welcome!
I hope to see you out at Roundabout Meadows sometime soon! If you’d like to learn more about the conservation story of Gilberts Corner, check out this new video featuring NOVA Parks.
Sincerely,
Dana Melby
Gilberts Corner Farm & Land Manager
dmelby@pecva.org
(540) 347-2334 x7068