PEC’s Summer Fellowship Program is much more than an internship. This year’s program brought together 12 fellows — from Texas to Florida to Ohio to New Hampshire — virtually for six weeks and here in the Virginia Piedmont for two weeks of on-the-ground learning and exploration.
Maps & Resources
The Piedmont’s Beauty Is Not An Accident – Letter from PEC’s President
I often say that the beauty of the Virginia Piedmont is not an accident. And over the course of 2022, PEC has been contemplating and celebrating 50 years of collective effort conserving and protecting this place we love so much as we also plan for a more sustainable future.
Soil is Alive: How to Keep it Healthy
Healthy soil can make as big a difference for home gardeners as it can for large-scale farmers. We sat down with Melissa Allen, District Manager at the John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District to talk about the importance of and path to healthy soil.
Along the Route 50 Corridor
The beauty of the Route 50 corridor is not an accident. It has taken multi-generational involvement in local decision-making to plan for and preserve this historic east-west passage. PEC has played a part in that by working with communities and partner organizations to identify threats and opportunities that could impact the corridor’s scenic character and its function as a powerful economic engine for tourism revenue.
On the Ground Updates – September 2022
A series of short updates from around the PEC region – Albemarle & Charlottesville, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange & Rappahannock.
Fall 2022 Piedmont View
The fall 2022 edition of the Piedmont View features summer fellowship highlights, PEC’s annual virtual auction, climate conversations in Albemarle, a soil health Q&A, upcoming events, and more.
Video: Cover Crops with John Marshall Soil and Water
We partnered with John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District to produce this video about their cover crop cost-share program.
New Fifeville Trail Grand Opening set for November 5
On Saturday, Oct. 1, community leaders and residents of Charlottesville will celebrate the formal opening of the new Fifeville Trail with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:15 a.m., followed by a Community Block Party from 12 – 4 p.m. The ribbon cutting will be at Tonsler Park, 500 Cherry Avenue; the block party will be at the Shops at Cherry Avenue, 814-830 Cherry Avenue.
PEC Accepting Annual Photo Contest Submissions Through Sept. 30
Now through September 30, professional and amateur photographers alike are invited to submit their best images of the beautiful Virginia Piedmont in The Piedmont Environmental Council’s 11th Annual Photo Contest. All image submissions must be taken within Albemarle, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock counties.
Webinar: Climate Change: What does it mean for Albemarle County?
Wondering what we can expect for climate impacts in Albemarle County? The Cville100 Climate Coalition held a virtual presentation on August 23, 2022 to hear an overview of the recently released Albemarle County Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment.