Events

Solar on the Farm Workshop

A workshop to introduce farmers and rural businesses in Fauquier and adjacent counties to opportunities for integrating distributed solar into their operations.

Mardi Gras Bike Ride and Procession

Join PEC for a celebratory, low-stress bike ride through the streets of Charlottesville, followed by a Karnival Krewe procession.

Tree Planting at Pen Druid Brewing

Join Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) on Thursday, March 16 for an afternoon of planting trees at Pen Druid Brewing!

Sperryville Trail Network Invasives Removal and Trash Pickup

The Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection and the Sperryville Community Alliance are co-sponsoring a morning workday along the Sperryville trail network on Saturday, March 18, 2023. We'll focus on a few portions of the trail in the vicinity of the Village.

Tree Planting at Pen Druid Brewing

Join Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) on Thursday, March 23 for an afternoon of planting trees at Pen Druid Brewing!

Tree Planting at Old House Vineyards

Join Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) on Saturday, March 25 for an afternoon of planting trees at Old House Vineyards!

Loudoun Community Meeting: Data Centers & Diesel Generators

Join PEC for an informational session to learn about the power usage of local data centers, the generators they operate in and around the Loudoun community, and the anticipated air quality variance likely to be issued by the Department of Environmental Quality for this summer.

Creating Walkable Piedmont Communities: A Workshop for Local Leaders and Planners

Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn about successful strategies and available resources for your community. The half-day workshop will focus on giving your town or village the tools, resources, and contacts you need to implement pedestrian, streetscape, trail and traffic calming projects. It will also be an opportunity to network with other local leaders interested in making their Piedmont communities more vibrant and walkable.

Tree Planting at J Team Dairy

Join PEC, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and Maola Milk for a volunteer tree planting on Wednesday, April 5 at the J Team Dairy in Orange County.

20th Annual Bluebell Walk: Benefits of Beavers, Birds & Native Biodiversity

Bonny Brook Farm 8446 Old Dumfries Road, Catlett, Virginia, United States

Join The Piedmont Environmental Council's Julian W. Scheer Fauquier Land Conservation Fund for the 20th Annual Bluebell Walk on Cedar Run.

This family-friendly event is a delightful chance to walk amongst a beautiful streamside field of Virginia’s iconic and ephemeral bluebells on a private conserved property. Along the walk, hear from experts covering a wide range of topics including beavers, native meadow and riparian habitat restoration for birds, butterflies, and other critters, invasive species removal and more!

Protecting Shenandoah’s Brook Trout

Shenandoah National Park protects incredible natural resources including iconic brook trout, but climate change knows no boundaries and is already increasing temperatures in the Park. Many of the Park’s brook trout populations are in decline, but there are bright spots, and a new effort from the Park and Shenandoah National Park Trust seeks to understand where brook trout are doing well so those areas can be protected from other stressors. During this event, we will discuss what we know about the status of brook trout in Shenandoah, what makes their populations go up and down, and what we can do to protect them. This event kicks off our celebration of National Park Week.

Piedmont Mobility Alliance Spring 2023 Meeting

The spring meeting of Piedmont Mobility Alliance will be an opportunity to update one another and share resources/ideas to follow up on the successful February 24 Mobility Summit.

Solar Open House in Warrenton

Cal and Kathy Hickey’s House 183 N VIEW CIR, Warrenton, Virginia, United States

How would you like to completely eliminate your monthly bills from Dominion Energy and have reserve backup power for all your critical household needs in the event of a power outage? Come see a solar photovoltaic (PV) power system designed and installed to do just that! 

Free

Tree Planting at Cool Lawn Farm

Come help plant trees in a riparian forest buffer at Cool Lawn Farm (of Moo Thru Ice Cream fame!) in Remington, VA. This volunteer event is hosted by Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay with Friends of the Rappahannock, PEC and John Marshall SWCD.

Cville Bike to Work Week: Kickoff Party

Hop on your bike and ride (or stroll) to Three Notch’d to celebrate Bike to Work Week! Numerous veteran bike commuters will be on hand to offer recommendations and to answer any questions you might have.

Cville Bike to Work Week: Wednesday Appreciation Station at West Main

Outside Shenanigans Toys 601 W Main St, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

Are you interested in biking to work – or maybe curious about it? Let us encourage you during your morning commute – or ride – with free swag, free snacks (courtesy of Albemarle Baking Company) and even a quick tune up (with Blue Wheel Cyclery).

Riparian Buffer Funding Webinar

Please join the Upper and Middle James Riparian Buffer Consortium on June 1, 2023, from 1- 2 p.m. for a buffer funding webinar where we will discuss funding programs available for landowners.

Inspiring Conservation: PEC Annual Meeting featuring Dr. Mamie Parker

Meadowkirk at Delta Farm 38012 Delta Farm Ln, Middleburg, Virginia, United States

Save the date! Join us for a fun, informative day at Meadowkirk in Middleburg. Catch up with friends, participate in one of our workshops and learn more about local efforts to build a stronger, more sustainable region.

Piedmont Mobility Alliance: June Meeting

The June meeting of Piedmont Mobility Alliance will be an opportunity to update one another and joint efforts to improve walking, biking, transit and everyday access to the outdoors in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

“These Are Not Your Grandpa’s Quail”: Modern Bobwhite Quail Habitat Management

On July 19, we will talk about a bird whose call is a beloved sound for many of us. The northern bobwhite aka bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) is the only quail native to eastern North America. We hear its call much less often now because of a steep decline in the bobwhite quail population, mostly due to habitat loss.

Event Series Solarize Virginia Webinar

Solarize Virginia Webinar

Join the Local Energy Alliance Program for one of our informational webinars! We will walk you through how solar works, what you can expect when you sign up for Solarize, and more. Plus, we’ll have a Q&A with our program installers to answer all of your questions.

Sources of Conservation Funding (free workshop and social)

Powers Farm and Brewery 9269 Redemption Way, Midland, Virginia, United States

Join John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Fauquier County’s Conservation Easement Program, and The Piedmont Environmental Council for a workshop to explore tools and sources of funding for conservation easements and land management

Land Conservation 101 & Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative

As part of the Rivanna Master Naturalists’ continuing education lecture series, PEC staff will share information about local land conservation efforts and land management for grassland birds. The educational event is free and open to the public.

Land Conservation Efforts in Clarke County

This talk will focus on the work of the Clarke County Conservation Easement Authority since 2002 and general land conservation ethics. Led by Allison Teetor, recently retired Clarke County Natural Resource Planner.

Event Series Solarize Virginia Webinar

Solarize Virginia Webinar

Join the Local Energy Alliance Program for one of our informational webinars! We will walk you through how solar works, what you can expect when you sign up for Solarize, and more. Plus, we’ll have a Q&A with our program installers to answer all of your questions.

Bee-Friendly Beef Producer Workshop

Are you a farmer interested in promoting pollinator habitat in your pastures while meeting your production goals? Join VWL for their “Bee-Friendly Beef Producer Workshop” on Thursday, August 3, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, VA.

Event Series Solarize Virginia Webinar

Solarize Virginia Webinar

Join the Local Energy Alliance Program for one of our informational webinars! We will walk you through how solar works, what you can expect when you sign up for Solarize, and more. Plus, we’ll have a Q&A with our program installers to answer all of your questions.

Fall Native Plant Sale at Morven Park

Autumn is an optimal time for planting trees and shrubs and other perennials. A huge selection of native plants will be available from local native plant nurseries.

New Landowner Conservation Services Workshop

Come out and meet with professionals from a myriad of conservation organizations active in providing landowner conservation programs and services in the Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District!

Generation NEXT Workshop in Charlottesville

If you have woodland, you have a legacy worth passing on. Passing your land and stewardship values from one generation to the next takes information and work. Generation NEXT is an award-winning educational program that will get you started on the right path.

Farm-to-Table Dinner

PEC's annual farm-to-table dinner & paddle raise will be hosted by Mrs. Caroline Collomb at Oakwood Farm.

Loop de Ville + Mini-Summit

The annual Loop de Ville Trail Fest is a celebration of walking, biking and running in Charlottesville and Albemarle. This year, the two-day event takes place on September 23-24 and will include a Sunday Mobility Alliance “Mini-Summit” where you will be able to quickly learn about many local efforts to improve connectivity and everyday access to nature.

Rappahannock County Farm Tour

Have fun visiting farms and learning about agriculture practices, with the breathtaking background of beautiful Rappahannock County.

Piedmont Mobility Alliance Fall Meeting & Work Session

Jefferson-Madison Regional Library Central Branch 201 E. Market Street, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

The Piedmont Mobility Alliance gathers every two months to work collaboratively. This work session will cover coordinating a fall advocacy campaign for increased funding of sidewalks, bike lanes, and trails, beginning plans for Bike Month 2024, and discussing the Alliance's future structure.

Community Conservation Walk in Marshall

Come join neighbors on a fun and educational walk showcasing a suite of conservation practices underway on a Piedmont landscape. This is a free knowledge-sharing event led by Smithsonian's Virginia Working Landscapes and the Piedmont Environmental Council.