About the Rural Landowner Manual
In 2023, the PFH Conservation Fund spearheaded a first of its kind collaboration, bringing together eight local conservation groups to produce the Rural Landowner Manual: A Resource Guide for the Northern Piedmont. The publication includes a list of experts, programs, and opportunities to assist landowners, as well as advice for how to navigate the complexities of rural property stewardship. Our sponsor organizations each brought unique expertise and perspectives, to create a document useful to new and old neighbors, alike.
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We are very fortunate to have multiple capable conservation and preservation organizations working on behalf of our countryside, some of whom have been active for over 50 years.​ They are each driven by their own core values, but they work in tandem to support the overall mission of protecting the northern Piedmont region for future generations. Please read through their backgrounds below and seek additional information on their websites. They hold several events throughout the year, affording you the opportunity to get a better understanding of their vision and how they make an impact. Their events also serve to connect you with your neighbors and unite our countryside in the mission to conserve our shared landscape.
Citizens for Fauquier County (CFFC) is committed to providing solutions that help balance growth and conservation while preserving the natural, historic and agricultural resources that make Fauquier the unique place it is. CFFC has played a significant role in successfully halting projects that would have led to the rapid population growth and look-a-like residential and commercial development so prevalent in adjacent Loudoun and Prince William Counties. This grassroots 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization has seven hundred members and supporters from all parts of the county and is committed to preserving Fauquier’s future for generations to come.To learn more, please visit https://www.citizensforfauquier.org/.
The Goose Creek Association is a registered,501(c)3 nonprofit organization with hundreds of members from Loudoun and Fauquier counties who share a determination to protect and preserve the natural resources, historic heritage and rural quality of life found in this beautiful part of Virginia. Founded in 1970 to fight the discharge of sewage effluent into Goose Creek, today GCA’s programs include monitoring stream water quality, riparian buffer plantings, and watershed education on best management practices for youths and landowners. GCA also provides advocacy on proposed developments, legislation, zoning changes and other actions that have potential impacts on the environment and quality of life.GCA works with many conservation and preservation partners to provide a unified voice for conservation and preservation–minded citizens in the area. To learn more, please visit https://www.goosecreek.org.
Founded in 1992, Land Trust of Virginia partners with private landowners who wish to voluntarily protect and preserve their working farmland or natural lands with significant scenic, historic, and ecological value for the benefit of our community using conservation easements. Land Trust of Virginia is a thriving 501(c)3 non-profit organization that relies upon the generous support of their community and landowners to fulfill their mission. They are a trusted conservation partner, recognized and accredited by the Land Trust Alliance as a land trust that meets “national standards for protecting natural places and working lands forever.” To learn more, please visit https://www.landtrustva.org/.
The Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition (LCPCC), founded in December 2007, is an informal group of 55 nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations dedicated to the preservation and protection of the historic and environmental resources of Loudoun County. Visit https://loudouncoalition.org/.
The OCH Conservation Foundation (OCHCF) was founded in 2018 with a mission to enhance diverse wildlife habitats, strengthen critical connections with nature, and preserve Northern Virginia’s unparalleled rural landscape. OCHCF educational events provide for youth and adult participation and include guided trail rides and nature walks within the historic equestrian and fox-hunting countryside. These programs enhance our connections with nature, while emphasizing the importance of protecting open space and wildlife habitats. Experts in native plants, local wildlife, conservation ecology, watershed protection and sustainable agriculture lead OCHCF nature walks on trails maintained by the foundation. For more information about this 501(c)3, visit https://www.ochcf.org/.
PFHCF was founded in 2021 to foster the conservation of Virginia Piedmont’s open spaces and rural landscapes through supporting the sustainability of equestrian and sporting hound activities. PFHCF strives to build awareness and appreciation of the long-term care needed to protect our landscapes and preserve the diverse wildlife habitats that nourish the native plants and animals that share our Virginia countryside. Their commitment to preserving our historic territory drives their educational programming and citizen engagement throughout the Virginia Piedmont region. For more information about this 501(c)3, visit https://pfhconservationfund.org/.
Since 1972, PEC has proudly promoted and protected the natural resources, rural economy, history, and beauty of the Virginia Piedmont. PEC is a donor supported 501(c)3 non-profit and an accredited land trust. It is a locally grounded organization and empowers people to effect positive change in their communities by conserving land, protecting air and water quality, celebrating historic resources, building smart transportation networks, promoting sustainable energy choices, restoring wildlife habitat, and improving public access to nature. Its primary service area includes Albemarle, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock counties. To learn more, please visit https://www.pecva.org/.
The Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area’s mission is to educate and advocate for the preservation of the extraordinary historic landscape and culture of the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area for future generations.The Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area has a diverse and rich history, and their programs include presentations on Native Americans, the Revolutionary War, second son Tidewater Planters, the Early Republic, Quaker and German settlers, the Civil War, enslaved and free African Americans, into theTwentieth Century. To learn more about this 501(c)3, please visit https://www.piedmontheritage.org/.