News & Events


Contact

Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District
13061 Fitzwater Drive
Nokesville, VA 20181
Tel: (703) 594-3621
pwswcd@pwswcd.org




Stream Buffer Educational Program Elliott CSA Garden Farm Field Days

News & Events

Chesapeake Bay-Friendly Horse Farm Project Seminars being held across the state - March - May 2010

We will be having seminars on our Chesapeake Bay-Friendly Horse Farm Project statewide! Below is our schedule. If you are interested in any of these seminars, please Nicole Ethier. We will also be doing local seminars/tours in the near future, so keep a look out for them!

March 13, 2010 (Sat) Virginia Beach, VA
March 18-19, 2010 (Thur.-Fri.) Danville, VA
March 26, 2010 (Fri.) Lexington, VA
April 10, 2010 (Sat.) Farmville, VA
April 24, 2010 (Sat.) Culpeper, VA
May 5, 2010 (Wed.) Sweet Briar, VA
May 6, 2010 (Thur.) Bristol, VA
May 7, 2010 (Fri.) Clintwood, VA
See our Horse Owners page for more information about the project.

2010 Academic College Scholarship

The Virginia Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts (VASWCD) Educational Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Awards Program will award four $1,000 scholarships statewide. Applicants must demonstrate an active interest in conservation. Click here for guidelines and application.

Prince William County applicants will send completed applications to Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District. One applicant will be selected and that application will be forwarded to the VASWCD for consideration for the statewide scholarship. Applications must be received by Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District (PWSWCD) by March 17, 2010 to allow for proper review at the district level before choosing and sending one application to VASWCD.

Youth Conservation Camp

July 18-24, 2010 at Virginia Tech
Students in grades 9-12 are eligible for this camp, which is coordinated by the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Topics include: lake ecology, fisheries management, forestry and wildlife issues, turf grass management, land use planning, soils, agricultural best management practices, geology, shoreline erosion and stream morphology. (See flyer for camp scholarship information.)

If you have any questions, please call the PWSWCD at (703) 594-3621.  Applications must be completed and submitted to the PWSWCD by April 23, 2010.


VA Forage and Grassland Council Equine Seminar

March 5, 8am - 3pm - Mare Center, Middleburg for information cporr@vt.edu

USDA Summer Internships

 available for college all students

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation recognizes local farm as a

Pablo & 2009 Bay Friendly Clean Water Farm

Pablo and Esther Elliott of Stoney Lonesome Farm in Gainesville, Virginia were nominated by the Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District (PWSWCD) to win this year’s local award.  The 90-acre farm has been in the Elliott family since 1971 and is one of 2,000 farms in the United States that participate in the Community Supported Agriculture program.  The farm operates under a soil and water quality conservation plan and a forest management plan using best management practices that protect the environment while supporting the farmers’ production goals. 

Community Supported Agriculture farms operate with the help non-farming members that purchase a share in the farm and in return receive fresh, locally grown products.  Often shareholders may help with planting and harvest.  The Elliotts’ operation has the added bonus of being a completely organic farm that uses natural production methods designed to protect air and water quality while improving soil fertility with compost and green cover crops.  Currently about 50 shareholder families enjoy Stoney Lonesome’s produce.

PWSWCD staff began working with the Elliotts in 2008.  In addition to their 3-acre organic garden they have a 45-acre rotational grazing system for cattle, goats, and horses.  The Elliotts also raise chickens.  The implemented grazing system excludes a pond and Resource Protection Area stream in the Broad Run watershed.  These sensitive areas are protected by 35-50 foot wide buffers of tall grasses and trees that filter and slow the velocity in rainwater flow, keeping the waterways cleaner and reducing erosion damage caused by fast moving water. 

Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District congratulates Pable and Esther Elliott, Stoney Lonesome Farm, on its’ well-deserved recognition! 

If you would like assistance turning the vision you have for your farm into a reality, consider contacting your local Soil and Water Conservation District.  Conservation Districts are non-regulatory and work with farmers on a voluntary basis encouraging use of land management practices that maximize farming production while protecting natural resources.  Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District is one of 47 conservation districts in Virginia and one of thousands across the U.S.  Districts were formed during the dust bowl era to bring technical, educational, and financial resources to the community they serve and address local natural resources issues. 

Each conservation district is unique.  PWSWCD not only works with traditional farms and the horse community but offers extensive youth education programs on natural resources reaching over 19,000 students last year.  Prince William County residents can contact Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District at (703) 594-3621.  All assistance is provided at no cost to the farm owner or manager and participation is voluntary.  Winter is a great time for planning so you’ll be ready for spring.

Envirothon

 The Virginia Envirothon is an annual competition for teams of high school students to show their knowledge of environmental science and natural resource management. Each team demonstrates their training and problem-solving skills in a competition focused on soils/land use, aquatics, ecology, forestry, wildlife and this year's environmental issue is "Protection of Groundwater through Urban, Agricultural, and Environmental Planning." The competitions will be held April 21 in Fairfax. Register through Kelly Jimenez or call 703.594.3621. Additional information at Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts or Envirothon.

Prince William at Bay January issue of our District newsletter includes:
- 2009 "Bay Friendly Clean Water Farm Award" recipients Esther and Pablo Elliott, Stoney Lonesome Farm (CSA)
- Healthy Horses and a Healthier Chesapeake Bay Seminar information
-Michael Budd, Regional Private Lands Biologist, provides landowners with technical assistance regarding wildlife habitat restoration and cost share financial incentives
-USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation programs


The 2009-2010 school year conservation program listing is available on Educators page.

Summer/Fall Adopt-A-Stream Cleanups are a Huge Success! From July through December 254 volunteers cleaned 17.5 miles of streams, picked up 5,884 pounds of trash, and 3 new miles of stream have been adopted! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! A big THANK YOU to all of the groups that cleaned streams and helped to improve water quality in Prince William County! We really appreciate your efforts!
To see get more information or the complete list of group clean ups click here.

What's going on at the corner of Route 234 and Catharpin Road, Catharpin? We know. See the update on our Chesapeake Bay Horse Farm Project on the Horse Owners page.

Conservation on Your Horse Property Can Save you Time and Money, and help the Environment, too! See our Horse Owners page for valuable information.