News & Events
Extreme Makeover: Horse Farm Edition -
Chesapeake Bay-Friendly Horse Farm ProjectContact
Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District13061 Fitzwater Drive
Nokesville, VA 20181
Tel: (703) 594-3621
pwswcd@pwswcd.org
News & Events
The Chesapeake Bay~Friendly Horse Farm Project tour
for all interested persons is September 7, 6:30-7:30 pm at Oakwood Farm, 4540 Sudley Road, Gainesville. See Horse Owners page for further information and registration.Stream Cleanups topped 12 tons of trash removed from Prince William County waterways from July 2009 to June 2010. Visit the Stream Cleanup Statistics page for details.
Elizabeth Saccoccia named Ducks Unlimited
"2009 Conservationist of the Year"
Kelly Jimenez, Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District Outreach and Education Specialist (left) and Chip Rohr, co-chair of Ducks Unlimited (right), present Forest Park High School Senior Elizabeth Saccoccia (center), the Ducks Unlimited Conservationist of the Year Award at its annual dinner held on Friday, February 26, 2010.
Elizabeth is the first high school student and the fifth conservationist to receive this prestigious award named in honor of Ralph McDowell, a former Director of Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District.
The Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District nominated Elizabeth for her leadership in developing a Girl Scout Gold Award project that included learning how to use an EnviroScape Watershed Model and a Healthy Water Hopscotch game to educate the community about watersheds and sources of pollution that affect waterways. Elizabeth co-founded Forest Park's Environmental Club, volunteers at Public Lands Day and is a leader for the upcoming Earth Day activities. She will attend the College of William and Mary in the fall and plans to study environmental science and marine biology. Congratulations to Elizabeth for her outstanding work for the environment.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation recognizes local farm as the
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 Pablo and Esther Elliott, Stoney Lonesome Farm, on its’ well-deserved recognition!
If you would like assistance turning the vision you have for your property into a reality, consider contacting your local Soil and Water Conservation District. Conservation Districts are non-regulatory and work with landowners on a voluntary basis encouraging use of land management practices that maximize 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 property owner, or manager, and participation is voluntary.
The 2010-2011 school year conservation program listing is available on Educators page.
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.
Lyme Disease and Tick Borne Illnesses http://loudoun.vhost.vipnet.org/health/lyme.htm