Ashburn Schools Recognized in PEC Garden Contest

The winners of the Piedmont Environmental Council’s first School & Community Garden Awards have been announced and four Loudoun County gardens received honorable mentions, including two Ashburn public school gardens. The friendly competition recognizes gardens that focus on the relationship between nature, food and community by awarding six school or community gardens with cash awards – three $300 awards and three $500 awards.

Eligible gardens were located in the PEC’s working area, were active during the 2012 growing season and involved the community. The PEC sought gardens that grew edible plants, provided pollinator plants and other wildlife habitat, and featured native plants.

The PEC received 22 entries representing gardens from communities across the organization’s nine-county region. The gardens nominated from Loudoun include:

• Blandy Experiemental Farm
• Dominion Trail Elementary School
• Mill Run Elementary School
• Purcellville Community Garden

“This was our first year to offer the awards and we were surprised by the number of applications we received,” said Jessica Palmer, PEC’s Buy Fresh Buy Local Coordinator, in a press release. “It’s so great to see a mix of school and community gardens in our area, and we are excited to recognize six dedicated and inspiring gardens!”

The six that won the featured awards include:

$500 awards

• Auburn Middle School’s  “Farm 2 Table Garden” (Fauquier)
• Buford Middle School’s “City Schoolyard Garden” (Charlottesville)
• Culpeper Community Garden at CFC Farm and Home Center.

$300 awards

• PEC has selected The Haven’s “PATCH Community Garden” (Charlottesville)
• Madison County’s Community Garden and “School Pizza Garden” (Madison)
• Rappahannock County Elementary School’s “Farm-to-Table Garden.”

To see a full list and photos of the gardens nominated this year, visit www.pecva.org/gardenawards. PEC will again award school and community gardens in 2013. Information about nominating a garden will be online at www.pecva.org in April.