Executive Summary
Acknowledgements
Finding a Place to Grow was produced by The Piedmont Environmental Council, which was founded in
1972 to protect and promote the natural resources, rural economy, history and beauty of the Virginia
Piedmont.
This publication was made possible by a grant from The Beirne Carter Foundation.
The stories were written by Whitney Pipkin, a freelance journalist from Alexandria, VA who covers
food, farms, and the environment. Her work appears in the Washington Post, Virginia Living and the
Chesapeake By Journal, among others, and she writes at thinkabouteat.com. Photos were taken by Jami
McDowell (unless otherwise noted).
For more information or questions about the stories, please visit pecva.org/placetogrow.
A Communal Approach
Photos by Jami McDowell
Photo by Jami McDowell
Photos by Jami McDowell
Earning a Herd, Opening a Store
Photos by Molly M. Peterson
Photos by Molly M. Peterson
Photos courtesy of Molly M. Peterson
Leasing from Likeminded Landowners
Ben Stowe, Heather Coiner. Photo by Jami McDowell
Little Hat Creek Farm. Photo by Heather Coiner
Ben Stowe, Heather Coiner. Photo by Jami McDowell
Veggies. Photos by Heather Coiner
Heather Coiner and Ben Stowe. Photos by Jami McDowell
Farm fresh bread. Credit Heather Coiner
Organic Farming at a Public Nature Preserve
Photos by Jami McDowell
Farm from the air. Photo courtesy of Attila Agoston
Chicken. Photo by Jami McDowell
Attila and Shawna’s son Emmet and pig. Photos by Jami McDowell.
Shawna Dewitt with goats. Photo courtesy of Attila Agoston.
Making the Most of His Family’s Land
Photos by Jami McDowell
Photos by Jami McDowell
Photo by Jami McDowell
The Model for So Many Others
Photos by Jami McDowell
Photos by Jami McDowell
Photo by Jami McDowell
Photo by Rose Jenkins
Photo by Jami McDowell
Lessons Learned at Whisper Hill Farm
Photos by Jami McDowell
Photos by Jami McDowell
Photos by Jami McDowell
Housing Development Sets Aside Land,
Funding for Farmers
Photos by Whitney Pipkin
Photos by Whitney Pipkin
Mike Snow and Deb Dramby. Photo by Molly M. Peterson
Photo by Whitney Pipkin