Partnering for the Future of Eldon Farms: Conservation with Community

This month, at the Piedmont Environmental Council’s annual gathering, a bold and inspiring plan for one of Virginia’s largest private landholdings was unveiled. Eldon Farms, a 7,100-acre property in Rappahannock County, is being reimagined as a conservation reserve that integrates ecological restoration, regenerative agriculture, inclusive education, and community access.

Eldon Farms

A Conservation Legacy in the Making

When the client acquired Eldon Farms in 2021, they inherited more than land, they took on the responsibility of stewarding one of the most ecologically and culturally significant landscapes in the region. The property, originally assembled by the Lane family, was at risk of being subdivided or developed. Recognizing its importance, our client made what they called a “conservation purchase,” setting out to define what long-term stewardship could mean for a property of this scale.

Rather than defaulting to preservation alone, they embraced a more ambitious vision: to create a working landscape where restoration and production complement each other, where community and environment thrive together, and where the land tells stories of past use while inviting new learning and participation.

A Plan Rooted in Place

To bring this vision to life, the client engaged Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, a leading firm known for its work at the intersection of design, ecology, agriculture, and cultural heritage. Over the course of three years, the firm led a collaborative process involving ecologists, agricultural consultants, local advisors, and Eldon Farms staff to shape a comprehensive master plan.

The result is a vision for Eldon that integrates environmental regeneration, high-quality food production, educational programming, trail systems, and research infrastructure. Designed to evolve over time, the plan provides a foundation for Eldon Farms to become a regional hub for learning, experimentation, and connection with the land.

Responding to a Changing Landscape

As development pressures mount across Virginia, particularly from data centers and utility expansion, the Eldon Farms project stands out as a long-term investment in regenerative agriculture that enhances the ecosystem. Rather than becoming another closed property or extractive site, it will become a community resource, a model for rural vitality, and a space for forward-looking conservation.

A Shared Vision: Our Role in the Process

At Dietel Pickering & Partners, we are honored to have been part of this journey from the beginning. As a member of the project team, we helped shape the mission, convene key partners, and ensure the planning process centered values of stewardship, inclusion, and long-term impact. Our late partner Bill Dietel was a catalyst in the project’s earliest days, encouraging the client to see Eldon as a conservation opportunity with the potential to benefit the broader region.

We are grateful to the client family for their vision and partnership and for their deep commitment to the land, the community, and the generations to come.

Learn more about the project here.