Frequently
Asked Questions

Frequently Asked QuestionsBrandi Delancey2022-10-06T11:50:35-04:00

Questions about the Conservancy and our Programs?

To learn more, please click on the category links below for frequently asked questions.

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willowsfordconservancyandfarm

willowsfordconservancyandfarm

Nov 3

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Looks like someone invited the whole family to the holiday gathering!

Our trail camera caught five raccoons together, and apparently, nobody wanted to miss the family reunion. We’re not sure who’s hosting dinner, but we have a feeling they’re all showing up hungry.

Want to keep raccoons off your holiday guest list? Secure your trash cans and clean up food scraps so your leftovers don’t turn into a raccoon buffet!

Oct 30

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Why did the chicken cross the road? Duh, she was driving the Kubota! Someone had to make sure the feed delivery passed inspection. No time to waste when you're the head hen in charge.

Oct 29

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Our volunteer sign-ups are getting an upgrade!

Willowsford Conservancy is transitioning to a new volunteer management system called Better Impact (MyImpact)! This system will make it easier to sign up for volunteer opportunities, track your hours, view your schedule, and stay connected with our team.

Looking for volunteer opportunities in November and beyond? You’ll find upcoming activities and sign-up opportunities in MyImpact!

All volunteers, including current volunteers, will need to set up access to the new system to sign up for future opportunities.
Ready to get started?

You can access MyImpact from your computer or download the app to your phone for easy access on the go.

We appreciate your patience as we make this transition and are excited to make volunteering with us easier to manage!

Use the link in the comments to sign up!

Questions? Reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator, Sabrina, at smann@willowsfordconservancy.org.

Oct 27

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Spooky season is in full swing around Willowsford!

Bizarre mushrooms, funky fungi and eerie spiderwebs are making the outdoors feel a little more mysterious this time of year. Keep your eyes open on your next walk. You never know what you might spot hiding in plain sight!

Have you spotted something spooky, strange, or just plain fascinating around Willowsford? Share your photos with us! We’d love to see what you’ve discovered out on the trails and around the neighborhood.

Oct 23

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Winter will be here before we know it, and we have a lot to get done before it arrives. We’re inviting our community to come spend a day at the farm and help us get ready for a great 2027 growing season!

On Friday, October 30, from 9 AM to 2 PM, we’ll be planting garlic, spreading straw mulch, cleaning up the greenhouse and high tunnels, organizing tool sheds, and taking care of a few other projects. Every extra set of hands makes a difference, and we’d be grateful for any time you can give!

Can’t stay all day? No problem! Stop by for an hour, bring the kids, and lend a hand. We’ll have music playing, warm apple cider, hot chocolate, and snacks to keep everyone fueled while we work.

We love having our community out at the farm, and this is a great chance to get your hands dirty, spend some time outside, and help us prepare for the season ahead. We hope you can come lend a hand!

Oct 22

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It is the last week of the summer CSA season! Listen to Farmer Charlotte tell you what is in the last Farmer’s Choice box!

Harvest Market is this Saturday at the Grange Farm Stand from 9am-1pm!! Hope to see you there!🚜🌻

Oct 21

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Can you spot them all?

Nature’s full of hide-and-seek experts! These birds are blending right into their surroundings, and some are much easier to spot than others.

Take a close look at each photo and see how many feathered friends you can find hiding in plain sight. How many did you spot without zooming in?

Share your score in the comments! You never know what you might discover when you stop and take a closer look!

Oct 20

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Harvest Market is almost here!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 24, and spend the morning shopping local at the Willowsford Farm Stand at The Grange! With nearly 40 local vendors, there’s so much to discover, from handmade goods and unique finds to local products you won’t see just anywhere.

Join our farmers for a walking tour of the Farm, including pick-your-own sunflowers, at 10:30 AM or 12 PM.

Bring a friend, stroll through the market, support small businesses, and soak up the fall atmosphere with us. It’s the perfect way to spend a Saturday morning!

Saturday, October 24 | 9 AM–1 PM
Willowsford Farm Stand at The Grange

Oct 15

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It is the 21st week of the summer CSA season! Farmer Charlotte tells us what you can find in your Farmer’s Choice this week! Hope to see you at the Boat House tonight from 4-6pm today!!

Oct 14

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$13,895 Raised for Dulles South Food Pantry!

What a night! Our second annual Wine Down for a Cause brought beautiful fall weather, a great crowd, and an incredible show of community support to the Farm Stand recently.

Co-hosted with our partners at Stroll Willowsford, the evening featured Virginia wineries, live music, delicious food, kids’ activities, and a Silent Auction, all for a great cause.

We’re so grateful to everyone who helped make this possible, including our sponsors, participating wineries, auction donors, volunteers, and everyone who attended, purchased tickets, placed bids, or donated. Your generosity helped raise $13,895 for Dulles South Food Pantry, supporting their work to provide food to local families.

Thank you for showing up for our community and making this year’s Wine Down for a Cause such a success!

Oct 13

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The chickens got a little treat to get into the Halloween spirit!

We placed a carved pumpkin in the coop and let the girls investigate. Between the pecking, exploring, and snacking, that pumpkin kept them busy and entertained!

Who knew a pumpkin could be so much fun?

Oct 9

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School’s out October 12th. Need something fun for the kids?

Drop them off for two hours of nature-inspired creativity, exploration, and hands-on fun at our Nature-Inspired Arts & Crafts program.

Kids will use found and upcycled materials to create their own local habitat inspired by places they might find around Willowsford — ponds, meadows, forests, and more. Along the way, they’ll discover how everyday materials can be reused instead of becoming waste.

Each child will choose one simple action they can take home with them, such as using less plastic or recycling cardboard, and share what they learned with their grownups.

October 12 | 10 AM–12 PM
Boat House | 41025 Willowsford Lane, Aldie, VA 20105
Ages: School-aged children
Cost: $12
Drop-off program

Please send your child with a water bottle and a snack if needed.

It’s a school day off with a little creativity, a little nature, and a chance to give everyday materials a second life. Sign up through the link in the comments.

Oct 8

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It is the 20th week of the 2026 summer CSA season!! Come see us at the Boat House tonight from 4-6pm!!🫜🥬🥔

Oct 3

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Only a few more days!

Join professional wildlife photographer Jeff Mauritzen on October 5th for Wildlife Photography: How to Capture Nature in Motion.

With 14 years as a Photography Expert for National Geographic Expeditions, Jeff will share practical tips, stories, and incredible images from photographing wildlife around the world.

October 5th | 5–6 PM
Sycamore House | $10

Come get inspired and pick up a few new ideas for your next time behind the camera.

Link in bio for our upcoming events

Oct 2

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Before you rake up those fall leaves, take a closer look. You might be looking at luna moth habitat.

Luna moths spend much of their lives hidden from view. After feeding for several weeks on trees like walnut, hickory, sweet gum, and birch, the caterpillar eventually comes down to the forest floor.

Among the fallen leaves, it spins silk and incorporates nearby leaves into a loose, papery cocoon. Once inside, it transforms into a pupa.

Cocoons formed in late summer or fall may overwinter in the leaf litter, where the leaves provide insulation, moisture, and camouflage through the colder months.

When spring arrives, the adult luna moth emerges to begin the next generation.

That layer of leaves is more than just something to rake—it can provide important habitat for luna moths and countless other species.

Sometimes, leaving things a little messy is good for wildlife.

Oct 2

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October is here, and we have some fun things planned!

Wine Down for a Cause, wildlife photography, arts & crafts, Harvest Market, and more are happening throughout the month.

There’s a little something for everyone, so take a look at our October calendar and see what piques your interest. Visit our website to learn more and find all the details!

We hope to see you around Willowsford this October!

Sep 30

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Campfires, good food, music, and questionable decisions about how long to roast your marshmallow over the fire

Our annual Community Bonfire & Campout brought community members together for a night of good times at Hidden Meadow. Between Willard’s BBQ, live music, camping, and the Glow Party, there was plenty to keep everyone entertained—and plenty of s’mores to go around.

A big thank you to everyone who came out, camped with us, laughed around the fire, shared stories with friends, and volunteered to make another Bonfire & Campout one to remember.

We’ll see you around the fire next year!

Sep 29

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Ranger Karston recently spotted this Eastern Box Turtle while out in the field!

Eastern Box Turtles are native to Virginia and can be found in forests, fields, and other areas with plenty of cover. They’re long-lived turtles, and some can live for 50 years or more. That means the turtles we see today may have been part of this landscape for generations.

Here in Northern Virginia, one of the biggest challenges for box turtles is habitat fragmentation. As roads and development divide up natural areas, turtles have fewer safe places to move, find food, and find mates. Roads can be especially dangerous for a species that spends much of its time moving around on the ground.

Protecting larger, connected areas of natural habitat is an important part of conservation. Willowsford’s network of forests, fields, wetlands, and open space provides places for wildlife to live and move through the landscape.

If you spot an Eastern Box Turtle while you're out exploring, enjoy the sighting from a distance and let it continue on its way.

Sep 28

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Looking for something fun for your child on their day off?

Bring them to our Nature-Inspired Arts & Crafts program on October 12!

During this two-hour drop-off program, kids will use found and upcycled materials to create their own local habitat inspired by places they might find around Willowsford—ponds, meadows, forests, and more. Along the way, they’ll discover how everyday materials can be reused instead of becoming waste.

Each child will also choose one simple action they can take going forward, from using less plastic to recycling cardboard, and share their idea with their grownups.

A little creativity, a little nature, and a chance to give some everyday “trash” a second life.

Date: October 12 | 10am-12pm
Location: Boat House 41025 Willowsford Lane, Aldie, VA 20105
Ages: All School ages
Cost: $12

This is a drop-off program. Please send your child with a water bottle and snacks if needed.

Learn more and purchase tickets using the link in the comments below!

Sep 24

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It is the 18th week of the Summer CSA season!! Thank you to our friends @gatheringsprings for the Yellow onion and Delicata squash!! See you at the Boat House tonight or the Farm Stand on Saturday!