Author Archive: Alyson Earl

Horn Farm Happenings – April 7

potting up seedlings
Preparation for our Heirloom Plant Sale on May 6 starts months ahead. Depending on their needs, seeds are planted in trays of 32, 72, 98, or 128. Once the seedlings emerge they get ‘potted up’ into 3″ or 4″ pots where they live until the plant sale. This year we will have more than 15,000 plants–over 300 varieties of flowers, fruits, herbs, and vegetables. Click here for a list of plants.

plant sale plants in greenhouse
Our volunteers are the ones who make the plant sale possible. If you have a few hours to help with the plant sale, please sign up here.

plant sale plants in greenhouse

Cycle the Solstice Riders Ready to Go

Save the date for our third annual Cycle the Solstice! On Saturday, June 24, The Cycle Works of Wrightsville, Pennsylvania will be hosting the third annual Cycle the Solstice bicycle ride to benefit The Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education. Cycle the Solstice is a 10-, 20-, 30-, 62-, or 100-mile fun bike ride through York and Lancaster counties. More information and registration here.

brassicas

It’s time to plant cool weather crops like kale, collards, cabbage, broccoli, and scallions, and we have plants for sale! Visit our online farm stand to place your order, then pick up your plants Saturday from 9 to 12 at the Horn Farm Center. Online Farm Stand

 

Horn Farm Happenings – March 31

Tilling the community garden plots
Each year, we aim to open the seasonal community garden plots on or around April 1–depending on the weather. Yesterday, Jon got the plots tilled, but since we are replacing the stakes with the plot numbers on them, the gardens won’t be open until next Saturday, April 8. Once again, all 102 plots have been rented.

In the field of mental health, horticulture therapy is something that is used in many types of care settings. The thinking behind it is that growing plants teaches us something about ourselves, about our relationships with others, increases our self-esteem, reduces stress, and allows us to pursue healthy activities which contribute to our overall well-being. This year, we are welcoming the staff and children from a local therapeutic after school program who will be gardening here at the Horn Farm.  The farm is close enough to their York city program that the Horn Farm can be the “green space” experience these kids so very much need today. Thank you to Rutter’s Farm Stores which has generously granted the funds needed for seeds, equipment, and transportation costs for the entire season.

permaculture 101
Permaculture is a practice that is steeped in deep observation, understanding relationships, and designing systems that meet our needs while simultaneously caring for the Earth and providing for future generations. Using nature as our guide and mentor, we can interact with the world in ways that are regenerative, fun, and fulfilling. Permaculture principles form the basis for everything we do here at the farm–whether it is the design of the farm internship or the field map we use for planning when and where crops will be grow throughout the season. On April 9, we are offering Introduction to Permaculture. This six hour class will provide a foundational understanding of what permaculture is (and isn’t) – the history, ethics, principles, and design process. The class is filled with opportunities to interact, be creative, and spend time indoors and out.

Mark your calendars for our Heirloom Plant Sale taking place on Saturday, May 6. The list of plants we plan to have can be found here.

Horn Farm Happenings – March 24

seedlings for plant sale
We had a busy week at the farm! We transplanted hundreds of seedlings into bigger pots so they have room to grow in time for the Heirloom Plant Sale on May 6.


We received a truckload of 50 pound sacks of seed potatoes for our farm and other local farms including Spoutwood Farm, Dietz Produce, Goldfinch Farm, and Prescott’s Patch. Each 50 pound bag will yield roughly 500 pounds of potatoes for distribution to our CSA members.


On Thursday, a group from this year’s Leadership York class came to the farm with the volunteers and supplies to build the 20 tables we need for the new greenhouse.  They stepped in to help just in time as we have no more room for plants in the first greenhouse and there’s so much more we need to seed. Thank you to you all!

Tomorrow we will have our Introduction to Healthy Soils class in the morning and in the afternoon the first of the Foraging Intensive classes begins.

Next week the Community Gardens orientation happens Monday evening at 6:30, there’s a Starting Your Garden class on Thursday evening, and on Saturday you the Wild Lands Immersion begins with The Art of Seeing and the Science of Observation. Also on Saturday, we are offering the Basics of Food Preservation.

We look forward to seeing you at the Farm!