Happenings

We planted 470 more trees this week as we wrapped up the first phase of our six-acre stream corridor planting. More than 1000 more trees and shrubs have been ordered and will be planted in the spring. If planting all of those trees weren’t exciting enough, we were thrilled to learn this week that the Horn Farm Center will receive $191,600 over the next three years to plant an additional 20 acres of riparian buffer at the farm! Here is the official press release: Wolf Administration Invests in Income-Producing Stream Buffer Projects to Benefit Local Economy, Water Quality

photo: Michelle Johnsen

photo: Michelle Johnsen

Through our Regenerative Farming Internship we are educating skilled land stewards who, by restoring ecological balance to our place on the earth, are better able to feed our community. This is a part-time, hands-on training program for people with 0 to 2 years of farm or gardening experience. The program provides foundational knowledge and practical skills for those interested in small-scale, regenerative farming and permaculture-based production methods. This program will be valuable and suitable for anyone interested in exploring a future in small-scale vegetable production as well as anyone interested in learning growing skills for the purpose of homesteading, gardening, and feeding themselves and their community. Class size is limited. Find out more!

What is regenerative agriculture? In week 12 of this 12 part series, we’ll consider this indicator of an ecologically healthy farm system: increasing resilience to external circumstances. Examples include building small ponds and check dams to keep water and soil on the farm during flooding rain and to provide water during drought periods, planting perennials in addition to annual crops as the deeper root systems of perennial plants allows them to endure weather extremes, saving seed from plants that have shown to be particularly well suited to growing on this farm. In addition, cross training our staff and volunteers to be able to step in to accomplish jobs or tasks allows us more operating flexibility. Thanks for following this 12 part series and look for even more good information about regenerative agriculture in 2019!

Upcoming events:
Horn Farm Holiday Break – Limited staffing at the farm from December 20 through January 1. Please be patient if you contact us during this time. We will be back at work on January 2 refreshed and ready for 2019! Happy Holidays!

2019 Regenerative Farming Internship
2019 Foraging Intensive

February 9 – Introduction to Lacto-Fermentation
March 23 – Wilderness Skills: The Art of Seeing & Nature Observation
March 30 – Wilderness Skills: Shelter Building & Finding Water
April 13 – Wilderness Skills: Ancient Art of Fire by Friction
April 20 – Wilderness Skills: Foraging, Hunting & Trapping
April 27 – Wilderness Skills: Advanced Primitive Hunting Techniques

See you at the farm!

photo: Michelle Johnsen

2019 Horn Farm CSA registration is open! Early bird discount through January 31.

What is a CSA? CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. In the CSA model, members of the community pledge support to a farm, with the grower and consumers sharing the risks and benefits of food production. The consumer (shareholder) pays a fee at the beginning of the season in exchange for a regular, weekly share of the harvest. The farmer benefits from the financial support at the beginning of the season and the shareholders benefit from knowing they have a reliable, weekly supply of fresh, seasonal, chemical-free produce. The shareholder understands that the unpredictability of weather, pest problems, and other factors may result in some crops being bountiful while others may suffer setbacks. The CSA model is a relationship connecting the land, the grower, and consumer thereby putting us in closer touch with each other and the land which sustains us.

What’s in the shares?
Crops included in the shares will vary as different things come in and out of season, with the early season shares tending to be smaller and then rising as more crops come into their peak.

We have the following items on our growing schedule this year: Arugula, Basil, Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cantaloupe, Celery, Cilantro, Cucumbers, Dandelion Greens, Dill, Eggplant, Garlic, Green Onions & Bulb Onions, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Parsley, Peas, Peppers (Hot & Sweet), Potatoes, Radishes, Spinach, Squash (Summer & Winter), Strawberries, Sweet Potatoes, Swiss Chard, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watermelon, various herbs, and more.

The CSA season lasts 22 weeks beginning in late May or early June until October or early November. Shares are available for pick up on Tuesdays at the Horn Farm from 2:30-6:30 PM. For more information: Horn Farm CSA.

We’re wrapping up 2018 and looking forward to 2019! We’ve put the first class on the calendar: Introduction to Lacto-Fermentation, which takes place Saturday, February 9, 2019. Usually food preservation happens BEFORE the lean times of winter, but this intro course will prep you for the upcoming bountiful harvests of the spring and summer seasons as well as help get your palate through the rest of those bland winter doldrums with the creation of a zesty and healthful side dish/condiment.

Lacto-fermentation is the ancient art of preserving vegetables using salt. The use of salt in an anaerobic environment inhibits pathogenic bacterial growth and allows only the lactic acid bacteria to thrive, converting natural sugars of vegetables into zingy, tangy, sour, umami!

This is an interactive workshop geared for the newbie fermenter and will begin by priming your palette with SAMPLES of some recent fermentations made by the facilitators whilst discussing the health benefits of lacto-fermented foods. Click here for more information and to register. This class takes place in our historic summer kitchen, so space is limited to 14 participants.

What is regenerative agriculture? In week 11 of this 12 part series, we’ll consider this indicator of an ecologically healthy farm system: increasing flows between farm components. Examples include directing rainwater from the barn roofs to the pond used for irrigation, improving the ecological health of the woods and hedgerows increases habitat for beneficial birds and insects, using overgrown vines and shrubs as wildlife stacks or fuel for biochar.

Upcoming events:
December 8 – Foraging: Winter

2019 Regenerative Farming Internship
2019 Foraging Intensive

February 9 – Introduction to Lacto-Fermentation
March 23 – Wilderness Skills: Nature Awareness & Observation
March 30 – Wilderness Skills: Shelter & Water
April 13 – Wilderness Skills: Fire
April 20 – Wilderness Skills: Food, Foraging, Hunting & Trapping
April 27 – Wilderness Skills: Advanced Hunting Techniques

See you at the farm!

photo: Michelle Johnsen

You spoke, we listened! The 2019 Foraging Intensive has been redesigned to make it an even more valuable and enjoyable learning experience. Changes include a more academic approach to learning, smaller class size, more hands on activities, more sampling of nature’s best wild flavors, and more classes in a shorter time period. Check out the website for more information and to register.

What is regenerative agriculture? In week 10 of this 12 part series, we’ll consider this indicator of an ecologically healthy farm system: increasing levels of food self sufficiency. You’ve heard the statistics about how far food travels from the place where it was grown before it is eaten. On average, food travels between 1,500 and 2,500 miles to get from farm to table.  The current food distribution system is unwisely dependent on fossil fuels, subsidizes unhealthy food products, depletes the soil, pollutes water, and weakens rural economies. For every dollar spent on food an average of only 14.8 cents goes to the farmer. In addition, relying on food from outside of our local area leaves us vulnerable to anything that suddenly slows or halts transportation such as extreme weather events, fuel shortages, or acts of terrorism. For these reasons and more, we are working to increase the diversity of crops grown at the Horn Farm, and we collaborate with other local farms such as Rising Locust Farm to make it easier for people to meet their food needs from the local area.

Upcoming events:
December 8 – Foraging: Winter

2019 Beekeeper Training
2019 Regenerative Farming Internship
2019 Foraging Intensive

See you at the farm!