Horn Farm Happenings – June 29
Our farm doesn’t look like most of the farms in our region. Instead of a monoculture of one plant, we follow Nature’s pattern of mixing plants of various types, sizes, heights, and uses in a patchwork—-a polyculture. Arugula next to garlic next to potatoes next to squash. These patterns allow us to rotate different plant families from year to year.
Instead of bare soil between crop rows, we keep the ground covered, either with plants or with a biodegradable mulch. This keeps the soil moist and cool and allows rain to soak into the ground rather than running off carrying topsoil into our streams and rivers. 
Mixing plant species also makes it harder for plant pests to find their favorite plants. By weaving plants favored by pollinators, we attract beneficial insects to our farm.
By including nesting boxes we provide habitat for birds who remove mosquitoes and midges from the air. Hedgerows of trees provide perching spots for the raptors that hunt rabbits and voles. 
By following Nature’s lead, we can provide food for ourselves using growing methods that improve the health of the soil, the cleanliness of our water, and the wellbeing of our community.
Make your July transformative! Join wilderness expert Wilson Alvarez for an intensive primitive skill building experience! Over the course of two weekends, Wilson will lead participants through the process of bow making.
Maybe you’re someone passionate about learning techniques for survival and self reliant living.Maybe you’re an archer who loves hunting with a bow and arrow. Maybe you’re a woodworker who would love to learn a new skill. Whatever the reason, this is your chance to learn how to make hunting-quality, wooden bow and arrows from scratch with your own two hands. You will leave with your own finished bow! Wilson is a certified permaculture designer, inventor, gardener, skilled tracker, bowyer, nature-awareness instructor, and writer from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. For the past 13 years, he has studied and taught classes and workshops on bio-intensive agriculture, regenerative technology, foraging, hunting, trapping, tracking, and wilderness survival. For more information and registration: Bow Making
Just two acres of our farm keeps 43 families supplied with fresh produce!
CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Shares
Here is what we plan to include in this week’s CSA shares:
Peas
Beets
Radishes
Summer squash
Lettuce
Collards
Swiss chard
Scallions
Cabbage
Mustard greens
Green garlic (use as you would garlic)
Garlic scapes (use as you would garlic)
Apple mint
Chives
Enjoy!
Not a CSA member? There’s still time to join. Click here for more information.
Upcoming events:
June 30 – Monthly Foraging
July 3 – Tuesday Evening Farm Work Crew
July 7 – First Saturday Volunteer Work Day
July 10 – Tuesday Evening Farm Work Crew
July 14, 15, 28, 29 – Bowmaking
July 17 – Tuesday Evening Farm Work Crew
July 21 – Monthly Farm Tour
July 23 – Tuesday Evening Farm Work Crew
July 24 – Preserving Herbs
July 31 – Tuesday Evening Farm Work Crew
July 31 – Knife Skills for the Home Cook
August 4 – First Saturday Volunteer Work Day
August 21 – Seasonal Eat & Meet
See you at the farm!
This photo was taken at a neighboring farm where the field above the grass is bare–without any living vegetative cover. As you can see, the water is carrying precious topsoil directly into the stream. This small stream is a tributary to Kreutz Creek which empties directly into the Susquehanna River at Wrightsville. Imagine what happens where the ground has been covered with buildings, parking lots, and roads. Where does that water go? It finds its way into streams and rivers sometimes getting filtered at a wastewater treatment plant, but often not.