Ecological wonders abound in Pennsylvania’s Lower Susquehanna Riverlands. North America’s largest edible tree fruit, the pawpaw (Asimina triloba), is one of the most iconic.

Like many of the “wild” foods that fill our landscapes, the pawpaw has recently received renewed attention after decades in the shadows. But despite its return to the spotlight, this short-lived, delectable fruit has a rich and rooted history in eastern North America, weaving its way through ecologies and cultures in ways that may just be legendary. 

Join us for an educational talk combining natural history, ethnobotany, agroforestry, and more as we remember “America’s forgotten fruit.” We’ll explore the many curiosities of pawpaw, answering questions like: 

• How do you identify and forage this unusual fruit?,
• Where did it come from, and why does it taste so tropical?,
• Is pawpaw toxic? Should we even be eating it?, and …
• What is the future of the pawpaw amid ecological destruction and a changing climate?

Bring your own pawpaw questions too! Q&A time will be set aside. 

Happening Tuesday, September 1st, 6:00PM - 7:30PM ET

This webinar arrives as the Horn Farm gets ready to celebrate the 22nd annual York County Pawpaw Festival. Purchase tickets for Saturday, September 19th as we spotlight the pawpaw and the riverlands region that this storied fruit calls home.

If you’ve never heard of or tasted the pawpaw, this talk is a perfect primer to get you ready for the festival!

Program Notes:

Accessing the Webinar:

Register here to receive the link for this webinar. The link will be included in a follow-up email confirming your registration.

Audience & Format: 

This program is designed for adult and young adult audiences. The presentation will begin shortly after 6PM and conclude between 7 and 7:15PM. Remaining time will be set aside for a live audience Q&A. 

To support community-building, this webinar will be hosted in Zoom's regular meeting format. While cameras may be on or off, note that other audience members will be visible in the meeting. 

Cost: 

The Horn Farm Center requests a minimum registration fee of $5 to join this program. Proceeds support the Horn Farm's mission to foster ecological learning through land stewardship, community partnership, and hands-on experiences. If you are able, we encourage you to contribute extra at registration. 

Cancellation: 

All programs are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. Participants will receive an email in the days preceding the program for any changes or cancellations. You can review our current Cancellation and Refund Policy here. 

About the Presenter:

Andrew Leahy

Education & Outreach Specialist (+ pawpaw forager), Horn Farm Center

Growing up in a rural town called Sweet Valley, just south of Ricketts Glen, Andrew spent his life fostering a love for the PA wilds. He attended Muhlenberg College in Allentown and majored in English Literature and Music Composition while exploring regional ecology, slow food, composting, gardening, and foraging in the spaces between. This eventually led him to the staff of the Horn Farm Center, where, as the Education & Outreach Specialist, he leads and coordinates classes, engages volunteers, and oversees communications and outreach. 

Andrew is an avid forager and student of wild spaces, interested in rekindling ways of living on the landscape that are place-sourced and mutually nurturing. Valuable learning experiences for him include the Horn Farm's Regenerative Grower, Ecological Gardener, and former Land Steward Training Programs and the Northern Appalachia School's Foundations of Bioregional Herbalism course. Presently, he co-teaches the Horn Farm's 10-week Forager Training Program in addition to monthly and plant-specific wild foods classes.