Learn how to build a functional forest from the ground up, practically anywhere.

The work of restoring local plant communities is necessarily humbling. Especially when trees are involved, it exceeds our lifetimes. But the delayed gratification of restoration need not always be the case.

For the past several years, the Horn Farm Center has explored one intervention for achieving restoration leaps at a human scale, and quickly. Rapid reforestration may help communities meet the urgency of today's ecological crises, and this time-tested method offers a promising pathway for doing so, even in the most unexpected places. 

In this session, we’ll discuss the Miyawaki Method for planting rapid-growth mini forests from the ground up. We'll branch into its history and ecological underpinnings, basic premises of the process, and current examples of mini forest systems at the Horn Farm Center. While mini forests were initially designed for urban and industrial contexts, we'll shed light on agricultural and residential spaces as worthy contenders for rapid rewilding. 

This topic is also offered as an in-person experience at the Horn Farm. Join us on DATE TBD for Meet a Mini Forest: The Miyawaki Method. 

Happening Tuesday, Febraury 10th, 6:00PM - 7:30PM ET

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 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. 

Other Online Classes: 

This program is part of the Horn Farm Center's 2026 Winter Webinar Series, Regenerative Roots. Throught the series, the Horn Farm's staff and special guest speakers will dig into regenerative land care practices, exploring ways we can improve ecological health while fostering abundant local landscapes, from small farms to backyards.

Click here to learn more about the Winter Webinar Series and sign up for additional sessions. All sessions will take place on Tuesday evenings throughout the winter, 6PM EST. Participants can register for individual sessions or the full series (six sessions) at a discounted rate. 

About the Presenter:

Andrew Leahy

Education & Outreach Specialist

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.

Beyond the farm, Andrew leads a book club for the Lancaster Composting Co-Ops, volunteers as a land steward with the Lancaster Conservancy, and spends Saturdays selling produce at Green Circle Organics in Lancaster Central Market.