For restoring biodiversity, the land provides just what we need.

The Horn Farm Center is home to a multifunctional riparian buffer: a natural space where land restoration and agriculture come together. In the buffer, hundreds of native shrubs, including willows, elderberries, and dogwood, are helping to improve water and habitat quality. At the same time, they’re providing an annual supply of stems and twigs that can be cut and “staked” elsewhere to grow new plants, hence the term “live stakes.”

Live stakes are a promising, accessible resource for restoring degraded waterways across our region. In this session, we’ll explore the science of live stakes and how to harvest, store, and use woody stem cuttings for growing new trees and shrubs. We’ll also explore some of the history, uses, benefits, and characteristics of plants commonly suitable for live staking.

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

This topic is also offered as a hands-on class at the Horn Farm. Join us on Sunday, March 15th from 10AM-12:30PM for Grow A Forest with Sticks: The Secret of Live Stakes 

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.