In this nine-day intensive course, you will dig deeply into the vision, theory, and practice of designing wholesome, dynamic, and resilient edible ecosystems using temperate deciduous forests as models. 

Dave Jacke and his team will offer creative experiential classes, lectures, site walks and design exercises to help you understand how the architecture, social structure, underground economics, and successional processes of natural forests apply to the design of edible ecosystems of all kinds. 

You’ll learn a variety of ecological design processes while designing a range of food-producing ecosystems at Horn Farm Center. Design projects could include designing forest gardens for: urban or suburban homesteads, or farm-scale (2 to 100 acres). We’ll also engage with issues of garden management, economics, and the deep paradigmatic shifts required to succeed at co-creating “humanatural” landscapes and cultures. 

You will leave inspired and empowered to design food forests at home for yourself, and your friends, neighbors, and clients.

Friday, October 16 - Sunday, October 25

All sessions held at the Horn Farm Center

The exact schedule for this course is not yet established, but typically each day will begin at 8 AM and include multiple sessions and activities from morning through the afternoon and all but two evenings. The program officially begins on Friday, October 16 at 5:00 PM and concludes on Sunday, October 25 at 2:00 PM.

Meals & Lodging

Please complete this required survey as part of your registration. 

The information you provide will help our chef prepare individualized meals according to dietary restrictions and sensitivities. We will also be able to collect lodging plans so we can assist traveling students with coordinating accomodations. 

Program Cost & Payment

This program offers sliding scale tuition. When registering, you will select the cost tier that best aligns with your financial flexibility. Any amounts paid over the base of the sliding scale go to a scholarship fund supporting access for those with financial constraints.

Program costs cover tuition and all meals. Meals will be prepared by York-based chef Liza Naylor of Locally Seasoned. 

• Standard Cost: $2150
• Reduced Cost: $1850
  • At 85% of the standard rate, the reduced cost is meant for folks with financial constraints who need assistance to join the program.
  • If additional cost offsets are needed, please check in with us at education@hornfarmcenter.org to see if scholarship funding is available.
• Pay-It-Forward: $2450
  • At 115% of the standard rate, pay-it-forward helps us offset the cost of supporting reduced rate registrations. This option is encouraged for folks with financial means who would like to support access for other participants.

To enroll in a payment plan for any tier on the sliding scale, register by submitting a $250 non-refundable deposit. 

Instructions for submitting future payments will be shared with you via email within the week of your registration. Regardless of payment plan frequency, all payments will be due by October 15, 2026. 

• Before June 15: students receive a four-part, monthly payment plan (unless otherwise requested) 
• After June 15: students receive a two-part payment plan (unless otherwise requested)

Learn More:

For full program details, including content, lodging, and other cost-covering strategies, visit the Forest Garden Design Intensive web page: hornfarmcenter.org/fgdi/