The Horn Farm Community Crew is a new dedicated volunteer program launching in the summer of 2023. Community crew members will help with specialized projects at the Horn Farm focused on ecological revival and natural infrastructure in our rewilding spaces. Crew members will receive hands-on learning (and a workout!) through helping with projects like:
- Blazing and maintaining woodland walking trails.
- Building and repairing water infrastructure like check dams, Zuni bowls, and trail bridges (all designed using materials sourced from our forests).
- Clearing dispersive plants and bolstering with native plantings; weeding recently-planted areas like Miyawaki plots and our new hillside food forest.
- Creating, repairing, and preserving habitat sites like vernal pools and wildlife stacks.
- Planting and maintaining tree saplings in woodland and riparian areas.
- Collecting and dispersing native seeds for wild propagation.
- Maintaining tools.
Attending at least one (1) training is a required component of this program. All training days will cover the same topics, including: the Horn Farm's land management approaches, land ethics, tool use and safety, plant identification, current needs and goals, and team-building.
Trained volunteers who are interested in attending additional training days (to revisit skills, hang out, etc.) may sign up as desired.
Full details about this program can be found at hornfarmcenter.org/community-crew/.
Waiver/Release
ALL VOLUNTEERS must read and sign the Horn Farm Center's liability waiver and media release form in order to participate in the Community Crew. Forms will be provided for signing in-person on training days.
What to bring:
Please wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes, dress to get dirty, and bring your own water bottle (refills will be available). We have gloves on hand for those who need them, though we ask that participants bring their own gloves.
We'll open half an hour for lunch between 12 and 1pm. Pizza and snacks will be provided by the Horn Farm Center, and participants are also welcome to bring their own prepared lunch. A fridge and a microwave are available on site.
Physical Activity Note:
While we want to make volunteering accessible to anyone interested in land stewardship, it's necessary for us to flag that some aspects of this program are physically demanding. Volunteers will never be asked to work beyond their comfort area or capacity, but most tasks will require a range of bodily activities including lifting and moving heavy materials, using hand tools, bushwhacking, and walking on uneven, sometimes muddy and unstable terrain. We recommend that participants be in good health with moderate physical strength to participate.
York, PA 17406
United States