We believe that our power and our resilience lie in our relationships. We have a long road ahead of us, but we know the future is bright.
On the night of October 25th, lightning struck the Horn Farm Center’s historic farm house, destroying the 2nd and 3rd floors. While we are devastated, we are incredibly thankful for the outpouring of support, prayers, and well wishes from our community. We are endlessly grateful to the dozens of first responders, who worked through the night to get the situation under control. A special thanks to Hellam Fire Company for leading the efforts.
First and foremost, we are in need of significant financial support. The farmhouse was the base of our operations from which we have served the York community for the past 17 years. We plan to rebuild as quickly and as sustainably as possible. But that rebuild will take time. Further, we are fortunate to have insurance, but our expenses will almost certainly exceed any insurance funds we receive.
Over the past several months the organization has been working tirelessly on a new strategic plan, positioning the organization for growth and broader impact – both on the land and in our community. In addition to addressing our immediate needs due to this crisis, we are preparing to do whatever it takes to usher this new and evolving vision of our future into reality. We are absolutely certain that together we will persevere. Let the ashes of this tragedy be fertile soil for our future growth and resilient community.
We have a significant number of needs that are changing day by day. This page will be updated regularly to provide the best picture of how you can help in our evolving situation.
Material Needs & Professional Assistance
We have a number of immediate needs, specifically related to the set-up of our interim operational facility and dealing with the impact of the lightning strike on our facility. Thanks to a generous donation from Kinsley Construction, we will be renovating and outfitting a small used mobile job-site trailer that will be used as our headquarters until we are able to rebuild. Some of our needs include:
- An additional mobile office unit or an RV/camper (donation or loan)
- Pellet Stove – to provide heat to our pole barn, the farmhouse was the only heated building on site.
- A pick-up truck (loan or donation)
- Building Supplies
- Flooring – vinyl or wood – and flooring adhesive
- Paint – interior and exterior, preferably self-priming for metal
- Lumber and plywood
- Tools – table saw, saw horses, ect.
- Professional Plumbing Services
- Waste Removal
For questions about specifics or to donate physical materials or supplies, please contact us at info@hornfarmcenter.org.
Other In-Kind Donations & Equipment
Do you have tools, equipment, and other materials available for donation? Helping to support our general operational needs will help us allocate more resources to our fire recovery efforts. Some of our land stewardship related needs include:
- Rotary Tiller – will be used in the community gardens to increase accessibility for a diverse array of abilities
- Electric Lawn Equipment (weed-wacker, push mower, clippers, etc.)
- Push Mower
- Riding Mower
- Rain Barrels or Food Safe IBC Containers
- Garden Hoses
- Compost Bins or Compost Bin Materials
- Hand Tools – broad forks, scythes, pitch forks, digging forks, shovels, trowels
- Flame Weeder
- Pop-Up Tents
Seed Inventory
While the farmhouse is being rebuilt we will continue to grow! We are in need of seeds for our 2022 farm season. Our entire seed inventory, which was stored on the second floor of the farmhouse, was destroyed in the fire. We are very mindful about the seeds that we cultivate on the farm. There are a few select seed companies from which we source untreated, organic seeds. If you are able, we would be grateful for gift cards/certificates from the following seed companies:
- Johnny’s Organic Seeds
- Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company
- Strictly Medicinal Seeds
- High Mowing Seed Company
For questions about specifics or to donate physical materials, supplies, or seeds, please contact us at info@hornfarmcenter.org.
Volunteers
In the interest of public safety, the farmhouse mitigation and restoration efforts will be handled entirely by professionals. We do not need help cleaning up from the fire at this time. However, most of our farm and forest work is still pressing as we work to address our immediate needs related to the fire and our facilities. Please contact us if you are able to help out on the farm. Some of the work activities include:
- Mowing and landscaping
- Fall field clean-up
- Garlic planting
- Cover cropping
- Trail Maintenance
- Weeding
- Invasive Removal
For volunteer on the farm, please contact us at education@hornfarmcenter.org.
Thanks for Your Support!
A special thanks to the following individuals and business for responding quickly and helping us in our time of need:
- Kinsley Construction
- Powder Mill Foundation
- J. William Warehime Foundation
- Jeff Rohrbaugh
- PennWaste
- Hellam Township
- Energy Opportunities
- Bill Dewan/NP WordSmiths
- Dani Beam/Beam Consulting
- Leonard Leiphart
- Rich McGowan
- Mike Martin, Twin Brook Farm
- CS Davidson
- Leg Up Farmers Market & their customers
- ReSource York
- TIPPETTS/WEAVER architects, inc. – Wendy Tippetts
- Buzz Schindler/Stombach & Schindler
- John Wright Restaurant
- Double Dog Communications
- Home Depot
- Capital Electric Supply
- FirstEnergy
- Mid-Atlantic Media Hub Fund of York County Community Foundation
- Anonymous Fund of York County Community Foundation
- York County Community Foundation Agriculture & Land Preservation Fund
- Bruce Sauder
- Tim Griffin/York Electrical Institute
- Aaron Brown/Phunk Soul Brothaa
- Kilgore Family Farm
- Daniel & Lori Laird & the Commonwealth Fire Protection Family
- ShipleyEnergy
- Holleran Consulting
- Traditions Bank
- York Young Professionals
- Steve Gohn/Allstate
- Lancaster Conservancy
- York Water Company
- LadyBug EarthCare
- Marc Laucks Photography
- Kwee-Jack Fish Co.