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Agroforestry is an agricultural production system that incorporates perennial plants like trees and shrubs. This regenerative, climate-smart farming offers exciting environmental, economic, and creative promise in our region.
That’s why we’ve partnered up with PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Penn State Extension and basketry artisans from Foggy Blossom Farm to bring you a day of hands-on learning to explore agroforestry projects at the Horn Farm Center!
Through a combination of hands-on volunteering and educational programs, we’ll spend the day exploring two versatile agroforestry products taking shape in the Horn Farm Center’s riparian buffers: shrub willows for basketry and native riparian plants suitable for live staking.
Whether you are new to agroforestry or a seasoned land steward, this Agroforestry Work & Learn offers hands-on experience in the field, time with fellow agroforestry enthusiasts, and the opportunity to hear from experts and practitioners from the Horn Farm, Foggy Blossom Farm, and our state partners.
Participants will also get to take home willow materials and live stake cuttings for their own projects.
Willow Coppicing (9:00AM-10:00AM)
Riparian Buffer Tour & Live Stake Cutting (10:45AM – 11:45AM)
Woodland Tour (12:00PM – 1:00PM)
Intro to Basketry (2:00PM – 3:00PM)
What does a former student have to say about their experiences learning with the Horn Farm Center?
“In my first class, Wilson said that someone could make this type of work their full time job. I didn’t think much of it at first because I was working for a conventional native landscaper from Lancaster at the time, but the following year upon leaving that company, I decided to start my own native landscaping LLC called Restoring Creation Land Care. I have done organic land management (pulling weeds and bed prep without chemicals), pollinator beds, rain gardens, and more.
My favorite practice is woodland restoration, using a lot of what I learned in the Land Steward Training Program to manage woods for invasive species (without using chemicals) and erosion control. I created a successful business based on what I learned at the Horn Farm Center. I did a lot of networking on my own, but the training and inspiration came from the Horn Farm.”
Inspired? So are we! Learn more about the Land Steward and Ecological Gardener Training Programs: two 16-week immersions beginning in February 2024 that dig deep into regional ecology, environmental challenges, and the practical skills for healing and protecting local natural landscapes.
Now is the time to submit your application and become a 2024 trainee!
Each year we host about 100 educational programs and events at the Horn Farm Center. We do so with the help of outside instructors, who bring their own experiences and expertise to our community at the farm.
As part of our mission to provide a diversity of educational experiences that connect people to the land, we are always looking to partner with new program instructors – even first-time teachers!
Instructors are paid for their time and teach a wide range of program topics that align with our values and mission, including:
Join us for our 8th annual Beekeeper Training Program! Taught by Mark Gingrich of Gingrich Apiaries, the Horn Farm’s Beekeeper Training Program explores beekeeping from its scientific underpinnings to keeping a hive at home.
Over the course of this two year program, participants will work side by side with Mark and other program participants to learn all aspects of keeping bees.
At the end of year one, each participant will have the option of receiving a bee colony to be moved to their home property. During the second year, participants will benefit from repetition of some aspects of the program, learn more advanced techniques and troubleshooting while managing their own hive at home.
We bring people to the land in a variety of ways: foraging and nature walks, gardening and composting classes, cooking and crafting workshops, community gardens, training programs, and more!
Our work is diverse but our goal is simple: create lasting impact by inspiring a love for the Earth.
But we can’t do it alone! As a small but mighty non-profit organization, we rely on a community of people – you may be one of them – who believe in our mission.
We have seen firsthand the amazing things that can happen when our community comes together to give back! Whether you make a $10 donation or a $100 donation, your gift will go further for the Horn Farm Center during ExtraGive!
Your support of hands-on experiences at Horn Farm Center truly makes a difference. Mark your calendars, invite your friends, and get ready to give EXTRA to support the Horn Farm Center on November 17th!
Interested in agroforestry? We are seeking daytime volunteers to help us complete our second annual willow coppicing!
Coppicing is the process of pruning a tree or shrub to ground level in order to stimulate the growth of shoots and provide a sustainable supply of agroforestry products year to year. This winter, we will be coppicing several dozen varieties of willow for basketry materials.
In line with our regenerative mission, our willow field also serves significant environmental roles by occupying one of two riparian buffers. The willow roots aid in water retention and help stabilize the soils near the heavily eroded stream bank that we’re working to restore.
Learn more about agroforestry, coppicing and multifunctional riparian buffers while lending a helping hand this winter. Our winter 2023/2024 workdays are open for registration:
We hope you can join the fun at the Horn Farm!
We are currently accepting applications for the 2024 Land Steward and Ecological Gardener training programs, which begin in February at the Horn Farm Center!
You may be asking: am I a good fit?
For anyone wanting to connect more deeply with natural spaces and help take care of the natural world, this experience is for you!
The Horn Farm Center’s training programs are “immersive introductions,” welcoming all experience levels and backgrounds to take the dive with us into how we can heal, protect, and advocate for our shared environment.
Previous cohorts have included students, parents, teachers, part-timers, full-timers, city dwellers, and rural folks: all like-minded community members sharing a love for nature and a passion for environmental stewardship.
For the Land Steward Training Program, don’t miss your chance to take advantage of our early-bird discount, expiring in just over a month.
We hope you’ll join us to share in the wonder, rigor, and joy of caring for the earth this Spring. Our wild spaces need all of us now more than ever!
Earlier this week we received the final construction documents for the Horn Farm Center’s new classroom and office building. The road to revitalizing and rebuilding our facility has been a long one. This Wednesday, October 25th marked two years since lightning struck our historic farmhouse, damaging it by fire.
We remain steadfast in our determination to bring the new design for an accessible, energy-efficient, functional, and historically-inspired educational facility into reality. Through a significant amount of time, focus, and community investment, we are learning what it takes to truly live our values.
Honoring our history: We’ve been careful to preserve historic features in the design – including extensive repointing of our 19th century brick, restoring wood lintels, sills, and bullnose architectural moldings of all 26 windows, reconstructing the original chimneys, and adding a new standing seam metal roof.
Increasing our capacity to educate and serve our community: Once parceled into separate rooms for an 1800s residence, the floor plan has been re-engineered to accommodate a large classroom downstairs and an open concept office space and meeting rooms upstairs. The building will also be more accessible with commercial ADA upgrades.
Reducing our environmental impact: Infrastructural features like improved insulation, a nearly air-tight building envelope, and a powerful solar system will keep the building’s carbon emissions, and energy costs, to zero. And, water catchment and infiltration systems will conserve water on site.
At this stage, we’re awaiting final cost estimates for the project. We’ll begin sharing more routine updates as we complete the final steps that will get us to construction this spring.
We’re enormously proud of our team, collaborators, and donors for keeping our values front and center to guide this process.
A special thanks to our design contractors Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects, Lewis Contractors, Quarry View Building Group, and 7group for embracing and leading our most daunting project. We’re grateful for their patience, expertise, and commitment to their craft.
Interested in learning about nursery plant production and greenhouse management? We have two internship opportunities available next year that will provide hands-on learning and personalized job coaching with Farm Manager, Andrew Horn.
Throughout the course of the internship students will learn:
We are accepting applications now through November 10th!
Join us for our 8th annual Beekeeper Training Program! Taught by Mark Gingrich of Gingrich Apiaries, the Horn Farm’s Beekeeper Training Program explores beekeeping from its scientific underpinnings to keeping a hive at home.
Over the course of this two year program, participants will work side by side with Mark and other program participants to learn all aspects of keeping bees.
At the end of year one, each participant will have the option of receiving a bee colony to be moved to their home property. During the second year, participants will benefit from repetition of some aspects of the program, learn more advanced techniques and troubleshooting while managing their own hive at home.
For the first time EVER, the Horn Farm Center is participating in ExtraGive!
On November 17th, join thousands of people across our community to support more than 400 local organizations in our region.
We have seen firsthand the amazing things that can happen when our community comes together to give back! Whether you make a $10 donation or a $100 donation, your gift will go further for the Horn Farm Center during ExtraGive!
Mark your calendars, invite your friends, and get ready to give EXTRA to support the Horn Farm Center on November 17th!
Volunteer tree days are here! Learn about riparian buffers as we prepare over 8 acres of new plants for the winter.
Volunteer workdays are a great way to get out in nature, meet like-minded community members, and participate in hands-on learning in the field. Not to mention, they’re an excuse to skip the gym!
With thousands of young native trees to check and care for as the winter approaches, you’ll help us ensure our restoration fields thrive while learning about the value of riparian buffers, native plants, and caring for the natural landscapes that we depend on.
Eager to get stated? Our first workday is THIS SATURDAY, October 28th from 9:30AM to 11:30AM. If you can’t be one of our Halloweekend helpers, we’ve also got the following workdays coming up:
We + the trees hope to see you there!
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, seasoned small-business owner, or curious patron of local business, we welcome you to an enriching conversation and Q&A spanning topics like:
Join us for “Heart-Centered Business” with Author and Business Coach, Mark Silver on Wednesday, November 15th, 2023 from 6PM-8PM.
100% of the tuition for this two hour workshop will benefit Horn Farm Center. Mark’s book, Heart-Centered Business will be available for sale at the event.
This program is hosted by the Horn Farm Center and will take place indoors at the Hellam Township Municipal Building at 35 Walnut Springs Road, York, PA 17406.