2023 Training Programs are Open!
“The lessons that I learned from the Land Steward Training Program are innumerable, and it stirred up in me a yearning and a desire to have a deep, meaningful connection with the earth.” – Anthony Damiano
From the eco-curious to the aspiring land practitioner, our training programs have sown seeds of inspiration, learning, and purposeful change.
Applications are now open for our 2023 Training Programs:
Our signature Land Steward Training Program teaches the skills necessary to transform degraded landscapes into healthy, biodiverse, productive habitats. Whether you’re pursuing a career or simply exploring how to make an impact on the land, this program offers lessons in ecology, habitat restoration, and living in union with the land and each other.
The Ecological Gardener Training Program explores native plants, pollinators, lawn conversion methods, scaled designing, and seasonal management techniques that can be applied to commercial, schoolyard, and residential spaces. Completing this course will leave you with both confidence and creativity as you take action in this “buzzing” field.
In our Beekeeper Training Program participants will learn all aspects of keeping bees over the course of a two year program. At the end of year one, each participant will recieve a bee colony to be moved to their home property. During the second year, participants will learn more advanced techniques and troubleshooting while managing their own hive at home.
Each program fosters deepened connectivity with the land around us while providing hands-on practice to develop skills in your area of focus. Join us next year for a learning adventure at the Horn Farm Center!
Greenhouse Internships: Now Accepting Applications
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:
- Production planning and seeding schedules
- Seasonal greenhouse management
- Plant propagation techniques
- Materials & Methodology
- Plant Anatomy, taxonomy, physiology, chemistry, biology, genetics
- Irrigation – watering, water testing, understanding plant nutrition
- Plant Health Management – foliar sprays, root dips, seed coats
- Plant Sale Management – budgeting, pricing, product placement, retailing
Community Gathering: Join Us by the Fire
Enjoy the company of fellow community members and the warmth of a bonfire at the Horn Farm on Sunday, December 4th between 3 and 5pm. All are welcome! We’re looking forward to celebrating the land, our community, and the ways they’ve come together throughout this year.
Snacks and refreshments will be provided. Feel free to bring your own chair, and be sure to dress warmly, as the event will take place outdoors. Of course, the fire is contingent on weather conditions. We’ll make sure to reach out in advance if plans need to change.
As your “ticket” to this event, please bring a canned or preserved food item. We’ll be collecting donations for the York County Food Bank.
Volunteers Needed: Winter Willow Harvest
We are seeking daytime volunteers to help us complete our second annual willow tree coppicing! Community workdays are scheduled for December 13th & 14th and January 16th & 17th.
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 are harvesting willow shoots for basketry, kindling for biochar, and live stakes.
Tasks will vary depending on our progress and volunteer counts. These can include: pruning willow branches with hand pruners (down to stump level); sorting harvested branches by height and thickness; bundling and tagging prepared branches; and carrying branches and branch bundles.
Let us know if you can join us!
Winter Tree Identification Walk with Wilson
Winter is the best time to learn how to identify tree species. By observing bark and budding patterns, learn how to identify native and non-native trees in the wooded areas at the farm.
Join us on Sunday, December 4th at 1pm for a Guided Nature Walk focused on Tree Identification with Woodland Steward, Wilson Alvarez.
