“Where Do We Go From Here? Chaos or Community?” – Rev. Martin Luther King, 1967
It’s an odd juxtaposition: smiling faces in front of a fire-ravaged building. But there is secret to our joy. Since our founding, the Horn Farm Center has survived and thrived because of our community. Our faces reveal the hope, perseverance, and resilience of our story.
The people in this photo are just a few of many, who have given their time, money, and sweat to the mission of the Horn Farm Center. Their commitment is not simply to the organization, but to our impactful work, our love for the land, and our collective vision of a more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.
The picture above was taken shortly after the farmhouse fire. Since then, very difficult work has followed:
- Our friends Jeff Rohrbaugh and Leonard Leiphart volunteered their materials, equipment and sweat equity to restore power and set up temporary electric. We also thank Capital Electric, Tim Griffin from York Electrical Institute, and Stombach & Schindler for providing electrical supplies.
- Community volunteers, Kinsley Education Center students, and HFC staff and past students, helped to repair and renovate a used work trailer, which was donated by Kinsley Construction for our temporary office space.
- HFC board members and staff salvaged items from the farmhouse while working with insurance to assess the damage. The process of discovery continues, but we have received preliminary payments.
- We worked to restore our administrative systems and are now back on our feet with donated office supplies, furniture, and equipment. A special thanks to the Laird Family and Commonwealth Fire Protection for donating a new copier/printer, FirstEnergy for donating laptop computers, and Energy Opportunities for donating work stations.
- ShipleyEnergy generously donated a new dual mini-split HVAC unit (equipment and installation) to winterize our summer kitchen, providing an additional heated building (besides the work trailer) for use during the farmhouse rebuild.
- CS Davidson and TIPPETTS/WEAVER architects, inc. offered friendly advise on how to secure the farmhouse structure and Kinsley Construction helped to brace the western standing wall and chimney.
- Remediation efforts on the farmhouse have been ongoing: a temporary roof was placed on the building, masonry work was completed to stabilize and protect the structure, and the interior was cleared of debris and damaged infrastructure. Our next steps involve remediation of mold and smoke. These efforts have been supported through discounts from PennWaste and funding from the Powder Mill Foundation.
- Our Board of Directors and Facilities Committee is leading the farmhouse rebuild, focusing on engaging professionals in a design process that will maintain the historic integrity of the building and better serve the needs of the organization. A special thanks to the donors and foundations who quickly responded to our immediate needs, including Warehime Foundation, the York County Community Foundation, Hellam Township, LegUp Farmer’s Market, Kilgore Family Farm, and John Wright Restaurant.
None of these accomplishments could have been achieved without community, the backbone of our work. In the face of chaos, relationships continue to be our strength. We will share more details in our upcoming 2021 Impact Report.
In the meantime, we welcome you back to farm for a full schedule of outdoor classes and workshops, training programs, as well as new tree plantings and special events. We are planting the seeds for a lot of fun and learning this year. Come grow with us!
Learn, Train, & Grow This Year
Earth care can be life changing. By connecting to the land and understanding our place in it, we can heal ourselves, the land, and our communities.
This year, thanks to grant support from the Powder Mill Foundation, HFC is expanding its earth care training programs, offering a new Ecological Gardener Training in conjunction with its Land Steward Training program.
Both programs are immersive learning experiences focused on deep ecological literacy and practical skill-building. Participants will gain a deep understanding of regenerative practices and land stewardship.
Are you ready to train for a regenerative future at the Horn Farm Center? We have a few spots left and are still accepting applications. Scholarships are available.
The Land Steward Training and Ecological Gardener Training Programs are underwritten by the Powder Mill Foundation.
Click her to Apply
We’ve Got Space for You to Grow!
Did you know that the Horn Farm Center is home to 101 community garden plots that provide fertile soil for over 40 families to grow their own fruits, vegetables, and flowers organically each year?
Garden plots are rented annually from April 1st through October 31. Each plot measures approximately 20 x 20 feet. Plots are assigned on a “First Come, First Served” basis.
The program offers soil lovers and aspiring farmers the opportunity to grow fresh, chemical-free food on prime farmland in the company of other enthusiastic and dedicated gardeners.
Are you looking for a space to grow? Join our community of local gardeners! We currently have a few community garden plots available.
Click here to register for the Community Gardens.
A Place to Hang Our Hats
After many cold days and lots of hard work, we finally moved into our newly renovated work trailer! Thanks to the help of volunteers and the dedication of our team, the structure was completely gutted and transformed into a comfortable work space. HFC staff, Anna Echo-Hawk, Wilson Alvarez, and Andrew Horn, paid special attention to detail, incorporating elements of our past, present, and future into the design. For example, the coatrack in the photo above was crafted from the farmhouse’s snow guards, which were salvaged from the fire debris.
We would like to offer a special thanks to Re-Source York for donating materials, which were used to renovate the trailer. We also thank Holleran Consulting and Steve Gohn from Allstate for donating office furniture and equipment.