Horn Farm Happenings – July 01, 2022

We Are Growing to Reach Our Goals!

Just as biodiversity is essential to the health of our ecosystems, a rich diversity of board membersstaff, and volunteers is foundational to the health and success of our organization. Growing and diversifying the Horn Farm Center team is one of several Strategic Goals outlined in our 2022-2025 Evolutionary Plan.

Our goals are ambitious but we are well on our way. This spring we welcomed five new staff members to the Horn Farm Center team!

Community Engagement Coordinators, Andrew Leahy  and Avary Sassaman are responsible for facilitating meaningful engagement through program coordination, events, and outreach.

Andrew (Rue) Sterner and Logan Kline are assisting our Land Stewardship Team this summer by providing essential farm maintenance and helping with our weekly CSA.

Lori Webster is our Financial Assistant and Bookkeeper, applying her extensive background in accounting, billing, and customer service to support the Horn Farm Center’s financial administration.

The Horn Farm Center team is growing and we couldn’t be happier to be a more capable organization. Together we will grow healthy food, restore our natural ecology, and teach others to do the same.

Click here to learn more about the Horn Farm Center Team


Thank You for Cycling the Solstice!

The 2022 Cycle the Solstice Benefit Ride was a huge success thanks to nearly 100 riders who adventured through the Susquehanna Riverlands to support the Horn Farm Center. Despite the high winds on June 18th, participants had a great time riding and sharing their enthusiasm for cycling, local farms, and healthy lifestyles.

We thank the participating cyclists, volunteers, and Cycle Works of Wrightsville for supporting the Horn Farm Center and our mission!

We also thank the following event sponsors and contributing businesses:

Thank for making the 2022 Cycle the Solstice Benefit Ride a success!

Land Steward Class of 2022

Congratulations to 8 students for successfully completing the 2022 Land Steward Training Program! During the 16-week course, our new land stewards learned how to transform degraded landscapes into healthy, biodiverse, productive habitats.

While the 2022 Training Programs are complete, a Waiting List is currently available for 2023. If you are interested in enrolling in the Land Steward Training Program for 2023, please register for the Waiting List.

We thank the Powder Mill Foundation for funding the 2022 Land Steward & Ecological Gardener Training Programs. We appreciate their commitment to making a positive impact in our community and environment.


 

Ecological Gardeners Class of 2022

We also congratulate 11 students for successfully completing the 2022 Ecological Gardener Training Program! During the 16-week course, ecological gardeners learned how to design wildlife habitat and explored native plants, lawn conversion methods, scaled designing, and seasonal management techniques that can be applied to commercial, schoolyard, and residential spaces.

The program is taught by Elyse Jurgen of Waxwing EcoWorks. We thank her for her hard work designing and leading the program, and for bringing her expertise in education, training, and ecological gardening to the Horn Farm Center.

If you are interested in enrolling in the Ecological Gardener Training Program for 2023, please register for the Waiting List.

This year was our pilot program for the Ecological Gardener Training. We thank the Powder Mill Foundation for funding our signature Training Programs and for supporting our efforts to expand our offerings with this new program.


Riparian Buffer Volunteer Day

Are you interested in protecting local waterways with us? This spring, we added 4 acres and hundreds of trees to our multifunctional riparian buffer. We need help with general maintenance and upkeep!

Join us at Horn Farm Center on Sunday, July 17th from 9:30-11:30am to learn about this ongoing restoration project and help us perform some general maintenance.

We’ll check on tree stakes and shelters, remove bird nets, and clear invasives. This will be a great opportunity to learn about local ecology and meet both new and returning volunteers!

Click here to Register


mike with pawpaws

Save the Date: York County Pawpaw Festival

Join us for the 18th annual York County Pawpaw Festival – an outdoor, family-friendly festival celebrating York County’s beloved pawpaw!

This year’s Pawpaw Festival, presented by Horn Farm Center and UPMC, will be held on September 24th & 25th from 10am-3pm at the Horn Farm Center. Things will be a little different this year, but we aren’t going to let the farmhouse fire stop us from hosting this wonderful community event.

At the event, pawpaw fruit (both wild and cultivated varieties) and trees will be available for purchase. Other pawpaw related items will be available including pawpaw cookbooks, books, and t-shirts. In addition, the festival will feature local food vendors, artisans, and community organizations.

The York County Pawpaw Festival is part of York County Watershed Week in partnership with the Watershed Alliance of York.