Spring Foraging: Black Locust
Spring is full of surprises and even the prickliest trees have something to offer!
In our latest video, foraging educator Andrew Leahy introduces the sweet, fragrant flowers of black locust and shares how to safely recognize and appreciate this remarkable tree. Click the video link above to discover one of this season’s edible treasures!
Want to learn more about Pennsylvania’s natural abundance? Join us for an upcoming foraging walk at the Horn Farm Center to explore the landscape with experienced guides, deepen your connection to local ecosystems, and learn how to forage with care, curiosity, and respect for the land.
A Flush of Fantastic Fungi
Sometimes cool and rainy weather are cause for celebration! We were reminded of this when Farm Manager, Jon Darby, recently discovered a flush of wine cap mushrooms in the demonstration field.
These fungi aren’t here by mistake – this bed of woodchips was intentionally inoculated with wine cap spores last year, by our friends Dustin and Jenni from Cove Mountain Mycology, to compliment future educational programming.
Wine cap mushrooms, also known as Stropharia rugosoannulata, garden giants, or king stropharia, are one of the easiest edible mushrooms to cultivate. They thrive on decaying matter, like the woodchips we often use in garden pathways and landscaped beds.
Unlike many other mushroom species, which require a deeply shaded environment, wine cap mushrooms can tolerate full sun and partial shade, making them a popular choice for maximizing food production in just about any space, large or small.
Tender caps can be sauteed and consumed, and the tougher spiles (stems) are an excellent addition to stock pots for beefing up broths and soup bases. We might even attempt drying them in our new dehydrator!
Growing in the Field
After a buzzing greenhouse season leading up to our Plant Sale, the Regenerative Grower Training Program is now transitioning to their field season!
February through April, students joined us twice a week to learn about growing plants. Everything from starting seeds to rooting trees.
In the spaces between, we explored plant anatomy and biology, took a dip into nature journaling, sowed early-season vegetables, and visited with a friend of the farm (Dale Hendricks) for inspiring insights into agroforestry and native plant horticulture.
The next phase of the Training Program now approaches as we focus our attention on prepping beds and tending plants for the growing season ahead.
Interested in digging deep with us in 2027? The 33-week Regenerative Grower Training Program INTEREST FORM is now open!
Sign up to be the first to know when registrations officially go live this summer. We also welcome any questions, curiosities, or concerns you may have as we plan for the next Regenerative Grower Training Program!
Celebrate the Start of Summer
Frolick among the flowers, savor seasonal flavors, and celebrate summer’s beginning at the Horn Farm Center!
Mark your calendar for the second annual Horn Farm Summer Solstice Market: Saturday, June 20th from 10AM to 2PM.
We’re beaming with excitement for a day filled with:
- fresh-picked, organic produce,
- make-and-take flower crowns,
- free regenerative farm tours, and
- a growing list of local artisans + makers dedicated to sustainability.
This event is free to attend and offers something for everyone. Come celebrate the start of the sunny summer season with us!
Solstice Market
Foundations of Bioregional Herbalism
Deepen your relationship with plants, place, and healing through the Northern Appalachia School’s Foundations of Bioregional Herbalism — an immersive 8-month hybrid training running from July 2026 through April 2027.
Through monthly online classes and in-person weekend intensives, students will explore the science, history, and practice of western herbalism within the context of local ecology and community. Topics include foraging, herbal energetics, medicine making, cultivation, phytochemistry, herbal safety, and more.
Whether you’re beginning your herbal journey or looking to strengthen an existing practice, this program offers a grounded and place-based approach to learning.