Horn Farm Happenings – May 27, 2022

15,000 Trees & Counting!

In the past four years, we have planted over 15,000 trees at the Horn Farm Center! We couldn’t have done it without Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership and their Ten Million Trees for PA initiative.

The Horn Farm Center is part of the watershed that feeds the Susquehanna River, one of the three oldest rivers in the world. Our work as land stewards not only affects the ecosystem that the Horn Farm exists within, but also the health of the river, and the Chesapeake Bay.

In 2018, we began the work of transitioning several acres of farmland into multi-functional riparian buffer landscapes. By planting over 17,000 trees on the Horn Farm by the end of 2022, our goal is to produce food and agroforestry products while protecting the health of our waterways, from the Kreutz Creek, to the Susquehanna and beyond.

We knew we had our work cut out for us. But what we didn’t know, and what we discovered, was that we had a whole community waiting to help us through the K10 Partnership. The materials, trees, resources, and community support have been incredible and the impact has been significant. Thanks to K10 we will be able to meet and exceed our goals!

We are so close! Our final tree plantings will be held next spring 2023. 

A special thanks to the hundreds of dedicated volunteers, who planted trees in sun, rain, wind, and SNOW, including our friends at the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, York College of Pennsylvania, YCSCT Enviro Club, Watershed Alliance of York PA, York Penn State Master Watershed Stewards, Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, Hellam Township EAC, GIANT employees, Keep York Beautiful, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, The Stone Independent School, and several other volunteer groups. We are so thankful for their hard work, enthusiasm, and generous spirit.

In addition to support from K10 Partnership, this work is funded by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PennVest; Mid-Atlantic Media Hub Fund of York County Community Foundation; and The GIANT Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful’s Healing the Planet grant program.  

Together we are beautifying our community, reducing the impacts of climate change, and protecting York County’s waterways!


Ride to Support Horn Farm Center

Join us on Saturday, June 18, 2022 for Cycle the Solstice, hosted by The Cycle Works of Wrightsville to benefit the Horn Farm Center.

Cycle the Solstice is a 30- or 62-mile bike ride through York and Lancaster counties that showcases the beauty and the bounty of the Susquehanna river valley. Riders will depart from the Horn Farm Center in the morning, riding their chosen loop at their own pace. Along the way, riders will stop at local small business farms and markets for refreshments produced at the farms and other local food and agriculture businesses.

Upon completion of the ride, participants will enjoy a catered lunch and musical entertainment by Bend the Rails, a soulful blend of gutsy folk, blues, and country music.

A limited number of lunch tickets are available for those who prefer not to ride but want to enjoy the celebrations at the Horn Farm. Lunch tickets are $15/person and can be purchased on the registration page below.

Click here to register. 


Claim Your Share: A Few Spots Left!

Your weekly box of organically-grown, farm-fresh produce awaits you!

The Horn Farm CSA runs 20 weeks from June through October. Each week offers seasonal, organically-grown produce. Here’s what you can expect:

  • Spring: lettuces, spinach, kale, swiss chard, spring onions, beets, herbs
  • Summer: kale, swiss chard, tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, beets, summer squash, watermelon, cataloupe, onions, herbs, and more!
  • Fall: garlic, beets, turnips, winter squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, kale, swiss chard, spinach

Pick-ups are at the Farm Stand located at 4945 Horn Road on Wednesdays from 2:30-6:30pm. 

Full Share:  $750
Half Share: $400

Click here to register.


Stewarding, Gardening, & Learning Together

We are only 4 weeks away from the close of our signature Land Steward & Ecological Gardener Training Programs. Since February, students have been immersed in hand-on learning at the farm and off-site. Field trips have included learning adventures to Hungry Hook Farm, Mt. Cuba Center, and Millport Conservancy. Students are also working on their own design and installation projects, helping to increase the ecological health and biodiversity on the farm.

We are so thankful to the Powdermill Foundation for funding this program and its expansion this year. Their support has provided the materials, equipment, off-site learning experiences, instructors, field trips, and student scholarships to make this program a success!

 


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 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. 

 


Wanted: Equipment & Expertise

We are currently in search of a number of items and services that will help us achieve our mission to connect soil, food, and people in ways that improve the health and resilience of our community. 

Expertise/Services

  • Seeking an IT professional who is able to offer occasional technical support
  • Seeking a painting contractor who can help revitalize our corn barn (accepting bids and welcoming discounts or pro bono offers).
  • Seeking an active or retired mechanic, who would like to offer their time to occasional volunteer projects on our farm equipment and vehicles

Equipment/Materials 

Can you help out? To offer your time, talents, equipment, or tools, please contact Farm Manger, Andrew Horn at farmmanager@hornfarmcenter.org.