Agroforestry Work & Learn: Coppicing, Live Staking, & Basketry

Interested in learning about agroforestry? Join us on Sunday, December 10, for a day of hands-on learning at the crossroads of agroforestry, craft, and land renewal.

Over the past five years, the Horn Farm Center has established 16 acres of multifunctional riparian buffers that bring together ecological restoration, local economic opportunity, and creative possibility.

Through a combination of hands-on volunteering and educational programs, we’ll spend the day exploring two versatile agroforestry products taking shape in the Horn Farm Center’s riparian buffers: shrub willows for basketry and native riparian plants suitable for live staking, or rooting from cuttings. Participants will experience the following:

• Managing a willow shrub field, including annual coppicing, sorting, and bundling to prepare rods for sale or later use in basketry.
• Using cuttings from native woody plants for propagation in home nurseries, community spaces, and riparian restorations.
• A tour of the ways that forestry and agroforestry products are helping remediate impaired woodlands at the Horn Farm. 
• An introductory workshop on artisanal willow basketry presented by our friends at Foggy Blossom Farm.

Whether you are new to agroforestry or a seasoned land steward, this Agroforestry Work & Learn offers hands-on experience in the field, time with fellow agroforestry enthusiasts, and the opportunity to hear from experts and practitioners from the Horn Farm, Foggy Blossom Farm, and our state partners. Participants will also get to take home willow materials and live stake cuttings for their own projects.

Who is this for? 

Regenerative agroforestry offers environmental, economic, and cultural benefits, so everyone has something to gain in learning more about this enriching and locally-focused work. If you’re generally curious or intrigued, join us! This Work & Learn is particularly useful for: 

• Homeowners and farmers with riparian buffers and/or an interest in forest farming.
• Artists and folk crafters curious about willow arts and sourcing materials.
• Organizations and collectives interested in community orchards, urban agroforestry, permaculture, and green economic development.
• Landowners and conservation volunteers interested in bolstering woodlands with sustainable, place-sourced materials. 

This Work & Learn is a collaboration between the Horn Farm Center, Foggy Blossom Farm, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Penn State Extension. 

To learn more and register, visit the event link: hornfarmcenter.org/civimessages/event/info/?reset=1&id=1008