Did you make a New Year's resolution to try something new? Or to learn some new words? Or to make a positive impact on the environment? You can do all three of those things when you immerse yourself in agroforestry and try your hand at coppicing at the Horn Farm for Agricultural Education during Winter Willow Workdays.

The events will be held on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 18, 19 and 20, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Horn Farm, 4945 Horn Farm Road, York.

Agroforestry, explained Horn Farm executive director Alexis Campbell, is the practice of growing trees and shrubs to create a sustainable and productive land use system.

"This climate-smart farming practice improves soil health, increases biodiversity and can even provide marketable crops like fruits, nuts or materials such as willow for crafts and basketry," she said.

Coppicing is the process of harvesting branches from trees or shrubs during the dormant season.

"During the willow harvest, participants will have the opportunity to learn the full process of harvesting and processing willow specifically for basketry," Campbell shared.

As participants try coppicing, they will learn about the age-old method of cutting willow to encourage healthy regrowth and ensure a sustainable harvest year after year. Using hand pruners, volunteers will cut willow rods from the base of the tree.

Volunteers will also inspect the willow rods, selecting the best sizes and quality for basket making or craft purposes and will help to organize the harvested rods into bundles, preparing them for drying or further processing.

"Beyond the practical skills, the annual willow harvest is a chance for participants to get outside, connect with nature and understand sustainable land management," Campbell said. "It's a hands-on, immersive day that blends craft, conservation and community learning."

In 2018, the Horn Farm planted more than two dozen varieties of willows cultivated for basketry. While thousands of basket-weaving branches are harvested each winter, the willows spend all year nourishing healthier soils and retaining water. Their intact root systems keep sediments from washing away and mitigate erosion. Surplus branches from harvesting also have direct restoration applications. The dense bundles can be laid along the edges of incised stream channels on the farm, helping to reverse decades of erosion by building up captured sediments over time.

The willow plants are just one part of the Horn Farm's agroforestry initiatives.

"At the Horn Farm Center, agroforestry is part of our hands-on approach to regenerative agriculture," Campbell said. "We demonstrate how integrating trees and shrubs into farm landscapes can support healthy ecosystems while producing useful materials and food for the community."

The Horn Farm Center's agroforestry demonstrations include 16 acres of productive riparian buffers, a live stake nursery, several Miyawaki "mini-forest" plantings and a newly developing forest garden, she said.

"These productive restoration spaces serve as living classrooms where visitors and program participants can learn, interact and grow together," Campbell added.

The annual willow harvest is part of the Horn Farm's mission to connect people with the land, promote regenerative practices and cultivate land-based skills in the community.

"Willow harvesting is also a way for participants to engage directly in ecological stewardship," Campbell said. "During the event, community members will help maintain a healthy, productive willow patch and riparian buffer that can provide materials and ecological benefits for years to come."

She said participants can expect a fun community gathering and service-learning experience.

"Volunteers should consider signing up, first, because it's fun!" she said. "Second, it's a unique opportunity to learn, give back and connect with others in our community. Participants gain practical skills, deepen their understanding of sustainable land management and help to steward a healthy riparian buffer. It's a meaningful way to spend a day outside, make a tangible impact and take home knowledge that can be applied at home or in community projects."

The willow harvest days are open to people age 10 and older, and no experience is needed. Youths under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Participants should dress for the weather, including wearing sturdy, closed-toe shoes. People should bring a refillable water bottle and may use their own work gloves, although gloves will be provided for anyone who needs them. All tools and safety gear will be provided. The workday will require moderate physical labor, including kneeling, bending, carrying, repetitive hand motions using manual pruners and loppers and spending time outside in cold temperatures. The harvest will be held rain or shine, with some exceptions. In the case of inclement weather, registered participants will be contacted about changes.

To learn about the Winter Willow Workdays or to register, visit https://hornfarmcenter.org/winter-willow-workdays.