The staff at the Horn Farm Center in York are taking a setback and turning it into opportunity.

Three years ago, the only livable structure on the property, an 1840s farmhouse, was destroyed by fire.

Now plans are in motion to not only restore and preserve the nonprofit's farmhouse, but also to transform the space inside into an educational center to benefit people from across the region.

Horn Farm Center, located at 4945 Horn Road, York, has been busy fundraising for the build, and it celebrated the next step in the project with a groundbreaking ceremony at the end of March.

"These last three years we've been running programs for hundreds of local residents, all outdoors in all weather, on dozens of topics related to regenerative farming, ecology, growing your own food and generally reconnecting with the land," explained Alexis Campbell, the organization's executive director. "Our instructors and community have done wonderfully, but it will be amazing to triple our capacity for education and do so no matter what the temperature or weather is outside!"

The idea to turn the house into an education center came from the organization's commitment to deepen community engagement and expanding access to hands-on learning, Campbell said.

"After the fire, we had the opportunity not just to rebuild what was lost, but to reimagine how the house could serve the broader mission of the Horn Farm Center," she stated. "We saw the potential to create a welcoming, multifunctional hub for workshops, gatherings and collaboration. By transforming the house into an education center, we are centering our priorities and creating new opportunities to grow our impact: fostering ecological literacy, building resilient communities and connecting people to the land."

The project has been stalled by delays. Insurance covered replacement costs, but it did not account for the requirement to bring the building up to commercial code for the first time, the depth of repairs needed to restore a 160-year-old building or the vision to upgrade it to a year-round education center.

"While the original farmhouse had great character, it had all the limitations of an 1800s farmhouse intended to house a family running a farm, not an organization wanting to share resources and education for this entire region," Campbell said.

The Horn Farm Center worked through several variations of building design in an effort to balance the needs of York County and the surrounding region with the needs of the organization and its budget.

"Our final project design brought the price tag down to $1.4 million, a price that gave us pause despite knowing the challenges of rising material costs and bringing an historic structure up to commercial code," said Lauren Hayman, president of the board of directors. "We are an organization founded by volunteers with an annual operating budget under $400,000."

Local individuals, businesses, organizations and foundations have helped to raise nearly $1.2 million, providing funding for the first two phases of the project: design and construction.

Now the organization is focused on phases three and four, which include occupancy and outfitting the building for operations.

The final phase for the new education center will be post-construction site work and beautification, which includes landscaping, hardscaping, a rain garden and rain catchment cisterns.

"We're inviting supporters to become part of this project through recognition opportunities like wall and window plaques, which is a great way to leave a lasting legacy in the new building," Campbell shared. "We're also looking to partner with local businesses to help transform the building into a learning space. We're seeking in-kind donations to help equip the education center with furniture, technology and educational tools. These contributions will directly support our mission and help us create a space that's both functional and inspiring for learners of all ages."

She hopes people will continue to help the project reach completion.

"Donating to the Horn Farm Center is an investment in the future - of our land, our communities and the next generation of environmental stewards," she said. "At a time when so many people are searching for solutions to ecological and climate challenges, Horn Farm Center is providing hope and empowering people to have a regenerative relationship with the land."

The Horn Farm Center provides a place for people to reconnect with nature, learn how to grow food with care and discover what it means to live in balance with the world around us, she said.

"After losing our historic farmhouse to fire, we now have a rare opportunity not just to rebuild, but to reach more people in our community with our mission," she noted. "Financial support helps us turn this moment of loss into one of hope and renewal. When you donate to the Horn Farm Center's Education Center Building Fund, you're not just helping to rebuild a building. You're helping to create a more hopeful future."

To support the rebuild effort, visit http://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuildhornfarm or https://hornfarmcenter.org/rebuild.