Woolbank Makes Conservation Accessible
Woolbank Conservancy advances agroforestry through hands-on education, ecological restoration, and community collaboration. Based on a 16-acre farm in northwestern Pennsylvania, we bring farmers, conservation professionals, and communities together to explore how working landscapes can support healthy ecosystems and meaningful livelihoods.
Apprentices gain practical experience in forest and nursery operations, crop cultivation, habitat restoration, introductory forestry, and conservation planning to support soil health, nutrient cycling, and long-term sustainability.
The core of the program consists of 2,000 hours of paid, on-the-job training at Woolbank Forest Farm complemented by 144 hours of related technical instruction delivered through a mix of in-person workshops, ecological field sessions, and classroom-based learning. Apprentices are employed full-time while developing the skills needed to support productive, resilient agroforestry and conservation operations, with opportunities for continued growth upon program completion.
Woolbank’s Agroforestry Apprenticeship Program provides hands-on, technical training in agroforestry systems including alley cropping, forest farming, and riparian zone management.
Meet The Team!
JESSE GAFNER- Farm Crew Manager
Jesse graduated from Slippery Rock University with a degree in Geography and a concentration in Environmental Studies & Sustainability. He has a background in invasive species removal, plant identification, and crew supervision in our region’s wildest places! Outside of work, Jesse enjoys hunting, aquascaping, and spending time outdoors, which deepens his connection to the landscapes he manages.
ELENA LUCAS- Farm Project Coordinator
Elena graduated from Slippery Rock University in 2026 with a degree in Parks and Resource Management. As a previous Trails and Habitat Management Intern at the Robert A. Macoskey Center, she has a deep passion for environmental justice and sustainability. With her love for the outdoors, Elena is an avid nature photographer and enjoys hiking, reading, traveling, and landscaping with native species.
AMBER MARSHALL- Agroforestry Apprentice
Amber graduated from Mercyhurst University in 2022 with a degree in Environmental Science. As a previous food banker and VISTA, she has a great passion for community work and sustainable food systems. When she’s not on the farm or in the forest, you can find her lifting heavy at the gym or birdwatching!
ALANNA BARTO- Agroforestry Apprentice
Alanna has spent much of her free time exploring her passion for the environment. She is an avid gardener, focusing on growing foods that she can harvest and use to feed her family throughout the year and into the next growing season. She also cares deeply about the natural wildlife around her, growing a native wildflower garden at her home and helping transform a family member's yard into a protected wildlife habitat. When she isn't working, you can find her reading, painting, coaching color guard, hiking, or spending time in the gym!
Environmental Storytelling
Reconnecting land, memory, and people through place-based storytelling.
At Woolbank, we believe that conservation is a narrative Act. We uplift the voices and stories of landworkers, naturalists, and generational conservationists through creative media and public engagement.
The way we talk about land, water, and resilience shapes how we steward them. Our storytelling initiative explores the emotional and historical dimensions of ecological life through visual media, writing, and community-centered documentation.
“Unless and until the importance of agricultural ecosystems to biodiversity conservation is recognized- and efforts are made to make agriculture part of the solution rather than the cause- we risk missing out of this vital element of biodiversity protection.”
— Anja Gassner
Want to Get Involved?
Be the first to know about our upcoming conservation projects, film viewings, agroforestry classes, employment and apprenticeship openings, and more!