2016 –17 master gardener annual report

2016 –17 Master Gardener Annual Report

The Penn State Extension Master Gardener volunteer program supports the outreach mission of Penn State Extension by utilizing unbiased research-based information to educate the public and our communities on best practices in sustainable horticulture and environmental stewardship.

Master Gardener volunteers develop their horticultural expertise through participation in educational training classes conducted by Penn State faculty and extension staff.

2016 –17 Master Gardener Annual Report

Master Gardeners Answer QuestionsMaster Gardeners maintained a Garden Hotline in 52 counties. They reported 16,144 contacts with people who sought this service via telephone, email, or visits to the county office.

Master Gardeners Speak•1,380 speaker’s bureau talks•701 symposia, workshops, and classes • 157radio,TV,orInternetspots

Master Gardeners Write•742 articles published in newspapers,

magazines, or blogs

Master Gardeners in the News• 394newsarticles,radio,orTVspots

were published about their projects

• 2,774activePennStateExtensionMasterGardenervolunteers

• 391newlytrainedMasterGardeners

• 200,812volunteerhoursreportedforavalueof$4,819,488

• 197,228directadultcontacts

• 66,647directyouthcontacts

Statewide Highlights

Master Gardeners Teach• In274schoolsand33youthcamps•Horticulture therapy in 55 special needs

communities •Providing 346 educational displays at

county and regional events• In132communitygardens

Master Gardeners Partner•339 community organizations

Master Gardeners Contribute to the Community

• 37,752 pounds of fresh produce donated to local food banks from Master Gardener–led gardens.

Home Lawn and Garden NewsletterPenn State Extension Master Gardeners provide information on plant care, insect and disease management, and best practices for home gardeners in the Home Lawn and Garden newsletter, which reaches 12,866 subscribers.

25,313poundsoffreshproducedonatedtolocalfoodbanks

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SEAREC Flower Trials

The Master Gardeners support the Penn StateFlowerTrialsatSEAREC(SoutheastAgriculturalResearchandExtensionCenter),transplantingover15,000plugsto4.5-inch pots to prepare them for potting or planting at the four sites where the trials are displayed. Plants are displayed incontainersatSEARECorplantedinthe three-year perennial overwintering trials.Atthecollaborativesites(HersheyGardensinDauphinCounty,AgProgressDaysinCentreCounty,andNorthParkinAlleghenyCounty)annualsareplanteddirectly in the ground. These plants were supplied by 32 companies, both domestic and foreign, who pay for their entries to be evaluated overthegrowingseason.CombinedlocationsofthePennStateFlowerTrialsattract over 250,000 visitors annually, including 309 people attending Flower TrialsFieldDay,and681atSummerGarden Experience. This year the Penn

StateFlowerTrials,undertheleadershipofSinclairAdam,evaluated931entriesatSEARECand60–70entriesateachofthecollaborative sites. During potting week 133 volunteers from regional Master Gardener programs and theFloriculturalAdvisoryBoardservedthe project over a three-day period. Master Gardener volunteers are a key component of this statewide program’s success, assisting with production and maintenance over the summer season. Master Gardeners contributed 3,701 volunteer hours to the project during the year.

Statewide Master Gardener Programs

250,000visitorsannually,3,701volunteerhours M

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Poison Prevention

Every year in the United States, there are over two million calls to poison centers concerning suspected poisonings or poisonsubstances.AspartofNationalPoison Prevention Week, the Master Gardeners across the state visit first grade classrooms to discuss the dangers of potentially poisonous products and chemicals, and to outline preventative steps people can take to ensure their safety and that of their loved ones. Penn State Extension hopes that these programs presented to the children of Pennsylvania will ultimately reduce

the number of people who are involved in poisonings each year, especially poisonings in the home—the most commonly reported poisonings.Master Gardeners from 27 counties across the state presented the Poison Prevention Program to 452 first grade classes during the months of February and March and reached over 12,345 students. The goal is for children to realize that many chemicals found around the home can be hazardous, including cleaning products, gasoline or other fuels, automotive additives, and others.Mr. Yuk stickers were provided to the children to take home and apply to chemicals and products that have some level of toxicity indicated by the four signal words:Caution,Warning,Danger-Poison,and Danger.The program was presented in 187 schoolsintheCommonwealth.Mrs.Cathy Poninsky, from St. John the Evangelist RegionalCatholicSchoolinFayetteCounty,commented,“TheMr.YukPoisonPrevention Program is an important addition to any first grade health and safety curriculum. The program provides the students with much needed information, safety tips, and dos and don’ts to keep the students safe around the common poisons thattheyencountereachday.Ilookforwardto the Master Gardeners’ presentation

each year.”


12,345firstgradestudents, 452classes, 187schoolsserved

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Of the 239 respondents who changed a practice that resulted in a cost savings:

•46 percent avoided purchasing the wrong pest management remedy.

•26 percent saved a sick plant and now it is doing better.

•16 percent used a lower cost cultural or mechanical method for managing the pest.

•12 percent replaced the plant with one that is better suited for the site conditions.

Garden HotlineStatewide Master Gardener Programs

The Master Gardener Program was started in Washington State in 1972 to aid consumer horticulture educators in answering the hundreds of gardening questions posed by the public. This service continues to be one of the most important outreach efforts of the Master Gardener Program. Homeowners’ questions are answered at local Extension offices, via phone and email, and at one of the many Master Gardener outreach events held across the state.Master Gardeners answered over 16,144 gardening questions during the 2016– 2017 reporting year. Resultsfromthefollow-up survey that was shared with homeowners are as follows: 93 percent of the respondents rated the customer service provided by the Master Gardeners as very good to excellent.93 percent rated the ability of the Master Gardeners to find information or an answer to their question as very good to excellent.92 percent of the respondents found the information to be very good to excellent.

“ItwasanabsolutepleasuretointeractwithalloftheMasterGardeners.Iftheydon’thavetheanswer,theyoffertoresearchit....Thankssomuchfortheexcellentadvicereceivedoverseveralyears.Ihavebeenexceptionallypleased.”

“Thankyou,PennStateExtension,forcontinuingtoexist!Whatausefulservicethatmostpeople,evengardeners,don’ttakeadvantageof.”

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“TheMasterGardenerwasfriendly,knowledgeable,andextremelyhelpful.Ihadnotknownabouttheextensionofficesandservicespriortothisproblem,butwilldefinitelyberecommendingusingyourservicesandexpertiseinthefuture.Thanksverymuchforsharingyourtimeandexpertise.”

16,144 questions answered

476MasterGardenersparticipated,15,949volunteerhourscontributed

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Question categories Total number of questions per category

500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500

Disease questions or samples processed in-house 2,559

Disease samples sent to University Plant Disease Clinic 308

Garden planning/plant selection/plant propagation 1,300

Insect(indoor)questionsorsamplesprocessedattheoffice 667

Insect (indoor) samples sent to the University for ID 86

Insect(outdoor)questionsorsamplesprocessedattheoffice 2,209

Insect (outdoor) samples sent to the University for ID 90

Weed and invasive ID and management 939

Plant ID 1,376

Referrals/upcoming events/ Master Gardener Program 788

Site/weather-related or cultural problem 1,019

Soil health (soil testing, composting, mulching) 1,343

Plant culture, care, and pruning (includes turfgrass) 2,424

Wildlife/animals 557

Quotations appearing throughout this report were taken from an anonymous survey.

Pollinators

Pollinator Preferences AsourPollinatorPreferencessignstates,not all plants are alike when it comes to providing bees with the pollen and nectar they need. Some hybrids and cultivars selected for their ornamental traits may have diminished value for pollinators. The goal of the Penn State Extension Master Gardener Pollinator Preference Program is to gather data on the attractiveness of various floral resources to our native bees and honey bees. From 2012 to 2015 Master Gardeners across the state monitored three different sets of plants weekly for pollinator visitation. The success of that monitoring led to the current program where we are evaluating the attractiveness of three different Monarda and Coreopsis cultivars. Master Gardeners in 31 counties across the state are participating. 2017 marked the second year of the three-year program. Anadditionalmonitoringprogramisevaluating powdery mildew susceptibility of the Monarda cultivars.Pollinator Preferences has also caught the attention of several other states, which have asked for information on starting their own monitoring programs.


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Pollinator-Friendly Garden Certification Program The Master Gardener statewide Pollinator-FriendlyGardenCertificationProgram, now in its sixth year, has certified over 741 gardens in 57 counties. The gardens range in size from very small urban plots to large public gardens. Started in 2011 to educate home gardeners about how they can provide safe havens for pollinators, the certification program focuses on creating landscapes that strengthen and increase nativepollinatorpopulations.Residentsare encouraged to use the Pollinator Certificationwebsitetolearnhowtocreate pollinator-friendly landscapes. They then submit an application to have their gardens certified. Qualifying gardens can display the attractive Pollinator-Friendly Garden sign.The program has received attention from Master Gardener programs across thecountry.NebraskaExtensionrecentlycreated a certification program using our template and has already certified 50 gardens.More information can be found by going to the Pollinator Garden CertificationlinkonthePennStateCenterforPollinatorResearch website(ento.psu.edu/pollinators).

741certifiedgardensin57counties

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Pennsylvania Counties

AdamsAlleghenyArmstrongBeaverBedford*BerksBlairBradford†

BucksButlerCambriaCameron*CarbonCentreChesterClarion‡

Clearfield*Clinton

ColumbiaCrawfordCumberland†

DauphinDelawareElk‡

ErieFayetteForest*FranklinFultonGreeneHuntingdonIndianaJeffersonJuniata†

LackawannaLancaster

LawrenceLebanonLehigh†

LuzerneLycomingMcKeanMercerMifflin†

(see Juniata County)MonroeMontgomeryMontourNorthamptonNorthumberland†

(see Lehigh County)Perry†

(see Cumberland County)Philadelphia

PikePotterSchuylkillSnyder†

SomersetSullivan†

(see Bradford County)SusquehannaTiogaUnion†

(see Snyder County)VenangoWarrenWashingtonWayneWestmorelandWyomingYork

Alphabetical List of Counties with Master Gardener Programs

Counties by Area

* no Master Gardener Program† combined Master Gardener Program‡ no report available

2016 –17 County Reports

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Plant Trials at North Park Demo Garden

Since1990,theMasterGardenersofAlleghenyCountyhavemaintainedademonstrationgardeninNorthPark,thelargestcountyparkinAlleghenyCounty.Twoyearsago,the demonstration garden was designated as a satellite trial gardenforPennState’sSoutheastAgriculturalResearchandExtensionCenter(SEAREC).

The Master Gardeners plant, maintain, and evaluate approximately 85 varieties of yet-to-be released annuals. TheNorthParksiteprovidesadifferentgrowingclimatethanthatatSEAREC,andtheannualsareplanteddirectlyin the ground rather than in containers. These growing conditions provide additional data to industry leaders as the annualsareevaluated.Anaverageof10MasterGardenersperform weekly maintenance for about four to six hours per volunteer—this doesn’t include the additional watering and maintenance that may occur during particularly dry or weedy seasons. During the weekly maintenance of the garden, the Master Gardeners answer visitor questions: and both specific questions about the plants in the trial, and general gardening questions. These weekly visitors make up a portion of the thousand-plus visitors to the garden, including at least 800 during Garden in the Parks Field Day.

Community Garden TheCommunityGardenprovidesplotsto20countyresidences and supplies the local soup kitchen and Gleaning Project with over 450 pounds of fresh produce. Partnering withtheConservationDistrictandGettysburgAreaSchoolDistrictVo-techSchool,MasterGardenerscreatedagreenroofshedattheCommunityGardentostoretheirtools.Theproject also provided an opportunity for Master Gardeners to teach best practices for stormwater management, as well as give tours each semester to environmental science studentsfromHarrisburgAreaCommunityCollege,Gettysburg.

Adams County Allegheny County

Program founded in 1989

54 active Master Gardeners

5 Master Gardeners trained

2,687 volunteer hours

1,579 continuing education hours

2,350 adult contacts

1,374 youth contacts

107 Garden Hotline contacts

35 educational outreach presentations

64 gardening articles published

450 pounds of produce donated

44 Poison Prevention Program presentations

10 countycertifiedpollinatorgardens

11,500 square feet of demonstration gardens














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Armstrong County Beaver County

Environmental Learning Center Castle Herb and Pollinator GardensThePennStateExtensionMasterGardenersofArmstrongCountyinvitecommunityresidentstoattendpresentationsanddemonstrationsattheEnvironmentalLearningCenterCastleHerbandPollinatorGardensatCrookedCreekStateParknearApollo.Thepresentationsandgardensareenjoyed by many community groups, scout troops, teacher and volunteer organizations, summer camps, and school children. Plants are labeled to educate all who wander through the gardens and brochures are available to provide additional information.










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911 youth contacts








The Senior Gardens TheSeniorGardensPrograminBeaverCountyisacollaborativeeffortwiththeBeaverCountyOfficeonAgingand the Master Gardeners. The project provides garden plots and education to 75 senior citizens and community groups, includingGirlScouts,NewHorizonSchoolofBeaverValleyIntermediateUnit27,BeaverCountyRehabilitationCenter(BCRC),ayouthgroupfromalocalchurch,andChurchesAreServingTogether.NewHorizonandBCRCarefacilitiesfor students and adults with developmental disabilities, both physical and intellectual.

Master Gardeners taught many of the participants how to growvegetablesandpreparetheirharvest.AmajorityoftheMaster Gardener harvest is donated to the local women’s shelter—over 100 pounds of vegetables this year—with senior gardeners joining in with their contributions as well.

TheBeaverCountyCommissionershavebeenverysupportive of these efforts, providing much of the materials needed for the project.

Blair County Bradford / Sullivan CountiesBerks County Blair County

Spotted Lanternfly EducationSince the first detection of the invasive pest Lycorma delicatula(spottedlanternfly)in2012inBerksCounty,Master Gardeners have served as front-line educators, aiding Penn State researchers and the Pennsylvania DepartmentofAgricultureinpromotingpublicawareness.

Master Gardeners have provided identification and management information to thousands of homeowners and have fielded 128 queries about spotted lanternfly this season on the Garden

Hotline. Master Gardeners have a unique role in this effort in that they are positioned and mandated to work directly with residents. Whether communicating via the Garden Hotline, meeting with drop-ins to the extension office, coming face-to-face at community events, or doing public presentations, Master Gardeners can provide situation-appropriate advice to help home gardeners deal with this pest effectively and safely.






1,120 Garden Hotline contacts






Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Altoona Library Project In2017,AltoonaPublicLibraryapproachedtheMasterGardenersofBlairCountyaboutcreatingdemonstrationgardens on the library grounds. The Master Gardeners chose two sites, one near each entrance, and submitted plans to library personnel. The actual planting was a collaboration between Master Gardeners, who supervised the planting, andlibrarystaff.Inspiredbytheproject,oneofthelibrarystaff members is now enrolled in the Master Gardener trainingclassinBlairCounty.CompletedinSeptember,thedemonstration gardens will serve as a site for future children’s programming. The library has also encouraged the Master Gardeners to use the gardens to promote their programs.



895 volunteer hours


257 youth contacts





500 square feet of demonstration gardens

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Bucks County Butler CountyBradford / Sullivan Counties Bucks County



908 volunteer hours

315 adult contacts

544 youth contacts










545 youth contacts






Pesticide Safety PresentationsRuralHealthandSafetyDayisanannualeventinBradfordCountyinwhichcommunityorganizationsprovidesafetyeducation on various topics to fifth grade students from across the county.

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Mulch Madness!TheMasterGardenersofBucksCountyanswermanyquestionsaboutmulchthroughouttheyear.Basedontheseinquiries, they determined there was a need to educate the public about types, applications, and relative costs of mulch.Inaresponsetothiscommunityneed,theMasterGardeners organized a hands-on public open house at the extensionoffice.“MulchMadness,”aplayonwordsforthecollegebasketballtournament“MarchMadness”,showcased16differenttypesofmulch(“thesweet16”)andhowtouse them in home gardens. Participants were also taught how to properly apply mulch to avoid killing plants and savehomeownersmoney.Nearly100peopleattendedthisfree event, with 98 percent of attendees identifying that they“learnedsomethingnew”and90percentofattendeesindicatingtheywould“adoptanewpractice.”

Forthe2016/2017year,twoMasterGardenersfrom BradfordCounty,onetraineefromSullivanCounty,and one horticulture extension educator staffed three stations and collectively taught 15-minute pesticide safety programs in a total of 26 rotations to 474 fifth graders from seven school districts.Learning focuses were:• how pesticides enter the body • signal words• look-alikes• goodbug/badbug• identifying the lowest impact means of control, including pesticide alternatives• what’s on the label• safe storage of pesticides

Key impact: the event increased the pesticide safety and poison prevention awareness of 474 fifth graders and their teachers and chaperones.

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Butler County Cambria County

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485 adult contacts

127 youth contacts






Spring Garden Market and Home ShowTheMasterGardenersofButlerCountycollaboratedwithButlerCountyParksandRecreationduringtheannualSpringGardenMarketandHomeShowatAlamedaParkforadayofeducationaloutreachforthecommunity.Over3,000 people attended this event. Master Gardeners provided research-based information on home gardening via the “AskaMasterGardener”tableandsponsoredaplantsaleto help provide funding for the Master Gardener Program. BecauseofMasterGardeneroutreach,therehasbeenanincreased interest in and practice of sustainable gardening by homeownersintheButlerarea.

Fall Garden DayThePennStateExtensionMasterGardenersofCambriaCountyreachcommunitymembersbyprovidingresearch-based information most effectively through presentations. The“GettingReadyforFall”programincludedtimelypresentations on perennial division, seed stratification, ladybeetles, what to plant in the fall, and what not to clean up in the fall. Participants received brochures with more in-depth information and a giveaway so that the knowledge they have learned can be taken home and put into practice. Itemswehavesharedincludemilkweedseedsforpollinators,plant divisions, and cuttings.

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610 youth contacts





Carbon County Centre County












Good Bug, Bad Bug

GoodBug,BadBugwasapresentationcreatedbytheMasterGardeners to help home gardeners identify the differences betweenharmfulinsectsandbeneficialinsects.Inadditionto the presentation, attendees viewed an insect display and were shown how to identify insect mouthparts that are used to feed on plants, as opposed to ones used to feed on other insects. With this knowledge, the attendees learned how to identify good bugs and encourage them to their gardens as a method of integrated pest management.







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Bellefonte Community Children’s GardenTheMasterGardenersofCentreCountyattheBellefonteCommunityChildren’sGardenhostedthreeclassesofsecondgradersfromtheBellefonteElementarySchoolforan eight-week spring growing session. The children had varied lessons each week. They planted lettuce, spinach, and radishes, visited the garden weekly for plant science and environmental conservation lessons, and then celebrated the end of the session by harvesting their crops for a salad party.

Lessonsstartedinmid-AprilandconcludedinJune.Therewere two culminating events this year: a salad party for all the second-graders and a pumpkin-planting party for first grade classes. Those second-graders then returned in the fall to harvest their pumpkins—plus potatoes and turnips.

Students kept garden journals. Their teachers shared that the journals and conversations back at school indicated the students were engaged and retaining plant science and environmental conservation lessons.

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Chester County Clinton County





438 youth contacts





Container Gardening Growing Edibles and Flowers on Your Deck and Patio Workshop

MasterGardenersofChesterCountypresentedacontainergardening workshop at Easttown Library as part of the library’s Gardening Lecture Series. The 20 attendees had varying levels of experience and enjoyed interacting with the Master Gardeners and one another as they learned how to grow flowers and vegetables in small spaces. The lecture part of the workshop covered container selection, choosing the right potting media, container-friendly plants, cultural practices, and design tips. During the demonstration, attendees watched the creation of a container garden and concluded with investigating sample gardens. This connection between the Easttown Library and the Master GardenersofChesterCountyisthebeginningofalargeroutreach to communities through local library initiatives.

Native Plant Demonstration GardenTheMasterGardenersofClintonCountyinstalledanativeplantdemonstrationgardenattheClintonCountyFairgrounds.Inpreparationfordevelopingthegarden,theytouredtheSnetsingerButterflyGardenandreceivedguidance and assistance from the Master Gardeners of CentreCounty.TheMasterGardenersofClintonCountyapplied for and received Pollinator Friendly certification in August.ThegardenisopeneveryweekfromMaythroughSeptemberinconjunctionwithan“AskaMasterGardener”table at the Farmers Market.

Gothic Gardeners





137 continuing education hours








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Columbia County Crawford County

Weekly Gardening ColumnMaster Gardeners have expanded their weekly newspaper column from the Bloomsburg Press-Enterprise to include theShamokinNewsItem.FromAprilthroughSeptember,sixteen Master Gardeners wrote 29 articles that reached over 22,000readers.Topicsweretimelyandbasedonquestionsreceived at the Garden Hotline, farmers market booths, and the Master Gardener booth in the horticulture building of theBloomsburgFair.Readerswereencouragedtosubmitgardening questions to the hotline and to request topics for future columns. The columns also served to promote theMasterGardenerBasicTrainingcourse,freemonthlypresentationsatMcBrideLibrary,andtheSpringandFallinto Gardening workshops. This spring, Shawn Stair, editor of special editions at the Press-Enterprise, interviewed Master Gardeners and wrote an article about the people who have written the column for the past nine years.

Lilac Springs Veterans Services Project TheMasterGardenersofCrawfordCountypartneredwithLilacSpringsVeteransServicesProjecttoestablishateachingand healing garden for veterans of all wars. Lilac Springs, located in Meadville, is a respite for veterans — “EveryCombatVet,EveryEra,Everywhere.”WithMasterGardenersupervision,womenfromtheCambridgeSprings

Prison project helped to construct a moon garden at Lilac Springs. Future plans are to certify the garden as a Penn State Extension pollinator-friendly garden and to involve the veterans as citizen scientists in the statewide bee count research project. The veterans will spend time in the garden and learn about native bees and their nectar preferences. Ourhopeisthattheveterans’involvementinthegardenwillaid in the healing of their emotional, mental, psychological, and spiritual well-being. The healing garden is helping to make Lilac Springs a place of understanding and beauty for all who visit, and it plays a part in the betterment of the community.

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743 youth contacts



















Cumberland / Perry Counties Dauphin County

Summer H.E.A.T. (Horticulture Exploration and Adventure for Teens)

Master Gardeners held two all-day sessions of Summer H.E.A.T.(HorticultureExplorationandAdventureforTeens)in June, with 10 teens ages 12 to15 attending. The goal of this program is to strengthen this age-group’s knowledge of and interest in plant science as they consider future college andcareeroptions.Teencampersparticipatedinavarietyof activities and field trips, including leaf casting, plant propagation, sustainability, soils, vine grape production, and fruittreeresearchandproduction.Oneteencommented,“Ilearnedaboutanewtypeofgardeningcalledraisedbeds,whichcanbeanalternativetobiggardens.”AMasterGardenerreported,“Itmakesmesmileinsidetoknowthatthere are teens out there with an appreciation for botany and gardening.”

Program founded in 1988 (Cumberland and 2006 (Perry)











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State Capitol Hunger GardenTheCapitolHungerGardenbrokegroundin2010withonesimple goal: to create a garden that would provide healthy food to help those in need and to serve as a valuable tool toraiseawarenessofhungerissuesinPennsylvania.ItislocatedontheStateCapitolgroundsbetweentheMainCapitolBuildingandtheRyanOfficeBuilding.TheCapitolHunger Garden is a partnership of the Master Gardeners of DauphinCountyandthePennsylvaniaLegislativeHungerCaucus(co-chairedbySenatorScarnatiandRepresentativeJakeWheatley),CentralPennsylvaniaFoodBank,FeedingAmerica,Hunger-FreePennsylvania,andDowntownDailyBread,asoupkitchen.The1,000-square-footgardenattracts volunteers from the general public in addition to MasterGardeners.Ittypicallyyieldsbetween675and800pounds of vegetables and herbs annually, which are donated toDowntownDailyBreadinHarrisburg.KateEckhart,communications director for Senator Scarnati, writes, “TheMasterGardenersofPennStateExtensioncometothe garden to work side by side with the volunteers to help harvest the produce and provide a teaching tool to those of every age.”














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Delaware County










1,044 pounds of produce donated



Boys’ and Girls’ Club of Chester

Erie County

Erie County Pumpkin WalkFor the sixth year, the Penn State Extension Master GardenersofErieCountyhostedacommunityPumpkinWalk.Over3,500peopleattendthispopularevent,whichserves as the main fundraiser for the Master Gardener Program.

The Master Gardeners purchase approximately 1,000 pumpkinsfromlocalfarmers(tosupportthem)andthendeliver them to various non-profit organizations, including schools, boys’ and girls’ clubs, scout groups, and senior centers,whocarvethepumpkins.Culturalinformationongrowing, harvesting, and preparing pumpkins is provided so that teachers and leaders can educate the children.

The Master Gardeners pick up the carved pumpkins, equip each pumpkin with a LED light, and place them along a one-miletrailattheErieCountyConservationDistrict.Familieswith toddlers walk the trail while it is still light; however, once it gets dark, the lit pumpkins are a most impressive site!

Master Gardeners also set up an educational display in the pavilion that folks can visit after they complete the pumpkin walk.











TheMasterGardenersofDelawareCountypartneredwiththeBoysandGirlsClubofChester(BGCC)toteachchildrenabout growing fruits and vegetables and healthy eating. Topicsincludedwherefoodoriginates,seedstarting,properplanting methods, conservation techniques, food prep for storage and meals, and how to live a lifetime of good eating. The Master Gardeners worked with the children using outdoor raised beds, helping them to grow over 33 different vegetables, fruits, and herbs, as well as flowers that attract butterflies. Master Gardeners also conducted both summer camp and afterschool programs. Funding was available to take the children to farms, parks, and arboretums as part of the teaching healthy eating and food preparation curriculum. Overthecourseoftheyear,theMasterGardenerseducatedand inspired 1,083 future gardeners and environmental stewards!

Lisa

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Fayette County Franklin County

The MOLE (Menallen Outdoor Learning Environment)

Fostering a connection between children and the outdoors isthegoaloftheMenallenOutdoorLearningEnvironment(MOLE)locatedattheMenallenElementarySchoolinUniontown.













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The curriculum involves indoor and outdoor lesson plans that promote hands-on and observational learning experiences. The importance of insects, pollinators, native plants, and weeds are some of the topics discussed. ChildrenareabletobenefitfromtheexpertiseofthePennState Extension Master Gardeners while using a hands-on approach in the examination of their very own horticultural microcosm, with the insects being a favorite.

The program began in the fall of 2016 in a partnership between the Master Gardener Program and the school. Several Master Gardeners, the school’s principal, science teacher, librarian, students, and parents are involved. Students of all grade levels are participating, with special focusongradesfour,five,andsix.Commitmentisstrong,andtheanticipationisthattheMOLEwillbealong-termprojectreachingmanymorechildreninFayetteCounty.







503 youth contacts







Community Container Garden Program

For the third year, the Gleaning Project collaborated with the MasterGardenersofFranklinCountytoorganizeacontainergardening project for lower-income members of our community who are struggling to obtain fresh vegetables.

“BucketBuild2017”includedabuildnightattheMasterGardener greenhouse where volunteers and Master Gardeners worked together to plant 150 container gardens made from salvaged buckets. The buckets were planted with a vegetable and herb combo, and tagged with contact information for the garden hotline, as well as an invite to ourFacebooknewgardenersupportgroup—CommunityContainerGardens.Wealsoplantedtwobig,beautifuldisplaycontainergardensfortheSouthCentralCommunityActionPrograms (SCCAP)ProduceStandinChambersburg.

AllbucketsweredistributedthroughtheSCCAPProduceStandandChambersburgWICofficeoverthenextthreedays.Butthatwasn’tall—returntripsdistributed1,500leftover transplants from the annual Master Gardener plant sale to food-insecure individuals and families living in our community.

This partnership is building a stronger community that is able to grow and enjoy good food, regardless of income.

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Fulton County

Youth ProgramsTheMasterGardenersofFultonCountyhavehadmanyopportunities to share horticulture knowledge with areastudentsinthepastyear.CollaborationwiththeConservationDistrictledtoparticipationinacountyvocationalagricultureday.Aspartofthisprogram,MasterGardeners were able to teach all of the sixth-graders in FultonCountyabouttheimportanceofpollinators.Atthesuggestionofstudents,CentralFultonHighSchoolinvitedMaster Gardeners to establish a gardening program for juniorsandseniors.In2016–2017asmallgroupofhighschool students took part in an immersive course in the FultonCountydemonstration“VictoryGarden,”learningabout the culture of vegetables and small fruit.

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382 youth contacts






1 countycertifiedpollinatorgarden


Greene County




896 volunteer hours

248 adult contacts

823 youth contacts






Sauté and Save ProgramTheMasterGardenersofGreeneCountyarecontinuingtoworkwiththeGreeneCountyFoodSecurityPartnershipto provide education focusing on food safety, menu preparation,smartshopping,andhomegardening.AteachSauté and Save Program, a meal is prepared with instructions on shopping for the most economical ingredients and actual food preparation. The Master Gardeners complement the classbyteachingarelatedtopic.Inthepicturedsession,MasterGardenerBridgetVilenicadiscussedhowtogrowherbs indoors and gave hints on keeping them fresh longer. The Master Gardeners have also taught container gardening and sent participants home with tomato plants they planted in containers.

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Huntingdon County Indiana County

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Blair Park Historical GardenBlairParkisahiddenjewelinHuntingdonCountywitha rich history that is often overlooked by residents. The MasterGardenersofHuntingdonCountypartneredwithHuntingdonBorough’sParksandRecreationcommitteetoraisevisibilityofBlairParkbyaddingaperiod-appropriategarden. The Master Gardeners researched the history of the site,determinedthataVictoriangardenwasappropriate,and submitted a plan for entrance plantings in colors of blue, pink, and white. Master Gardens contributed plant selection and labor to make this project a reality; in the future they plantoaddsignageandprograms.AnEarthDayeventwasheld at the site this past year, with the Master Gardener program providing the keynote speaker.




553 volunteer hours

49 adult contacts

7 youth contacts






Blue Spruce Park Demonstration Garden

PennStateExtensionMasterGardenersofIndianaCountymaintaindemonstrationgardensintwoparks,IndianaCounty’sBlueSpruceParkandYellowCreekStatePark.The educational plantings illustrate best cultural practices and provide examples of a variety of plant material. The BlueSpruceParkDemonstrationGardenincludesherbs,native plants, and a pollinator garden that is used to monitor bee populations as part of the Master Gardener statewide initiative. The Master Gardener Program works in partnership with the Friends of the Parks to provide educational programs throughout the season.






50 youth contacts



1 gardening article published



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Jefferson County

Demonstration GardensThedemonstrationgardensinJeffersonCountyaredesignedto teach the public how to grow everything from the soil up. Master Gardeners provide education on a wide variety of topics from common vegetables like tomatoes and peppers to the more uncommon vegetables and fruits they most likely have never eaten. The demonstration gardens include specialty areas: native plants for pollinators, lasagna gardening, containers, herbs, and trellised gardens. The gardens are used as a visual, interactive display of best practices and design principles that can be utilized by any homeowner in a variety of residential settings throughout the seasons.




491 volunteer hours

220 adult contacts





Juniata / Mifflin Counties

Community Garden, Mifflin County




665 volunteer hours







TheJimTunallMemorialCommunityGardenisnowtwo years old, initiated by a few community groups that wanted to bring something positive to the downtown area of Lewistown for education, aesthetics, and inspiration. ThegardenislocatedbehindtheMifflinCountylibraryinLewistown, and is used for folks who don’t have a space to garden, those with limited space to expand their gardening, and a local restaurant to grow herbs and vegetables. Master Gardeners hope to expand the programming next year with youth education, growing food for local shelters and food banks, and conservation efforts, including pollinator plants, rain barrels, and waterwise gardening.

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Lackawanna County Lancaster County

“Earth Day Is Your Day”For three consecutive years, the Master Gardeners of LackawannaCountyorganizedaspecialEarthDayevent. The goal of this outreach is twofold: • Interactwiththepublicandencouragethemtobebetterstewardsoftheenvironment.“Informationstations”ontimely topics, including composting, vegetable gardening, tree care, native plants, and container gardening, were staffed by Master Gardeners who shared research-based information with a personal touch.

• Createawarenessofourcommunitypartnersandencouragethepublicto“gettoknow”them.ThegroupsincludedLackawannaHeritageValleyAuthority,LackawannaRiverConservationAssociation,LackawannaCollegeEnvironmentalEducationCenter,theOfficeofSustainabilityandCommunityRelations,LackawannaCounty,the Greenhouse Project, LackawannaBackyardBeekeepersAssociation,andPennState Extension Master Watershed Steward Program.





886 youth contacts







Lancaster County Prison GardenMasterGardenersofLancasterCountyworkwithincarceratedwomenatLancasterCountyPrisonfromAprilthrough September, with about 10 women participating in each weekly session. The main focus is a large fruit and vegetable garden, but also includes a bed of native plants andannuals.Inadditiontohands-oninstructionsaboutworking in the garden, Master Gardeners teach short lessons on topics such as the natural history of plants and animals in the garden, soil testing, and how to make healthy dishes from seasonal fruits and vegetables. The participants kept a watchful eye on the garden between weekly sessions and discovered several butterfly chrysalides this summer. Program recipients enthusiastically great the Master Gardeners at each session and often express that they intend to use their new-found knowledge to create their own gardens at home.














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Lawrence County

Seed to Shining SeedTheMasterGardenersofLawrenceCountypartneredwiththeLawrenceCountyCommunityActionPartnership(LCCAP)toprovidehorticulturalexpertisewithagrantthattheyreceived.TheLCCAPreachesouttolow-incomepeopleinLawrenceCountytoaddresstheirmultipleneedsthrougha comprehensive approach. They develop partnerships with other community organizations, and through these partnerships a full range of coordinated programs designed to have an impact on poverty are administered.

The“SeedtoShiningSeed”programwasdesignedtohaveyouth learn about and grow their own vegetable crops in hydroponic gardens from seedlings to ready-to-harvest crops.Inthisthree-monthprogram,theyoutheachcreateda mega fresh veggie box. The workshops had interactive activities that engaged youth in learning about sustainable gardening and making healthy food choices. The Master Gardeners provided education and assisted the youth in planting the seeds, transplanting the seedlings into the indoor garden, and harvesting. When the project was completed, the youth were able to take their mega fresh veggie box home to enjoy. Going forward, the Master Gardeners have several upcoming projects to educate youthbyassistingtheLCCAPwiththisgarden.






547 youth contacts






Lebanon County

Amateur Herbalist ProjectTheAmateurHerbalistProjectinLebanonCountyincludesninecoursesthatareofferedfromJanuarytoNovember.BacktoBasicscoversplantselection,pruningherbsforhealthygrowth,andtipsforcreatingahealthygarden.OthersessionsincludeHerbandSpiceBends,HerbalPollinators,andHerbalAromasfortheHome.InMay,MasterGardenersofferedtheAmateurHerbalistPlantExchangeandattendeeswere encouraged to bring their favorite herb plants for theexchange.TheJuneprogram,LookingBeyondBasics,featuredguestspeakerKathyMusserofCloverleafHerbFarm.October’sprogramculminatedwithanherbaldinnerprepared by the committee.











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Lehigh / Northampton Counties Luzerne County






1,181 Garden Hotline contacts







Creating Habitat on a BudgetMany beginning gardeners struggle with plant selection and garden design. Master Gardeners can encourage planting natives, but often homeowners struggle with plant selection, siting, and an understanding of the ultimate sizeandhabitoftheplant.Toaddresstheseissues,MasterGardenersofNorthamptonandLehighCountiespartneredwiththeLehighGapNatureCentertosellnativeplantkits,completewithagardendesign.Asapilotproject,theMasterGardeners offered two garden designs: a mailbox garden and a downspout garden. The kits utilized plugs, which are more economicalthanlarger,container-grownnurserystock.Oncean order was placed, the Master Gardener volunteers sent a packet of educational information about site preparation for the customers to review before picking up their plants. The volunteers sold 17 mailbox gardens and 13 downspout gardens, establishing 1,747 square feet of habitat. The volunteers plan to improve the sale next year by selling the kits in the spring, rather than the fall, and adding a pollinator kit to support the statewide Master Gardener pollinator initiative.

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Spring into Gardening

In2017,theMasterGardenersofLuzerneCountyheldtheirannual“SpringintoGardening”event.Thisyear,theMaster Gardeners decided to take on a new location and askedwell-knownauthorandresearcherDougTallamytobethekeynotespeaker.Over100communitymembersattendedtheeventfromLuzerneCountyandsurroundingareas. Surveys showed that most participants adopted a new practice and gained knowledge on new topics that included container gardening, fruit trees, tree diseases, lawn care, natives, and rain gardens. The Master Gardeners also held a plant sale at the event to help gain some funds for their continued programming.






461 youth contacts






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Lycoming County McKean County






599 youth contacts








Riverside Senior CenterFromMarchthroughOctober,MasterGardenersofLycomingCountyheldaweeklygardenclassattheRiversideSeniorCenter.Mostclasseswerehands-onormakeandtake, but all included information and conversation on the topic of the day! Plants, seeds, cuttings, and supplies were oftendonatedfortheprograms.Asthesessionscontinued,itwas common to hear the seniors using terms or knowledge taught in the previous classes. The seniors planted vegetables in raised beds and containers on the back patio, and new flower beds were amended and planted. This was the first year of a very successful program and plans are already under way for 2018!

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McKean CountyTheMasterGardenerPrograminMcKeanCountyis fortunate to have three Master Gardeners who own greenhouses and are willing to share greenhouse space and their gardening expertise.

When the training class ended last year, the Master Gardeners continued to meet every Thursday at a greenhouse. Master Gardeners grew onion plants, petunias, peppers, and a variety of tomatoes.

Inspring,MasterGardenerssponsoredaplantsaleattheTractorSupplyStoreinBradfordandscheduledan“AsktheMaster Gardener Day” to answer gardening questions. The following week this effort was duplicated at the Penn State Extension office in Smethport. The leftover plants were used for outreach projects and for the demonstration garden.




838 volunteer hours


325 adult contacts

52 youth contacts




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Mercer County Monroe County

Buhl Park Tailgate TalksAseriesofmonthlytalksweregivenbytheMasterGardenersofMercerCountyincooperationwithBuhlParkinHermitage during the spring and summer. The programs included a 15-minute presentation followed by a 30- to 45-minute hands-on demonstration. The topics chosen for presentations were timed to meet the maintenance and pruning needs of the plants in the park. For example, “PruningForsythiaandLilacs”washeldinearlyspringrightafter the plants had finished flowering. This series by the Master Gardeners provided research-based information with hands-ontrainingfortheresidentsofMercerCounty.





558 adult contacts

98 youth contacts






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Vermicomposting! The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Monroe Countyofferedavermicompostingclassforthecommunity.The presentation covered the amazing diversity of life that exists in healthy soil, the benefits of vermicomposting, and the procedure to set up and maintain vermicomposting bins. The attendees learned what can go wrong, as well as what can go right, with bins, giving them confidence to get started. Many attendees left with containers of worms and the knowledge to start vermicomposting!











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Montgomery County Montour County

ACLAMO Gardening ProgramACLAMO(AccionComunalLatinoamericanadeMontgomeryCounty)isavibrantcommunitycenterbasedindowntownNorristown.Thecenterprovidesavarietyofclasses for adults and youth, including academic tutoring as part of its afterschool program.

OneMasterGardenerdevelopedagardeningprogramforACLAMO’syouth.Shevisitedthecommunitycenterafewtimes each week from early spring through fall and helped the kids plant and tend a small raised bed garden located behind the building. The raised beds are built on a cement slab and surrounded by the building on one side and a parking lot on the other. Perhaps an unlikely spot for a garden; however, during the summer the beds are bursting with peas, tomatoes, a variety of greens, beans, squash, and more! Sunflowers welcome birds passing by, and bird feeders and potted plants grace the fire escape that opens into the garden.

The Master Gardener showed 120 children how to plant vegetable seeds and transplants donated by a local organic vegetable farm. Throughout the season, the kids learned how to care for the plants, and ultimately, ate the fruits of their labors!

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River Front Park, DanvilleOnehundredyearsago,RiverFrontParkwasathrivingparknestlednexttotheSusquehannaRiver.Overtheyearsthegardens, beautiful fountain, and lamp posts were neglected or removed. The park, the gateway to the town of Danville, became an eyesore.






625 youth contacts







In2005,theMasterGardeners,withsupportfromtheDanvilleBoroughandlocalgrants,broughtRiverFrontPark back to life. The Master Gardeners installed plant identification signs and held several hands-on educational workshops in the park.

Shortly thereafter, the Master Gardeners of Montour Countyhelpedformagroupofcommunityvolunteerscalled“FriendsofRiverFrontPark”toprovideongoingmaintenance of the garden beds. When the community group gathers to work in the garden, Master Gardeners are there to provide guidance by helping and teaching proper pruning and basic gardening techniques.

Overtheyears,MasterGardenershavestaffedtheparkduringthelocalIronHeritageGardenTours,offeringeducational advice and answering gardening questions for the tour participants.



1 Master Gardener trained

290 volunteer hours

320 adult contacts


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Northumberland County Philadelphia County




161 volunteer hours

92 adult contacts

31 youth contacts


1 educational outreach presentation


Power of ProduceMasterGardenersofNorthumberlandCountyhavebroughtthePowerofProduce(POP)programtotheMt.CarmelFarmers’MarketinAtlas.POPprovidesafunopportunityfor children to engage in the local food system through conversations with farmers, educational games and demonstrations, and exposure to new fruits and vegetables. Inadditiontoparticipatingineducationalactivities,POPClubkidsreceivevoucherstospendatthemarket,allowingthem to make their own shopping decisions at fruit and vegetable stands.

POPempowerschildrenagesfivethrough12tomakehealthy food choices by offering educational activities, cooking demonstrations, and food sampling. This incentive provided an effective way for children to engage in the local food system through direct contact with farmers, buying local, and understanding the importance of healthy food choices.

OneofthetopicstheMasterGardenerstalkedaboutwas“whatpartoftheplantdoweeat.”Thistopictaughtthechildrenaboutroots,stems,leaves,andflowers.AteacheventMaster Gardeners have a game and food or plant samples for the children.

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Master Classes Ecological Landscaping and Intensive Gardening Skills

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners in Philadelphia maintain several demonstration gardens. Three specifically highlight native plantings and pollinator habitats, one is a collection of city-scale edible landscapes and vegetable gardens, and yet another is a unique partnership with thePhiladelphiaDepartmentofParksandRecreationandthePhiladelphiaOrchardProjectthatdemonstratespermacultureintheformofaFoodForestOrchard.Three of these gardens are within several hundred yards of one another in Philadelphia’s historic Farimount Park, just behindtheHorticultureCenterGreenhouses(wheremanyof the plants the Master Gardeners use in their gardens arepropagated).ThesedemonstrationgardensarewidelyvisitedbyPhiladelphianativesandtourists.In2017,theMasterGardenerslaunchedaseriesof“MasterClasses”using these gardens as the classroom to highlight multiple ecological landscaping and intensive gardening skills for each season. The Master Gardeners hosted over 600 visitors for workshops, talks, and tours.






675 youth contacts








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Pike County Potter County

Ready, Set, GardenMaster Gardeners organized a series of nine monthly educational programs for the public. The programs included two tracks:“Edibles”and“BeautifulBlooms.”Attendancetotaledapproximately70people.




779 volunteer hours






Pruning WorkshopInApril,theMasterGardenersofPotterCountypresentedafruittreepruningworkshopatalocalfarminCoudersport.The workshop, conducted by Master Gardener coordinator TomMurphy,providedanintroductiontofruittreepruning.Attendeesweregivendetailedpruninginstructionsfortreesof various ages using the most current pruning practices. They learned two basic cuts, heading and thinning. The workshop lasted approximately 2.5 hours and the attendees were able to try their hand at pruning one of the several trees on the farm, ranging in age from three to 200 years old.



376 volunteer hours


95 adult contacts

33 youth contacts



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Schuylkill County Snyder / Union Counties

A Garden Gathering Feeding Body and Soul

This year’s Garden Gathering was a combination of two previousprograms.ItservedasafundraiserthroughsalesofMaster Gardener produce, plants, cut flowers, baked goods, pollinatorT-shirts,roastedlocalcorn,andlunchsandwiches.Addedtothosestationsweretheproductsoflocalvendors:honey, lavender, and garden clothing. The event also showcased local artists, who demonstrated their nature-inspired work in paint, fabric, yarn, metal, and glass. Docents interacted with visitors interested in the Master Gardener Demonstration and Pollinator Gardens. The object was to offer a variety of topics of interest to attract visitors.

Master Gardeners recorded 856 contacts from the visiting crowd, indicating that attendees stopped and talked with every station. Evaluations from the public recorded that all questions were answered fully and visitors increased their knowledge on the topics.












West End Fair Informational Pest DisplayMasterGardenersparticipatedintheannualUnionCountyWestEndFair,heldinAugust.Attendanceatthiseventaverages about 25,000 visitors, who come to enjoy the livestock, carnival rides, food, tractor pulls, domestic crafts, music, and pageants.

AtthePennStateExtensionbooth,MasterGardenerspresented four educational displays on horticultural pests of concern to home gardeners and the agricultural community: allium leafminer, spotted lanternfly, thousand canker disease, andthefourlinedplantbug.Informationalhandoutswereprovided.Inaddition,theyhighlightedtheupcomingMasterGardener training program, resulting in two new trainees for the fall class.

Saturday of the fair is Kids’ Day, for which the Master Gardenersprovidededucationalgames,includingBugBingo.This year both kids and parents were curious about a Master Gardener’s insect-eating pitcher plants!



276 volunteer hours

145 adult contacts

101 youth contacts



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Somerset County Susquehanna County

Art Garden ProjectMembers of the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of SomersetCountycollaboratedwithalocalelementaryschoolandartteacher,ErinGlessner,tocreatean“ArtGarden.”ThemainpurposeoftheArtGardenwastoshowcasetheartworkof the students at the school and to provide an opportunity for students and staff to enjoy and contribute to the outdoor garden space. The students worked all year long to create group art projects to display in the garden, using wood, paint, metal, concrete, wire, and recycled materials.

The first gardening phase involved instructing and planting flower seeds with the kindergarten, first, and second graders in the school. Each of the 412 primary school students planted two peat pots of seeds, one to be taken home and the othertobeusedintheschool’sArtGarden.

The second phase focused on landscaping the area, with Master Gardeners working side by side with members of the school staff to spread mulch and river rock; plant shrubs, perennials, and flowers; and install the students’ artwork, murals, benches, and sign.

Anopeningreceptionwasheldinthefalltoshowcasetheproject. Future plans involve additional plantings and more collaborative artwork.

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Historical Garden at Salt Spring State ParkThe 2016 Master Gardener trainees collaborated with Salt Springs State Park to develop an interactive historical garden indicative of the 1860 time period of the structures within the park. This 842-acre park with two historical homes, period barns, and pavilions is used as an educational facility, attracting over 50,000 visitors per year.

The 12-foot by 12-foot Historical Garden is now an integral, highly visible, permanent part of the park, which is located next to the Wheaton farmhouse. The kitchen-style garden is fenced with traditional handmade pickets and bluestone stepping stones. The garden is planted with heirloom vegetables and flowers that would have been used in the 1860s, including sunflowers that are over 12 feet tall! Accompanyingsignagedetailshistory,uses,andgrowingneeds.

Master Gardeners partner with Salt Springs to host several educational gardening programs yearly at the park. Produce from the garden, 35 pounds in 2017, is donated and also used for program attendees to enjoy.
















900 volunteer hours

643 adult contacts

725 youth contacts





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Tioga County Venango County



732 volunteer hours

602 adult contacts

329 youth contacts





Pollinator Garden at W.L. Miller SchoolThe pollinator garden at W.L. Miller School is a collaboration between Penn State Extension Master Gardeners and local businesses to create an immersive garden for the students to enjoy year-round. Master Gardeners organized several stations where the children learned about vermicomposting, insects, pollination, and seeds. Students planted their own mini-gardenswithseedsdonatedbythelocalAgwayandnativesdonatedbyNaturalResourcesConservationService(NRCS),BigFlats,NYPlantsMaterialsCenters,andThePeople’sGardenInitiative.ThePTOandMartin’sGardenCenteralsoassistedinfundingtheprojectbydonatingsoiland amendments to prepare the garden bed for planting.

Master Gardeners maintain the garden throughout the yearandhaveinstalledinformationalsignswithQRcodes providing pollinator, native plant, and garden care information.AspartoftheK-1stlifecyclesprogramaboutmonarch butterflies, milkweed seeds were planted and are now in abundance in the garden. 2017 was especially exciting as Governor Wolf visited the garden on his tour of the school and was very impressed!

Sugar Creek Station RehabilitationPennStateExtensionMasterGardenersofVenangoCountyworkwiththeresidentsofSugarCreekStationRehabilitationfacility to enrich their lives through horticultural therapy. The goal of this ongoing project is to provide therapy through gardening and related activities to help the residents feel productive and viable in their community. Future plans are being made to include both vegetables and flowers in the projects, thus providing a wider range of learning opportunities. Many of the residents remember experiences from their younger years and are teaching the Master Gardeners and staff how life was years ago. This project is unexpectedlyenrichingforboththeresidentsofSugarCreekStation and the Master Gardener volunteers.



284 volunteer hours

552 adult contacts

910 youth contacts






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Warren County Washington County




841 volunteer hours

212 adult contacts

164 youth contacts





Grafting WorkshopsWarrenCountyofferedtwograftingclassesinthespringof2017. The first class was offered to any Master Gardener in good standing and an invited guest.

The second class was held at the extension office and the public was invited to register. Prior to the class the participants were contacted and had the chance to talk to one of the instructors. They were asked to select what type of tree they wanted to graft, apple or pear. Several people wanted to “rescue”atreeoftheirownandweregiveninstructionsonhow to collect scion wood.

Duringtheworkshop,graftsweremadeusingan“omega”style grafting tool; this eliminates having to work with sharp knives.Attendeeslearnedtechniquesofsimplegraftingand secured the grafted rootstock with Parafilm and rubber bands. Each person in the workshop went home with a grafted tree.

Therapeutic GardenTheMasterGardenersofWashingtonCountypartneredwiththeWashingtonCountyHealthCentertocreateatherapeuticgarden for the residents and staff. The goal was to create the garden and then have residents implement gardening into their daily activities. The Master Gardeners received donated fundsfromWashingtonCountyArtsandCulturalCenterto construct the garden. The labor was provided by inmates fromtheWashingtonCountyjailandstudentvolunteersfromWashingtonandJeffersonCollege.

The therapeutic garden was designed to promote and improve people’s well-being, both mentally and physically, as gardening can cause a recall of lifelong behaviors that arefamiliarandreassuring.Bothresidentsandstaffwereafforded the chance to learn what it takes to turn a piece of land that was mostly grass into a therapeutic and teaching garden, thanks to the horticultural expertise of the Master GardenersofWashingtonCounty.






488 youth contacts







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Wayne County Westmoreland County

School Garden ProgramThis year, the School Garden Program reached 247 students. Master Gardeners begin the year with a basic seed-starting class,whichcoversgerminationandtransplanting.Otherclasses include: soils, composting, fertilizers, basic botany, and flowering plants. Hands-on activities are also taught—

students learn how to make milk jug greenhouses so they can start seeds outdoors in late winter. Students learn how to grow potatoes in 5-gallon pails, and they are given a crop to grow in their assigned raised bed space. There are 20 teams and each team is provided an 18-square-foot space. Seeds and plants are donated to keep costs to a minimum. Students and faculty harvest and enjoy the crops as they ripen.




453 adult contacts

247 youth contacts




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Westmoreland Earth Day— “Living Green”Each year, the Master Gardeners of Westmoreland CountystaffadisplayatWinniePalmerNatureReserveinconjunction with the Earth Day celebration. The 2017 theme was“LivingGreen.”Approximately600adultsandchildren,interested in environmental and sustainability information attended the celebration.

The Master Gardeners created a colorful display of close-up photosanddescriptionsofherbsandedibleflowers.Alsoincluded with the display were 22 live plants for sensory experience. Handouts that explained how to grow, preserve, and use herbs and edible flowers were available for the attendees. The display also included timely information onidentifyingblacklegged(deer)ticks,theirlifecycle,andprotecting humans and pets from tick bites. Those who attended were able to participate in Master Gardener–led tours of the pollinator garden. Participants were informed about reducing pesticide use to protect pollinators. Master Gardeners who staffed the display answered a wide variety of general gardening questions.

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Wyoming County York County

Vegetable Demonstration GardenInlateJune,alocalorganizationapproachedtheMasterGardenersofWyomingCountytopartnerwiththemto startademonstrationgardeninthecommunity.Although it was late in the season, the Master Gardeners jumped at the opportunity and began a vegetable demonstration gardenatCreeksideGardens—thesiteoftheTunkhannockFarmers Market. Master Gardeners were able to plant the garden with minimal costs thanks to many donations. Master Gardeners spent every Saturday during the summer at the garden and farmers market educatingthecommunity.Inthe fall, the Master Gardeners hosted a free garlic workshop and the group is looking forward to planning additional programs at the site for the coming season.

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522 volunteer hours

234 adult contacts

112 youth contacts





MAEscapes (Mid-Atlantic Ecological Landscapes)

MAEscapesisaprojectoftheMastersGardenersofYorkCountydedicatedtoteachingenvironmentallysustainablepracticesusingnativeplants.MAEscapessponsorsanannualnative plant fest where participants can attend talks, tour the gardens, talk to experts, and purchase native plants. Children’sactivitieswereaddedtotheeventthisyear.In2017,utilizingover13,000feetofMAEscapesdemogardens,Master Gardeners offered garden walks monthly from June throughOctober,showingparticipantshowecologicalplantingsbenefitwildlifeandconservewater.Aneweventscommittee attracted several more volunteers to this group, which resulted in manned educational displays at seven events sponsored by Penn State Extension and community organizations.

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The Pennsylvania State University323 Agricultural Administration Building

University Park, PA 16802

extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener

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2016 –17 master gardener annual report

Documents