County Highlights

Adams County

Photo Credit: Lydia Hecker

Focus On the Pollinators

In 2021 the Master Gardeners of Adams County focused their programming on pollinator education. Home Gardening Essentials and Bees and Blooms are two programs that Master Gardeners typically offer face to face. This year, the programs were successfully transitioned to virtual. Home Gardening Essentials, a four-week program, focused on pollinators--from bees to butterflies, beetles, and flies--and the plants that attract them. Home Gardening Essentials had 50 virtual participants. The follow-up survey indicated that 100 percent of the participants learned something new, while 78 percent planned to implement new gardening practices.

Another public program, Bees and Blooms, combined virtual and in-person presentations. Bees and Blooms had nine participants. The attendees visited the garden and observed the plants that attract bees. Again, a survey showed that 100 percent of the participants learned something new, and 80 percent planned to incorporate new practices into their garden.

Program founded in 1989

• 65 Active Master Gardeners
• 101 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 8 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 64 Gardening Articles Published
• 2,600 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 1 Community Partner

Allegheny County

Photo Credit: Nancy Knauss

Training Class Group Projects

As an integral part of basic training, class members partnered to work on projects in each of the demonstration gardens in the county. The four project groups included Container Cocktail Garden, Ratatouille Garden, Sensory Container Gardener, and Penn State Trial Garden. Trainees in each group collaborated on the design for their project, wrote an article about the project in the local newspaper, and presented the project through in-person talks to community members and virtually to the Master Gardeners in Allegheny County. Over 100 attendees attended the in-person group presentations in the gardens.

Program founded in 1989

• 224 Active Master Gardeners
• 20 Master Gardeners Trained
• 573 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 23 Gardening Articles Published
• 28,000 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 5 Community Partners

Armstrong County

Photo Credit: Barb Toy

Herb Day: Grow and Give Project

The Master Gardeners of Armstrong County collaborated with the Armstrong County Community Action Agency Food Bank to provide approximately 200 herb plants to senior citizens within the community. The project supplied senior citizens residing within high-rises with culinary herbs and lavender plants grown by Master Gardeners. The herbs included chives, basil, parsley, oregano, mint, and lemon balm. Lavender was also provided for use in drawer sachets and potpourri. Educational fact sheets describing the cultural requirements needed to grow healthy plants were provided with the plants. This partnership with Community Action bolsters the outreach mission of the Master Gardeners to educate communities on best practices in sustainable horticulture and environmental stewardship.

Program founded in 2002

• 31 Active Master Gardeners
• 10 Master Gardeners Trained
• 32 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 5,975 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens

Beaver County

Photo Credit: Pam Varga

Partnership With I.S. And Gertrude Sahli Nature Park

The Master Gardeners of Beaver County have had a synergistic partnership with the I.S. and Gertrude Sahli Nature Park in Chippewa Township for many years. The 90-acre park is a treasure of hiking trails, ponds, and sitting areas. For Pollinator Day in April, in partnership with the Chippewa Library Plant, Master Gardeners provided children and adults (40 total participants) with education and a hands-on experience planting milkweed seeds. In July, the park hosted the Chippewa Community Day, with Master Gardeners providing an educational/craft table for 275 children on topics such as pollinators and plants for pollinators. Throughout the summer, Master Gardeners instructed an additional 400 eager participants on plant propagation, cold stratification, botany, and pollinators. The partnership between Sahli Nature Park and the Master Gardeners will continue to greatly benefit the community in Beaver County for years to come.

Program founded in 1990

• 86 Active Master Gardeners
• 18 Master Gardeners Trained
• 253 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 8 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 17 Gardening Articles Published
• 17,740 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 558 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 10 Community Partners

Bedford County

Photo Credit: Kay Kring

Master Gardener Program Growing!

In August 2021, the Master Gardeners of Bedford County had five active volunteers. Currently, the program has 16 participants in the training class. To increase public awareness of the program, Master Gardeners staffed information booths at the Bedford farmers market and Countryside Gardens, a local garden center. They also held an open house at the extension office in Bedford County. The local newspaper, the Bedford Gazette, featured news items about the Master Gardeners numerous times during the summer and fall. This outreach, along with Master Gardener personal contacts to gardening friends, resulted in the new class of trainees.

In addition to the statewide online classes, the trainees have participated in hands-on activities taught by their coordinator, Kay Kring, a recently retired high school horticulture teacher. Class activities included propagation of houseplants and shrubs, pH and soil testing, and forcing bulbs. The expanded program will focus on providing the community with many educational opportunities that fit the mission of the Master Gardeners.

Program founded in 2019

• 5 Active Master Gardeners
• 2 Master Gardeners Trained
• 2 Gardening Articles Published
• 50 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 1 Community Partner

Berks County

Photo Credit: Sarah Frame

2020-2021 Webinar Series

From October 2020 through April 2021, the Master Gardeners of Berks County hosted a seven-session webinar series on seasonal gardening topics. The series had a total of 1,319 live views and 504 views of the recording. The seven webinars developed and presented by Master Gardeners were:

• Preserving Herbs for Winter Use
• Fall Garden Observations: Beginning a Botanica Sketchbook
• Putting Your Garden to Bed
• Creating Your Own Terrarium--It's Easy!
• Seed Starting Made Simple
• Home Composting: Nature's Recycler
• Garden Destinations in Berks and Beyond

Three of the webinars had "sold out" registrations, and all were well received by participants. As one viewer wrote about the herb webinar, "This was a wonderful opportunity. It felt like sitting down with a valued friend and learning all about herbs. I very much enjoyed this."

Program founded in 1982

• 145 Active Master Gardeners
• 701 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 10 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 26 Gardening Articles Published
• 29,058 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 6 Community Partner

Blair County

Photo Credit: Lisa Haas

Gardening For Outreach at NatureWorks Park

The Master Gardeners of Blair County worked diligently in 2021 to plant and maintain four gardens at Nature-Works Park. Located in Hollidaysburg, the park is managed and operated by the Blair County Conservation District. Master Gardeners utilize four spaces in the park and offer live outreach on gardening for pollinators and vegetable gardening. This year the focus was on planning, planting, and maintaining nearly 500 native plants in the various demonstration gardens and the raised-bed vegetable garden. The Blair County Conservation District recognized the Master Gardeners for the tireless work to develop and beautify NatureWorks Park, along with their many outreach events held to educate the community in sustainable practices and environmental stewardship.

Program founded in 1983

• 21 Active Master Gardeners
• 5 Master Gardeners Trained
• 86 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 1,075 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 5 Community Partners

Bradford/Sullivan County

Photo Credit: McKayla Accettulla

No-Fuss Garden

The Master Gardeners of Bradford and Sullivan Counties designed, constructed, and planted a new raised garden bed to demonstrate horticultural principles and practices and serve as a beautification component within Alparon Park. The trapezoid-shaped garden bed was built by modifying a centuries-old gardening technique called Hügelkultur, meaning "mound culture." The bottom two-thirds of the raised bed were layered with organic biomass materials--logs, branches, wood chips, straw, manure, and grass clippings. Rain helps with the decaying process, and over time the bottom layers become compost-soil material. The top one-third of the garden was covered with a mushroom soil/topsoil blend.

The Hügelkultur was planted with showy annuals to attract pollinators and create a no-fuss garden. The annuals were selected for disease resistance and low-maintenance traits.

Program founded in 1989

• 10 Active Master Gardeners
• 5 Master Gardeners Trained
• 54 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 5 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 2 Gardening Articles Published
• 3,500 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 13 Community Partners

Bucks County

Photo Credit: Donna McCloskey

Adams Hollow Community Garden Outreach

To augment their completely virtual 2020-2021 basic training class, the Master Gardeners of Bucks County partnered with the Adams Hollow Community Garden for safe hands-on educational outreach projects. Adams Hollow Community Garden is located in Bristol, the most populated and diverse area of Bucks County.

The trainees split into six committees: Compost, Soils, Food Pantry, Integrated Pest Management, Pollinator, and Reporting. Each committee met separately with established Master Gardener mentors via Zoom to accomplish an educational project for the garden. For example, the Compost Committee built bins, developed signage, held workshops, and created videos and social media content to help community gardeners make high-quality compost for their beds; the Soils Committee held testing/analysis workshops; the Food Pantry Committee grew and donated 175 pounds of produce; the Pollinator Committee achieved Penn State Pollinator-Friendly Certification; the Integrated Pest Management Committee held midsummer diagnostic workshops; and the Reporter Committee wrote articles and created videos that were presented to the county commissioners and other stakeholders. More than 500 direct contacts were made within the garden, and thousands were reached through Facebook and Instagram. Over 70 percent of the trainees have recommitted to this project for 2022.

Program founded in 1989

• 153 Active Master Gardeners
• 31 Master Gardeners Trained
• 738 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 11 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 12 Gardening Articles Published
• 3,900 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 175 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 17 Community Partners

Butler County

Photo Credit: Diane Dallos

Passavant House Historic Gardens

The Master Gardeners of Butler County work with the Zelienople Historical Society to bring to life the historical herb and vegetable gardens of the Passavant House. Built in 1808, the Passavant House served as the home to Zelie Basse Passavant (1786-1871) and her husband, Philippe, after her father founded the community. Today, the garden's volunteers use the letters from Zelie to her children to re-create the gardens as Zelie grew them.

Visitors to the home learn about the revitalized vegetable gardens based on excerpts from Zelie's journal that feature heirloom varieties of tomatoes and beans bordered in nasturtium. In the herb garden, culinary herbs are harvested for use in the summer kitchen, while herbs traditionally used for medicine and the household are also grown and identified with historical references. Master Gardener volunteers participate in community events, teach visitors about the gardens, and harvest vegetables with children.

Program founded in 1991

• 95 Active Master Gardeners
• 10 Master Gardeners Trained
• 373 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 4 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 50 Gardening Articles Published
• 50,077 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 15 Community Partners

Cambria County

Photo Credit: Joyce Long

Preschoolers Visit Demonstration Garden

The Master Gardeners of Cambria County pooled resources with WilderNest, an outdoor preschool, to bring children into the demonstration garden in Ebensburg that is maintained by the Master Gardeners. Master Gardeners gave the children a tour of the garden and showed them how to plant seeds. They learned that the seeds eventually grow into flowering plants that are visited by bees and other pollinators. The preschoolers were especially intrigued by the "touch and smell" section of the garden. The children were offered a mint leaf to smell and a fuzzy succulent called Vicks plant leaf to touch and smell. When they departed, the children were given goody bags that included coloring pages of the monarch butterfly's life cycle and other educational gardening information.

Program founded in 1983

• 44 Active Master Gardeners
• 1 Master Gardener Trained
• 163 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 3 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 5,000 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens

Carbon County

Photo Credit: Carol Schnaiter

Food Security Project

To help their fellow Carbon County residents grow more food at home this year, the Master Gardeners of Carbon County reached out to their communities to create contactless "mentoring pods" for vegetable gardening. Seven Master Gardeners led pods ranging from five to 13 members each.

Starting in May, each pod member received a 5-gallon container, a bucket of high-quality soil, and fertilizer, all donated by Lowes Home Improvement Center, in addition to a tomato or pepper plant to go in their container. Master Gardeners then kept in touch with their pods throughout the season via phone calls, emails, and mailed packets of fact sheets about growing in containers, proper fertilization, and pest management. In total, Master Gardeners coached 37 pod members through a successful season with tomato and pepper harvests.

Program founded in 1989

• 26 Active Master Gardeners
• 25 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 100 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens

Centre County

Photo Credit: Faith Lucchesi

Snetsinger Butterfly Garden

The Snetsinger Butterfly Garden is an educational site and diverse ecosystem of approximately 3 acres. As a demonstration garden, its mission is to educate the public about the importance of pollinators and their habitat needs as critical components of many ecosystems. In September, the producers of Weather World featured a segment that was filmed in the garden, educating viewers about monarch migration and ways to create habitat for monarchs and other pollinators.

Through the Snetsinger Butterfly Garden Satellite Garden Program, the power of outreach is multiplied by teaching students how to plan, plant, and tend their own school pollinator garden. In response to limited opportunities for in-person programs for children, the team offered a series of virtual field trips to students from schools in the Satellite Garden Program and the State College Area School District Virtual Academy. These live, interactive Zoom presentations included slides, animation, videos, and Q&A sessions. The series of five programs focused on life in the pollinator habitat throughout all seasons. Fifty-two presentations were given to a total of 1,863 students in eight elementary schools.

"The Master Gardeners have allowed our fully virtual students to participate in live presentations. ... Our students were able to learn about critical environmental issues and the responsibilities we all share within our community in preserving and extending both the gardens and animals within the gardens," said Linda Andrews, director of Virtual Academy.

Program founded in 1992

• 89 Active Master Gardeners
• 14 Master Gardeners Trained
• 147 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 40 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 153,000 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 12 Community Partners

Chester County

Photo Credit: Cindy Reed

Historic Garden at Hopewell Furnace

This year, the Master Gardeners of Chester County celebrated three years of a successful partnership with Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. Located near Elverson, Hopewell Furnace was an iron plantation from 1771 to 1883 and became established as a National Historic Site in 1938. Today, it attracts nearly 50,000 visitors each year.

The Master Gardeners' project at Hopewell Furnace began with planning and maintaining an edible teaching garden with plants that are historically accurate for a family living at an American industrial complex in the 1800s. Since then, it has developed into a rich collaboration with the National Park Service staff. Outreach education is centered on the plants grown in the tenant garden and the use of the harvest in cooking demonstrations. Brochures are also available on the plants and their historical relevance.

Program founded in 1988

• 107 Active Master Gardeners
• 318 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 10 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 2 Gardening Articles Published
• 3,000 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 400 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 16 Community Partners

Clarion County

Photo Credit: Stephanie Wilshire

Clarion Community Action Partnership

More than 100 plants were donated by the Master Gardeners of Clarion County to Clarion Community Action for consumers served by the agency's food bank. In addition, an edible demonstration garden was planted at Clarion County Park with the extra plants. Vegetables harvested at the demonstration garden were donated to Community Action's food bank. This was the first opportunity for the food bank to receive fresh vegetables. From July through the end of September, Master Gardeners provided fresh vegetables twice a week. Vegetables included tomatoes, carrots, beets, green beans, peppers, zucchini, several types of yellow squash, and gherkins. Approximately 160 pounds of produce were sorted, cleaned, packed in paper bags, and delivered to the food bank. At the end of the season, Community Action staff was polled about which vegetables were the most popular with clients. This information will be used when planning next year's expanded demonstration garden.

Program founded in 1988

• 17 Active Master Gardeners
• 1 Master Gardener Trained
• 11 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 4 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 2 Gardening Articles Published
• 1,000 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 25 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 3 Community Partners

Clearfield County

Photo Credit: Andy Faust

New Beginnings

The Master Gardener program in Clearfield County was officially relaunched in March 2021. Master Gardeners assumed planting and maintenance of the vegetable demonstration garden at the extension office and installed a new fence. Seeds and plants were donated by local organizations and community members. Produce grown and harvested included tomatoes, corn, peppers, squash, carrots, and broccoli. More than 800 pounds of produce, valued at $1,280, was harvested during the growing season and donated on a rotating basis to Clearfield County Food Bank and Grampian Ministerial Food Pantry. Master Gardeners volunteered over 83 hours in the demonstration garden.

Program founded in 2020

• 1 Active Master Gardener
• 2 Master Gardeners Trained
• 3 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 2,021 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 830 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 9 Community Partners

Clinton County

Photo Credit: Wayne McCullough

Native Planting at Bald Eagle Valley Trail

Master Gardeners worked with Friends of the Bald Eagle Valley Trail (BEVT) to plant native shrubs and perennials along a section of the popular hiking/biking trail. BEVT requested assistance with creating beds of native plants around a seating area overlooking Bald Eagle Creek. Plant recommendations, cost estimates, and design plans were needed. Master Gardener apprentices toured the site in March. They measured the dimensions of the proposed beds, took note of sun exposure and soil conditions, and recommended sheet composting to remove existing vegetation. Over the summer, they selected native shrubs and perennials and created a color-coded planting diagram. They placed orders in conjunction with their fall plant sale. Master Gardeners shared information about native plants and their value to pollinators and other wildlife, as well as the benefits of planting in the fall. In early October, they guided BEVT volunteers as they planted the beds. By the spring, the new beds, which surround a pair of benches overlooking the creek, should be in flower to be enjoyed by humans and pollinators alike.

Program founded in 1991

• 18 Active Master Gardeners
• 5 Master Gardeners Trained
• 133 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 2 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 39 Gardening Articles Published
• 1,200 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 4 Community Partners

Columbia County

Gardening Webinars

During the pandemic restrictions of 2021, the Master Gardeners of Columbia County tried a new method of public outreach. With the help of faculty from Penn State, they shared their expertise during two webinars. The presentations at these events enabled participants to increase their knowledge of proven, science-based gardening practices. Each speaker provided a 45-minute lecture and 15 minutes for questions. Throughout each presentation, Master Gardeners behind the scenes provided answers to participants' questions, while some questions required the speaker's expertise. Topics included the basics of vegetable gardening, diseases and insects of the vegetable garden, lawn care practices for cool-season turfgrass, creating a year-round bird habitat in your backyard, an introduction to growing mushrooms at home, and myths and management of spotted lanternfly.

Feedback from participants was positive and inspired the Master Gardeners to offer additional webinars. More than 350 individuals participated in these webinars, increasing the number of contacts to over 10 times more than traditional in-person events. Participants were provided with the Garden Hotline phone number and email address to encourage additional contact for gardening questions that might arise in the future.

Program founded in 1990

• 30 Active Master Gardeners
• 5 Master Gardeners Trained
• 835 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 9 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 25 Gardening Articles Published
• 253 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 18 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 10 Community Partners

Crawford County

Photo Credit: Kinorea Tigri

Seed To Supper

The Master Gardeners of Crawford County launched the first Seed to Supper program, partnering with Lighthouse Community Church. The church provided an extensive classroom, a newly remodeled kitchen, ample space for hands-on activities, and a 25-by-65-foot garden space on the same property. Local businesses donated a wheelbarrow, shovels, hoes, and rakes to maintain the garden. In addition, each participant received a set of garden tools, seeds, gloves, and a 5-gallon bucket for container gardening. The Master Gardener program also partnered with the Penn State Extension Food, Families, and Health Team to present information about healthy eating and demonstrate how to prepare vegetables. The class created a Seed to Supper cookbook that incorporates Food, Families, and Health Team recipes and their favorites. The five participants completed the program and helped plant and maintain the garden throughout the growing season. The garden produced almost 75 pounds of vegetables, which were shared with the participants and church families in need.

Program founded in 1991

• 51 Active Master Gardeners
• 12 Master Gardeners Trained
• 244 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 1,546 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 156 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 3 Community Partners

Cumberland County

Photo Credit: Patti Coolsen

Pollinator Fest

In August, Master Gardeners hosted Pollinator Fest at the Adams Ricci Butterfly Garden. More than 120 residents engaged with Master Gardeners during garden tours, educational displays, youth crafts, and a plant clinic. Master Gardeners brought caterpillars they were raising and a wireless digital microscope to create an interactive learning experience of the butterfly life cycle. Residents learned about host and nectar plants, native plants, pollinators, and the Penn State Pollinator-Friendly Garden Certification program. The Master Gardener program in Cumberland County was showcased through displays of additional demonstration gardens, youth programs, and the annual Plant Fest and Sale fundraiser. The educational impact of the garden is reflected in the number of visitors who found their visit to be very or extremely useful in increasing their awareness of the role of pollinators (92 percent), understanding the life cycle of a butterfly (92 percent), learning about plants that attract pollinators (95 percent), and discovering new plants (97 percent). As a result of visiting the garden, visitors indicated that it was very to extremely likely they would replace nonnative plants with native plants (82 percent) and plant-pollinator-attractive plants in their gardens (86 percent). One visitor shared, "I started my own butterfly garden in our yard after visiting this garden," which is a testament to the Penn State Extension Master Gardener program in action.

Program founded in 1988

• 84 Active Master Gardeners
• 24 Master Gardeners Trained
• 223 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 33 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 5 Gardening Articles Published
• 40,396 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 470 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 28 Community Partners

Dauphin County

Photo Credit: Carol Webb

Pennsylvania Capitol Hunger Garden

The Master Gardeners of Dauphin County collaborate with Pennsylvania legislators and community volunteers through the Pennsylvania Capitol Hunger Garden to address food insecurity. The Capitol Hunger Garden was established in 2010 and is currently an outreach project of the Legislative Hunger Caucus co-chaired by Senator Elder Vogel Jr. and Representative Jake Wheatley. The plants and seeds for establishing the garden have been donated by the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association. The Capitol Public Works crew prepares the soil prior to the garden opening in the spring and assists with setting up the garden, season-end closing, and final harvesting. The Capitol Hunger Garden produces an average of over 800 pounds of fresh produce each season, from May to early October, which is donated to local food banks, in particular the Downtown Daily Bread soup kitchen operated by the Pine Street Presbyterian Church. Master Gardeners plan, plant, and maintain the garden, assisted by volunteers from the community and legislative staff. Working in the garden also provides the Master Gardeners with the opportunity to discuss the goals of the Capitol Hunger Garden with passersby and visitors to the Capitol.

Program founded in 1987

• 71 Active Master Gardeners
• 13 Master Gardeners Trained
• 337 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 8 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 6 Gardening Articles Published
• 138,059 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 892 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 26 Community Partners

Delaware County

Photo Credit: Holly Thorpe

Seed Starting

Despite a number of setbacks this year, the Master Gardeners of Delaware County produced over 30 flats of tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, broccoli, kale, collards, herbs, and flowers for donation to local community groups. From the beginning, the group's Seed Starting Committee faced challenges from both bad weather and pandemic-related restrictions. Under normal circumstances, the committee starts seeds on heat mats in an unheated hoop house in mid-February, but snow and ice blocking the hoop house door for several weeks led to a late start for the cool-season crops. In addition, restrictions on how many volunteers could be in the hoop house also limited planting capacity. Nevertheless, the group came up with creative solutions, including holding their warm-season seed starting outdoors in the parking lot of the extension office in Delaware County. The donated plants produced over 300 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables, which were donated to area food banks.

Program founded in 1991

• 112 Active Master Gardeners
• 268 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 14 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 3 Gardening Articles Published
• 1,000 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 1,831 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 27 Community Partners

Elk County

Photo Credit: Jane Olson

Elcam Daycare Garden

Elcam is a nonprofit organization in Elk County that provides community services, including daycare for children ages six weeks to 12 years old. The Master Gardeners of Elk County maintained and delivered educational programs using four raised-bed gardens on the premises in 2021. During the program year, volunteers provided contactless, hands-on education for the children enrolled in the daycare. Topics included what plants need, nutrients in soil, collecting soil samples, and starting plants indoors and transplanting them to the garden. Over 50 pounds of produce were harvested and donated to the daycare for the children. Many birds and pollinators also benefited, as they were seen feeding in the pollinator raised-bed garden and nesting nearby throughout the season.

Program founded in 2017

• 11 Active Master Gardeners
• 2 Master Gardeners Trained
• 22 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 4 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 2 Gardening Articles Published
• 700 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 200 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 8 Community Partners

Erie County

Photo Credit: Patti Coolsen

School Gardening Program

The Master Gardeners of Erie County currently provide educational outreach to all 10 public elementary schools in the Erie School District. In 2021, Master Gardener teams provided take-home gardening box activities for the district's 1,000 third-graders in early spring during COVID. The summer school gardening program impacted 100 students over three weeks. The fall afterschool program impacted 100 students over nine weeks. Throughout this time, Master Gardeners and school families helped maintain the school gardens during the growing season. Fifteen hundred pounds of vegetables were harvested and donated to families in need and the local food bank.

Program founded in 2004

• 102 Active Master Gardeners
• 53 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 106 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 2 Gardening Articles Published
• 2,100 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 3,900 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 14 Community Partners

Fayette County

Photo Credit: Brooke Allen

Seed To Supper

The Master Gardeners of Fayette County launched the Seed to Supper program to teach members of the local community how to start, grow, maintain, and harvest vegetables, with the goal of educating on the importance of growing their own food. Master Gardeners partnered with Fayette County Community Action Agency on this project. Eleven community garden beds (4 feet by 12 feet) were built, including sites in Connellsville and Uniontown. Forty-seven participants completed the five-week program with four in-person class sites and one virtual class. Master Gardeners provided education on each weekly topic, answered questions, and performed hands-on demonstrations throughout the summer. The classes concluded with a harvest at the end of the growing season. Twenty-eight Master Gardeners volunteered over 860 hours for the program, translating to nearly $25,000 in volunteer contributions. Approximately 800 pounds of vegetables were donated to various food banks throughout the county, not including the vegetables harvested by the participants for their use. The Master Gardener demonstration garden, located in Connellsville, also donated 200 pounds of produce to the Connellsville Community Ministries Food Bank. Being able to help others learn to grow and harvest their own food and provide food for those in need was a rewarding experience for the Master Gardener volunteers in Fayette County.

Program founded in 1991

• 68 Active Master Gardeners
• 8 Master Gardeners Trained
• 60 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 18 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 7 Gardening Articles Published
• 1,650 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 1,000 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 4 Community Partners

Franklin County

Photo Credit: Diane Keeney

Growing For The Community

Master Gardener volunteers in Franklin County grew thousands of vegetable, herb, and annual flower seedlings in their greenhouse for donation to nonprofit or educational community organizations to provide youth, seniors, low-income, and food-insecure clientele with the opportunity to grow their own produce and learn about the health benefits of gardening. By late May, 1,900 potted transplants were ready for pickup, and educational information about the plants was provided to each of the 14 community organizations that received plants. Among the recipients were the Franklin County Housing Authority, Kids POP (Power of Produce) Club at North Square Farmers Market, NetWork Ministries Youth Garden, South Central Community Action Program Gleaning Project, Waynesboro Daycare Center, and Waynesboro Food Pantry. Appreciative comments and photos were posted on the Master Gardeners' Facebook page. One Franklin County Housing Authority resident wrote: "I am extremely thankful because I was wanting so badly to start a garden. It's my first summer here in my new place. . . . I love this garden."

Herb and vegetable transplants from the greenhouse were also planted in the Victory Garden, where Master Gardeners grew and harvested 16 different crops, from beans and basil to squash and zucchini. Weekly from July through September, the harvest was donated to the South Central Community Action Program Produce Stand in downtown Chambersburg, for a total of 1,319 pounds of fresh produce for the season.

Program founded in 1993

• 58 Active Master Gardeners
• 161 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 46,400 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 1,319 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 14 Community Partners

Fulton County

Photo Credit: Fulton County Library

Herb Demonstration Garden

In 2018, the Fulton County Library invited the Master Gardeners of Fulton County to create demonstration gardens in front of the building on one of McConnellsburg's most bustling streets. Master Gardeners chose herb gardens as the theme for this high-profile area, creating attention with the plants' colorful foliage, scents, and attractiveness to pollinators. The use of herbs also connects to the public's interest in both cooking and gardening. The gardens feature 20 varieties of culinary herbs and are seen by over 2,000 visitors each month. Signage is updated to inform the public about the selected plants, and more gardening resources are available in the library. The library often hosts Master Gardener community classes and is a helpful contributor to the social media outreach of Master Gardeners of Fulton County.

Program founded in 2009

• 13 Active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners Trained
• 5 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 1 Gardening Article Published
• 4,600 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 2 Community Partners

Greene County

Photo Credit: Cheryl Brendel

Foodbank Community Garden

The Master Gardeners of Greene County collaborated with the Corner Cupboard Food Bank to establish gardens on their property to provide a source of fresh vegetables for the community. Eight raised beds were built by Waynesburg University students. Volunteers from the community were recruited, and the produce grown was donated to the food bank. During the pandemic, the food bank lost all their volunteers who were growing the produce to be distributed. The Master Gardeners donated tomato plants from canceled programs and events and planted them in the gardens, with the staff then harvesting the fresh produce. Eighty pounds of produce were harvested for distribution to local members of the community in Greene County.

Program founded in 1991

• 16 Active Master Gardeners
• 2 Master Gardeners Trained
• 59 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 12 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 7 Gardening Articles Published
• 64 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 80 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 6 Community Partners

Huntingdon County

Photo Credit: Deb Ridgeway

Mount Union Community Garden

The Master Gardeners of Huntingdon County assisted the Juniata River Blueprint Community group, the Center for Community Action, and the Mount Union Area Partnership with plans for a community garden in Mount Union. The garden is located at Rogers Newman Park and has 40 garden beds, which are open to anyone in the borough and surrounding areas to grow garden plants. The garden was planned in 2020 and fully developed in 2021. Master Gardeners were asked to help develop plans for the raised beds, assist the group with soil testing information, and provide three presentations relevant to the gardens: understanding the soil test, soil amendments, and composting. The Master Gardeners helped first-time gardeners plan their beds and explained the use of various garden tools donated by the community. Every Tuesday evening from April to October a Master Gardener was present at the community garden to answer gardening questions and provide information for the home gardeners on a variety of topics. The Master Gardener program also donated 100 seed packages to the community gardeners.

Program founded in 2014

• 15 Active Master Gardeners
• 47 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 730 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 6 Community Partners

Indiana County

Photo Credit: Dianna Kerr

Master Gardeners Go to The Fair!

The Master Gardeners of Indiana County educate the community through various events in the county. The Indiana County Fair provides an attractive site for Master Gardeners to provide horticultural education to hundreds of fairgoers. Each year, Master Gardeners develop displays about the current year's environmental concerns. Each person who visits the Master Gardener booth receives a take-home to remind them of the topic or educate them on subjects of interest. Tabling time at the fair is also used to make personal connections with the public on subjects that matter to them and give them tangible solutions to issues that impact home gardeners. This year's key topics were spotted lanternfly, tomato blight, armyworms, and tomato hornworm.

Program founded in 1991

• 40 Active Master Gardeners
• 8 Master Gardeners Trained
• 99 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 4 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 2 Gardening Articles Published
• 2,486 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 5 Community Partners

Jefferson County

Photo Credit: Cheryl Shenkle

Building Healthy Garden Soil

The Master Gardeners of Jefferson County's demonstration gardens are located on a previously stripped piece of land that left little usable growing medium for planting. After building nine raised beds on solid clay, volunteers began to fill and improve the beds by incorporating organic growing medium, native soil, compost, and their own biochar. The biochar is added annually to balance clay, which is intentionally brought up from beneath the beds to supplement minerals. In its fifth year, the soil is rich, completely organic, and has grown quality plants with few added organic fertilizers. Plants include brambles, alliums, strawberries, exotic herbs, climbing vines, grasses, native pollinators, root crops, potatoes in barrels, and climbing plants on cattle panel trellises. Plant signs and growing signage are included for educational purposes.

Program founded in 2009

• 9 Active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners Trained
• 52 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 4 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 12 Gardening Articles Published
• 2,500 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 1 Community Partner

Juniata and Mifflin Counties

Photo Credit: Sara Buffington

New Demonstration Garden

The Master Gardeners of Juniata and Mifflin Counties were busy this year renovating a garden filled with invasive plants into a Master Gardener demonstration garden. Have you ever heard of bishop's weed, crown vetch, or English ivy? The Master Gardeners wished they hadn't! Most likely planted for low maintenance by the garden's previous caretaker, these plants give invasive a new meaning. The high-visibility site at the Mifflin County Library provided an opportunity to demonstrate to the public the plants that should and should not be included in a garden. Master Gardeners replaced the invasives with over two dozen trees, shrubs, and perennials, including a weeping redbud, hydrangea, and fothergilla. Large pots of annuals were planted along the main sidewalk leading to the library entrance, and proper stainless steel plant labels were ordered and placed throughout the garden. It was an excellent opportunity for the trainees to work alongside seasoned Master Gardeners. Future goals include removing less-desirable plants in favor of native and pollinator plants to create an ecofriendly and educational garden in the community.

Program founded in 2004

• 14 Active Master Gardeners
• 7 Master Gardeners Trained
• 19 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 1 Educational Outreach Presentation
• 9 Gardening Articles Published
• 375 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 40 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 3 Community Partners

Lackawanna County

Photo Credit: Judy Coleman

Landscape Redesign For A Historic Building

The Master Gardeners of Lackawanna County designed and executed a landscaping makeover for a cultural icon. The Gateway Center in downtown Scranton was designed by Davis and Lewis in 1919. Because the building architecture was designed in an Italian Renaissance and Beaux-Arts classicism style, the landscape design was also created in a classic style. The approach is formal and balanced with z-axis layering from the street to the building. It is a design worthy of such an important building, and it creates a stately first impression for first-time visitors to Scranton and Lackawanna County.
In addition, the plant selection was native, with particular emphasis on a four-season appeal. A small copse of red twig dogwood with their scarlet canes in the winter will contrast nicely with the cream façade. Through the seasons, the bluestem grasses, sedums, and alliums with their uniform spacing will emphasize the formality of the design. The insects, birds, and local wildlife will forage here, and the landscape will be alive while maintaining the formal appearance befitting a landmark building of this stature and significance.

Program founded in 1991

• 40 Active Master Gardeners
• 20 Master Gardeners Trained
• 97 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 22 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 5 Gardening Articles Published
• 3,904 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 1,027 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 22 Community Partners

Lancaster County

Photo Credit: Jill Edwards

Healthy Eating, Mindful Living From The Ground Up

In 2021, Master Gardeners of Lancaster County participated in the Healthy Eating, Mindful Living from the Ground Up program. The City of Lancaster initiated the program to address food insecurity in the city. Having donated vegetable seeds in the past, staff from the City of Lancaster asked the Master Gardener program to provide residents with vegetable plant starts along with gardening information. The Master Gardeners responded by growing nearly 800 plants, including tomatoes, peppers, herbs, lettuce, and a few flowers. In May, Master Gardener volunteers participated in two distribution events held at Bethel AME Church and Tec Centro community centers. They answered questions and provided bilingual materials on growing and harvesting and recipes developed by Penn State Extension Nutrition Links staff. Attendees' knowledge ranged from experienced to first-time gardeners. The Master Gardeners plan to collaborate on this project again, potentially providing educational sessions before and after distribution events.

Program founded in 1988

• 92 Active Master Gardeners
• 22 Master Gardeners Trained
• 489 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 4 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 15 Gardening Articles Published
• 9,550 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 4 Community Partners

Lawrence County

Photo Credit: Christine Sherman

Annual Garden Tour

The Master Gardeners of Lawrence County take pride in the Annual Garden Tour. In 2021, the event was held face to face and featured four area gardens in Lawrence County, each promoting different garden styles, designs, and plantings. Participants visit each garden location at their own pace, and Master Gardeners are on-site to answer gardening questions and inform community members on best practices. Over 30 community members participated in the event. Volunteers will be offering a garden tour again in 2022.

Program founded in 1991

• 36 Active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners Trained
• 27 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 1 Educational Outreach Presentation
• 1 Gardening Article Published
• 200 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 3 Community Partners

Lebanon County

Photo Credit: Peggy Zechman

Fall Festival

The Master Gardeners of Lebanon County held a Fall Festival in September to highlight many enhancements made to their Four-Square Demonstration Garden located at the extension office. Over the last several years, Master Gardener volunteers added a native plant and pollinator garden, a children's garden, an herb garden, fall and spring row cover beds, a small pumpkin patch, and annual flower and vegetable beds. The garden was also the site of the Pollinator Preferences garden, which is part of a statewide monitoring program. Over 150 people attended the Fall Festival to view the Four-Square Demonstration Garden and its educational signage. During the event, Master Gardeners gave three mini-presentations on composting, planting bulbs and garlic, and creating a pollinator-friendly garden. The Youth Education Committee also held a garden scavenger hunt, educational activities, and games to engage the children attending. The Ask the Master Gardener booth was busy answering questions throughout the day. The event was a rewarding culmination of the 2021 growing season with over 25 Master Gardeners volunteering.

Program founded in 1989

• 58 Active Master Gardeners
• 19 Master Gardeners Trained
• 233 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 6 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 1,200 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 450 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 3 Community Partners

Lehigh and Northampton Counties

Photo Credit: Heather Pritchard

Community Action Partnership

The Master Gardeners of Lehigh and Northampton Counties are working with the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley at the Sixth Street Shelter in Allentown to teach shelter residents how garden practices can improve both the community and their personal well-being. There are four small demonstration gardens on-site:

• A pollinator garden that wraps a parking area, complete with educational signage, where residents learn about pollinator-friendly plants and the importance of backyard biodiversity
• A sensory and herb garden to teach about plant diversity, accompanied by a small community pantry
• A small kitchen vegetable garden where residents learn how to grow common vegetables
• A conventional shade garden that will be welcoming an Eagle Scout-built lending library in 2022

Master Gardeners work with Community Action Committee staff to engage residents in hands-on workshops with the end goal of having the placed residents continue to garden at their homes.

Program founded in 1988

• 138 Active Master Gardeners
• 789 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 262 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 12 Gardening Articles Published
• 1,750 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 2,605 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 18 Community Partners

Luzerne County

Photo Credit: Bigstock.Com

Pollinator Garden In Dallas Township

The Dallas Township supervisors generously offered a section of land adjacent to the Back Mountain Trail to develop a garden as a stopping point for visitors. This opportunity served as a vehicle for the academic exercise of garden design for the Master Gardener trainees. After "graduation," both trainees and veteran Master Gardeners designed a garden offering three seasons of color to reflect the formality of the site and its being an extension of the walking trail. In addition, they opted to create a pollinator garden to educate visitors on the importance of habitat in attracting bees and other pollinators. Volunteers are currently working on QR signage to provide information about individual plants. In the spring, plans are underway for a community event featuring activities and information about pollinators and their value for the environment.

Program founded in 1978

• 36 Active Master Gardeners
• 25 Master Gardeners Trained
• 94 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 18 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 2,200 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 50 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 13 Community Partners

Lycoming County

Photo Credit: Williamsport Sun Gazette

Two Little Free Libraries Introduced To Demonstration Gardens!

The past year, finding innovative ways to provide education to our community has been a challenge due to pandemic restrictions and concerns. The Master Gardeners of Lycoming County worked with local partners to bring two Little Free Libraries to their gardens at Lysock View. One library was purchased, and the second library was created from an old newspaper vending machine donated by our local newspaper, the Williamsport Sun Gazette. North Central Sight Services donated a bench made from recycled plastic, making this a perfect matching addition! The James V. Brown Library and Master Gardener volunteers generously donated books. One library is dedicated to adult readers and the other to children. Both have outdoor themes, such as gardening, flowers, animals, insects, and the environment. The libraries are a huge success, and families frequently return. The free libraries encourage discovery, learning, reading, and family interaction. They're free, safe, and open all day until dusk!

Program founded in 1999

• 54 Active Master Gardeners
• 12 Master Gardeners Trained
• 61 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 3 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 25,000 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 75 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 9 Community Partners

McKean County

Photo Credit: Gloria Wilson

Poor Farm Trail Beds

One very special project that the Master Gardeners have worked on is the Poor Farm Trail Beds located on Route 6 in Smethport. The beds are poised at the start of the Orchard Trail, which begins at the Good Growing Gardens. Made up of eight separate raised beds, they provide a variety of experiences for those walking along the trail. Each is designed with a different purpose and theme. One of the beds features plants that are used as dye agents. Another bed is filled with milkweed and pollinator plants that have attracted an abundance of bees and pollinators. Our featured garden bed showcases perennial fruits and vegetables, including strawberries, asparagus, rhubarb, chives, and Egyptian walking onions. The plants change throughout the season, providing community members who walk along the path with new experiences each time they visit.

Program founded in 1986

• 29 Active Master Gardeners
• 5 Master Gardeners Trained
• 16 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 20 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 1,448 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 510 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 5 Community Partners

Mercer County

Photo Credit: Julie Norris

Buhl Park Educational Walk

In May, Master Gardeners led an ornamental tree and shrub walk for the public at Buhl Park in Hermitage. The group of 12 community members learned about the unique characteristics of the leaves, bark, and flowers used to identify various trees and shrubs. Numerous species were flowering and the pollinators were very active on this warm, sunny morning. Participants discussed the pollination process and the plants' purpose in the environment related to wildlife.

Program founded in 1991

• 37 Active Master Gardeners
• 12 Master Gardeners Trained
• 2 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 250 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens

Monroe County

Photo Credit: Julia Rettle

Rain Garden Grant

The Master Gardeners of Monroe County established a new Demonstration Rain Garden for the program. Earlier this season, Middle Smithfield Township in Monroe County received $25,000 from the Healing the Planet grant program. As part of the grant, the township invited the Master Gardeners to partner in designing, planting, maintaining, and creating education for a rain garden using native pollinator plants at the township's Community and Cultural Center. The Master Gardeners enthusiastically agreed, and the township earmarked over $9,400 of their grant for soil amendments, plants, and signage at the garden.
The Master Gardeners worked with township officials to select a site, and presented a preliminary design for the space. When completed in 2022, the Master Gardeners have plans to use this new demonstration garden for public workshops and tours discussing the value of rain gardens, planting rain gardens, pollinator plant identification, and beneficial insect identification.

Program founded in 1991

• 38 Active Master Gardeners
• 158 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 1 Educational Outreach Presentation
• 1 Gardening Article Published
• 7,148 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 406 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 3 Community Partners

Montgomery County

Photo Credit: Lori Curtis

Demonstration And Learning Gardens

The Master Gardeners continued their journey to revitalize their demonstration gardens into the educational asset they were intended to be. Master Gardener volunteers installed signage for each garden area and prepared a booklet that includes plant lists and other important aspects of each area. The Universal Garden dedicated a raised bed to the statewide Grow-Save-Repeat project with Delaware Valley University, and another bed to the downy mildew cucurbit study with Penn State researchers. The Universal Garden was also certified as a Watershed-Friendly Garden through the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward program. Volunteers working in the Circle Garden installed shrubs and ferns to provide structure and winter interest. The Shade Garden volunteers did archival research to identify and label their collection of hostas. The Rock Garden was redesigned to include a wider variety of succulents and regraded to showcase the plants. These efforts culminated in a Demonstration Garden Open House for the public in September that attracted over 33 attendees.

Program founded in 1990

• 75 Active Master Gardeners
• 36 Master Gardeners Trained
• 682 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 21 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 1 Gardening Article Published
• 16,000 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 2,139 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 10 Community Partners

Montour County

Photo Credit: Carol Burke

Reclaiming Public Space

Shortly after moving into the new extension office in Montour County, the Master Gardeners were approached by the county commissioners about renovating the landscaping around the courthouse. The area had not been updated for at least 10 years. The Master Gardeners proposed using native plants, especially those that attract pollinators and provide season-long color. County workers removed the old landscaping and prepared the area for the new plantings. The Master Gardeners worked with area Scouts and community volunteers to teach proper planting techniques to complete the planting in time for a street fair to showcase the new design.

Program founded in 1988

• 5 Active Master Gardeners
• 1 Master Gardener Trained
• 231 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 1 Educational Outreach Presentation
• 2 Gardening Articles Published
• 60 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 11 Community Partners

Northumberland County

Photo Credit: Paula Angel

Kulpmont Community Pollinators Garden

In January 2020, Kulpmont Borough and the Northumberland County Conservation District reached out to the Master Gardeners to partner on the design and installation of a pollinator garden. The vision was to utilize open space in a local public park to create a pollinator garden that would serve as an educational nature center for local schools and the community. The first major planting occurred in October 2020 with a focus on educating the community on planting native trees, building bee houses, and the importance of providing water sources for pollinators. In May 2021, Master Gardeners demonstrated proper planting techniques and planted the native perennials. Finally, in fall 2021, an outdoor educational event was held, funded by the Northumberland County Conservation District with financial support from the Department of Environmental Protection Environmental Education Grants program. More than 100 participants learned about beneficial insects, building bat and bird houses, and planting additional trees in the pollinator garden. The Kulpmont Pollinator Garden is in the process of becoming a Penn State Certified Pollinator-Friendly Garden. The addition of more native perennials and educational events are planned for next year.

Program founded in 1991

• 6 Active Master Gardeners
• 3 Master Gardeners Trained
• 189 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 1 Educational Outreach Presentation
• 3 Gardening Articles Published
• 20 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 7 Community Partners

Perry County

Photo Credit: Joe Swager

Food Bank Education Garden

The Master Gardeners of Perry County partnered with the Neighbor Helping Neighbor Food Bank, Inc., to update and reinvent their Food Bank Education Garden. The mission of the garden is to provide individuals patronizing the food bank with an opportunity to see the different options and techniques that can be used to grow food on their own. Master Gardener volunteers worked hard to visually divide the garden into various sections. One area demonstrated how to grow tomatoes and potatoes in different types of containers. Other areas emphasized vegetables that can be grown at different times during the growing season. The garden also includes a display of plants that attract pollinators. In addition to serving an educational purpose, the harvested produce is available to the food bank for distribution.

Program founded in 1989

• 8 Active Master Gardeners
• 1 Master Gardener Trained
• 10 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 1 Educational Outreach Presentation
• 1,444 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 3 Community Partners

Philadelphia County

Photo Credit: Erin Kinley

Virtual Garden Day And Plant Sale

This past spring, faced with COVID-19 restrictions, the Master Gardeners of Philadelphia retooled their entire Garden Day and Plant Sale event to safely provide plants and education to the public. All plant sales were online (with limited-contact pickup stations across the city), and one day of workshops was extended into a week of gardening and cooking webinars. In addition to free webinars on native plants and beneficial insects, the Master Gardeners partnered with the Penn State Extension Nutrition Links program to present an online cooking demo featuring fresh veggies and herbs. They also worked with the Indoor Plant Society of the Delaware Valley to host a webinar on indoor plants. The vegetables, herbs, and native plants sold at the event were propagated and grown by Master Gardener volunteers, many of them in the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center in Philadelphia. Over 500 people from across the state participated in the webinars, and the plant sale raised funds for Master Gardener demonstration gardens and gardening education programs in Philadelphia. Excess seedlings were donated to a dozen gardens and urban farms working toward neighborhood beautification, food security, and food justice in Philadelphia.

Program founded in 1989

• 95 Active Master Gardeners
• 35 Master Gardeners Trained
• 181 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 3 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 25,000 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 6 Community Partners

Pike County

Photo Credit: Krista Gromalski

Courthouse Educational Garden Project

The Master Gardeners of Pike County, in alliance with the Pike County commissioners, started work on a two-phase plan for a beautification and educational project in front of the county courthouse. Phase one of the project, completed over the summer, was the installation of a four-season garden surrounding the courthouse flagpole. Spring bulbs, summer- and fall-blooming perennials, and evergreen shrubs were planted to create a visually appealing year-round garden.

Phase two of the project is a sensory garden where visitors to the courthouse can experience the scents, colors, and textures of various plants. Hardscaping will complement the stonework of the courthouse and integrate the garden with the building. Phase two includes signage, descriptive brochures, and educational presentations to inform Pike County residents on how to recreate these gardens in their home landscapes.

Program founded in 1989

• 12 Active Master Gardeners
• 3 Master Gardeners Trained
• 9 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 1,008 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 2 Community Partners

Schuylkill County

Photo Credit: Linda Newton

Garden Hotline

The Master Gardeners of Schuylkill County began the year by continuing to answer the Garden Hotline questions remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the spring, volunteers returned to the office to field walk-in visits. In total, Master Gardener volunteers answered 174 questions. An upward trend of vegetable gardening questions continued from the previous year as more people stayed home and gardened due to pandemic quarantines. Spotted lanternfly calls were down this year, but clients were warned to still be vigilant! Fueled by media reports, many residents were concerned that they were seeing giant Asian hornets, but Garden Hotline volunteers were able to provide reassurance by correctly identifying the insects as European hornets or cicada killers. Soil testing forms and sample bags were made available outside the office to assist residents in sending soil samples to Penn State's soil testing lab. Master Gardeners helped residents interpret soil test results and provided follow-up information on fertilizer recommendations.

Program founded in 2001

• 44 Active Master Gardeners
• 174 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 5 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 6 Gardening Articles Published
• 3,000 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 3 Community Partners

Somerset County

Photo Credit: Barb Landis

Master Gardeners Attend the Megashow!

The Master Gardeners of Somerset County participated in the county's annual Megashow during the last weekend in March. It was the first opportunity for Master Gardeners to gather at an indoor event in over a year. Extended hours and limited attendance allowed organizers to comply with established COVID-19 protocols. The Megashow provides local businesses and service organizations an opportunity to showcase their products and services in the Somerset area. This year a few artistically talented Master Gardeners painted a beautiful forest-scene mural to attract attendees to the booth. The effect was remarkable and drew the attention of everyone entering the building. Master Gardeners manned the tables for two and a half days to answer gardening questions, provide handouts on vegetable gardens, and give away vegetable seeds. A separate section of the booth was devoted to developing awareness of the spotted lanternfly, an important invasive pest in Pennsylvania. Master Gardeners also had seedlings on exhibit to captivate children. As one of the largest forums in Somerset County for business and service organizations, it gives Master Gardeners a significant platform for public outreach.

Program founded in 2001

• 18 Active Master Gardeners
• 3 Master Gardeners Trained
• 81 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 5 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 1,000 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens

Susquehanna County

Photo Credit: Kim Grace

Embracing Communities Through Education

The Master Gardeners of Susquehanna County had a huge presence this year at the Harford Fair, serving over 2,960 people. The Master Gardener building hosted two displays: Options for a Deer-Resistant Landscape, and Grow Your Own Garlic. Visitors got a visual of deer-resistant plants and a chance to win the displayed plants and shrubs at the end of the fair. They also enjoyed talking with Master Gardeners about growing garlic and even took a clove home to plant! Our hotline team helped over 250 fairgoers with their gardening questions, and the building was brimming with educational handouts.

The Master Gardeners also hosted gardening programs through the Montrose Area Adult School on topics such as garden tool care, Asian jumping worms, tree ID, and catching raindrops (water collection options). The Master Gardeners also increased their outreach as frequent guests on "Digging for Answers," a podcast organized by the Susquehanna County Library. This brand-new podcast series reaches five countries around the world and 17 states in the United States, with 46 percent and 19 percent of downloads in Pennsylvania and New York, respectively.

Program founded in 1981

• 32 Active Master Gardeners
• 5 Master Gardeners Trained
• 301 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 1 Educational Outreach Presentation
• 22 Gardening Articles Published
• 5,987 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 694 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 7 Community Partners

Tioga County

Photo Credit: McKayla Accettulla

Three Sisters Garden

The Master Gardeners of Tioga County updated several demonstration gardens at their potting shed located at the Tioga County Fairgrounds. This included new paint on porches and railings, design and construction of removable information stands for each individual demonstration garden, and the design and installation of a Three Sisters Garden. Three hundred years ago, when early American colonists took a look at the food gardens in Native American villages, they often saw a unique companion planting plan − corn, pole beans, and pumpkins or squash being grown together in the same plot. We chose this garden to educate the public of all ages on this piece of history and how they can grow a Three Sisters Garden, too!

Program founded in 1993

• 16 Active Master Gardeners
• 2 Master Gardeners Trained
• 15 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 4 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 8 Gardening Articles Published
• 2,575 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 10 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 9 Community Partners

Union/Snyder Counties

Photo Credit: Sabrina Holmes

Kids In The Garden

Master Gardener volunteers worked together to provide a children's gardening camp that spanned the entire summer! Kids in the Garden started shortly after school, was dismissed in June, and continued through the beginning of August. Dozens of children gathered at the Union County Public Library in Lewisburg to grow plants and learn about the environment. The children have access to several raised beds to grow their vegetables and flowers. Although the camp has been run for several years, the Master Gardeners expand the program every year. This year they added new plants, colorful signs, a scarecrow, and a garden scavenger hunt, which was a big hit. Kids also learned about insects, including the invasive spotted lanternfly and cicadas. At the end of camp, the children enjoyed a farm-to-table garden celebration utilizing the vegetables grown and harvested.

Program founded in 1989

• 10 Active Master Gardeners
• 2 Master Gardeners Trained
• 79 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 14 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 2 Gardening Articles Published
• 360 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 2 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 8 Community Partners

Venango County

Photo Credit: Janet Martz

Healing Garden

The Master Gardeners of Venango County have partnered with Precious Paws Rescue in Seneca for several years to develop a healing garden for community members who have lost a pet. In 2021, native plants and herbs were added to further establish plantings and create an environment for wellness and healing. Volunteers used their artistic and painting talent to incorporate a mural on the garden shed to complement the space. Plant identification and usage signs informed guests about how the area was utilized. A rain barrel was installed next to the garden shed to collect water from the roof and educate the community on water conservation.

Program founded in 1989

• 26 Active Master Gardeners
• 6 Master Gardeners Trained
• 7 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 4 Gardening Articles Published
• 2,500 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 10 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 12 Community Partners

Warren County

Photo Credit: Sue Witter

Betts Park Demonstration Garden

The Master Gardeners of Warren County continue to develop the demonstration garden located at Betts Park. Two raised beds were constructed by a local Scout project, which provided an opportunity for the Master Gardeners to plant and offer outreach education. Soil was added, and vegetable crops were selected for planting. Kale, spinach, radishes, lettuce, and mixed greens were planted in one bed, and a cover crop was planted in the second. In the existing garden space, QR code plant labels were added. Guests use a mobile device to scan the code, which directs them to the Master Gardener website for additional plant information and articles written by Master Gardeners.

Program founded in 1991

• 30 Active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners Trained
• 4 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 504 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 3 Community Partners

Washington County

Photo Credit: Laura Delach

Garden Box Project

Master Gardener volunteers developed a fun project that could be done independently during the COVID pandemic. The project utilized the building and design skills of the Master Gardeners while increasing their horticultural knowledge. The Master Gardeners built eight garden-themed boxes with green roofs that resembled little libraries. The boxes were installed in gardens throughout Washington County. They contained free gardening information, seed packets, make-it-and-take-it garden activities for children and adults, and self-guided maps of the garden. Over 850 informational handouts, 100 seed packets, and 250 garden activities were distributed. To engage community residents and promote a visit to each location, a garden box passport was utilized. Each box contained a map and unique sticker for the location, and the first family to visit all eight locations won a prize. The winning family happily exclaimed, "Thank you so much for planning this garden box passport adventure. We felt like we were on the Amazing Race. Thank you for the fun experience, and the memories made."

Program founded in 1991

• 62 Active Master Gardeners
• 8 Master Gardeners Trained
• 150 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 7 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 3 Gardening Articles Published
• 1,500 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 180 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 8 Community Partners

Wayne County

Photo Credit: Bigstock.Com

Pollinator Practice

When the 2020-2022 Master Gardener Pollinator Preferences study launched two years ago, the Master Gardeners of Wayne County wanted to participate but didn't have a demonstration garden in which to grow and observe the plants. Determined to be ready for the next study, the Master Gardeners partnered with Lakeside Elementary School to create the program's very first demonstration garden in 2020. To practice their pollinator observation skills before the launch of the statewide study in 2023, the Master Gardeners devised their own pollinator trial similar to the current study. They built a small plot, planted it with Joe Pyeweed, and observed butterfly activity from first bloom to the end of September. Upon analyzing the data for the season, the Master Gardeners noted that bees and wasps were more frequently observed than butterflies on the plants.

Program founded in 1991

• 30 Active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners Trained
• 25 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 14 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 16 Gardening Articles Published
• 250 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 22 Community Partners

Westmoreland County

Photo Credit: Pamela Curtain

Dyer's Garden at Historic Hanna's Town

The Dyer's Garden was designed and installed in 2021 by the Master Gardeners of Westmoreland County, with guidance from the staff of the Westmoreland Historical Society at Historic Hanna's Town. This unique demonstration garden is an interpretative and educational space for the visiting public. It showcases an aspect of daily life on the Pennsylvania frontier during the Revolutionary War. The Dyer's Garden demonstrates the historical uses of native and nonnative plants, the colors each plant produces, and the process of dyeing textiles. The garden provides opportunities to discuss the lives of women and the work involved in creating handmade textiles. It features the plants used in the production of dyes prior to the invention of synthetic dyes. At Hanna's Town, the residents would have grown flax, processed it into linen, and used plants to create colors to give their clothing individuality and style. Adults and schoolchildren alike will enjoy the new opportunities the Dyer's Garden provides during their tours and field trips. The Master Gardeners are creating an educational brochure, activity guides, and summer camp activities.

Program founded in 1989

• 160 Active Master Gardeners
• 25 Master Gardeners Trained
• 539 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 4 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 4 Gardening Articles Published
• 42,500 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 302 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 4 Community Partners

Wyoming County

Photo Credit: Melissa Wright

Building Healthy Soil

Four Master Gardeners of Wyoming County completed a 20-hour Community Stewardship pilot course taught by Penn State Extension's Leadership and Community Vitality Team. The course empowered the Master Gardeners to curate a new presentation titled Soil Health: Essential Building Block. The presentation's components of soil testing, composting, and cover crops are designed to equip attendees with the knowledge to build their own healthy soil and encourage them to grow a portion of their food through participation in the Seed to Supper program. Master Gardeners shared information from the soil presentation and distributed complimentary Penn State Extension soil test kits to community members during the Tunkhannock Farmers Market. Additionally, Master Gardeners engaged visitors at the Wyoming County Fair with information on the benefits of cover crops in the home garden and complimentary cover crop seeds. Plans are underway to offer the county's first Seed to Supper course in partnership with the Tunkhannock Public Library in early 2022.

Program founded in 1991

• 6 Active Master Gardeners
• 6 Master Gardeners Trained
• 42 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 1 Educational Outreach Presentation
• 720 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 3 Community Partners

York County

Photo Credit: Jason Reed

Youth Programming

The Master Gardeners of York County embarked on new collaborations in youth education by heading to the farm -- York Fresh Food Farms, to be precise -- to provide instruction to 15 young participants in the Get Your Hands Dirty summer program. They identified program needs and brought in partners to collaborate. By the fall, the Salvation Army had agreed to host the program and Master Gardeners were working alongside other extension program areas, including 4-H, Nutrition Links, and Master Watershed Stewards, to provide 20 weeks of instruction at the after-school program. Students learned about composting and planted carrots, sunflowers, beans, peppers, and lettuce. The Master Gardeners worked with farm professionals and STEM educators to ensure the instruction set students up for success; the curriculum has been well received by both students and teachers. In under six months, dedicated Master Gardener volunteers helped build a summer program into an extensive year-round opportunity that engages multiple partners and reaches families in the City of York, an area targeted for greater Master Gardener impact.

Program founded in 1986

• 145 Active Master Gardeners
• 18 Master Gardeners Trained
• 385 Garden Hotline Contacts
• 12 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 45 Gardening Articles Published
• 43,000 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 5,500 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 9 Community Partners