County Highlights

Adams County

Wellness in the Garden

Wellness in the Garden took us into the garden to introduce techniques that helped participants relax and de-stress. They learned the stress-reducing benefits of yoga, ways to move as they garden to reduce injury, and qigong movements to help with balance, strength, and flexibility. In addition, participants were introduced to herbal teas and their healing benefits, including honey tasting from a local producer collecting spring, summer, and fall. They learned about the plants that were discussed during the movement activities that can be grown in containers or in a typical garden setting.

Of the twenty-one participants in the spring and fall programs, nine evaluations were returned. One-hundred percent of the respondents learned something new, and 88 percent plan to incorporate learned movements into their gardening routine. One-hundred percent of respondents were introduced to new plants that can be incorporated into their teas, and 77 percent plan on planting these plants in their own gardens or planters.

Program founded in 1989

• 54 Active Master Gardeners
• 12 Master Gardeners Trained
• 32 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 64 Gardening Articles Published
• 8 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 6 Displays at County and Regional Events

Allegheny County

The Science of Seed Selection

The Master Gardeners of Allegheny County maintain several demonstration gardens across the county. These gardens continue to evolve to suit the educational needs of the communities they serve. This year the Edible Teaching Garden in Point Breeze became a site to serve as a research trial garden for two new initiatives.

The Home Garden Pepper trials included seven varieties of peppers that Master Gardeners monitored and evaluated throughout the growing season. Master Gardeners will share results with researchers at Penn State. This information demonstrates to home growers how to evaluate the seeds they purchase to build a knowledge base about which varieties have the best chance of success in their own backyard gardens.

The second initiative, Grow-Save-Repeat, is a project in partnership with Delaware Valley University. This project's goal is to educate the community of home growers on the value of hand-pollinating to create new varieties, evaluate performance, and save the seeds from the best performers in their growing conditions.

Program founded in 1989

• 244 Active Master Gardeners
• 20 Master Gardeners Trained
• 18 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 24 Gardening Articles Published
• 16 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 28,000 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens

Armstrong County

Herb Workshop

The Penn State Master Gardeners of Armstrong County coordinated with the Progressive Workshop of Armstrong County to provide an educational presentation about herbs. The Master Gardeners provided instructions for planting and maintaining the plants and shared ideas for utilizing the herbs once they were ready for harvest. During the presentation, Master Gardeners provided participants with pots, soil, plant labels, and three herbs (lavender, basil, and thyme) to create their herb gardens. Educational handouts were provided as a resource for general information and to assist them with maintaining and utilizing their herbs.

Program founded in 2002

• 32 Active Master Gardeners
• 1 Master Gardeners Trained
• 4 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 1 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 1 SLF Educational Displays
• 5,975 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 20 Community Partners

Beaver County

New Demonstration Garden of Pennsylvania Native Plants

The Beaver County Commissioners enlisted the expertise of the Penn State Master Gardeners of Beaver County in the fall of 2021 to create a garden design for two 31' x 11' beds at the highly visible entry of the Beaver County courthouse. Master Gardeners offered three garden plans from which the commissioners could choose. Each of the three gardens offered a unique design focus: The Patriotic Garden, The Justice Garden, and The Pennsylvanian.

The demonstration garden, an educational tool to teach the public about native plants, started with preparing the beds using a technique called sheet mulching. This process allowed the sod and weeds to die back in anticipation of spring planting.

The design chosen by the commissioners was The Pennsylvanian Garden. This garden comprises an array of colorful, predominantly Pennsylvania native perennial plants. Plants include eastern redbud, orange butterfly weed, purple coneflower, dwarf iris, red-twig dogwood, phlox, blue sedge, inkberry holly, and a splash of all-summer color with the annual flower red salvia.

Program founded in 1990

• 71 Active Master Gardeners
• 17 Master Gardeners Trained
• 24 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 18,422 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 325 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 10 Community Partners

Bedford County

Gardening Discussions at Bedford Farmers Market

The Master Gardeners of Bedford County paired with the Downtown Bedford Inc. Farmers Market to present gardening information to the public Wednesdays from May through September. A booth was set up at the market on the square in Bedford and staffed by Master Gardener volunteers.

Master Gardeners offered a timely discussion topic and handouts each week to the public. Popular topics included the spotted lanternfly, native wildflowers, pollinator gardens, herbs, sunflowers, tomato blight, succession crops, sauerkraut in a jar, dividing perennials, and planting cover crops. Contacts averaged thirty visitors each week and doubled with special events at the market, including Youth Day, Senior Citizen Day, and Veterans Day.

Master Gardeners donated fifty pots of Master-Gardener grown native wildflowers to start pollinator gardens, forty containers of herbs, and over 300 sample packages of seeds, including sunflower and milkweed for birds and pollinators. Also included for visitors to take home were lettuce, spinach, pea, bean, and cucumber seeds for succession crops. Oats, rye, Austrian pea, and Daikon radish seeds were offered as sample cover crops for fall.

Program founded in 2019

• 6 Active Master Gardeners
• 15 Master Gardeners Trained
• 10 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 13 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 300 Seed Packets Donated
• 600 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 8 Community Partners

Berks County

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site

In 2011 Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Berks County entered into a unique partnership with the National Park Service and United States Department of the Interior to design and maintain three teaching gardens at the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site located in Elverson, PA. The Dye & Fiber Garden and the Kitchen Garden are historic in nature, offering visitors a look at plants used to make and dye fabric, edible plants used in the kitchen, and plants grown for their medicinal value in the 1800s. The third garden is a Certified Pollinator Garden which the Master Gardeners designed, sourced, installed, and continue to maintain. The site's year-long calendar of events and 34,000+ annual attendance gives Master Gardeners the opportunity to share their horticultural knowledge in a historical context with visitors of all ages.

Program founded in 1982

• 125 Active Master Gardeners
• 21 Master Gardeners Trained
• 40 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 39 Gardening Articles Published
• 14 Active Demonstration Gardens
• 29,871 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 500 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donate

Blair County

Building Connections

The Master Gardeners of Blair County made an indelible impact in our community as we built connections with local community organizations. We collaborated with the Roaring Spring Community Library, the James E. VanZandt VA Medical Center, and Blair County Conservation District.

The debut of the Roaring Spring Community Library seed library in early April encouraged individuals to order seeds online and have them sent to their closest community library at no charge. Master Gardeners worked diligently to package over 3,400 seed packets and prepare them for the Blair County residents who participated. The seed library then supported our Seed to Supper outreach with the VA medical center and the Center for Independent Living by providing free vegetable seeds to all participants. The VA was very successful in growing many of the seeds and was even able to prepare the vegetables for the veterans' dinners.

In our continued collaboration with the Blair County Conservation District, we had a very successful fall festival in late September. Between the spotted lanternfly tent and the Ask a Master Gardener tent, the Master Gardeners connected with over 200 people and had a successful plant sale.

Program founded in 1983

• 19 Active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners Trained
• 10 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 7 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 5 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 5 SLF Educational Displays
• 200 Seed Packets Donated
• 1,075 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens

Bradford/Sullivan Counties

Mt. Pisgah and the Nature Center Gardens

The Master Gardeners of Bradford/Sullivan County secured a Science to Practice Grant from DEP in 2020- 2021 to restore the Nature Center Gardens at Mt. Pisgah State Park. From soil tests, sheet mulching with recycled cardboard, designing an aerial map, and selecting the appropriate species for the best success, we are now seeing the fruit of our hard work! The partnership with the park has culminated in several new connections with local organizations, clubs, and community groups who have been instrumental in continuing the promotional growth of the gardens. The native pollinator garden has given us an opportunity to execute pruning workshops, garden tours, youth programming, and other outreach opportunities to our local community throughout the year with several hundred contacts. With this strong foundation, we look forward to continuing creative, hands-on, strong educational outreach with our partnership at Mt. Pisgah State Park.

Program founded in 1989

• 10 Active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners Trained
• 12 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 1 SLF Presentations
• 3 Gardening Articles Published
• 1 Media Outlet Spot Teachings
• 1 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 3 Public Teachings in Community Gardens
• 5 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 5 SLF Educational Displays

Bucks County

Venise Ashby Project

The Venice Ashby project educates youth in diverse Bristol Borough about horticultural and environmental topics. In October 2021, volunteers completed construction of a fenced, raised bed garden as a safe, outdoor, hands-on learning space for the 2022 growing season. Up to 250 students were educated in the garden to read seed packages, select seeds, plant seeds, weed, water, harvest, and identify pollinators during 20 after-school and summer camp sessions. In partnership with the Master Watershed Stewards, students also learned about recycling, climate change, and pollution prevention. Location and delivery barriers are overcome through a partnership with the Bucks County Housing Authority by holding programs on site at the Venice Ashby affordable housing complex. A third partner, No Longer Bound, a grassroots community-based prevention service, attracts students to summer camp. Master Gardeners overcome economic barriers to participation by providing takeaways like food, educational materials, and supplies like learning tools.

Program founded in 1989

• 173 Active Master Gardeners
• 22 Media Outlet Spot Teachings
• 5 Community Gardens Supported
• 56 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 569 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 22 Community Partners

Butler County

Junior Master Gardeners Grow with School Program

Master Gardeners of Butler County and Butler Catholic School educated students using the Junior Master Gardener curriculum. The partnership started in 2018 and has grown with the school's commitment to agricultural education. During the 2021-2022 school year thirty-one students participated in the after-school club, learning alongside Master Gardener volunteers. Third-grade students participate in an after-school club focusing on gardening basics and protecting pollinators. Fourth-grade students continue with the program to learn about vegetable gardening in the school's raised beds. The produce grown is served in the school's cafeteria and donated to local community meals and food banks. The students also participate in service projects such as growing paperwhites for seniors in the community.

Program founded in 1991

• 97 Active Master Gardeners
• 24 Master Gardeners Trained
• 10 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 40 Gardening Articles Published
• 9 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 28 Plants/Seedlings Donated
• 48,827 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 21 Community Partners

Cambria County

Monarchs and Straw Bale Gardening

The Master Gardeners of Cambria County joined with the Young Peoples Community Center (YPCC) partners for an open house. Guests enjoyed tours through the demonstration garden on the grounds as well as a close-up view of monarch butterflies in different developmental stages. Three adult monarchs were released to the amazement of all who attended.

SEADS Garden Center, a non-profit that hires adults with disabilities, invited Master Gardeners to give presentations on assorted topics. Straw bale gardening was a favored topic since this method enables easier access to plant and harvest vegetables when bending and kneeling are difficult.

Program founded in 1983

• 36 Active Master Gardeners
• 3 Master Gardeners Trained
• 18 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 5,000 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens

Cameron County

Weekend in the Wild

The Master Gardeners of Cameron County were on hand to celebrate the Cameron County Annual Weekend in the Wild with 1,500 to 2,000 attendees enjoying the Fourth of July weekend festivities. Master Gardeners engaged and educated the attendees on best practices for soil health, pest management strategies, and most importantly, spotted lanternfly (SLF) education as Cameron County is the only Pennsylvania SLF quarantined county in the Allegheny plateau. Master Gardeners also partnered with The Guy and Mary Felt Manor. The Manor generously hosted the tabling event enabling meaningful engagement and discussions with the local hometown nursing residences and guests sharing alternative gardening options for wheelchaired gardeners, ornithology, and container gardening. Diverse discussions continued throughout the day with dozens of participants engaging the Master Gardener team members. Topics ranged from the history of Penn State Extension to opportunities to become a Master Gardener, as well as inviting participants to attend upcoming classes, webinars, and workshops in the area. Everyone enjoyed several rounds of "Stump the Master Gardener" question-and-answer sessions while gardeners young and old potted up their own vegetable containers to take home and tend.

Program founded in 2022

• 3 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 1 SLF Presentation
• 1 Gardening Article Published
• 1 Display at County and Regional Events

Carbon County

Outreach at the Blue Mountain Ski Resort Farm

In August the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners participated in Carbon County's very first Open Gate Farm Tour at Blue Mountain Ski Resort's new farm. The farm was established in 2021 to support farm-to-table meals at the resort's restaurant. Master Gardeners helped welcome over one hundred attendees to the event and provided an education table that included a container gardening display as well as spotted lanternfly materials. During the event Master Gardeners answered over forty gardening questions from attendees and handed out spotted lanternfly headbands and tattoos to seven children.

Program founded in 1989

• 24 Active Master Gardeners
• 1 Food Security Vegetable Bucket Project
• 2 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 50 Plants/Seedlings Donated

Centre County

Ag Progress Days

During the second week of August 2022, the 46th Annual Ag Progress Days (APD) event was held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center in Centre County. The Penn State Extension Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens located on West 11th Street generated many eager visitors to gather horticultural information at the educational tables and ask questions about what is happening in their gardens at the Ask a Master Gardener area. Master Gardeners led tours and engaged with over 1,300 visitors throughout the certified pollinator gardens, raised bed area, and the Grow, Save, Repeat vegetable trial beds. A community member reached out saying, "Thanks to your group for doing such a good job of informing the community about our plants and flowers. Your venue at APD was excellent. We plan to attend your spring plant sale for sure!"

Program founded in 1992

• 92 Active Master Gardeners
• 9 Master Gardeners Trained
• 80 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 15 Gardening Articles Published
• 10 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 2,158 Plants/Seedlings Donated
• 180 Seed Packets Donated
• 154,534 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 150 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 21 Community Partners

Chester County

Increasing Pollinator Populations with Education and Gardens

The Penn State Master Gardeners of Chester County focused on several projects this year to increase awareness about the importance of pollinators and how home gardeners can provide food and habitat. One Master Gardener created a 3D native garden planning kit using hand-drawn, botanically accurate plants from Penn State's Pollinator-Friendly Habitat Certification, while another team created a new "Bee Friendly" brochure to guide gardeners through the certification process. The kit and brochure were a huge hit at the Kennett Square Mushroom Festival and allowed participants to plan for future gardens. If Chester County residents need additional inspiration, a third team of Master Gardeners just completed native gardens with residents of Oxford Borough in a new popular pedestrian walkway. Information about these new native gardens and pollinators will soon be featured on the borough's website.

Program founded in 1988

• 97 Active Master Gardeners
• 36 Master Gardeners Trained
• 18 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 9 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 5 Programs Offered to At-Risk Populations, Underserved/Limited-Resource Communities, or People with Disabilities

Clarion County

Demonstration Garden, Community Outreach

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Clarion County provided education, vegetables, and flowers at the demonstration garden in the Clarion County Park. The park has an attendance of 9,000 people throughout the season, and visitors have the opportunity to walk through and learn about the labeled lasagna, pollinator, sensory, and herb gardens in the fenced-in space. Master Gardeners used the on-site greenhouse to grow one hundred plants from seed that were donated to a partner, Community Action, Inc. The plants were given to families in Clarion County wanting to grow their own food. Master Gardeners answered their questions. Other plants from the greenhouse were then planted in the demonstration garden and cared for during the growing season, and the harvested produce was donated to Community Action. More than 75 pounds of produce was donated to the food bank.

Program founded in 1988

• 12 Active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners Trained
• 150 Plants/Seedlings Donated
• 864 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 75 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated

Clearfield County

Pollinator Education with the 4-H

Master Gardeners of Clearfield County partnered with the 4-H educator to create a pollinator education curriculum for elementary through high school students. The goal was to provide a workshop and reach twenty-five students. The "Growing Gardener" program instruction included an interactive Wheel of Pollinators hands-on game highlighting the many varieties of pollinators living in Pennsylvania as well as constructing newspaper pots and planting seeds as a take-home project. In addition, seed packets were provided to participants. From May through August various facets of the curriculum were presented at events including Elementary Environmental Day, Logs to Lumber, Clearfield County Fair, and Ag Progress Days. During the fair Master Gardeners assisted over 90 children in creating newspaper pots to plant seeds. In total, over 400 youth were reached, and 815 seed packets were distributed, exceeding the initial goal.

Program founded in 2020

• 2 Active Master Gardeners
• 3 Master Gardeners Trained
• 10 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 12 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 500 Seed Packets Donated
• 756 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 815 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 14 Community Partners

Clinton County

Porter Township Pollinator Garden

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Clinton County participated in Porter Township Heritage Day by providing tours of the new pollinator garden. They had been involved in the project since its inception, working with township staff and volunteers to develop a design, provide plant recommendations, and explain the requirements for a pollinator-friendly garden.

"I would like to thank the Master Gardener Program for all the assistance and knowledge that Deb Liguori provided. Without her direction there would be no pollinator garden. She taught us the steps we needed to take to be successful. I personally have gained so much knowledge from her. She really is passionate about educating the public and I would encourage anyone to work with this program. She put us in contact with other Master Gardeners who built a pollinator house, which is already attracting many bees. It was overall a wonderful experience, and we are now able to show our community the importance of saving pollinators. We hope to continue to work with the Master Gardeners to provide additional educational programs."

--Cathy Gates, Porter Township Recreation Board

Program founded in 1991

• 20 Active Master Gardeners
• 8 Master Gardeners Trained
• 9 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 1 SLF Presentations
• 44 Gardening Articles Published
• 2 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 6 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 6 SLF Educational Displays

Columbia County

The First Susquehanna Valley Watershed Festival

Four Columbia County watershed groups and the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Columbia County sponsored the first Susquehanna Valley Watershed Festival along Catawissa Creek on Saturday, July 30, 2022. The weather was perfect to meet with visitors at Cara Park in Catawissa Borough. The event attracted over 150 visitors and was held to raise awareness for watershed protection and conservation.

Children visiting the Master Gardener tent at the festival enjoyed making leaf and flower prints using parts gathered from riparian plants. This hands-on activity quickly led to discussions with adults and children about native and invasive plants and their roles in healthy streams. This was also an opportunity for the Master Gardeners to make the public aware of what the Master Gardener program is all about.

As spotted lanternflies are becoming more common in Columbia County, the Master Gardeners shared identification and management techniques with the visitors.

Program founded in 1990

• 31 Active Master Gardeners
• 7 Master Gardeners Trained
• 10 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 2 Symposiums, Conferences, or Webinars
• 4 SLF Presentations
• 38 Gardening Articles Published
• 11 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 3 Programs Offered to At-Risk Population, Underserved/Limited-Resource Communities, or People with Disabilities
• 11 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 10 SLF Educational Displays

Crawford County

Fun in the Summertime

Penn State Master Gardeners of Crawford County partnered with Creating Landscapes, LLC, and YMCA to hold an eight-week summer program at Meadville's Huidekoper City Park from June 30 through August 12, 2022. Since there was a walk-a-thon that raised over $25,000 to provide programming Monday through Friday and serve a healthy lunch and snack for sixty-one registered children. Each day was a different program and varied for the number of participants. About twenty-five to thirty children attended the planned gardening sessions.

Master Gardeners taught the youth how to grow vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Children planted large barrel containers with carrots, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, green beans, squash, cucumbers, and herbs including basil, rosemary, dill, and oregano. Youth experimented with a twenty-four-slot hanging shoe bag on the chain-link fence to plant additional beans, cucumbers, and marigolds. Many community members stopped to see what they were doing and took photos. The hands-on activities allowed the kids to learn about watering, seed packets, making newspaper pots, and parts of a plant. The crops were harvested by the children and neighborhood members during the growing season.

Program founded in 1991

• 48 Active Master Gardeners
• 6 Master Gardeners Trained
• 5 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 13 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 1 SLF Educational Display
• 160 Seed Packets Donated
• 1,860 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 125 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated

Cumberland County

The Dickinson College Pollinator Garden at Kaufman Hall

The Penn State Master Gardeners of Cumberland County established a new partnership and pollinator demonstration garden with Dickinson College in downtown Carlisle. The 2,800-square foot garden next to Kaufman Hall was designed by Penn State Master Gardeners and planted with the help of students from the Dickinson College Center for Sustainability Education and the environmental sciences program. Penn State Master Gardeners mentor students, host garden maintenance days, and provide presentations for the college and Carlisle community.

During 2022 we engaged seventy-four participants across eight garden maintenance sessions. We taught eighty-one participants across three "Lunch and Learn" presentations and a youth camp in partnership with Dickinson College. Topics included the pollinator garden; spotted lanternfly biology and management; milkweed, monarchs, and migration; and pollinators. A total of 237 fact sheets and brochures were distributed during the season. The garden is a vibrant learning environment for students, professors, and classes from many disciplines and will be certified as a Penn State Pollinator Friendly Garden and Monarch Waystation. A new Dickinson College graduate, who worked with a Penn State Master Gardener of Cumberland County while in college, applied to the Master Gardener basic training program for certification, thereby exemplifying the value of a Penn State Master Gardener mentoring a college student as they explore their interests and future career options.

Program founded in 1988

• 98 Active Master Gardeners
• 72 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 10 Youth Camps Providing MG Instruction
• 12 Programs Offered to At-Risk Population, Underserved/Limited-Resource Communities, or People with Disabilities
• 8 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 44 Community Partners

Dauphin County

Growing Dauphin County's Outreach and Visibility

In Dauphin County we expanded our educational out- reach in 2022 through our twelve hybrid webinars, our Voices in the Garden projects, and our Walk & Talk with a Master Gardener program.

• Our webinars reached across county, state, and international lines, pulling in 2000+ registrants.
• Our Voices in the Garden opened accessibility to our gardens to the visually impaired (and anyone with a smartphone) with QR-enabled audio garden tours.
• Our Walk & Talk with a Master Gardener collaboration with Dauphin County Parks & Rec and Highmark Blue Shield raised our profile with in-person plant walks in Dauphin County parks.

Program founded in 1987

• 76 Active Master Gardeners
• 20 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 8 Gardening Articles Published
• 6 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 12 Displays at County and Regional Events

Delaware County

Seed to Supper

The Penn State Master Gardeners of Delaware County launched their inaugural Seed to Supper Program in partnership with the Delco Food Project, a new food bank which was created in response to the pandemic. The Seed to Supper Program seeks to educate community members on the importance of growing your own food. The course takes participants through everything from planning a garden to starting seeds, growing, and harvesting their garden's bounty. Ten participants completed the six-week program. During the classes six Master Gardeners helped to add four brand new raised beds, created trellises for cucumbers and peas, and planted seeds and vegetable transplants donated by our own Seed Starting Committee. The produce grown was donated directly to Food Project guests. To date the garden has produced over forty pounds of fresh produce. In the words of Delco Food Project partner Meri Sigmund, "We may measure the pounds of food produced, but can never measure the excitement and joy that is harvested."

Program founded in 1991

• 124 Active Master Gardeners
• 29 Master Gardeners Trained
• 37 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 7 Programs Offered to At-Risk Population, Underserved/Limited-Resource Communities, or People with Disabilities
• 1,500 Plants/Seedlings Donated
• 1,658 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 31 Community Partners

Elk County

Elk County Fair

After a spin on the Ferris wheel and a taste of hand-dipped candied apples, Elk County fairgoers stopped by the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners table to discuss their home garden successes and challenges, while learning about tick prevention and spotted lanternfly, as well as creating their own take-and-make coffee filter and pipe cleaner pollinator.

Additionally, Master Gardeners helped behind the scenes ensuring a full fair experience for almost 7,000 guests. Master Gardeners assisted with registering floral, fruit, and vegetable entries for participants to proudly display and compete in their favorite category. Master Gardeners judged these categories ranging from market basket displays to beautiful handmade bouquets garnering Best in Show. Master Gardeners also partnered with local Elk County small businesses Morning Glory Nursery and New Horizons Healthy Food to share organic seeds and create stunning floral displays dotted throughout the fairgrounds.

Program founded in 2017

• 7 Active Master Gardeners
• 9 Master Gardeners Trained
• 10 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 4 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 750 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 5 Community Partners

Erie County

Diverse Impacts at the Best Community Garden

Bayfront Eastside Taskforce and the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Erie County have partnered to expand the footprint of the Bayfront EastSide Taskforce (BEST) Garden, doubling its size to over fifty raised beds. The garden serves twenty diverse neighborhood families and other community members, including veterans, immigrants, refugee groups, and members of Club Erie--a subdivision of the Barber Institute that focuses on helping adults with intellectual disabilities to learn life skills. The Master Gardeners provided seed starting kits, education, and consultation in planting and maintaining the garden to over 150 community members. Community member Kirsten summed up her experience at the garden by saying, "There are good things here. If I can do it, you can do it."

Program founded in 2004

• 105 Active Master Gardeners
• 20 Master Gardeners Trained
• 76 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 28 Symposiums, Conferences, or Webinars
• 81 Media Outlet Spot Teachings
• 1,256 Plants/Seedlings Donated
• 4,845 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 6 Community Partners

Fayette County

Partnerships for Youth of Fayette County

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Fayette County partnered with East End Community Center and Touchstone Center for Crafts for a series of five sessions of children's programming at the picturesque mountain location of Pennsylvania's only residential craft education center in Farmington, PA. The East End Community Center transported elementary-aged children from Uniontown to Touchstone to learn about gardening and pollinators from Master Gardeners. The lessons included pollinators' life cycle, emphasizing the milkweed's importance to monarch butterflies, a game, a book-making activity, and viewing magnified butterfly wings.

The students also learned about making pottery and crafts from Touchstone educators. They made plates and other items out of clay, and the course culminated with students making their own personal pizzas with fresh garden produce, cooking them in the enormous outdoor pizza oven, and eating them off the plates they made.

Program founded in 1991

• 65 Active Master Gardeners
• 9 Master Gardeners Trained
• 22 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 35 Media Outlet Spot Teachings
• 25 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 24 Programs Offered to At-Risk Population, Underserved/Limited-Resource Communities, or People with Disabilities
• 450 Plants/Seedlings Donated
• 275 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 8 Community Partners

Forest County

Extending Learning into Summer

Students from East and West Forest Elementary School had the opportunity to grow their curiosity about gardening at a four-week summer camp at Marienville Area Civics Association. Penn State Master Gardeners of Forest County and the Forest Area School District partnered to provide both educational and engaging activities for thirty-one students who registered for this camp. Students had one-hour lessons on Mondays and Wednesdays with Master Gardeners who prepared hands-on lessons on the topics of parts of a plant, what plants need, plant propagation, and entomology. Students learned to build terrariums, make paper mâché pots, plant seeds, and paint rocks to attract beneficial insects. Not only did students gain gardening skills, but they also were able to grow their vocabulary and explore new ideas to keep learning going throughout the summer months. "Thank you so much for all of your work for our kids! I am sure they learned a lot." --Sandy Beary, Forest Area School District federal program coordinator.

Program founded in 2022

• 1 Active Master Gardener
• 1 Master Gardener Trained
• 9 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 2 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 1 Youth Camp Education Provided
• 1 Community Partner

Franklin County

Grow, Save, Repeat and Victory Garden

Franklin Master Gardeners participated in Grow, Save, Re-peat research and collaboration. The idea is to show the community how to produce locally adapted varieties that taste great and grow well with your own style of gardening and to learn propagation and seed-saving techniques. Six tomato plants--two from each family--were used. One family was a super prolific small, yellow cherry tomato and the other was a red saladette. Both tomatoes were the result of a cross between a Brandywine and a Sungold that has been grown and selected by Delaware Valley for several generations. Master Gardeners hosted several taste test workshops to collect results. 356 pounds of demonstration garden produce, including tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, eggplants, potatoes, tomatillos, garlic, cucumbers, zucchini, cantaloupe, and a variety of herbs, was donated to a local organization (SCCAP).

Program founded in 1993

• 67 Active Master Gardeners
• 8 Master Gardeners Trained
• 10 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 2 Public Teachings in Community Gardens
• 2 Programs Offered to At-Risk Population, Underserved/Limited-Resource Communities, or People with Disabilities

Fulton County

Victory Garden

The original Victory Garden was established in 2008 within the borough of McConnellsburg with a plot size of 1,450 square feet. The garden was moved in 2021 to a 4,300-square-foot plot located on the campus of the Fulton County Medical Center. This demonstration garden is very busy during the growing season with weekly garden lessons and activities that are provided by the Master Gardeners for community members who sign up for the experience of learning vegetable gardening. This year the volunteers had an opportunity to utilize the long-term-care greenhouse for plant propagation. Every year new additions to the garden's plant selection or garden structures are chosen to enhance the breadth of learning opportunities. This year we included blueberries, pawpaw, persimmon, and elderberry for fruit propagation. Structures that were added included a rain barrel system that harvests the runoff of rain from a small shed, seven raised beds of which one was dedicated to the Grow-Save-Repeat project, and two bee boxes to encourage pollinators to the garden. Harvested produce is shared with the group participating, while most of the vegetables (over 200 pounds) were taken to the local food basket for donation to the public. The garden hosted ten community members on a weekly basis and a tour was provided for a local garden group of twenty. The garden regularly propagates over seventy-five varieties of edible plants, herbs, and flowers. Irrigation is enhanced using buried clay pots (ollas) where-by slow seepage to plant roots is made possible.

Program founded in 2009

• 54 Active Master Gardeners
• 12 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 253 Gardening Articles Published
• 8 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 17 Public Teachings in Community Gardens

Greene County

Children Learn there are Purple Beans!

The Eva Bowlby Library in Waynesburg holds a Summer Reading Kickoff each June. In addition to activities and games, the Master Gardeners of Greene County participated with a hands-on gardening demonstration. Master Gardeners taught the children about planting and growing beans. Each child planted a bean and took it home to plant in their garden. There were thirty-eight participants. The children were excited to hear that the beans they grow will be purple when ready to harvest but turn green when cooked.

Program founded in 1991

• 15 Active Master Gardeners
• 2 Master Gardeners Trained
• 11 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 12 Programs Offered to At-Risk Population, Underserved/Limited-Resource Communities, or People with Disabilities
• 336 Plants/Seedlings Donated
• 100 Seed Packets Donated
• 8 Community Partners

Huntingdon County

Huntingdon Health and Wellness Association Garden

The Huntingdon Health and Wellness Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located at 313 Fourth Street in Huntingdon, PA, collaborated with the Penn State Master Gardeners of Huntingdon County to create an appealing urban pollinator garden. The wellness garden encourages people to observe and enjoy the sights, sounds, and aromas of the plantings as they visit the Association or walk in the downtown area.

The 150-square-foot garden consists of two strips flanking the driveway and provides easy access to all the plants. With over twenty varieties of perennial plants, the garden provides a green space for relaxation and refuge designed to promote and improve health. Future improvement plans include providing a water source for insects, weather-proof labeling of the plants, and developing materials such as a window display of the garden map and leaflets describing the types and uses of the plants in the garden.

Program founded in 2014

• 15 Active Master Gardeners
• 30 SLF Presentations
• 17 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 3 Programs Offered to At-Risk Population, Underserved/Limited-Resource Communities, or People with Disabilities
• 6 Displays at County and Regional Events

Indiana County

A Fair to Remember

Penn State 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

• 42 Active Master Gardeners
• 7 Master Gardeners Trained
• 5 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 3 SLF Presentations
• 2,486 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 4 Community Partners

Jefferson County

Demonstration Garden Additions

Extension Master Gardeners in Jefferson County partnered with Jefferson County Conservation District in 2022, by installing the first two apple trees in an orchard area. The trees were purchased from Clearfield County Conservation District. The addition of fencing, mulch, and honeybees as the next phase will give opportunities for the community to attend pruning and pollinator programs in the future. The Master Gardeners also improved the demonstration garden by replanting the pollinator bed area and adding wetland plants to the creekside area, while removing the invasive species. Educational fact sheets and information were made available to the public at the entrance to the garden.

Program founded in 2009

• 12 Active Master Gardeners
• 1 Master Gardener Trained
• 11 Gardening Articles Published
• 7 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 2,500 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 2 Community Partners

Juniata and Mifflin Counties

Juniata County - Mifflintown Farmers Market

This year was the first time the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners provided an information booth at the Mifflintown Farmers Market. We were excited for the opportunity to reach out to the Juniata County community. We provided a different theme each month: Spotted Lanternfly, Native Plants and Pollinator Gardens (where we gave out over seventy native plant seedlings), Ask a Master Gardener, Composting, and Soil Health. The Penn State Master Gardener program now has double the exposure it once had in Juniata County.

Mifflin County - 2022 Master Gardener Plant Sale

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners were so happy to have the plant sale after a two-year hiatus. The sale provided the community with perennials, succulents, native and annual plants, and compost along with personalized info for each plant and every garden situation. We also provided information on the spotted lanternfly.

Program founded in 2004

• 19 Active Master Gardeners
• 15 Gardening Articles Published
• 6 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 6 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 5 SLF Educational Displays

Lackawanna County

City Hall Planters with Scranton School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children

Master Gardeners, Scranton Tomorrow, and the Scranton School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children partnered to work on the Scranton City Hall planter project. Master Gardeners visited seventeen students from kindergarten to eighth grade at SSDHHC weekly for eight weeks in spring 2022. Together they grew, transplanted, and cared for over 300 starter plants. The students also became educators and taught Master Gardeners how to sign their names, parts of plants, and even "I love Scranton!" Scranton Tomorrow donated two large planters, which sit at the entrance of the school, for students to practice on and as a visual connection to the downtown planter project. In early June, students, their siblings, parents, Master Gardeners, and Mayor Cognetti's administration team transplanted the starter plants into the Scranton City Hall planters. Master Gardeners continue weekly programming with the school throughout the year and everyone is looking forward to next spring's activities.

Program founded in 1991

40 Active Master Gardeners

• 15 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 6 Gardening Articles Published
• 3 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 2 Youth Camp Education Provided
• 3 Public Teachings in Community Gardens
• 5 Programs Offered to At-Risk Population, Underserved/Limited-Resource Communities, or People with Disabilities
• 12 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 12 SLF Educational Displays

Lancaster County

New Faces, New Places

This program year was one of expansion as we networked and connected with people we had not served in the past. Contacts ranged from urban civic/community centers and a Lancaster city neighborhood group to county-wide community gardens and retirement communities. New educational outreach included vegetable-growing classes, design and installation of a pocket park, book readings at thirteen local libraries for Pollinator Week, and Ask the Master Gardener events at community gardens, two street festivals, and a neighborhood group block party. These were in addition to annual events we normally host or attend. We will evaluate our efforts and hope to build on some of our new community connections in the coming year.

Program founded in 1988

• 99 Active Master Gardeners
• 50 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 22 Gardening Articles Published
• 10 Media Outlet Spot Teachings
• 11 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 16 Displays at County and Regional Events

Lawrence County

Fighting Back an Invader!

With Lawrence County being sandwiched between two counties that are in spotted lanternfly quarantine, the Master Gardeners of Lawrence Couty have made a concerted effort to get the word out about this pesky invasive that threatens our hardwoods, fruit trees, and vineyards. Along with sharing links on social media and distributing pamphlets at all events, the Master Gardeners of Lawrence County hosted a presentation at the New Castle Library on invasive species where identification and methods of control were taught. The Master Gardener booth at the Lawrence County Fair engaged the public on the awareness of SLF by handing out temporary tattoos and eye-catching headbands of the beguiling pest. Many attendees had been unaware of this insect. Finally, at a Girl Scout summer camp held at LCCAP, Master Gardeners taught over seventy youth to be citizen scientists by reporting sightings of spotted lanternflies. We hope by awareness and getting the community involved that Lawrence County and all of Pennsylvania will fight back against this invader.

Program founded in 1991

• 29 Active Master Gardeners
• 7 Master Gardeners Trained
• 7 Educational Outreach Presentation
• 7 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 700 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 4 Community Partners

Lebanon County

Annual Plant Sale

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Lebanon County were thrilled to bring back their annual plant sale after a two-year hiatus. This year's sale was the biggest yet, attracting over 1,000 attendees. Master Gardeners sold annuals, herbs, perennials, and an assortment of hard-to-find varieties of tomatoes, peppers, and native plants. Attendees commented on the choice selection of plants. During the sale Master Gardeners advised customers on plant selections and choosing the right plant for the right place. The event included educational displays on spotted lanternfly and invasive species. The Ask the Master Gardener booth was very busy and provided answers for the attendees' home gardening questions. Although the sale was scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon, most plants sold by 10 a.m. While the plant sale is a major fundraiser, the event also provides educational resources to many Lebanon County residents and beyond.

Program founded in 1989

• 58 Active Master Gardeners
• 7 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 3 Youth Camps Providing MG Instruction
• 3 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 3 SLF Educational Displays

Lehigh and Northampton Counties

New Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Garden

The Penn State Master Gardeners of Lehigh and Northampton Counties' Class of 2022 has been hard at work designing and installing a new native shrub demonstration garden at the Lehigh County Extension office. The project is a partnership with the Lehigh County Parks and Recreation Department. Over the course of the year the class of thirty-six trainees and the parks director crafted a design that suited both the educational needs of the program and the visual aesthetics the county desired at the office building. The group requested a blank slate, so the traditional juniper hedgerow surrounding the building was removed. Afterwards the trainees conducted a soil test and applied recommended amendments in preparation for the new planting. Small trees and shrubs were installed at the end of the season, and additional clumping herbaceous species were added the following spring. The garden will be used to teach the hundreds of home gardeners and business owners who visit the office how native plants can be used in a traditional landscape design to promote more robust wildlife and pollinator value.

Program founded in 1988

• 152 Active Master Gardeners
• 36 Master Gardeners Trained
• 2 Symposiums, Conferences, or Webinars
• 6 SLF Presentations
• 17 Gardening Articles Published
• 12 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 5,400 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens

Luzerne County

Lake Noxen Elementary School Grow with the Flow Day

Grow with the Flow Day is a springtime tradition at Lake Noxen Elementary School. Master Gardeners joined with the Game Commission, Luzerne County Conservation District, Penn State Master Watershed Stewards, local beekeepers, teachers, and community members for a day of outdoor learning and fun. Master Gardeners worked with over 250 students throughout the day. Kindergarten through second grade had a blast discovering who is a pollinator and running from flower to flower in a pollination game. Third through sixth graders searched for and identified decomposers in the garden beds and the woodland edge. Students also weeded and prepared garden beds for spring planting. Many of the students remarked that Grow with the Flow is the best day of the year. Master Gardeners enjoyed the students and networking with all the other educators. Students marveled at the excitement of discovery and the joy of a beautiful day outside.

Program founded in 1978

• 46 Active Master Gardeners
• 4 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 2 Youth Camp Education Provided
• 2 Public Teachings in Community Gardens
• 11 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 11 SLF Educational Displays
• 50 Plants/Seedlings Donated
• 300 Seed Packets Donated
• 1,630 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens

Lycoming County

Kids Day - the Best Ever!

After a two-year hiatus the Kids Day at the Sensory Garden was a success with children and adults alike! Close to 200 children and 150 adults attended this huge educational outreach for youth in the community. The theme was "Birds!" Adults and youth learned together through twelve activities and crafts. "Kids Day is the best thing going for kids in our county!" commented a caregiver who attended the sunny, four-hour event with her children. Activities included building a precut birdhouse, planting a sunflower, spin-the-wheel for bird facts, and weaving a bird's nest. Feathered visitors included a Great Horned Owl and a Peregrine Falcon. Audubon and the James V. Brown Library helped make the day a success with bird samples and bird facts, and stories about our winged friends. Over one hundred nature-related door prizes were given out, and no child went home empty-handed with the many take-home activities provided.

Program founded in 1999

• 56 Active Master Gardeners
• 38 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 1 SLF Presentation
• 2 Gardening Articles Published
• 8 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 2 Public Teachings in Community Gardens
• 1 Program Offered to At-Risk Population, Underserved/Limited-Resource Communities, or People with Disabilities
• 12 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 2 SLF Educational Displays

McKean County

Children's Sensory Garden

A children's sensory garden that was originally designed to be part of the Hamlin Lake Park landscape in Smethport this summer turned into so much more. Designed by the 2022 Master Gardener Basic Training class, it contains grow bags planted for each of the five senses, with educational signs near them to make the children think about what they are seeing, tasting, hearing, smelling, and touching. One mother at the park commented, "My children love seeing the plants grow and checking them when we're here. They love the mint." Because the containers were lightweight, the reach of the garden was able to be expanded. The garden was transported to the local library for a children's workshop, the county fair for the week, and to another library for several weeks for display in their outdoor children's area. The adaptability of this mobile children's garden will be further explored to allow children more exposure to the wonder and mystery of plants.

Program founded in 1986

• 28 Active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners Trained
• 19 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 32 Media Outlet Spot Teachings
• 8 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 5 Community Partners

Mercer County

Mercer Native Plant Garden

Extension Master Gardeners of Mercer County have been working on an all-native plant garden at the extension office for three years and were able to show it off to the public during the Native Plant Garden Tour in August. Twenty-five public participants attended the event to learn about the twenty-seven species of native plants that were propagated from either seeds or seedlings in 2019. Master Gardeners painstakingly cared for the young plants over the years that are now reaching their full mature growth. Plants such as Joe Pye weed, trumpetweed, rose mallow, or swamp mallow are just a couple of examples of what is being grown. Master Gardeners also researched each plant and created documents with full descriptions of the plant needs such as soil type, sun exposure, water needs, and more. Vinyl plant labels were then created to identify the plants and serve as educational documents for self-guided tours available to anyone in the community.

Program founded in 1991

• 43 Active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners Trained
• 5 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 250 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 175 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 12 Community Partners

Monroe County

NatureScape Demonstration Garden Project

The Penn State Master Gardeners of Monroe County are continuing a transformation of the Project NatureScape Demonstration Garden located at the Western Pocono Community Library in Brodheadsville. The library is a popular community hub that serves 33,880 local residents and circulates over 190,000 items per year. The first phase of the Project NatureScape transition included the creation of two meadow beds, planting native plants, and creating habitat for small creatures, such as insects and toads that will be beneficial to the environment. Next, the Master Gardeners adopted new sustainable practices like cutting off seed heads in the fall for seed saving, then chopping and dropping the spent stems to create a natural mulch. Larger, hollow stems are left intact for insects to overwinter. They have also started demonstrating how to solarize beds to reduce weeds. For their final phase of the transformation, Master Gardeners are installing a garden shed and will design it to simulate a home landscape. The goal of the transformation is to inspire the library's many visitors to duplicate these practices in their own gardens.

Program founded in 1991

• 32 Active Master Gardeners
• 13 Master Gardeners Trained
• 12 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 8 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 250 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 175 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated

Montgomery County

Countdown to Plant Sale Webinar Series

After a two-year pandemic hiatus the Penn State Master Gardeners of Montgomery County decided to give an educational boost to their sale promotion with a Countdown to Plant Sale webinar series. The series launched with a "100 Days to Plant Sale" webinar called Scratching the Surface, all about creating a new garden. The "75 Days to Plant Sale" and "50 Days to Plant Sale" webinars featured panels of expert Master Gardeners discussing trees, shrubs, and perennials with a focus on extending bloom time, natives, and right plant/right place. The series wrapped up with "25 Days to Plant Sale," highlighting vegetables, herbs, and container gardens. All plants discussed in the webinars were made available at the May 14 sale. The series reached over 1,000 contacts from thirteen different states, and the sale had a record turnout of 802 attendees.

Program founded in 1990

• 90 Active Master Gardeners
• 35 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 9 Symposiums, Conferences, or Webinars
• 5 Public Teachings in Community Gardens
• 514 Plants/Seedlings Donated
• 1000+ Seed Packets Donated
• 979 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated

Montour County

Power of Pollinators Event

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Montour County invited the community to the first annual Power of Pollinators event, held at beautiful Montour Preserve. Birds, bees, butterflies, beetles, and other small mammals that pollinate plants are responsible for bringing us one out of every three bites of food. The 120 youth and adult visitors had fun participating at six different stations. The stations consisted of making crafts, planting milkweed in cups, meeting a beekeeper, and more. Garden talks and tours took place in our demonstration garden, where the public could ask questions and learn what plants to plant to help our pollinators. We even had a live monarch butterfly that the public could learn about and observe. The purpose of the event was to educate the public on the importance of pollinators and how we can help.

Program founded in 1988

• 6 Active Master Gardeners
• 7 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 5 Symposiums, Conferences, or Webinars
• 2 SLF Presentations
• 2 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 8 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 8 SLF Educational Displays

Northumberland County

Planting for the Future

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Northumberland County participated in "Planting for the Future" at Claude Kehler Community Park II in Shamokin.

This 2022 May event was made possible by the Northumberland County Conservation District, which applied for and received grants to move into the second phase of this project. Project tasks were led by more than thirty representatives from the Shamokin Community Gardens, Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance, Northumberland County Conservation District, Master Gardeners, and BSA troop 254. They engaged the local community by planting native trees and shrubs from The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's 10 Million Trees Program, which helps mitigate the effects of acid mine drainage into the Shamokin Creek. They also provided awareness through installing three interpretive signs, and fencing was added to the Shamokin BSA 254 pollinator garden. Educational presentations on riparian buffers, pollinator gardening, how to help alleviate environmental problems, and information on acid mine drainage were provided to the public.

Program founded in 1991

• 8 Active Master Gardeners
• 10 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 8 Symposiums, Conferences, or Webinars
• 2 SLF Presentations
• 2 Gardening Articles Published
• 6 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 6 SLF Educational Displays

Perry County

Perry County Fair

The Penn State Master Gardeners of Perry County staffed a booth at the Perry County Fair. Over the five nights, Master Gardeners had the opportunity to interact with 473 adults and 160 children. Educational literature about the Master Gardener program, spotted lanternfly, and garden-related information was provided as well as youth engagement activities including distributing SLF headbands and butterfly stickers. Information on pollinator gardens, including what to plant and how to complete Pollinator Garden Certification, was presented. The Master Gardeners also promoted the Garden Hotline by passing out hotline cards to connect with the community.

Program founded in 1989

• 9 Active Master Gardeners
• 6 Master Gardeners Trained
• 8 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 2 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 1 Youth Camp Education Provided
• 2 Displays at County and Regional Events

Philadelphia County

A Multi-generational Garden at Norris Square Community Alliance

This year Penn State Extension Master Gardeners worked with community service agency Norris Square Community Alliance (NSCA) to revitalize their community vegetable garden. NSCA is a multiservice community development agency with a focus on bilingual services for the Latino community. With NSCA staff, Master Gardeners helped lay out and plant a warm-season vegetable garden and native flowering plants for planter boxes. Throughout the summer they continued to work with NSCA staff to plan activities for kids and staff. Twelve youth from NSCA's after-school programs and forty-five preschoolers from their Headstart program helped prepare the beds by weeding and spreading compost, as well as planting seeds and seedlings with labels in English and Spanish. A Spanish-language teacher in-service training for ten NSCA early childhood education teachers focused on pollination and harvesting to increase teacher comfort level and confidence in the garden. Children visited the garden weekly to water and harvest squash, tomatoes, peppers, basil, watermelon, and more.

Program founded in 1989

• 128 Active Master Gardeners
• 31 Master Gardeners Trained
• 12 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 240 Plants/Seedlings Donated
• 5 Active Demonstration Gardens
• 22,766 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens

Pike County

Master Gardener Certified Pollinator Garden

The Penn State Master Gardeners of Pike County, in partnership with the Pike County 4-H group, designed and helped install a Master Gardener Certified Pollinator Garden at the Interstate-84 Welcome Center in Matamoras, PA. The goal of this project is to bring education to the thousands of travelers who visit the Welcome Center on the importance of protecting pollinators by providing a pollinator-friendly environment. This project also brings plant diversity and creates pollinator habitat in an industrial-style landscape. During the garden's installation children enrolled in the 4-H program learned about plant structure, soil health, and insects from Master Gardeners. At the garden's official opening the group also surprised long-time Master Gardener Sheila Salmon, who was instrumental in the project's design, plant selection, and children's education, by dedicating the garden to her.

Program founded in 1989

• 17 Active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners Trained
• 2 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 2 SLF Educational Displays
• 371 Facebook Page Likes/Follows

Potter County

Potter County Community Garden

The Penn State Master Gardeners of Potter County partnered with the Potter County Community Garden committee to establish the Community Garden located at the extension office in Coudersport. The mission of the garden was to:

• Empower the community to plant, grow, and harvest their own produce,
• Provide education on the value of gardening,
• Promote community interaction and unity,
• Offer solutions to food insecurity.

Financial support from a grant received from University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) established the garden with twenty-four raised beds, a compost plot, a storage shed, and a market shed to share produce with the community. Seed packets and vegetable plants were donated to assist with garden startup. Master Gardeners held three garden workshops for the community using the Seed to Supper program as a guide: planning, planting your garden, weeding, caring for your garden, and harvesting your garden. A total of thirty-three participants attended the workshops.

Program founded in 2008

• 4 Master Gardeners Trained
• 3 Sessions, Classes, or Workshops
• 7 Gardening Articles Published
• 2 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 4 Public Teachings in Community Gardens

Schuylkill County

The Garden Gathering

After a two-year absence due to COVID, the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Schuylkill County held their "annual" Garden Gathering on August 27, 2022. This has been an annual event for over ten years. This year's program featured many stops in a fair-like atmosphere. The highlights were guided tours of the Demonstration Garden with a Q&A-type personal tour of what is in each section. Over sixty-six tours were conducted! The Ask a Master Gardener Booth handled thirty-seven direct questions and recruited several potential members for our next class. The other booths included a monarch and swallowtail butterfly waystation with all stages of butterfly development. Other attractions included pollinators for youth activities; produce from the Master Gardeners; cut flower bouquets from Master Gardeners' gardens; second chance for repurposed garden tools; baked goods and tastings of produce from our gardens; and native plants and perennials. There were over 300 total attendees.

Program founded in 2001

• 49 Active Master Gardeners
• 14 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 12 Media Outlet Spot Teachings
• 3 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 5 Displays at County and Regional Events

Snyder/Union Counties

Seed to Supper Pilot Program

Master Gardeners from Snyder and Union Counties joined forces with the Community Action Agency at the Miller Center in Lewisburg to offer classes to a dozen participants. Individuals were taught how to grow, harvest, and cook their own vegetables. Some participants had home gardens while others started container gardens. Representatives from the community gardens came and helped residents sign up for plots as well. Nutrition Educator Cyndi Clayton also taught individuals about healthy eating, providing recipes and samples for taste testing. Seed to Supper was a big success in Union County and was even featured on WNEP TV and WKOK radio. Many donations came in to support the program, which enabled us to give each participant containers, soil, seeds, gloves, plants, tools, fertilizer, and more. The class received good reviews and graduates stayed in touch, showing off their gardens and harvests.

Program founded in 1989

• 9 Active Master Gardeners
• 36 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 7 SLF Presentations
• 2 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 4 Youth Camps Providing MG Instruction
• 2 Public Teachings in Community Gardens
• 1 Program Offered to At-Risk Population, Underserved/Limited-Resource Communities, or People with Disabilities
• 4 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 4 SLF Educational Displays

Somerset County

Budding Gardeners Youth Program

A team of four Master Gardeners of Somerset County developed and taught a gardening education series, Budding Gardeners, for children in grades K - 5. The program consisted of four lessons: Seeds and Germination, Plant Parts, Pollination, and Beneficial Insects. During the classes, Master Gardeners taught the children about gardening, seeds and germination, plant parts, worms and composting, and bugs in the garden. Master Gardeners taught classes weekly for four weeks in collaboration with the Mary S. Biesecker Public Library in Somerset. The library recently completed renovations to its outside spaces, including a new courtyard and handicap entrance, and envisioned a space for flower and vegetable gardens around the courtyard. Library staff advertised the classes, provided classroom space, and covered the cost of class materials and gardening supplies. During the sessions, the children planted flowers and vegetables to create a learning garden, with additional opportunities throughout the summer to watch what they planted thrive and grow.

Program founded in 2001

• 18 Active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners Trained
• 5 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 5 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 11 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 6 SLF Educational Displays

Susquehanna County

Mentoring Master Gardener Apprentices to Serve the Public

Master Gardeners in Susquehanna County developed a mentoring program this year for current and subsequent Master Gardener Basic Training apprentices to ensure the ongoing success of an extensive educational demonstration garden. The garden features eleven types of gardens, including apple trees. As part of the training, the previous class mentors the current class on planning, planting, maintenance, and the sharing of valuable insight, acquired while working in the garden.

The goal of the educational garden is to provide hands-on programming while providing fresh produce to local senior centers and food pantries. Since the garden's inception, hundreds of pounds of produce have been donated. St. Marks Church serves 150 meals per month and the Montrose Senior Center serves 82 residents with produce donated from our garden. Each class learns valuable skills, from the trials, the errors, and the abundance of knowledge the garden and mentors provide year to year.

Program founded in 1981

• 35 Active Master Gardeners
• 12 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 2 SLF Presentations
• 20 Gardening Articles Published
• 57 Media Outlet Spot Teachings
• 8 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 2 Youth Camp Education Provided
• 3 Programs Offered to At-Risk Population, Underserved/Limited-Resource Communities, or People with Disabilities
• 18 Displays at County and Regional Events

Tioga County

Summer Camps and Pollinators

The Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Tioga County presented a workshop for Partners in Progress called "Camp Partners" this summer. We focused on the importance of pollination, several types of pollinators, and their roles. With over fifty youth and ten staff in attendance, it was a fantastic way to educate all age ranges with fun activities and pollinator worksheets. At the end of the presentation, we all made a bee buzzer craft which buzzes like a bumblebee when swung around overhead! Each youth had a chance to tell us about their favorite pollinator which they had drawn on the bee buzzer wings. They then showed us how loud they could "buzz." The "swarm" of campers had lots of fun while learning about pollinators and everyone especially loved being bees for a day!

Program founded in 1993

• 18 Active Master Gardeners
• 10 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 1 Symposium, Conference, or Webinar
• 2 SLF Presentations
• 6 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 1 Youth Camp Education Provided
• 1 Program Offered to At-Risk Population, Underserved/Limited-Resource Communities, or People with Disabilities
• 7 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 6 SLF Educational Displays

Venango County

How do Seeds Grow?

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Venango County visited Victory Elementary in May to educate twenty second-grade students to teach a lesson on how seeds grow. Seeds were started in moist paper towels and set inside plastic bags to begin the germination process. Basic botany and the importance of plants were explained using the lesson, and the children could see how plants grow from seed. They learned about the seed coat, hypocotyl, cotyledon, and true leaves. Master Gardeners answered questions from the students and then demonstrated how to transplant pansy flowers into pots to emphasize growing and giving for the upcoming Mother's Day weekend.

Program founded in 1989

• 22 Active Master Gardeners
• 3 Master Gardeners Trained
• 12 Gardening Articles Published
• 4 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 2 SLF Educational Displays
• 100 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens

Warren County

Protecting Pollinators, One Child at a Time

Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Warren County helped 196 school children understand the importance of protecting pollinators. Over the course of three days in May at Chapman Dam State Park, pre-kindergarteners through fifth graders from East Forest, West Forest, and Kane elementary schools attended a day of outdoor learning focused on pollinators. Master Gardeners created an interactive presentation to teach about pollination, including how to provide pollinators with food, water, and a nesting site. The presentation culminated with the children making seed balls out of clay, potting soil, and wildflower seeds. The children could share where they would plant their seed ball at their homes, and how it would help the pollinators in their backyards.

Program founded in 1991

• 19 Active Master Gardeners
• 4 Master Gardeners Trained
• 13 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 4 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 400 Seed Packets Donated
• 225 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 2 Community Partners

Washington County

Burgettstown Demonstration Gardens

The Burgettstown Community Library has generously donated a section of its lawn space for a demonstration garden designed and installed by Penn State Master Gardeners of Washington County. With the help of neighborhood residents and library personnel, Master Gardeners built five 3'x 6' cedar raised beds and configured them in a circle filled with pea-gravel pathways. These five beds include vegetables, herbs, and flowers to encourage and teach the community. "I think it would be wonderful to pair this with the Seed to Supper Program," Barbara Pelfrey mused while planning these beds in May 2022. Some of the plants include bush beans, beets, bush cucumber, tomato, zucchini, strawberries, basil, chives, mint, pineapple sage, thyme, borage, hens and chicks, coneflowers, and marigolds. The installation of wind chimes, toad abodes, and a bird bath encourage visitation by pollinators and passersby, creating a sensory experience.

Program founded in 1991

• 45 Active Master Gardeners
• 21 Master Gardeners Trained
• 23 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 8 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 500 Seed Packets Donated
• 11 Community Partners

Wayne County

Hydroponic Vegetable Project at Wallenpaupack Middle School

A Wallenpaupack Middle School counselor contacted the Penn State Master Gardeners of Wayne County to request assistance setting up a hydroponic growing system inside their school. The counselor noticed students missed the garden work they'd enjoyed in prior months, and she thought engaging students in building an indoor garden would raise their spirits. Following the initial request, Master Gardeners met with teachers, guidance counselors, and local businesses interested in making in-kind donations to the project. After developing a work plan Master Gardeners visited the school regularly to support students implementing the project. Students learned how the soilless system supported plant growth and seeded the selected plants in rock wool that was bathed in a specific nutrient solution. During the project ten students regularly tended the growing seedlings and invited others to visit the garden and sample freshly grown salad greens and herbs. In building the system, students and mentors alike learned skills that included plant growth, plumbing, and carpentry basics in addition to teamwork.

Program founded in 1991

• 31 Active Master Gardeners
• 5 Master Gardeners Trained
• 16 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 10 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 13 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 13 SLF Educational Displays
• 370 Plants/Seedlings Donated
• 250 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 32 Community Partners

Westmoreland County

Talking About Tomatoes

On May 31, 2022, six tomato plants joined other vegetables and flowers in the Master Gardener demonstration gardens at the Ligonier Country Market. These tomatoes were part of the Grow-Save-Repeat (GSR) home plant breeding project between Penn State Master Gardeners and Delaware Valley University. The Master Gardeners monitored and cared for the tomato plants and made a significant impact on programming over the summer of 2022. Master Gardeners have a monthly booth at the Ligonier Country Market sharing seasonal gardening information. The GSR tomatoes, fondly named after famous scientists and naturalists, such as Carl Linnaeus, became a highlight at the booth from June through August. We shared information about the project, plant breeding, and general care of tomatoes which reached 200 people.

The growing season for these star tomatoes culminated in Tomato Week during the last week of August with two themed programs offered by Penn State Master Gardeners of Westmoreland County. The first was a webinar, Epic Tomatoes, with renowned tomato expert Craig LeHoullier. LeHoullier shared additional tomato breeding information and some outstanding tomato selections to grow in home gardens. On August 26, the GSR team presented Growing Better Tomatoes at the plot in Ligonier. We taught tomato staking methods, best growing practices, seed saving, and plant breeding. A tomato tasting rounded out the evening as participants rated the flavor and texture of the tomatoes and selected the Best in Show--one of the cherry tomatoes named Henry. The Tomato Week programs reached 244 tomato enthusiasts across the county, the state, and the country.

Program founded in 1989

• 155 Active Master Gardeners
• 19 Master Gardeners Trained
• 34 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 25 Gardening Articles Published
• 22 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 24 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 42,500 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens

Wyoming County

Master Gardeners Take Action to Protect Pollinators

A renewed focus on recruitment poised the Master Gardeners to revitalize the Demonstration Garden at the Wyoming County Fairgrounds, funded in part by a grant from the Wyoming County Room Tax Fund and the Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau. The Master Gardeners sprang into action to protect pollinators by transforming the garden into a Certified Pennsylvania Pollinator Friendly Garden. It will be only the fourth certified in the county and the first open to the public. The new garden exhibit features a handmade insect hotel, a birdbath, educational signage, and native perennial flowers. The grant also funded new fencing materials, plant labels, and a bench. Fairgoers and the fair's board of directors, appreciating the garden's debut at the 2022 County Fair, enthused, "The garden area looks wonderful!"

Program founded in 1991

• 13 Active Master Gardeners
• 14 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 1 Gardening Articles Published
• 1 Schools Provided with Educational Programming
• 1 Programs Offered to At-Risk Population, Underserved/Limited-Resource Communities, or People with Disabilities
• 5 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 2 SLF Educational Displays

York County

Garden Hotline

The Master Gardeners of York County made an intentional effort to reintroduce ourselves to the community we serve. Our team of twenty-five volunteers worked diligently to answer over 500 phone calls and emails from across our diverse county. Our Garden Hotline is the face of our organization, and our Master Gardeners took that responsibility seriously, bringing their in-person "Stump a Master Gardener" Soil and Plant Clinic to local events and organizations. "County residents bring us their questions and their soil samples, and we work together to find them the best answers to their questions," said hotline volunteer Karen Mitchell.

Program founded in 1986

• 139 Active Master Gardeners
• 11 Educational Outreach Presentations
• 48 Gardening Articles Published
• 5 Media Outlet Spot Teachings
• 7 Displays at County and Regional Events
• 3,492 Pounds of Fresh Produce Donated
• 42,000 Square Feet of Demonstration Gardens
• 9 Community Partners