Penn State Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who support the outreach mission of Penn State Extension by utilizing unbiased research-based information to educate the public on best practices in sustainable horticulture and environmental stewardship.
A Sampling of Master Gardener Volunteer Activities in Cumberland County
Penn State Extension Master Gardeners serve as a bridge between their community, Penn State University, and Extension through the following demonstration gardens and programs.
Adams Ricci Butterfly Garden
The Adams Ricci Butterfly Garden is located near the Midway Pavilion at Adams Ricci Park, 100 E. Penn Drive, Enola in East Pennsboro Township. The garden was planted in 2017, and the garden received the Master Gardener Search for Excellence first place award as the best demonstration garden in the state in 2018. A pollinator shrub border was planted on the northwest corner of the garden in 2019. Each year, Master Gardeners host programs open to the public and offer free group garden tours with two weeks notice.
Allen Road Gardens
These Master Gardener demonstration gardens are located at the Cumberland County Service Center on Allen Road in Carlisle which houses the Penn State Extension office in Cumberland County. In addition to tree care, Master Gardeners maintain the Alcove Garden, East Wing Garden, Entrance Garden, Groundcover Garden, Herb Garden, Pollinator Garden, Large and Small Rain Gardens, Rooftop Garden, Winter Garden, and Xeriscape Garden.
Conodoguinet Youth Park Gardens
The Conodoguinet Youth Park Gardens located in Hampden Township were designed to enhance the park as an outdoor classroom for environmental education. Working in partnership with Girl Scout Troop #597 lead by Lisa Furlong and the Penn State Master Gardeners of Cumberland County, the park received the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) award as a Certified Wildlife Habitat and a Monarch Butterfly Waystation.
Gardening with Nature Program
The Gardening with Nature program series is held on one evening each month from March through September at the Cleve J. Fredricksen Library in Camp Hill. This program series features diverse topics about creating a beautiful garden while preserving a healthy environment.
Kings Gap Mansion Garden
Started in 1992, the Master Gardeners worked with the Kings Gap staff to create a beautiful educational display garden at Kings Gap, a DCNR environmental education and training center on South Mountain. Located at the top of the mountain and enclosed within the stone walls of the original mansion garden, are herb and knot garden beds, native shade and woodland gardens, a pond, and a compost demonstration area that provide education and four-season beauty. Each year, the Master Gardeners improve and expand the plantings, perform regular plant maintenance, and conduct programs and tours to educate visitors about plants and gardening.
Plant Clinic and Garden Hotline
To help homeowners and home gardeners diagnose lawn, landscape, and garden problems, the Master Gardeners conduct a plant clinic at the Fredricksen Library in Camp Hill and operate the Garden Hotline at the Penn State Extension office in Carlisle. The Master Gardeners use their knowledge and expertise to identify the problem and make an environmentally sustainable recommendation for treatment.
Plant Fest and Sale
This annual gardeners' bonanza is scheduled for the third Saturday in May and offers a plant sale which includes herbs and vegetables, native perennials, and treasures from the gardens of Master Gardeners. Educational displays and information, a plant clinic, a book sale, and a gardener's yard sale round out the event, which serves as one of the main fundraisers for the Master Gardener program in Cumberland County to fund its educational outreach programs and activities.
Pollinator Education
Master Gardeners provide educational programs to the public about pollinators and beneficial insects, best practices in pollinator-friendly gardening, and the Penn State Pollinator Friendly Garden Certification. Through educational programs and demonstration gardens, Master Gardeners promote the certification program and encourage county residents and home gardeners to certify their gardens. Gardens include the Craighead House Pollinator Gardens, Dickinson College Kaufman Hall Pollinator Gardens, and the Two Mile House Pollinator Garden.
Therapeutic Horticulture
Health care professionals recognize the therapeutic effect plants and gardening can have on ill, elderly, and disabled individuals. The Master Gardeners provide therapeutic horticulture activities at extended care and adult day care facilities as well as senior centers. These activities include therapeutic gardening, craft, herb, and plant workshops.
Trial and Idea Garden
The Master Gardeners plant and maintain these educational demonstration gardens located on the grounds of Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Each year, flowering annuals are grown and evaluated for reliable performance, ease of maintenance, and beauty to provide home gardeners with a list of proven choices for their own gardens. Since 2000, the garden has expanded over the years to include native perennials, pollinator-friendly plants, a rock garden, a compost area, a shade garden, low maintenance shrubs, and a 9/11 memorial Red Oak tree. The Master Gardeners plant and maintain these gardens as well as offer educational events for the public during the growing season.
Xeriscape Garden
Located at the front entrance of the Cumberland County Department of Public Safety Building in Carlisle, the Xeriscape Garden uses plants that are tolerant of hot, dry conditions.
Youth Gardens and Programs
The Youth Gardens, located at the Cumberland County Service Center at 310 Allen Road in Carlisle, are a series of educational demonstration gardens grown and maintained for the annual Youth Summer Garden Camp for youth ages 7-12 hosted by the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Cumberland County. During five sessions held every two weeks, campers learn and grow with the Master Gardeners through hands-on gardening, science, arts and crafts, and journaling. Master Gardeners also teach plant science and gardening skills to students at school events.
Neighbor Consultations
Homeowners and novice gardeners will often call on their Master Gardener friends and neighbors to help them make the right tree, shrub and flower selections, diagnose plant problems, and solve problem site situations.
Workshops, Displays, and Speakers Bureau
Penn State Master Gardeners staff informational booths and put together educational displays on a variety of gardening topics at horticultural events and community festivals.
The Master Gardeners offer gardening workshops and demonstrations to the public that provide unbiased, research-based information on best management practices for ornamental and edible gardening.
The Master Gardeners will speak on a variety of horticultural topics to garden clubs and community organizations for a reasonable fee.
General Meetings and Update Training
Penn State Master Gardeners of Cumberland County meet every other month to stay in touch on current and future activities. They hold a recognition event, a plant exchange, a summer picnic, and a holiday party. Master Gardeners also attend gardening seminars and conferences to keep up-to-date with the latest in horticultural research. Being a Master Gardener is a great way to meet fellow gardening enthusiasts and volunteer your time to help other people.
How Can You Become a Penn State Master Gardener in Cumberland County?
If you have a strong interest in gardening, a willingness to learn and a keen desire to help others, consider becoming a Penn State Master Gardener in Cumberland County. Contact the Penn State Extension Office to learn more about the program and when the next Basic Training course is scheduled.
Becoming a Master Gardener involves a considerable amount of time and effort. It is for all avid gardeners who are willing to make a long-term commitment to volunteer service. Not all applicants are accepted; the selection process includes an orientation and an interview.
Once accepted into the program, you will expand your knowledge of gardening by attending a minimum of 40 hours of training by expert horticulturists. The classes are held once a week for two hours each. There is a cost to cover your Master Gardener Manual and other training expenses. You will discover just how much you learned from taking the midterm and post-training exam. You will share your newfound knowledge by preparing a short presentation on a suitable gardening subject to fellow classmates and other Master Gardeners.
In the first year within the training program, volunteers are required to record at least 50 hours of suitable volunteer service. To remain certified in subsequent years, volunteers are required to record at least 20 volunteer hours and 10 hours of continuing education each year. Most Master Gardeners find it easy to fulfill this requirement because of the many educational programs and projects taking place throughout the year.
Penn State Extension Cumberland County
310 Allen Road, Suite 601
Carlisle, PA 17013
717-240-6500
