The Master Gardener Speakers Bureau provides a wide variety of topics for presentations to various organizations and community groups.
The York County, PA Master Gardener Speakers Bureau Master Gardeners provides a wide variety of topics for presentations to various organizations and community groups.
To engage a Master Gardener volunteer to speak to your organization, choose the topic and speaker from the list below and contact the Master Gardener speaker directly. If you have any questions about the Speakers Bureau, please call Kelly at Penn State Extension, York County, 717-840-7408.
A $50.00 fee is requested to help support the Master Gardener Program. Checks should be made out to PSCE Program fund and given to the presenter or mailed to: Master Gardener Program, Penn State Extension, 2401 Pleasant Acres Rd, York, PA 17402. Fee can be negotiated in the event of need. Please contact the Extension office.
Spotted Lanternfly Presentations
Presentations on the spotted lanternfly are free of charge. To schedule a Master Gardener, call the Extension Office at 717-840-7408
Speaker Information
Attracting Wildlife/Native Plants
| Topic | Every Backyard Counts |
| Speaker | Krista Callear - 717-343-0021 - kgriffith146@comcast.net |
| Description | Promotes bird-friendly backyards including garden design considerations, common birds to feeders, preferred food, resources. |
| Length | 20 minutes plus questions |
| Visuals | published resources, PowerPoint |
| Handouts | Yes |
| Availability | Evenings and week-ends |
| Topic | Designing with Perennials |
| Speaker | John Geoghan - 717 246-0617 - no1filsfan@yahoo.com |
| Description | How to select and plant your perennials so that constant color and interest in your garden is extended throughout the year. Types of plants and when they bloom. How to propagate them and when to plant and prune. |
| Length | 1 to 2 hours |
| Visuals | PowerPoint |
| Handouts | No |
| Availability | Call for availability |
| Topic | Grasses for the Meadow |
| Speaker | Linda Silverman - (717) 764-1394 - silvy44@comcast.net |
| Description | Creating a meadow; with an emphasis on grasses. Learn about some great plants and techniques for planting them. |
| Length | 45 minutes to 1 hour |
| Visuals | PowerPoint |
| Handouts | Yes |
| Availability | Call for availability |
| Topic | Low Maintenance Landscape |
| Speaker | John Geoghan - 717 246-0617 - no1filsfan@yahoo.com |
| Description | Lecture type presentation that discusses methods for planting that eliminates or greatly reduces time spent maintaining the gardens. Proper mulching, use of pavers and which plants to use are discussed. |
| Length | 1 to 2 hours |
| Visuals | PowerPoint |
| Handouts | No |
| Availability | Call for availability |
Miscellaneous
| Topic | Homesteading Basics |
|---|---|
| Speaker | Krista Callear - kcallear146@comcast.net - 717-343-0021 |
| Description | The presentation discusses basics of homesteading, associated activities, organic gardening, composting, seed saving, other methods of gardening, and a Spotted Lanternfly update is included. There is an opportunity for Q & A. |
| Length | 30-45 Minutes, plus Q&A |
| Visuals | Powerpoint presentation |
| Handouts | Yes |
| Availability | by appointment |
| Topic | Growing Together with Container Gardening |
|---|---|
| Speaker | Krista Callear - kcallear146@comcast.net - 717-343-0021 |
| Description | The presentation discusses various reasons and benefits of container gardening, considerations, different container types, planting and maintenance, other types of containers, and opportunity for questions and answers. A Spotted Lanternfly update is included. |
| Length | 30-45 Minutes, plus Q&A |
| Visuals | Powerpoint presentation |
| Handouts | Yes |
| Availability | by appointment |
| Topic | Community Gardens - Pathways to Grow Your Community |
|---|---|
| Speaker | Krista Callear - kcallear146@comcast.net - 717-343-0021 |
| Description | Presentation discusses characteristics of community gardens and touches on other types of gardens, action planning steps, benefits for participants and communities, building partnerships, harvest and beyond. Discusses different resources. |
| Length | 30 Minutes, plus Q&A |
| Visuals | Powerpoint presentation |
| Handouts | Yes |
| Availability | by appointment |
| Topic | Alternative Gardening Methods |
| Speaker | Krista Callear - kcallear146@comcast.net - 717-343-0021 |
| Description | Explores alternatives to traditional gardening methods, including Straw-bale, no-till, raised bed, pallet, and bag gardening |
| Length | 45 minutes |
| Visuals | PowerPoint presentation |
| Handouts | No |
| Availability | Flexible |
| Topic | Is Orchid Growing for You? |
| Speaker | Jay Holcomb - jayh530@comcast.net - 717-252-6092 |
| Description | Orchids for the novice and how to grow them. Orchid genera such as Phalaen0psis, Cattleya and Paphiopedilum will be discussed and cultural information will be provided for each. |
| Length | 45 minutes |
| Visuals | PowerPoint presentation |
| Handouts | No |
| Availability | Flexible |
| Topic | Iris for the Garden |
| Speaker | Jay Holcomb - jay530@comcast.net - 717-252-6092 |
| Description | All iris are good garden plants. Which ones should you grow? Bearded, Louisiana, Siberian and Japanese iris will be described, along with their culture |
| Length | 45 minutes |
| Visuals | PowerPoint presentation |
| Handouts | Summary handout available if requested |
| Availability | Available during the day as well as in the evening |
| Topic | Hobby Greenhouse - What is it and How can it be constructed? |
| Speaker | Jay Holcomb jayh530@comcast.net or 717-252-6092 |
| Description | A hobby greenhouse can be enjoyable. This presentation gives an overview of where a greenhouse should be located as well as the types of greenhouses and what materials can be used to cover them |
| Length | 45 minutes |
| Visuals | PowerPoint presentation |
| Handouts | Summary handout available if requested |
| Availability | Available during the day as well as in the evening |
| Topic | Gardening with Seniority |
| Speaker | Maryann Mawhinney - 717 432-2814 - msmmaryann@comcast.net |
| Description | If you've always love the pleasure of tending your own garden you don't have to give up fresh vegetables and flowers just because you have arthritis or fibromyalgia. In fact, gardening is a great activity for maintaining joint flexibility, range of motion and quality of life. A few simple modifications can help you keep your garden growing with ease. |
| Length | 45 minutes to one hour |
| Visuals | Powerpoint Presentations |
| Handouts | Yes |
| Availability | Available during the day as well as in the evening |
| Topic | Is this a Weed? |
| Speaker | Maryann Mawhinney - 717 432-2814 - msm@paonline.com |
| Description | Not sure if what's growing in your garden is a weed or a wanted plant? Learn the definition of a weed and your own personal preferences for eliminating or keeping these plants in your garden. Includes identification of weeds common to the local area. Demonstrations of techniques and tools to make weeding more fun. One long table required. |
| Length | 45 minutes to one hour |
| Visuals | PowerPoint presentation. Demonstration of weeding tools. |
| Handouts | Yes |
| Availability | Available during the day as well as in the evening |
| Topic | Pruning Basics |
|---|---|
| Speaker | John Geoghan - 717-246-0617 - no1filsfan@yahoo.com |
| Description | PowerPoint presentation showing how, when, and why to prune trees, shrubs, and perennials. |
| Length | 1-2 hours |
| Visuals | PowerPoint |
| Handouts | Yes |
| Availability | Any time |
| Topic | How Volunteer Organizations Can Become Environmental Champions |
|---|---|
| Speaker | Krista Callear - 717-343-0021 - kcallear146@comcast.net |
| Description | Presentation discusses global and local considerations, how we can celebrate Earth Day all year, and notable resources that can help anyone or any organization become an environmental champion. By implementing a few, small lifestyle changes, we can make a positive impact. |
| Length | 25-30 minutes |
| Visuals | PowerPoint, table display |
| Handouts | Yes |
| Availability | By appointment- evenings, weekends, and during the week with advance notice |
| Topic | Herbs |
|---|---|
| Speaker | Maryann Mawhinney - 717 432-2814 - msmmaryann@comcast.net |
| Description | Can speak on various aspects of herbs: types, culture, uses, preserving |
| Length | 20-30 Minutes |
| Visuals | Show & Tell |
| Handouts | Yes |
| Availability | Available during the day as well as in the evening |
Ecological Landscaping
| Topic | Introduction to MAEscapes |
| Speaker | Linda Silverman - 764-1394 - silvy44@comcast.com |
| Description | What is ecological landscaping and how can we use these concepts in our gardens? Learn the reasons behind planting natives and the principles of Ecological Landscaping. |
| Length | 45 minutes to 1 hour |
| Visuals | PowerPoint |
| Handouts | Yes |
| Availability | Call for availability |
Soil/Composting
| Topic | Backyard Composting |
| Speaker | John Geoghan - 717 246-0617 - no1filsfan@yahoo.com |
| Description | A lecture presentation which discusses how to recycle kitchen and the yard waste into a humus-like soil amendment, what can be recycled in what amounts using what methods . |
| Length | 1 hour |
| Visuals | PowerPoint presentation furnished by Department of Environmental Protection |
| Handouts | |
| Availability | Call for availability |
Propagation
| Topic | Plant Propagation |
| Speaker | John Geoghan - 717-246-0617 no1filsfan@yahoo.com |
| Description | A lecture type presentation that discusses various means of starting your own plants from seeds, divisions, layering and cuttings. The information centers on what methods to use on which plants and the degree of ease. |
| Length | Varied to suit between 1 - 3 hours |
| Visuals | PowerPoint |
| Handouts | No |
| Availability | Call for availability |
