2003 MG Projects

There were 301 new Master Gardeners trained in 27 counties this year. All county training included the eight topics designated as core topics including soils and fertilizers, entomology, plant pathology, botany, plant propagation, communications skills, introduction to Cooperative Extension and the Master Gardener Program, and integrated pest management and pesticide safety.

There were 250 Master Gardeners on hand for the statewide Master Gardener In-service held at University Park on May 30, 2003. The purpose of the in-service is to provide advanced training to active Master Gardener volunteers so that they can be up-to-date as they supply information to Extension clientele. General session topics addressed Plant Management during Drought and Care of Roses; both topics were identified as priorities by a survey sent to Master Gardeners who field home gardener questions. Thirteen other topics were presented in concurrent sessions. The in-service was evaluated using a 5 (high) to 1 (low) scale. The overall in-service average rating was 4.5.The majority of concurrent sessions received very high ratings.

The Armstrong county extension staff welcomed 15 new Master Gardener candidates into the program this year. All participants benefited from the coursework which was evident in a 23% improvement from pre and post test scores.

Fifteen Master Gardeners from Westmoreland county took turns manning the phones at the Extension office. The Master Gardeners were able to answer nearly 700 calls from homeowners and provided information on insect, disease, and wildlife pest control, lawn care, and proper plant selection.

There were 12 new Master Gardener candidates in the Luzerne program this year. All of them improved their post test scores (average increase was 18.25%) as a result of effective training sessions. In addition, 34 volunteers from the county were able to accurately field garden questions as assessed by clientele.

The Delaware county Master Gardener program used mentoring of new volunteers to improve the overall success of the program. Trainees were matched with experienced Master Gardeners to help the trainees assimilate into the existing group and to improve the retention rate of the volunteers. The result was more effective individual Master Gardeners working within a higher functioning organization that benefits Cooperative Extension’s educational outreach in the county.

Wayne County recruited and trained 10 new Master Gardeners. Post test scores averaged 16% higher than pre-test scores.

The York County Master Gardener program used a digital imaging system and the “Hort Book” computer database system to help identify plant problems and to answer 1750 garden questions phoned into their garden hotline.

Master Gardeners in Lehigh and Northampton counties manned a display on xeriscaping for the local flower show. The display was created with plants grouped together according to water needs to illustrate the most efficient way of using water in the garden. The exhibit was very popular during the three day event, and Master Gardeners recorded over 1800 contacts with the public.

Luzerne county Master Gardeners manned a table at the local Lowe’s Home Improvement Plant Sale and answered questions concerning plant selection for 81 customers.

Master Gardeners in Huntingdon county taught a class on xeriscaping to 30 people. The participants learned how to design low water use watering systems and how to select and group plants for effective water use.

Master Gardeners in Lehigh and Northampton counties taught a Vegetable Gardening class with 47 participants. When asked how confident they were about growing their own vegetables, 66% of the participants were very confident and others were somewhat confident. The vast majority of those attending stated that they had acquired new knowledge concerning soil preparation, vegetable transplants, and heirloom and hybrid plants.

Beaver county Master Gardeners maintained a Vegetable Demonstration Garden. Fourteen of the volunteers talked directly with 55 people about use of plastic mulch, leaf mulch, compost, and bark mulch for weed control. They also demonstrated the use of companion planting to reduce pest problems.

Luzerne County Master Gardeners manned an exhibit at the Dallas Harvest Festival. The exhibit featured beneficial insects and worms. 112 adults and 236 children visited the display. The children learned the role that insects play in ecology and were introduced to soil organisms that can be observed via a worm tunnel.

Lehigh and Northampton county Master Gardeners held 10 plant clinics at garden centers, farmer’s markets, and festivals throughout the two-county area. Four of the clinics were held in urban areas to provide accessibility to as many people as possible. The purpose of the plant clinics was to diagnose plant problems and provide recommendations. Despite the inclement weather which reduced the usual response, 322 gardeners visited the clinics. Most of the participants came away with a proper diagnosis to their plant problem; others were contacted at a later date after the plant sample was sent to Penn State’s diagnosis lab.

Berks county Master Gardeners held an Open House at their demonstration garden. Over 200 visitors attended. Workshops were presented on waterwise gardening, square foot gardening, and proper planting. The garden had displays that illustrated proper plant selection, soil preparation, pruning, IPM, low maintenance lawns, native plants, and groundcovers. 95% of the participants reported that they had gained knowledge and ideas that they would use in their home landscapes.

Beaver county Master Gardeners answered 1330 questions at the MG Outreach Office during the past year. Of those inquiries, 230 were requests for insect identification. Master Gardeners emphasized the importance of IPM and pesticide safety to those involved.

Master Gardeners in Franklin county taught the principles of IPM during their Spring Sampler Series of classes. The classes focused on IPM in vegetable and small fruit production. There were 35 participants; 71% of them reported being unfamiliar with IPM concepts prior to attending the program.

Thirteen Union County Master Gardeners participated in the design, planting, and maintenance of a Gardener Selects Trial Garden located adjacent to the county public library. The volunteers hosted five classes at the Trial Garden; the topics were herbs, tomatoes, soils, cover crops, and composting. There were 77 people who attended the classes. Participants learned how to harvest and preserve herbs, how to test their garden soil, and how to improve their garden with the use of cover crops. They also adopted new techniques for staking tomatoes and skills for composting.

Columbia County Master Gardeners held two Open House events at their Gardener Selects Trial Garden. During the spring Open House, participants learned how to plant a pouch for decoration and how to identify beneficial insects. Other topics presented were invasive species, new techniques for a healthy yard, composting, and of course, the 2003 Gardener Selects plants. The fall Open House had 53 participants; topics presented include raising transplants, selecting plants for a butterfly garden, and composting. The day included a tour of the Trial Garden and distribution of Gardener Selects plant clippings to take home.

Luzerne county Master Gardeners held a series of workshops for gardeners including a session on flower gardening. The participants toured the county trial garden and were able to observe the plants that performed best and were least bothered by pests. 46%of the participants stated that they will likely use a ‘Garden Select’ plant in their garden.

Indiana county Master Gardeners completed further work on their demonstration gardens located at Blue Spruce Park. The volunteers added new beds planted with over 100 herbs that have been categorized and properly labeled. Three workshops were held in the demonstration garden and 132 people attended. Two tours brought 40 people from local Herbal Societies. The garden was featured in articles printed in two local newspapers.

Franklin county Master Gardeners made improvements to their demonstration garden this year including a paved walkway to provide handicapped accessibility. Special events held in the garden included an herb workshop (30 participants), Tomato Day (70 participants), and a Fall Garden Tour (110 participants).

Armstrong county Master Gardeners taught 36 members of the Senior Life Club how to develop a landscape using native plants including selecting the proper plants and landscape design. Nearly all who participated said that they would change the way that they did things as a result of what they learned.

Armstrong county Master Gardeners took part in the local Conservation District tree sale by distributing 140 fact sheets that illustrated proper tree planting and maintenance techniques. Several participants reported that the information would aid in the success of tree planting.

Master Gardeners in Adams county held their annual Rites of Fall garden seminar to encourage gardeners to properly select, plant, and care for plants in the landscape, orchard, and garden. There were 119 attendees. 92% of those who completed an evaluation form felt that attending the seminar improved their gardening knowledge. Most felt that they would make changes in their gardening practices.

Luzerne county Master Gardeners had an educational display at the Northeast Pennsylvania Home and Garden Show. The display explained the importance of soil testing. 765 people visited the display and received literature. 35 soil test kits were sold.

Master Gardeners in Cumberland county taught a class titled “Success with Native Plants”. The 20 participants learned how to match site and plant, to define native and invasive plants, and to choose native plants for seasonal interest, wildlife value, and ease of growing.

Master Gardeners in 53 counties taught a total of 216 compost workshops during the past year. The Penn State volunteers worked in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Protection which funded the compost bins that were distributed at the workshops. At least 7194 people (some counties failed to report data) attended the workshops and learned which kitchen and yard waste materials can be composted, how to build, turn, and manage the compost pile, and how to use the end product as a soil amendment. At least 6877 bins were distributed.

Master Gardeners in Dauphin county held four ‘mini compost clinics’ at the local libraries to accommodate the people who could not attend the larger session held at the Extension Office. The volunteers made the special effort to reach those that do not travel far from home due to disabilities, age, and/or lack of transportation. The purpose of the sessions was to teach composting and to reduce the amount of kitchen waste entering the area landfills. Each session had 25 participants and each person received a compost bin.

Wayne county Master Gardeners held three composting workshops. A total of 120 people attended. A telephone survey of these attendees six months after the workshop found that 85% were composting kitchen and yard waste compared to only 48% before the workshop. (Increase of 37% of households).

Tioga county Master Gardeners reached 570 sixth grade students and their teachers at an Environmental Day event. The participants learned how to compost kitchen and yard waste in order to reduce landfills and to improve their future. Some of the parents who later attended the adult compost class and bin distribution program sponsored by the Master Gardeners reported that they were encouraged to learn about composting by their children who attended the Environmental Day event.

Schuylkill county Master Gardeners held five compost workshops at various locations. 177 residents attended the clinics and 157 households received compost bins funded by DEP. Evaluations showed that there was a 52% increase of households composting waste as a result of attending the compost workshops.

Lycoming county Master Gardeners worked with 7 youth and several staff members at the Williamsport Center which provides after school and Saturday activities for youth. The volunteers began preparations for a flower and vegetable garden. So far, the Master Gardeners involved the youth in activities where they learned about soil structure, soil conditioning, and soil testing. The program has created so much excitement that many parents are involved with the project participating and learning the same skills as their children.

One Dauphin county Master Gardener has found a unique way to teach his co-workers how to raise a garden. The volunteer assists the participants in planting and maintaining container gardens on the rooftop of the building where they are employed. The Master Gardener gives 100 to 150 tours of the rooftop each year.

Cumberland county Master Gardeners assisted the staff and 12 residents of the Claremont Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to plan and develop a community vegetable and flower garden. Raised beds and graveled paths were added to improve accessibility. Residents planted and maintained their favorite vegetable varieties over the summer with Master Gardeners teaching basic skills. The Master Gardeners were commended for their work by the Commissioners of Cumberland County.

Bucks county Master Gardeners helped install a garden in front of Bucks Villa, a county residence for people with HIV. The garden was carefully tended by the staff and residents. The Resident Leader wrote a thank you note to the volunteers and stated that the residents were coming out of their rooms now, helping to water and weed the garden, and learning to identify the plants.

Master Gardeners in Westmoreland county took part in an Earth Day program that reached 450 elementary school students. Six Master Gardeners manned various stations and led activities that taught beneficial insect identification, recycling, and composting.

Master Gardeners in Lehigh and Northampton counties taught over 300 elementary students how to recognize poison ivy, poisonous berries, and poisonous houseplants. The students were quizzed at the beginning and the end of the learning sessions. At the end of each session, most students could identify which plants were poisonous and learned how to avoid contact with poisonous plants.

Montour county Master Gardeners used GrowLabs purchased with grant money to teach students at the Mahoning-Cooper Elementary School. A total of 300 or more students, 12 teachers, and 15 parents were involved. The youth were in grades kindergarten through fifth. Each grade studied a different topic and participated in hands-on activities through the use of their GrowLab fixture (shelving unit with grow lights). The students learned a wide range of topics and skills including seed germination, soil structure, composting, parts of a flower, and herb gardening.

Three Lawrence county Master Gardeners worked with incarcerated youth at the Youth Development Center in New Castle. The volunteers helped a group of 10 boys ages 14-17 to grow a vegetable and perennial flower garden. The boys were from an urban setting and had no prior experience with gardening. They learned to raise spinach, tomatoes, potatoes, and other vegetables. They learned how to monitor and control plant pests. The boys harvested their vegetables and helped to make restitution for their crimes. They also got to cook some of their harvest and made salsa, spinach pizza, and French fries. One boy entered two plants and one vegetable In the Lawrence county fair and won two ribbons.

Luzerne Master Gardeners led 7 children through a Junior Master Gardener camp held this summer. The campers completed nearly 30 projects, 8 of which were community service. All 7 campers learned the concepts of plant propagation, composting, environmental relationships, and plant selection. The highlights of the program included planting a habitat garden and tree at a nursing home and a beneficial insect release of 1400 ladybugs to combat pine bark adelgids on white pine.

A Beaver county Master Gardener coordinated an outdoor classroom at an area elementary school. 25 second and third grade students used the classroom. They planted an herb garden, a butterfly garden, a restoration meadow, and a flower and vegetable garden. The students gained knowledge in proper soil preparation, planting a backyard wildlife habitat, and harvesting and preparing a meal using vegetables grown in the garden.

Bucks County Master Gardeners held a three-day gardening program for 25 children ages 6-10 at the Latino Alliance after-school program in Centennial Village in Warminster. The children participated in hand-on lessons and learned the parts of a plant and of a seed and then learned to identify the vegetable plant parts that we eat. The children also learned to plant sunflowers and to make chia heads with annual rye grass. The language barrier was overcome with the use of bi-lingual visual aids and translations by the Director and a Master Gardener.

Wyoming county Master Gardeners took part in Agriculture Days through the local school district. The volunteers spoke to 200 fourth graders, and addressed the topic, “Where Does Food Come From?” The volunteers presented information on growing vegetables, harvesting vegetables, and eating vegetables. The students were very interested and attentive.

Lebanon county Master Gardeners effectively used their Four-square Garden to support their educational objectives. Each year, the four garden beds are planted according to the topics that are selected for presentation by the volunteers. The demonstration gardens were used to illustrate principles taught in four classes: Perfect Perennials, Basil-Herb of the Year”, Creating a Wreath Garden, and Garlic- from Clove to Plate”. 100% of the attendees reported that they would use at least one new gardening idea that they learned by taking part in a class such as soil testing, amending soil with organic matter, and dividing perennial plants. The garden was also used for tours sponsored by the Lebanon County Historical Society (200 participants) and a tour during the Lebanon County Fair (70 participants). The Salvation Army sponsored two classes at the garden with the help of Master Gardeners. Both classes were attended by 15 people; participants learned how to start seeds indoors and how to raise a small garden.

Beaver county Master Gardeners organized a Speaker’s Bureau for the benefit of area organizations that have an interest in gardening. 28 speaking engagements were conducted during the past year for various civic and community groups throughout the county. 849 area residents attended the various events; topics presented included proper tree planting, integrated pest management, plant propagation, and an introduction to the Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program.

Master Gardeners in Wayne county sponsored a Spring Garden Expo. Over 500 people attended the event. Topics offered a the expo were medicinal plants, creating water gardens, native American gardening, and building stone walls. A post program survey indicated that 60% of the participants will make at least one change in their gardening practices as a result of attending the expo.

Master Gardeners in Northumberland, Union, Lycoming, Montour, and Columbia counties participated in a joint effort to supply weekly gardening articles to local newspapers. The articles were printed in the ‘Green Thumb Corner’ column.

Wyoming county Master Gardeners organized the “Spring into Gardening II” series of classes at the Tunkhannock Library. The topics presented were What’s Bugging Your Lawn, Berry Basics, Endless Flowers, and Ready Set Grow and Eat Your Weeds. Evaluations indicated that 95% of the attendees learned something new and will incorporate the knowledge in their future gardens.

Washington county Master Gardeners organized a Spring Gardening Seminar at a local school facility. 210 people attended the event which provided eight workshops and six educational displays. Specific objectives were to improve home gardeners’ ability to attract beneficial insects and wildlife to their gardens, to protect gardens from wildlife damage, and to select plants based on growing conditions at a specific site. Evaluations showed that 72% of the participants will make changes in the way that they control wildlife pests and 53% will plant different kinds of plants as a result of the seminar. Other data showed that attendees will try to attract beneficial insects to their garden, establish a new garden, and access further information on gardening.

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