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SUB POW: 5.K.1 Master Gardener Programs
Master Gardeners in Crawford County taught a group of 17 senior citizens how to improve their gardening skills by using a soil test, successfully starting seeds, and properly transplanting seedlings. Evaluation results showed that all of the participants planned to use at least one idea from the workshop. A scale of 1(low) to 5 (high) was used to measure the "value" of the class; 12 out of the 17 participants rated the class value as "5" and the remaining three rated it "4". Lebanon County Master Gardeners organized an Amateur Herbalists special interest study group in order to share information concerning growing, harvesting, preserving, and post-harvest use of herbs. An average of 35 to 50 people attended each meeting where specific topics were discussed; topics included Care, Crafting, and Culture of Roses, History of Herbs, Herbal Hints and Helps, and others. In a recent survey of the group, 91% of the group reported an improvement in skills related to problem solving, locating resources, pruning, and using IPM. In addition, it was found that 80% of the participants often use proper plant selection, care, and harvest procedures as a result of attending the Amateur Herbalist meetings whereas less than 20% used these practices before their involvement. Master Gardeners in Bucks County extended their existing garden seminar series to an additional location in order to reach the southern portion of the county. A total of 59 people attended one or more of the 5 seminars that included Perennials, Composting, Pruning, IPM, and Holiday Bulbs. More than 80% of the participants who completed evaluations reported changing at least one gardening practice as a result of information presented at the seminars. In Lehigh and Northampton counties, 18 Master Gardeners answered 1558 garden questions during the growing season as part of the Master Gardener Phone Lines project. In a phone survey of 100 gardeners who had called in with questions, 97 said that they received a helpful answer and 99 said that they would recommend the service to a friend. Beaver County Master Gardeners conducted two Arbor Day programs in separate municipalities. 200 participants learned to identify common trees, to properly plant trees, and to fertilize and prune trees and shrubs. The Speakers Circuit created by Montgomery County Master Gardeners reached 478 youth and 378 adults. Some of the topics taught by Master Gardeners included the identification of beneficial insects, value of composting, tree planting, soil testing, butterfly gardens, shade gardening, vegetable gardening, container gardening, and raised bed gardening. A Crawford County Master Gardener assisted two Girl Scouts with the planning, preparation, and planting of a vegetable garden and butterfly garden. The volunteer taught the young girls to follow a soil test, carefully select plant materials, and plant and mulch properly. Master Gardeners in Lehigh/Northampton Counties taught a group of juveniles on probation how to properly plant, weed, maintain, and harvest a vegetable garden. 20 youth were involved. Despite the severe drought in the 1999 growing season, 2600 pounds of vegetables were harvested and donated to the local food banks. In the past five years, 13,000 pounds of food have been donated to local needy families through this program. Luzerne County Master Gardeners taught a horticulture course at the State Correctional Institute Dallas. They provided instruction in soil science, plant science, plant propagation, plant pathology, entomology, vegetables, flowers, trees and shrubs, and herbaceous plants. On a follow-up questionnaire, most of the participants reported that the class was very useful or useful. Participants wrote many positive comments in regard to their planned use of the information once they were released from prison. SUB POW 5.K.2: Green Industry/Consumer Research
Master Gardeners in Dauphin County created a "Healthy Gardens" display to teach soil preparation and plant selection. The volunteers took the display to three locations and answered garden questions while manning the exhibit. They reached 60 gardeners at Stauffers of Kissell Hill, 200 gardeners during the Harrisburg Historical Garden Tour, and hundreds at the Annual Hershey Fest. Beaver County Master Gardeners provided a monthly horticulture lecture series at the Penn State Beaver Campus. The series, "Gardening Potpourri", was open to the public and included the following topics: annual and perennial flower gardening, vegetable varieties, pruning techniques, water gardening, and bulb gardening. An average of 96 people attended each session. Bradford County Master Gardeners held an open house at their demonstration garden in August. Approximately 125 visitors said that they improved plant selection, pest management, or another gardening skill as a result of attending the open house. Bucks County Master Gardeners took part in the Doylestown Kitchen and Garden Tour in order to encourage appropriate use of plant materials in the home. The tour was sponsored by the Bucks County Chamber of Commerce; proceeds funded area community gardens and a scholarship awarded to a horticulture student. Over 900 tickets were sold. Master Gardeners were on hand at six gardens to answer questions from the public. Master Gardeners in Indiana County established a perennial garden at Blue Spruce Park. All plants are labeled so that park visitors can observe the perennials and consider duplicating the garden at home.
Cumberland County Master Gardeners held a plant clinic each week at local libraries. Home gardeners brought pest problems to the volunteers and learned how to identify and choose a control method for each problem. Many clients returned after their initial visit and shared how they changed their original gardening practices and now utilize IPM practices to control pest problems. Butler County Master Gardeners responded to area residents' consumer horticulture questions through the "Green Line". Master Gardeners spent an average of fifteen hours per week during the spring and summer months answering phone calls and meeting with individuals. Over 600 contacts were made during the growing season. Master Gardeners had the opportunity to influence the consumer's choice of control options for various insects and plant diseases, emphasizing integrated pest management principles.
Five demonstration gardens were planted and maintained by Beaver County Master Gardeners. Three meetings were conducted where 135 Master Gardeners and home gardeners learned to recognize high quality plants. One demonstration garden is near the Penn State Beaver Amphitheater where 5000 people attend summer concerts. Another garden is in the center of a senior citizens vegetable gardening area; high quality vegetable varieties and mulching techniques are demonstrated. The Gardeners Select Trial Garden in Mercer County is located at the 4-H Park. There were several programs presented around the trial garden and even tour buses stopped to visit the garden. Most people learned that a wide array of plant material is available and many have developed their own flower gardens based on what was displayed at the Mercer Gardeners Select Garden. Northumberland County Master Gardeners combined their Gardeners Select Trial Garden open house with a series of five home gardening presentations. Participants were able to observe the newest flower and vegetable varieties in the trial garden and learned how to apply mulch, compost yard waste, identify good and bad bugs, use herbs in the flower garden, and to attract butterflies.
Beaver County Master Gardeners planted a flower garden at the entrance of Brady's Run Park. Several thousand vehicles pass the entrance to the park daily. It also hosts multitude of activities with thousands attending these events. Material on the Master Gardener Program is supplied along with the plant listing and a diagram of the design is included. Those obtaining this information can adapt this garden design for their home landscape.
Lycoming County Master Gardeners set up a compost display at the Penn Val Housing Complex. The display illustrated how anyone can compost yard and kitchen waste and advertised the up-coming DEP-Penn State compost bin project.
Five Master Gardener trainees from Lehigh/Northampton counties taught a one-hour class on small space gardening for the benefit of urban residents. Twenty adults attended the presentation. All 20 participants completed an evaluation; some of the new practices that participants said they would do included soil test (7 people), use compost (6 people), rotate crops (7 people), try using unusual containers, verticle planting, and interplanting.
Centre County Master Gardeners reached 20 first grade students at the Friends School in State College where they presented a class on "How Seeds Travel". The children learned how and why seeds travel and were able to recall seeing seeds travel such as burrs in a dog's fur or dandelion seeds floating in the backyard. The children were then given samples of seeds and were able to decide what method of travel each type of seed employed. Beaver County Master Gardeners taught 45 daycare staff how to carry out simple plant projects with preschool children. As a result, 1330 preschool children enrolled in the county daycare program completed "How Plants Grow" and "Why We Use Plants" projects and each made a terrarium or Chia Head. In Warren County, Master Gardeners conducted separate programs in two high schools to help handicapped youth improve their motor skills in planting flower and vegetable seeds. The youth learned what plants need in order to grow. 8 students at Eisenhower High Scholl designed, planted, and maintained a butterfly garden. 13 students at Warren High School planted seeds and cuttings in containers. They used a plant study center to observe growth. Teachers commented that students were motivated by caring for the plants and improved their knowledge of plant growth. A Westmoreland County Master Gardener helped develop an outdoor classroom at the Edgewood Elementary School. The project included 160 students and 40 adults. The school established a garden where students can study geography, science, history, math, art, and local ecology. It has been a valuable tool in uniting the school with the neighboring community which donated a birdbath, signs, and plants. The children, many from disadvantaged, single-parent homes beam with pride as they point out the plants that they've grown from seed. Two Westmoreland County Master Gardeners worked with a group of children, ages 10-18, at the Westmoreland County Detention Center. The volunteers taught the kids how to prepare the soil and plant a vegetable garden, pull weeds, and mulch. As the growing season went on, the children enthusiastically learned how to use a magnifying lens to observe and identify insects. The group had a successful garden season as they were able to harvest melons, cauliflower, cabbage, pumpkins, tomatoes, and zucchini. A Master Gardener in Susquehanna County taught 37 4-H members all about herbs during a one-day camp. The volunteer introduced the campers to thirteen herbs. The children learned to identify herbs, to understand the terms annual, biennial, and perennial, and to associate herbs with their respective uses. Luzerne County Master Gardeners used the "Meet the Plants" 4-H project to teach plant basics to children. Thirteen youth from a low-income housing project took part in a seven-week Meet the Plants program. A few quotes from the participants include "I learned how different types of plants grow", I learned that some plants are poisonous", I liked learning about the different parts of plants". In an area private school, a children's garden was planted to accompany the Meet the Plants project. The students learned how to choose plants for bird and butterfly gardens, how to plant, and to maintain a garden. Dauphin County Master Gardeners taught 5th graders how to force daffodil bulbs to bloom indoors. The volunteers visited the schools four times over a fourteen week period. The students learned how to plant bulbs, put them into cold storage, bring them back into the warm, and to judge the blooms. The Master Gardeners reached 278 students within seven schools. The students forced 1200 bulbs indoors and planted 200 bulbs outdoors.
Adams County Master Gardeners assisted residents at Green Acres Nursing Home. Ten to twelve residents participated in weekly gardening sessions where they learned basic gardening, propagation by seed, and transplanting. They grew many vegetable and flower plants which were donated to a good number of participants in the Community Gardening Program. They also raised vegetables in wading pool gardens. Six Beaver County Master Gardeners assisted in the design of a greenhouse specifically for severely and mentally challenged individuals at McGuire Home. They assisted staff at the home to raise flowers and vegetables, which were in turn used as a fundraiser to support their program.
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