Preschoolers Get Early Start on Growing Season

By Carol Kagan



On Saturday, led by Master Gardener Rebecca Keller, twelve young gardeners gathered with their fathers, mothers or grandparents for a Family-Friendly workshop to make mini-greenhouses for milkweed and sunflower seeds to start growing outdoors now.

The youngsters first learned about how a seed becomes a plant and then nestled lima bean seeds among damp cotton balls in a zip lock bag to germinate at home. Roots and leaves should soon appear and give them a real-life view of what they saw on their handout.

Keller showed pictures of Monarch butterflies and talked about how they need to have milkweed plants to lay their eggs.

She then guided them, and their grown-up assistants, in making two mini-greenhouses using recycled gallon plastic bottles.

During the process the children measured and marked the soil line on the bottle,

gleefully scooped the dampened soilless growing mix inside

 

 

and carefully added both milkweed and sunflower seeds.

Labels were added and the bottles were taped shut with duct tape, the most popular color among those offered was pink.

 

The little greenhouses will be put outside in a sunny spot and watered if there isn’t enough snow or rain.

Keller’s assistant, Master Gardener Cathy Campbell, told them the scientific name for the milkweed they planted - Asclepias tuberosa (Ass-KLEE-pee-us  too-bur-O-suh) – and had them practice a few times in hopes they would still remember when they got home.

 

The workshop ended with grown-ups carrying out armfuls of the plastic bottles. Workshop evaluations completed by the parents indicated this was a successful workshop and there were requests for more tailored to this age group.

 

More Family Friendly Workshops

 

The next Family Friendly Workshop on the schedule is Container Gardening on May 2, just in time to come and plant a pot with beautiful flowers for Mother's Day.

 

Two more Family Friendly programs are

 

Bug ID: What's Buggin' You? on June 13

 

and Cornhusk Wreaths and Dolls on October 17.

 

For information about or registration for any of our classes or workshops, please call 717-263-9226.

 

Also, visit the MG Facebook page for a current listing of classes and workshops as well as upcoming events. Of special note are the annual plant sales in May.

February Classes and Workshops- From Seeds to Gnomes to Nuts

by Carol Kagan, Master Gardener

One of our new workshops added this year invites the youngest participants to date. Preschoolers, ages 2 1/2 to 5 years old, have their own Winter Sowing Seeds for Preschoolers workshop.

Master Gardener and mom of three, Rebecca Keller, will help parents and children make miniature greenhouses from recycled plastic jugs. While the January 17 Winter Sowing workshop is geared to grown-ups, Rebecca wants to gets the littler ones involved in gardening. This is a Family Friendly Workshop: $10/1 adult& 1 child, $15/ family. Very limited enrollment. Register NOW!

One of the other new offerings is Decoding Seed Catalogs meant to help new gardeners, or those who want to expand beyond flowers or vegetables, identify the best plants for our South Central PA location. As George Weigel says, you can't plant what you want where you want. Well, not if you want it to grow and thrive, that is. $10

Selected Seed Catalogs Available at the Class

Join Master Gardeners Carol Kagan, Bill Dorman, Denise Lucas, Nancy Miller and others who will walk you through which selections are right for our area. Bring your own catalogs or use ours.

Following up on the Miniature 'Fairy' Garden class, Master Gardener Juanita Kaufmann will help participants put together their own tiny worlds to take home. A set of quality supplies is included in the workshop price but the expertise is worth much more! $10/$40 supplies Limited enrollment for this very popular workshop.

The Edible Landscaping classes will start off with Grapes and Nuts. Master Gardeners Linda Secrist and Mike Kusko will discuss soil prep, plant selection and more to help set up a tasty backyard landscape. The class is $10. Soil test kits will be available at the class. $9/cash or check only. Look for Tree Fruit and Small Fruit & Brambles in our March classes.

Leaves shade the green grapes until they ripen (P. Veilleux, East Bay Wilds)

To register, for more information or to be added to our mailing list, contact the office at 717-263-9226. All these classes and workshops will be held at the Ag Heritage Center, 185 Franklin Farm Rd. in Chambersburg.

January Workshops are Popular - Register Now!

by Carol Kagan, Master Gardener

This year as a Penn State Master Gardener I was on the Class and Workshop Committee. We have amazing programs lined up for 2015 almost all for just $10. To get on our e-mailing list send your address to franklinext@psu.edu. Please feel free to share with your FaceBook and IRL friends, too.


Registrations are coming in for the January workshops and classes. All are held at the Ag Heritage Center, 181 Franklin Farm Rd, Chambersburg.  Register NOW and avoid the disappointment of a full class. Call 263-9226 to register.

This year "For the Birds" is adding an extra feature of a Make and Take bird feeder. This is a Family Friendly program and the cost if $10/1 adult & child or $15/family. Make sure to let them know when you register how many will attend so we have enough supplies.



Next up is "Winter Sowing," another Make and Take workshop. Astound your neighbors and friends when you start seeds in mid-winter and have an early harvest of tomatoes. This method of winter sowing eliminates the need for elaborate indoor set-ups and work. For only $10 you can create a seed starter to take home and the knowledge to make 20 more! This is not only a fun project but a good strategy for home gardeners.



The "Miniature 'Fairy' Gardens" class will teach the basics about these indoor or outdoor landscapes. Last year's class had a number of children interested in these fun projects. These gardens can by any world you want - from fairy gardens to "gnome homes," to Hobbit landscapes. Come and learn the basics and get a head start on the February Make and Take Workshop. This is very popular so register now.

January Workshops for Families and Early-Start Gardeners

by Carol Kagan, Master Gardener

What are the Master Gardeners up to during the cold winter?

Workshops!!

Please note that workshops fill quickly. Call now to register. 717-263-9226

Sat., Jan. 10,  9-11 am: For the Birds (Family Friendly) - Make a birdfeeder and learn about attracting birds. $10 adult, $15 family

Sat., Jan 17, 9-11 am: Winter Sowing - One of our most popular workshops. Sign up early. Learn how to sow seeds outdoors in recyclable containers in winter and early spring. Make one to take home. $10

Sat., Jan. 31,  9-11 am: Fairy Gardens - Learn about scale, plants and maintenance in this informative program. $10

Tue., Feb. 3,  6:30-8:30 pm: Decoding Seed Catalogs - Learn how to read plant and seed listings to select the right plants for our area and your landscape. $10

Make Your Own Fresh Holiday Creations

by Carol Kagan, Master Gardener

 

It is always disheartening to tell a caller that a workshop is full. Don't be that caller!! Don’t let your friends miss out!

Register now for these popular Franklin County Master Gardener workshops. Class size is limited so call Penn State Extension at 717-263-9226 now. Held at the Ag Heritage Building – 185 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg.

And ask to be added to the e-mailing or mailing list to get announcements of all our workshops and events for 2015.

 

You will learn HOW to make these holiday decorations and can create them year after year for yourself or as gifts.

 

Fresh holiday greens make beautiful wreaths

Fresh Holiday Wreath Workshop

Thursday, December 4, 2014 – 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Learn how to make your own evergreen wreath, and take home your finished product. Materials provided. Cost is $15 per wreath. Class size is limited. 

An example- workshop centerpiece may vary

Fresh Holiday Centerpiece Workshop

A second session has been added to this popular workshop. Call now.
Saturday, December 6, 2014 – 9:00 – 11:00 AM  or  12:30-2:30 PM

Learn how to make a fresh centerpiece for your holiday table. Centerpiece materials provided. Bring small pruners, scissors, gloves, any small items you want to include and a box to take your creation home. Cost is $25. Class size is limited.

December Holiday Decor Workshops Will Fill Quickly

by Carol Kagan, Master Gardener

It is always disheartening to tell a caller that a workshop is full. Don't be that caller!!

Register now for these popular Franklin County Master Gardener workshops. Class size is limited so call now.  And ask to be added to the e-mailing or mailing list to get announcements of all our workshops and events for 2015.

Fresh Holiday Wreath Workshop

Thursday, December 4, 2014 – 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Learn how to make your own evergreen wreath, and take home your finished product. Cost is $15. To register, please call Penn State Extension Franklin County at 717-263-9226. Class size is limited.  Ag Heritage Building – 185 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA 17202.



An example - does not represent centerpieces made in the workshop.

Fresh Holiday Centerpiece Workshop

Saturday, December 6, 2014 – 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Make a fresh centerpiece for your holiday table. Cost is $25. To register, please call Penn State Extension Franklin County at 717-263-9226. Class size is limited. Ag Heritage Building – 185 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA 17202.

October Programs: Wild Ginseng, Preserving Herbs and Beginning Beekeeping

by Carol Kagan, Penn State Master Gardener

All programs are held at the Franklin County Ag Heritage Center, 185 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg. More about each listing below

Wednesday, Oct 8 at 7 PM - Wild Ginseng Program – Free & open to the public. Call 717-263-9226 for more information.

Saturday, Oct 18 from 9 am – Noon – Herbs 103: Harvesting, Preserving and Overwintering. Cost $10. Call 717-263-9226  to register.

Thursday, October 23 at 7 PM - Would You Like to be a Beekeeper? Free & open to public. No registration required. For information contact Randy King at 717-328-9256.

Wild Ginseng Program: American ginseng is a native North American herbaceous plant which has unique chemical properties that make it economically useful. It has a rich history of being collected, cultivated and traded for centuries in Pennsylvania and surrounding areas. Cumberland Woodland Owners’ Association meeting welcomes featured speaker Dr. Eric Burkhart, Plant Science Program Director at Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, discussing wild ginseng.

Because of its rarity, wild ginseng is a very valuable commodity with dried roots routinely selling for $500+/pint. Because ginseng has been widely collected over the last 200 years it is regulated both internationally and in each US state.

Herbs 103: Harvesting, Preserving and Overwintering: This Master Gardener workshop will provide information on various ways to preserve herbs including drying and freezing. Cost: $10. Call 717-263-9226 to register. We now accept credit cards to make phone registration easier.

Would You Like to be a Beekeeper? Have you ever wondered what is involved in being a beekeeper and working with honeybees?  If so, plan to attend this informational meeting The Franklin County Beekeepers Association is sponsoring this introductory meeting for the general public.  In particular, it is for those who may be interested in starting their own hives and learning a little bit more about what is involved.

The meeting will include a brief introduction to the honey bee, beekeeping information resources and time requirements for managing hives. A brief overview of tools, equipment, start-up costs, and ordering bee packages will be presented.  Free & open to public. No registration required. For information contact Randy King at 328-9256.

September: Learn about Bulbs, Compost and Getting More Plants

The September programs are now taking registrations. The Fall Into Gardening event is free but register now for the other programs.

Bulbs-Fall Planting program: Find out about choosing, planting and caring for spring flowering bulbs. Learn how to force bulbs to flower during the dreary winter days. More about this interesting topic at "Trick Bulbs Now for Winter Treats." $10 - You'll think it's a bargain when beautiful blooms brighten your windowsill on a gray January day.

"Composting" is a valuable resource and money saver. Learn which of the variety of methods you can use at your house. $10 Sign up now and start composting this month.

Perennials at MG Nancy Miller's house (Laurie Collins)

"Dig, Divide & Multiply Perennials" will help you figure out when and how to divide your perennials to keep them healthy - and to share with others, too! $10 is a bargain for all the money you'll save multiplying your plants.

All course and events are held at the Agriculture Heritage Center, 181 Franklin Farm Road, Chambersburg, unless noted.

Our programs are growing in popularity and now require pre-registration. Call 717-263-9226 for more information and to register. We now accept credit cards to make phone registration easier.

Late Summer Events and Workshops

Tomato Day

Master Gardeners will hold their 14th Annual Tomato Day on Saturday, August 23 from 10 am - 2 pm. Free. Come and taste over 20 varieties of tomatoes, enter the largest tomato contest and/or the salsa contest* (or be among the voters for the People's Choice award) and enjoy visiting with Master Gardeners and neighbors.

*Deadline to enter August 18. Call 717-263-9226 and register.

Check out the "Save the Date" list and note that there will be a Fall plant sale at our "Fall into Gardening" event on September 6. More later about this new event.

Avoid the disappointment of fully enrolled workshops by calling now.

Tomato Day & Fall Into Gardening Events plus Succulent and Turfgrass Workshops

by Carol Kagan, Master Gardener


Succulent Plant from Bob Hyatt's Greenhouse

Simply Succulents Workshop

 August 2, 2014 – 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. – Ag Heritage Building – 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg – Learn how to grow and propagate these beautiful and nearly indestructible plants.  This workshop will highlight hardy succulents that can be planted outside as well as those grown as houseplants.  Pre-registration is required by Monday, July 28, 2014.   Call the Extension Office at 263-9226 to register. (Cost is $10 per person.)



Turf Grass (Courtesy Univ. of Wisconsin)

Turf Grass Workshop

August 9, 2014 – 9 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. - Clubhouse at the Barn – Learn how to properly maintain a lawn.  This workshop will feature a demonstration of aeration equipment. Other topics to be covered include weed control, seeding and controlling thatch. Pre-registration is required by Monday, August 4, 2014.   Call the Extension Office at 263-9226 to register. (Cost is $10 per person.)

Blind Taste Testing (Photo: Laurie Collins)

Tomato Day - Now on a Saturday!

August 23, 2014 - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Ag Heritage Grounds- Blind taste tests on over 20 varieties of tomatoes grown by Master Gardeners. Rate the tomatoes, taste salsa recipes for  the People's Choice award, see winners of the biggest tomato and ugliest tomato contest. Free.

Angela Weathers Salsa Verde

Fall Into Gardening - Tours and Plant Sale

Perennial Garden

A new Master Gardener event this year will be on Saturday, September 6, 2014 - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. across from the Ag Heritage Center near the barn. Tours of the Master Gardener Demonstration Gardens, fall plant sale and more. Visit the drought-tolerant, perennial, herb and pollinator gardens. Stroll through the Woodland Meadow and Native Habitat area and check out the Victory Garden with a variety of vegetables and fruits as well as the new 4-H Achievement Garden. Free. Parking at the Ag Heritage Center lot.

Woodland Meadow and Native Habitat Area has paths to stroll through

The plant sale will include plants, shrubs and trees grown here in Franklin County.

Are you interested in becoming a Penn State Master Gardener?

A new class is forming soon. Contact the office at the number below.

To register for workshops or receive e-mail or regular mailings of our upcoming events, contact the Franklin County Extension Office at 717-263-9226.

  

"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" - Rain Barrel Workshop

by Carol Kagan, Master Gardener

Sat., July 12 from 9-11 join Master Gardeners to learn about the benefits of collecting roof runoff and how to make a rain barrel to catch it for use in your home and garden. Call 717-263-9226.

The workshop has two options:

Learn how to make a rain barrel and make one to take home! $40

You can't beat this price for all the material that has been purchased and labor that has been expended to prepare the pieces to assemble.

If you just want to sit in and listen, the fee is $10. But why spend your Saturday morning listening and not doing?!

Seriously. Master Gardeners have spent many hours taking the raw materials and transforming them into the pieces that can be assembled.  There are pipes, holes, and seals and more. These fit! - make and take a rain barrel.

This will be held at the barn area across from 181 Franklin Farm Road.

This is a bargain you can't pass up.

Snip Your Herbs: Use or Save for Winter

by Carol Kagan, Master Gardener



My Herb Garden July 2014

Another nice morning to work in the garden although at 7:30 am it was already a bit muggy.

Some C'munks in the Back Yard

Dale is alternating between munching on bird seed and raisins and chasing some other chipmunk around and out of the garden. I'm not quick enough with the camera to catch them running in and out of the petunias, daisies and herbs.

There seems to be a few new c'munks this year, hanging out in the back yard. Maybe they're scooting around front to munch on birdseed. We'll have to throw some out back, too.

 

The weather has been kind to the plants in my yard, providing just enough rain and warm weather. The herb bed, moved this year from the back raised bed due to black walnut contamination, is thriving.

Garden Sage

 The garden sage needed pruning so I took the opportunity to document what has become known as Maria's Drying Technique (after MG Maria G.). This is in preparation for the October 18 MG Workshop: Herbs 103: Harvesting, Preserving and Overwintering Herbs. *

Here's my first try at documenting this. The big picture is that the herbs, after washing and drying thoroughly, are wrapped in a paper towel and dried in the crisper or butter compartment of your refrigerator. This won't work with all that basil. Make pesto and freeze it.

After 2-3 weeks, the dried herbs can be removed and stored. The herbs dried with this method retain their color and do not turn that funky gray-brown like many of the air dried herbs.

Wash, dry thoroughly (Tip: Use a salad spinner to get most of the water off.), and carefully remove leaves from the stems. Place in a paper towel and fold up to a triangle. Fold the flaps in toward the center.

Fold the top triangle down past the bottom fold. Wrap the flap around to the back and tuck it in to form an envelope.

Close-up of the folded envelope

* Penn State Master Gardeners, Franklin County hold workshops all year. To register for a workshop, to get on the e-mailing or snail-mailing for information about workshops and events, call 717- 263-9226.

 

Here's a few of the upcoming workshops held at the Franklin County Ag Center, 181 Franklin Farm Rd. unless noted otherwise.

Sat, July 12:  Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head: 9-11 -Learn how to use rain barrels to store and use water in your garden. Make a rain barrel ($40) or just sit-in ($10) Deadline to register to make a rain barrel is July

Sat, August 2:  Succulents: 9-11 Learn how to grow and propagate these beautiful and nearly indestructible plants

Fun Events include

Sat, Aug 23: Tomato Tasting Day: 10-2pm Day change by popular demand!    Moved to Saturday- Open to the public. Free parking. Save the Date. Do blind taste tests of over 20 tomato varieties. Taste and vote in the Salsa Contest. See the winners of the ugliest tomato and the biggest tomato contest. Pick up some great tomato recipes. See and feed the ducks in the stream. Enjoy talking with Master Gardeners.

Sat, July 26 Summer Garden Experience: 9-1 pm -Tour the center, do tomato tasting which includes paste tomatoes this year, enjoy seminars; Speaker-Stephanie Cohen, Perennial Diva $10/carload– Located at 1446 Auction Rd Manheim, PA 17545