Pat Simpson
Adams County Master Gardener

If you are an avid gardener like I am, you have probably been sifting through the deluge of seed and plant catalogs that have arrived in the mail and are hoping for an early spring. To help get through these last weeks of winter, why not let the Adams County Master Gardeners help you enhance your gardening skills by attending their annual Green Thumb Series during March. They will be addressing several important topics.

All of us are concerned about the use of chemical pesticides in our food sources. More and more of us are buying organic foods in the marketplace and/or are choosing to grow our own vegetables and fruits. This year the series will be highlighting organic gardening practices including the use of organic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers as well as techniques such as companion planting and insect controls.

Water conservation and our area's recent years of summer drought have been another valid concern so one of the classes will focus on water wise gardening techniques and practices. This will include choosing plants suitable to our area, maintaining good soil heath, proper fertilization, use of compost and mulches; and water saving practices like home irrigation systems and rain water collection barrels.

Have limited gardening space? Solve that problem by learning how to use window boxes and other containers to grow your herbs and flowers.

Want to attract more butterflies to your garden? Come and learn about the types of host plants and nectar plants you can grow to encourage butterfly populations to come into your garden.

And finally, let's get the kids involved! A lot of children have no idea where the food they eat comes from (other than the grocery store). Come to our special Saturday seminar and learn how to get your children involved in gardening. You say you don't have any children or they have all grown up? Well, how about grandchildren, nieces, nephews or friends? With your guidance, the kids can plan and plant a small garden of their own while having a fun and educational experience. And who knows, they may even learn to enjoy eating their vegetables.

Program cost is $5.00 per session or attend all five sessions for $20.00. Pre-registration is required. You can pick up a brochure at Adams County Extension Office at 670 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg; or call

717-334-6271 to request a brochure or to register by phone. Here is a complete schedule of classes:

Organic Gardening - Monday, March 10, 2008 6:30-8:30 p.m.

This class will introduce you to the world of organic gardening. Master Gardeners Tom and Madeline Wajda, owners of a local certified organic farm, will share their expertise and explain methods of organic gardening. Discussion will include the use of organic pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides. Master Gardener Martie Young will follow up with a discussion of how to identify good and bad insects in your garden and the control options of these common garden insects.

Gardening with Children - Saturday, March 15, 2008 10-11 a.m.

Master Gardener Marann Jones will show you how gardening with children can be a fun experience for adults and a fun hands-on learning experience for children of all ages. Without realizing it children will be learning about botany, horticulture practices and garden design. Tips will be given on starting a small vegetable garden including how to work together with your child in planning and planting that garden and the easy to grow plants and seeds you can use.

Applying Water Conservation Practices in your Garden - Monday March 17, 2008 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Presenters Suse Greenstone, Roy Thomas and Phil Peters will teach you about the truths, myths and principles of xeriscaping in your garden. They will present groups of plants that do well in our region and will tolerate our ever changing environment. Soil health, soil testing, fertilization, mulches and composting as well as home irrigation systems and rain water collection will be discussed.

Companion Planting and Culinary Container Herbs -Monday, March 24, 2008 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Master Gardener Nickie James will explain the practice of planting certain plant species, often herbs, in close association with crop plants to repel pests. Then Master Gardener Judy Bryant will address ways to grow herbs in containers. This will be especially helpful for those of you who have limited gardening space. Judy will discuss different culinary herbs suitable for containers.

Think Inside the Window Box and Gardening to Attract Butterflies -Monday, March 31, 2008 6:30 -8:30 p.m.

During this session you will learn about selection of plants and design of window boxes. Master Gardener Nancy Gmeiner will demonstrate how to plant and maintain window boxes and will discuss suitable plant combinations you can use during the different seasons of the year. Master Gardener Nickie James will follow up by teaching you how to attract butterflies to your garden by planting host plants for the larvae and nectar plants to supply the food needed to keep a continuous succession of new visitors to your garden.