Harvest Gatherings

On September 11, 2010, from 9 am – 12 noon, Master Gardeners of Adams County will be sponsoring a morning series of gardening classes. At the Agricultural and Natural Resources Center, 670 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg, Harvest Gatherings will be featuring Michelle Oaks of Hauser Estate Winery as our keynote speaker. As more and more wineries pop up across south central PA, interest in winemaking for has begun to increase in our region. Michelle will be talking to us about the process of making fine wines in Pennsylvania. She will also focus on the importance of precision viticulture and wine as a tool for preserving farmland.

In addition to our keynote speaker, we are offering break-out sessions that include topics of interest to gardeners. The first two sessions, beginning at 9 am, will include Master Gardener Phil Peters and Master Gardener Coordinator, Mary Ann Ryan. As many, or dare I say, most, gardeners are artists as well, photography often is an additional outlet for us – to hewn in on our skills and preserve our gardens on film. Phil will be showing us how to use a point and shoot camera to photograph your garden and the creatures that inhabit it. He will introduce accessories that will help you get the shot and how to use them. The talk will present some photography basics to help you get better garden photos.

As we enter the fall months, gardening presents many opportunities as well as gardening chores that can be addressed during the cooler days and evenings. Often after the hot summer, many gardeners are re-energized when the temperatures drop and more rain begins to fall. Mary Ann will talk to you about how to put your garden to bed for the winter as well as taking advantage of the opportunities the cool weather presents. From perennial care to shrub and tree care and planting, learn about the steps you should take for a healthy and beautiful fall and winter garden.

The next break-out sessions, beginning at 11:00 am, Regional Extension Educator, Steve Bogash, will be talking to us about season extenders. He will be focusing on the opportunities we have to extend our vegetable crop well into the fall, when most crops have already been harvested and died for the year. Steve is a regional Extension Educator working with commercial vegetable growers to help them with good and smart practices to grow economically valuable and healthy vegetables.

Another class option at this time is to attend the session on End of Season Recipes. Master Gardener Madeline Wajda will be demonstrating some recipes for using the end-of-the-season abundance in your garden. Madeline, along with her husband, Tom, own and operate a local herb farm, Willow Pond Farms. Her practiced recipes and cooking expertise are well known is our area. Recipes will be available.

This intensive series is an opportunity you don’t want to miss. At a cost of $10.00, you will learn so much about fall gardening opportunities that you will want to leave here and find your shovel immediately and begin utilizing your newly learned knowledge in your own garden. Please join us for a fantastic learning experience!

Register at Penn State Cooperative Extension, 670 Old Harrisburg Road, Suite 204, Gettysburg, PA, or call 717-334-6271, or email cah21@psu.edu. Registration fee of $10.00 is necessary to assure your spot in the classes. Checks can be made payable to PSCE Program Funds, or use your credit card for quick and easy payment. Registration deadline is September 6, and registrations will not be taken at the door, so contact Penn State Cooperative Extension, Adams County now to guarantee your spot!