Becoming a Adams' Master Gardener

The Master Gardener program began in Adams County in 1990, with two Master Gardeners supporting the program. It is now 62 people strong! As a Penn State Master Gardener, volunteers commit their time and knowledge to assist Penn State Cooperative Extension in educating groups as well as individuals on proper horticultural practices. They have been trained to share their gardening knowledge with county residents under the direction of Penn State Cooperative Extension.

There's great pride and community service involved when becoming a Master Gardener.

What is a rain garden? How do I construct a rain barrel? What in the world is vermicomposting?

These are among the questions that will be answered by Adams County Master Gardeners at the annual Green Thumb Seminar on Saturday, May 9, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. This year the seminar is being held in conjunction with the yearly Master Gardener Perennial Sale at the Agricultural and Natural Resources Center in Gettysburg.

Three presentations are scheduled: water conservation in the garden; rain water reserve practices in the garden; and an alternative composting technique called vermicomposting or worm composting. Here is the schedule, so you can plan to attend these interesting sessions.

9:00 a.m. Water Conservation in the Garden

Summer droughts are becoming more frequent and the price of water is rising, so gardeners are looking for ways to make a little water go a long way. This presentation will show you how to establish watering priorities. It will teach some watering techniques that help you conserve water, thereby helping the environment and, hopefully, your pocketbook.

10:00 a.m. Rain Gardens

As gardeners we are becoming more concerned every day with clean waterways, water infiltration, and keeping water in our reserves instead of running downstream. During this class, you will learn about the role a rain garden can play in your yard, how to construct it, and what plants you would choose for that purpose.

11:00 a.m. Vermicomposting

Many gardeners who have compost bins in the garden are only fair-weather composters, including this instructor. With a compost bin 200 feet from your house, a special trip with potato peels in the middle of January doesn't hold much allure. An alternative is worm composting, which can take place in your basement using the same kitchen scraps you toss into your outdoor compost bin. Worm compost is a magical potion you can spread in your garden to provide nutrients and improve your soil's water retention. Learn how simple it is to raise worms and give a boost to your garden! We will be providing worm bins and worms for start-up.

The registration fee of $8.00 covers all three workshops and start-up worm bins and worms. Pre-registration is required. You can pick up a registration brochure at Adams County Extension Office, 670 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg; or call 334-6271 to register by phone.

Perennial Plant Sale

The annual Master Gardener Perennial Sale will be in progress during the Green Thumb Seminar. Participants can take advantage of the breaks between presentations to shop for new and old varieties of perennials, reasonably priced and ready to plant. The Perennial Sale will also be open for business on Friday, May 8th from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Master Gardeners will be on hand both days to answer your perennial or other gardening questions.

Other upcoming Master Gardener events include the ever popular Composting Classes which include the black bins from D.E.P. Learn the ins and outs of composting to make your own top-notch organic matter which is essential to the health of plants, forests and meadows. These workshops are free and include one composting bin for each family. These classes will be held on the following dates:

• Wednesday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m.
• Friday, May 22 at 10:00 a.m.
• Saturday, May 23 at 10:00 a.m.