Over the years you have seen articles in the GreeneScene written by Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Greene County. All articles were research based on a variety of gardening topics. As the Coordinator for Greene County, I recently asked the Master Gardeners to tell me how they feel about the projects we have. Here are some of the answers:
Poison Prevention Program – Master Gardeners work with the Penn State Pesticide Department to help our schools meet their requirement for an educational program. They go to the first-grade classes and teach about household poisons, hazardous substances and the proper way to label them with Mr. Yuk stickers. Students learn what pests are! We sometimes follow up with a craft to reinforce the lesson. This year, Jefferson, Bobtown, Carmichaels, Open Door Christian, West Greene and the Intermediate Unit participated.
The Spring Wildflower Walk along the Greene River Trail allows participants to learn and interact with nature, learning and appreciating our early native flowers and pollinators.
Our Demonstration Gardens at the Greene County Fairgrounds have a variety of native species that are available to the home garden.
Each year the Intermediate Unit has a fair, and the Master Gardeners work with the school to provide an educational experience for the special needs students. Students get actively involved in our projects.
Teaching children about growing beans at Krystal’s Child Care Center
The Tomato Giveaway began during Covid, when we were not able to teach kids about tomatoes. All the tomato plants we grew were taken to Corner Cupboard food distribution sites and offered to people who were picking up their boxes. This is now in its 5th year, and participants look forward to getting a tomato plant.
Our “Cabin Fever Escape” Spring Gardening Seminar is held each March at the Fairgrounds. It is a low cost ($10) workshop with three different topics related to gardening. The Master Gardeners work to put together presentations on topics that were suggested in the previous year’s evaluations. There has been a large range of topics over the years, with each Master Gardener having different interests in gardening.
The Farm and Garden Show-Sale was started at the fairgrounds last year. It will be bigger and better this year. Our Master Gardeners will have an educational display and free seeds.
Years ago, we met with Candace Weber from the Corner Cupboard Foodbank who was dreaming of having a garden at the foodbank to supplement the supplies they had for distribution. Waynesburg University students created raised beds, and the Master Gardeners went to work, providing over 200 lbs. of additional produce each year. We feel good about providing our neighbors with fresh, naturally grown healthy produce.
The Greene County Fair is always a time of creativity. We use the theme of the fair to create an educational display. Last year we cut over 400 leaves to make a large oak tree and listed names of those who influence our gardening ambitions. Working with the Farm Bureau Women on kids’ night, children planted an acorn to take home with growing instructions.
At the Jacktown Fair, the Master Gardeners had three evenings of activities, a bee talk, a children’s craft and an evening of spinning a wheel to identify insects.
“Tiny Tim” is a project where children learn about tomato plants and are given one to take home. Master Gardeners grow tomato seedlings. These are usually held at Bowlby Library and Flenniken Library.
For the last five years we have been participating with Bowlby Library and The Corner Cupboard Foodbank to conduct “Seed to Supper” classes. Participants learn how to plan, plant and harvest a garden. The last class is using your produce to create meals.
Planting the Community Garden at Corner Cupboard Foodbank
As the Mt. Morris Community Center continues to grow, we have held two programs. Seed starting allowed us to work with members and answer questions. A winter Sowing Project allowed us to teach the difference between planting annual seed versus those seed for perennials which require a cold period.
Last fall we participated in the Halloween Party at the Fairgrounds. We created a spinning wheel, and kids would spin then try to identify different Pennsylvania tree leaves. Of course, the Master Gardeners were in costume.
Each Master Gardener seems to have an area they enjoy more than others. They love watching their seeds grow and produce. They get involved and are proud of what they are doing.
So, if any of this interest you and you would like to give back to our community by educating and volunteering as a Master Gardener, our program is accepting applications for residents to enroll in our 2026 – 2027 Basic Training classes.
This is not a garden club; it is a 40-week course taught by Penn State educators.
Online weekly classes start in October 2026. They will be held on Thursday evenings via Zoom with Penn State Faculty. Should you miss the class, recordings will be available. Participants will then meet in person monthly. We will also do hands-on activities for some of the classes.
The class costs $275 and includes an award-winning Master Gardener Manual and hands-on materials.
After completing the class training, candidates must complete 50 hours of volunteer work by September 30th, 2027, to become certified. Each year following the original certification, 20 hours of volunteer activities and 10 hours of continuing education are required to maintain certification.
You must be 18 years of age or older. If interested, please contact the Penn State Extension office at 724-802-8025 or email Cheryl Brendel at ckb5569@psu.edu. If you go to the Penn State Master Gardener Website, under counties and how to become a Master Gardener, there is a link to do an application online. Applications will be accepted until September 25th.
