THE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM

Penn State Cooperative Extension adopted the Master Gardener program in 1982. Currently, there are 3000 volunteers within 58 of Pennsylvania's counties. Volunteer service is coordinated at the county level by extension educators, horticulture assistants or volunteers.

The Service is provided by Master Gardeners to groups, organizations and individuals. As a volunteer association, our primary goal is to share gardening knowledge and skills with the public whether by speaking to your organization or to you as an individual.

Neighbors teaching neighbors about:

Master Gardeners of Greene County, 2003
The Penn State Master Gardeners of Greene County have been in existence since the first group of five began their classes in the fall of 1991. Since that time the membership has continued to contribute many hours of service to the community. Over the years there have been projects done by the group as well as by individuals.

The year 2003 was a busy one. The first project was done in conjunction with the Cancer Coalition. It was the Get Growing Dessert Party at the First Baptist Church. Master Gardeners presented demonstrations on starting plants from seed and planting in interesting containers. There was also a display about gardening for perusal and Penn State provided a program on insecticides.

As spring arrived a few Master Gardeners assisted in the planting of the flower baskets on High Street. A seminar on bulbs and composting was held at Little Greene Apples Farm Market and a seminar on container gardening was given at Waynesburg Agway Service. Master Gardeners presented the Tiny Tim Tomato program at area libraries in preparation for the summer growing season. There was an in-depth class on composting at the fairgrounds.

The Master Gardeners raised their new tent on High Street in July when they presented information on composting and other gardening subjects for Rain Day. They were the proud owners of the tent and a banner purchased with funds they had received from the state in conjunction with their many composting activities.

The next group project was a booth at the Greene County Fair. Here the Master Gardeners were available to answer gardening questions and encouraged fair goers to name the plants in the display.

The final project of the year was a booth at the Harvest Festival at the Greene County Museum. Children were encouraged to participate in an interactive story that involved them in the sounds and costuming of the story. Classes were given for creating a large fall topiary display.

The Master Gardeners are available and eager to provide programs on gardening to groups who make requests through the Greene County Extension Office. Gardening questions can also be forwarded to them through the office.

For more information contact:

Greene County Cooperative Extension
26 West High Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
Phone: 724-627-3745
Fax: 724-852-4318
E-mail: greeneext@psu.edu