UPCOMING WEBINARS AND EVENTS: Penn State Extension is pleased to continue to provide quality education via a wide variety of webinars and recordings. If you have difficulty registering online for any of these live webinars, please contact Penn State Extension’s customer service team at 877-345-0691. Most of these webinars will be recorded and available for viewing at a later time, as well. Continue to search our website: extension.psu.edu for the latest offerings.
The Garden Hotline is open for the gardening season – Master Gardener volunteers will be staffing the Garden Hotline at the Extension Office, 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, through the end of September, to assist home gardeners with gardening and plant questions and problems. The Garden Hotline operates on Tuesday and Thursday of each week, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Home gardeners are welcome to stop in or call the Extension Office at 717-263-9226 to speak to a Master Gardener. The Garden Hotline can also be reached via email at franklinmg@psu.edu. Samples or photos of plants, insects, or garden problems are helpful to the Master Gardeners in assisting you with identification, diagnosis, and recommendations to solve your gardening questions. They may not always know the answer immediately, but they will take the time to research and get back to you with accurate, reliable information.
Happening Now until August 28, 2024 – Penn State Extension Master Watershed Stewards 2024 Native Tree & Shrub Fundraiser – Organizers are accepting orders through August 28th, for native trees and shrubs. Plants will be sold in 1,2 or 3 gallon pots and proceeds from the sale support watershed improvement efforts in the community. Orders can be placed online at https://extension.psu.edu/master-watershed-steward-native-tree-and-shrub-sale or by calling 1-877-345-069. All items must be preordered, plants will not be available for purchase at pickup sites. Pickup for Franklin County will be Friday, October 4, 2024, 4:00PM-6:30PM at the Penn State Extension Office – Franklin County, 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA 17202. For more information and questions, contact Natalie Marioni, Master Watershed Steward Coordinator at 717-240-6500 or nkm5342@psu.edu.
August/September – 4-H Fall Mum Fundraiser – Support local 4-H clubs and programs through your Fall Mum order. All mums must be picked up at the Franklin County Extension Office, 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg on one of the two pick up dates unless delivery is arranged between the customer and a 4-H member. Pick Up Options: Thursday, September 12th or Thursday, October 3rd between 3pm and 6pm. The Price: $8.50/ mum – or – $8.00/mum when buying 3 or more. For more information and to order online visit: https://biy.ly/3YmM6N9 or contact Quinn Martin, 4-H Educator at 717-263-9226 or qxc114@psu.edu.
Wednesday, September 4, 2024, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Home Food Preservation: Pressure Canning – Join us at the Adams County Extension Office, 670 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325 to learn more about pressure canning at home. Pressure canning is the only safe way to can low-acid foods, such as vegetables and meats. In this workshop, you will learn the science behind pressure canning recommendations, as well as the basics of using a pressure canner based on current USDA canning guidelines. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in home food preservation. Canning is one method of food preservation that allows you to enjoy seasonal foods all year long. While this method of home food preservation has existed for centuries, we have learned much about the science behind safe canning methods in recent years. The cost for this workshop is $15, to register online go to https://extension.psu.edu/home-food-preservation-pressure-canning or call 1-877-345-0691.
Tuesday, September 10 and 17, 2024, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM – ServSafe – The ServSafe Food Safety Program is being held at the Franklin County Extension Office, 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg. This training is for individuals who are serving as managers or are in a supervisory role requiring certification. Upon successful completion, participants will receive the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certificate. The cost is $165 for the 2-day training, for additional information and online registration go to https://extension.psu.edu/servsafe or call 1-877-345-0691.
Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM – Weed Walks with Extension: Pasture Weed ID and Control – Join us for an engaging Agronomic Weed Walk at the Franklin County 4-H Therapeutic Riding Center, 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA as we focused on weed identification and management in horse farm pastures. Earn recertification credits while participating in hands-on demonstrations. The two-hour workshop will take place entirely outdoors, so please dress for the weather and wear suitable shoes. The cost for this workshop is $10, to register online go to https://extension.psu.edu/weed-walks-with-extension-pasture-weed-id-and-control or call 1-877-345-0691.
Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 5:00PM – Let’s Cook Vegetarian – Learn the basics of cooking vegetarian during this hands-on cooking class. You will learn shopping and storage tips, cooking techniques, and more. Our instructors help you with hands-on recipe preparation, walking you through every step. You will be able to taste-test what you cook during the class. Join us at Franklin County Extension, 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg (lower level of Ag Heritage Building). The cost for this workshop is $30, to register online go to https://extension.psu.edu/lets-cook-vegetarian or call 1-877-345-0691.
Saturday, October 12, 2024, 1:00PM – Basic Tree Identification – Join Penn State Master Gardeners for an engaging session on tree identification. Attendees will gather at the Pavilion of Waltonian Meadows, 129 Cornertown Rd, Chambersburg, PA for a two-hour outdoor workshop. In this informative workshop, you will learn the basics of identifying native tree species using tree identification keys and plant samples. Our session includes lecture, demonstration, and hands-on practice. You’ll discover the intricacies of leaf arrangement and shapes and be guided step-by-step through the identification key. Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear footwear suitable for walking and standing on grassy terrain. The cost for this workshop is $10, for additional information and online registration go to https://extension.psu.edu/basic-tree-identification or call 1-877-345-0691.
Thursday, December 5, 2024, 5:00PM – Let’s Cook Charcuterie – Do you like to entertain? Do you want to switch up your ordinary meal routine? Let’s Cook Charcuterie Boards is for you if you answered yes to any of these questions! Charcuterie boards can make a fun family meal or can serve as a creative appetizer. Learn the basic steps to create an exciting board in this class. In this hands-on class, we invite you to practice creating condiments from scratch and putting a delicious charcuterie board together with Penn State Extension Educators. Join us at Franklin County Extension, 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg (lower level of Ag Heritage Building). The cost for this workshop is $30, to register online go to https://extension.psu.edu/lets-cook-charcuterie-boards or call 1-877-345-0691.
