For the week of August 24, 2026
https://extension.psu.edu/franklin
UPCOMING WEBINARS AND EVENTS: Penn State Extension is pleased to continue providing quality education via various webinars and recordings. If you have difficulty registering online for these live webinars, please contact Penn State Extension’s customer service team at
1-877-345-0691. Most of these webinars will be recorded and available for later viewing as well. Continue searching our website, extension.psu.edu, for the latest offerings.
Master Gardener Hotline is open for the gardening season. Master Gardener volunteers will staff the Hotline at the Penn State – Franklin County Extension office, 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA, from April 7 through the end of September, assisting home gardeners with gardening questions and problems. The Garden Hotline will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays 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 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.
Wednesday, September 2, 2026, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Free Pressure Canner Dial Gauge Testing – Penn State Extension is offering free canner lid testing on the first and third Wednesdays of every month from 10 AM to 1:00 PM at the Franklin County Extension Office, located at 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA. There’s no need to bring your entire canner; just bring the lid. No sign-up is required. If you can’t attend on these dates, you can drop off your canner lid and pick it up later. A Master Preserver will be on staff to answer questions and provide guidance on safe canning practices. If you have questions, please contact the Extension Office at 717-263-9226.
Monday, August 31, 2026. 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Home Food Preservation: Tomatoes and Salsa – Join us for a hands-on workshop that explores the science behind today’s safest and most effective preservation methods. Our experts will guide you through canning, freezing, and drying techniques for tomatoes and salsa while debunking common myths and outdated practices. Whether you are new to food preservation or refining your skills, this two-hour session offers practical guidance to help you safely enjoy your homemade goods year-round. The cost for this workshop is $15 and will be held at the Penn State Extension Franklin County, 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg. For more information and to register online for this workshop, visit https://extension.psu.edu/home-food-preservation-tomatoes-and-salsa or call 1-877-345-0691.
Wednesday, September 2, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Proper Native Tree Planting for Long-Term Success Webinar – Set your native trees and shrubs up for success with expert guidance on site selection, planting techniques, and post-planting care. The long-term success of newly planted trees depends on more than proper planting techniques. Site selection and follow-up care play critical roles in establishing healthy, resilient trees and shrubs. The Master Watershed Steward Program hosts a webinar featuring a Community Tree Specialist from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry who will share guidance on selecting appropriate planting locations based on site conditions and planting area size. Participants will explore best practices for planting and caring for trees, with a focus on container trees and the species featured in the 2026 Master Watershed Steward Watershed-Friendly Native Tree and Shrub Fundraiser Sale (https://extension.psu.edu/watershed-friendly-tree-and-shrub-fundraiser-sale). Those who purchase a tree through the annual native tree and shrub fundraiser will receive a $5 coupon code for complimentary access to the webinar. To register for this webinar, go to https://extension.psu.edu/proper-native-tree-planting-for-long-term-success or call 1-877-345-0691.
Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM – “Hidden Canopies: Exploring Underutilized Trees and Shrubs” Webinar – Explore the “hidden canopies” of underutilized trees and shrubs in this engaging webinar with Dr. Beth Brantley, research scientist and plant pathologist at the Bartlett Tree Research Lab. Discover how lesser-known woody species can enhance resilience, biodiversity, and sustainability in managed and natural landscapes. Learn practical strategies for selecting and integrating these plants into diversified production systems, with insights on food potential, pollinator support, climate adaptation, and multifunctional design. Ideal for professionals in horticulture, agriculture, and conservation, this session will expand your plant palette and inspire new approaches to landscape management. This webinar is offered at no cost. A $10 registration fee is required to receive International Society of Arboriculture and Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association credits. For more information and to register online, please visit https://extension.psu.edu/hidden-canopies-exploring-underutilized-trees-and-shrubs.
Saturday, September 12, 2026, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Fall Garden Day – Join the Penn State Master Gardeners of Franklin County for a FREE Fall Garden Day event on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 9 am to 12 pm, at their Demonstration Gardens located at 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA, 17202. There will be a fall plant sale featuring a selection of native trees, shrubs, and perennials. Only cash or check payments are accepted at this sale. There will be a Garden Hotline information booth, free activities at some gardens, and several free information presentations in the morning. Plans for the day include self-guided tours of our Herb, Perennial, Pollinator-Friendly, Drought-Tolerant, Victory (vegetable), and Woodland Gardens. The public is invited to visit the Demonstration Gardens from dawn to dusk during the year. If you have any additional questions about the Penn State Master Gardeners and their Demonstration Gardens in Franklin County, please call the Extension office at 717-263-9226.
Thursday, September 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Let’s Cook Mediterranean – Join us for a tasty trip to the Mediterranean! In this hands-on cooking class, you’ll create and enjoy an authentic Mediterranean meal that’s healthy and delicious. 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. What are you waiting for? Let’s Cook with Extension! The cost for this workshop is $30 and will be held at the Penn State Extension Office, 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, PA. For more information and to register online for this workshop, visit https://extension.psu.edu/lets-cook-mediterranean or call 1-877-345-0691.
Friday, September 18, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Community Science Tool to Track Stream Health Webinar– Is your stream healthy? Would you like to explore it more closely or monitor changes over time? Have you recently taken steps to improve your stream and now want to measure the results? The First Investigation of Stream Health (FISH) tool is a fun and easy way for individuals, families, volunteer groups, youth, and adults to explore a stream and share their findings with the scientific community. Join us for an introduction to the new and improved mobile app, online reporting tool, and paper data sheets. To register for this FREE webinar, go to https://extension.psu.edu/community-science-tool-to-track-stream-health-webinar or call 1-877-345-0691.
Saturday, October 3, 2026, 1:00 PM -4:00 PM – Basic Tree Identification – Join Penn State Master Gardeners of Franklin County for an engaging session on tree identification. Attendees will gather at the Pavilion of Waltonian Meadows, 129 Cornertown Rd, Chambersburg, PA, for a three-hour outdoor workshop. In this informative workshop, participants will learn to recognize key characteristics for identifying trees and shrubs by observing live plants, using visual aids, and practicing with identification keys. 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 https://extension.psu.edu/basic-tree-identification or call 1-877-345-0691.
Monday, October 5, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Home Food Preservation: Wild Game – This workshop will explain the scientific reasoning behind today’s recommended methods for preserving wild game while dispelling food preservation myths and unsafe practices of the past. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in home food preservation. Canning, freezing, and drying are preservation methods that let you enjoy the fruits of your hunt year-round. While these home food preservation methods have existed for centuries, we have learned a lot about the science behind these practices in recent years. The cost for this workshop is $15 and will be held at the Penn State Extension Franklin County, 181 Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg. For more information and to register online for this workshop, visit https://extension.psu.edu/home-food-preservation-wild-game or call 1-877-345-0691.
Monday, October 6, 2026, 12:00 to 1:30 pm- “Stop the Rot: Combating Onion Bacterial Diseases” Webinar – Join this session for an inside look at “Stop the Rot,” a six-year research project focused on understanding and managing bacterial diseases of onion. Lindsey du Toit, chair of the Department of Plant Pathology at Washington State University, will discuss how a nationwide team of scientists identified key pathogens, documented copper-tolerant strains, and developed practical strategies to reduce losses from bacterial bulb rots. Participants will gain insight into how these findings apply to growers, gardeners, and others interested in plant disease management, with relevance extending to additional bacterial plant diseases. This webinar is offered at no cost. A $10 registration fee is required to receive PA pesticide recertification credits. For more information and to register online, please visit https://extension.psu.edu/stop-the-rot-combating-onion-bacterial-diseases.
Wednesday, October 7 and 14, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM – “Decay Demystified: Understanding Mushrooms and Tree Decay” Webinar Series – Dig into the fascinating world of mushrooms in this two-part webinar series. Learn to distinguish fungi that harm living trees from those that recycle dead organic matter and build healthy soil. Using real mushroom samples, participants will explore key features and identification techniques for major fungal groups while examining the ecological roles of fungi, including beneficial and parasitic relationships with trees. Participants will gain practical skills for spotting decay pathogens, assessing tree health, and using reliable resources for accurate mushroom identification. The registration fee is $20 for this webinar series. International Society of Arboriculture, Society of American Foresters, and Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association credits are available. For more information and to register online, please visit https://extension.psu.edu/decay-demystified-understanding-mushrooms-and-tree-decay
