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Master Gardeners have been presenting educational programs to the general public though the Backyard Gardening Lectures since 2003. These programs are offered at numerous sites throughout Allegheny County and address a variety of gardening topics from basic gardening skills to native plants to preserving the harvest. Dates, locations and registration information for the 2012 Spring Series are now available.

Western Pennsylvania is fortunate to have an abundance of family farms, entrepreneurial growers, market gardeners and value added producers who work to fill the increasing demand for locally produced food. These individuals bring a delicious diversity of products to our restaurant and home tables. Even in the doldrums of winter, daydreams about the first tender shoots of asparagus, fresh eggs with saffron-colored yolks and tasty spring greens are beginning to crowd the imagination. Don’t ignore your yearnings, celebrate spring with chef demos and find the finest, freshest local food Western Pennsylvania has to offer. If you grow food, cook food, or eat food this event is for you!

On Saturday, December 17th, Allegheny County Extension staff and Master Gardeners joined a enthusiastic crew of 15 community members in planting 2,200 daffodil bulbs along the 800 block of Rebecca Street in Wilkinsburg.

What do two Carnegie Mellon MBA graduates, a lawyer, a corporate pilot, a Penn State University communications professor, a Duquesne University professor of occupational therapy, a state wildlife biologist, an architect and the Penn State extension director have in common? Answer….. A shared vision to promote beekeeping as a vital part of sustainable agriculture in Pittsburgh and to establish this country’s first community apiary.

On Thursday, December 8th, 90 plus attendees gathered in the lecture hall of the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium for the first ever Regional Food Policy Council Symposium. This unique event was hosted by the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council (PFPC) which is comprised of diverse stakeholders, all employed in various sectors of the local food “arena”. The goal of the symposium was “Working Together to Strengthen Our Food Systems” with presenters sharing their past experiences and exploring aspects of forming, refining and implementing outreach activities that have been effective in addressing issues in their local food system.

The Demonstration Gardens at the intersection of Corrigan Drive and McConkey Road in South Park recently received the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s prestigious 2011 Community Greening Award. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society recognizes greening and beautification efforts in communities throughout Pennsylvania. Nominated sites are evaluated on plant variety, design, use of space, and horticultural practices. The judges remarked, “This garden gets top honors for its educational component. Penn State Extension has done an extraordinary job educating the public by labeling each and every plant. A mailbox planted in the garden holds more detailed information on each variety.”

Learning that you have diabetes can be overwhelming. There are many new dietary and cooking components to incorporate into your life. It can be difficult to know where to start. Dining with Diabetes, a program offered by Penn State Cooperative Extension, will help you master the life style changes you need to manage your diabetes.

Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County plant and maintain demonstration gardens in both North and South Parks. The primary purpose of the display beds is to showcase plants that perform well in local soils and climate with minimal maintenance. The plants are evaluated during the growing season and rated on a scale from 1 to 5. A rating of 1 indicates that the plant did not perform well and may have succumbed to death due to environmental, insect or disease problems. Plants that earned a score of 5 are considered outstanding performers. They bloomed throughout the summer until frost. They were not damaged by either insects or diseases, and tolerated fluctuations in temperature, as well as excessive spring and late summer rain. All plants are deer resistant, unless otherwise noted.

It’s that time of year when plans are in progress for the upcoming holiday feasts. If you are the cook, here are a few tips to ensure a safe, delicious meal.

Last March the University of Pittsburgh's Office of Child Development (OCD) sponsored an Environmental Resources Fair bringing together local family support centers with staff from a variety of environmentally friendly organizations. For Suzanne Rubiano, a registered nurse from Family Care Connection Center (FCC) in Lawrenceville, this was the beginning of a rewarding collaborative effort that culminated with the installation of an urban "Tranquility Garden" behind the FCC at 5235 Butler Street.

Want to sway to the music of a solar powered DJ or zero in on the latest sustainable practices, Hartwood Acres was the place to be this past Saturday, for Allegheny County's Green and Innovation Festival.

Saturday, August 20th was a perfect day for enjoying the tastes, sights and activities associated with Garden in the Parks Field Day. An annual celebration at the North and South Park Demonstration Gardens, the day’s activities are planned and staffed by the dedicated Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County. The 2011 committee did not disappoint, even with two locations to prepare, they were ready!

4-H members compete in county horse show, with opportunity to advance to district and state shows.

Penn State Extension of Allegheny County and Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens co-sponsored the 2011 Short Course: A Complete Guide to Growing, Planting and Managing Trees with Dr. Ed Gilman on July 19, 2011. Dr. Gilman is Professor of Urban Trees & Landscape Plants at the University of Florida. His research focuses on nursery production and landscape establishment of trees.

Heather Mikulas, Extension’s Program Associate for Community Based Agriculture, is the current chairperson for the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council. The council, founded in 2009, engages with communities in the Pittsburgh “foodshed” to improve the food systems in this area.

Held at O’Hara Elementary School, in the Fox Chapel School District, on Thursday, July 7th, this daylong program focused on managing lawns, athletic fields and ornamental plantings with little or no pesticide use.

Bring the kids, and your gardening questions, and join the Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County on Saturday, August 20th from 9am to 1pm for our annual field day of fun and educational activities.

The evolution of the existing planters in Allegheny County Courthouse Courtyard began in 2009 when these four raised beds were retrofitted and converted into rain gardens.

On Thursday, March 10, 2011 the second annual Local Food Showcase (LFS) brought together a dedicated group of Western PA “Foodies”.

On June 3, first graders from the Frick Charter Environmental School visited the community apiary in Homewood.