Upcoming Events

Gardening programs presented by the Penn State Master Gardeners of Delaware County.

How toos of production for new and aspiring organic vegetable farmers.

Penn State Extension has nine spring twilight meetings planned for tree fruit growers throughout Pennsylvania. The meetings are held in local orchards. Extension fruit specialists will be on hand to address the pest management and horticultural challenges of the 2013 growing season. Participants also benefit from seeing “how it’s done” at another local orchard in their area. There is no better learning opportunity than to be in the orchard early in the season with Extension specialists and seasoned growers who have committed their careers to studying and growing tree fruit. Directions From Kutztown 737 North/ Krumsville Rd (8 mi) Right Wessnersville Rd (0.6 mi) Left Red Church (360 ft) Immediate Right to stay on Red Church Destination on Right From I-78 Take exit 40 737 North (3.6 mi) Right Wessnersville Rd (0.6 mi) Left Red Church (360 ft) Immediate Right to stay on Red Church Destination on Right

K2 C2 14 Technology and Interactive Media in the Early Childhood Classroom

Diabetes Management: * Diabetes 101 covers basic diabetes information and terminology * Staying Healthy-provides convenient tips for eating healthy and staying active. Light refreshments will be served.

Class Date for Certification and Recertification: June 3, 2013; Exam for Certification Only: June 10, 2013 at 9:00 AM; Registration Deadline: May 29, 2013

Exam starts at 4:00 PM; Registration Deadline: May 27, 2013

The popular Penn State Extension Food Home Food Preservation hands-on workshops are a great way to learn the basics of home food preservation.

The popular Penn State Extension Food Home Food Preservation hands-on workshops are a great way to learn the basics of home food preservation.

Penn State Extension’s Food for Profit workshop takes you step-by-step through the information necessary to start and run a small food-product business, especially directed to individuals who will be making and packing their products for resale (through grocery stores, farm markets, or restaurants).

K4 C2 41 Child Observation Level 2 - Unit 5: Using Observation to Create Responsive School-Age Environments & Activities

Calling all Early Education Directors! Please join us for an informative day of training, featuring two engaging sessions, plus a lunchtime speaker.

A unique opportunity for participants to follow the same soybean stand during the growing season—from shortly after emergence to canopy closure.

Penn State Extension Master Gardener Second Saturday Series presents Elizabeth Belk a horticulturist at Wyck House and Garden in Philadelphia is responsible for the care and propagation of over 70 cultivars of old roses at Wyck. Join her as she discusses the most fragrant roses at Wyck, their history, and care and use in the home garden. 9:30AM Registration 10:00 Workshop $10.00 Registration fee Online registration : http://agsci.psu.edu/second-saturday/philadelphia

The Second Saturday Gardening Series is a series of gardening workshops presented by the Penn State Master Gardeners in Philadelphia County held on the second Saturday of each month through November. The workshops are presented to the general public and gardening enthusiasts on a variety of gardening topics. The topic for June 8, 2013 is "Old Roses and Fragrances." Elizabeth Belk, a horticulturist at Wyck House and Garden in Philadelphia, is responsible for the care and propagation of over 70 cultivars of old roses at Wyck. Join her as she discusses the most fragrant roses at Wyck, their history, and care and the use in the home garden.

The ServSafe® Certification and Home Study Course dates are June 10, & 17th from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and the exam is June 24th from 9:00 until 12 noon.

Event showcases how dairy producers can adapt “tall grazing” concepts to their farm and maintain forage quality and production.

Dining with Diabetes is a program for adults with diabetes and their families that will increase knowledge of healthy food choices and diabetes management. The classes offer healthy meal planning, cooking demonstrations, and hands-on food preparation, class discussions, and new physical activity choices.

Social media tools are an exciting way to enhance your farm business's marketing activities, allowing you, the owner, or manager, to connect directly with your audience. While a social media presence is almost expected of many businesses, many owners struggle with how to use the various tools to connect.

Weeds are dependable pests—you can count on them showing up and usually have to deal with them year after year. Is your weed management plan effective? This workshop will include hands-on identification of weeds in landscape and turf and in-depth classroom discussion about management options. Our tune-up session starts with a weed identification walk where you’ll learn key features to help you recognize weeds. That walk is followed by an update on management options for specific landscape situations. We’ll talk over the latest strategies for weeds in landscape beds and turf. All in time for summer and fall weed season.

Class Dates: June 17 and 19, 2013; Exam: June 19, 2013, at 1:00 PM; Registration Deadline: June 13, 2013

High Tunnels provide a great opportunity to extend the season, protect high value crops, improve quality, and reduce weed and pest pressure. As a follow up to our High Tunnel School these twilight meetings will give you a chance to talk with growers and see good practices in action. At each twilight the grower will discuss their experiences with high tunnels and a visiting speaker will share knowledge on a special topic.

The morning session includes an idea exchange for sustainable landscape practices. The afternoon session features scouting for woody ornamental insects and diseases with Penn State experts Gary Moorman and Greg Hoover.

Your customers love the color perennial flowering plants add to their landscapes. Learning about herbaceous perennials will help you choose the right plants to thrive in the site, group them attractively, and provide four seasons of interest in your jobs. In this full-day class, Penn State horticulture professor Dr. David Sanford will cover popular perennials for landscape jobs. He will concentrate on rugged plants that are reliable performers, have few pest problems and are available in the trade. We will meet in the auditorium for the morning session to see pictures of the plants and discuss their habits and culture. Plan to spend approximately half of the class time outdoors looking at perennials in the demonstration beds surrounding the Berks County Agricultural Center. Come prepared for the weather. Add some new perennials to the palate that you offer your customers.

Perennial plants fill in garden spaces with color, interesting textures and a display that changes throughout the year. There are so many to choose from it can be a little daunting to decide which ones to invest in! Knowing more about perennials will help you know which plants might thrive in your garden, when they bloom, how many seasons of interest they provide, and how to group them to compliment the design of your garden. Whether you are just starting to discover wonderful cultivars or you want to fill in around your existing favorites, please consider joining us for a day of learning about a great group of plants!

Dinner/discussion meeting will feature Sam Learner and Bob English, Roach Ag Marketing, Ltd. and Bill Kirk, CEO and co-founder of Weather Trends International

Exam starts at 4:00 PM; Registration Deadline: June 24, 2013

A garden pond or water feature can enhance your garden, provide new environments for growing plants, and attract beneficial animals. Constructing a water feature need not be a costly and complex effort and will bring years of enjoyment. Learn how to plan and build a pond, stream, or fountain for your garden with minimal expense and effort. Sandy Grimwade is a Penn State Extension Philadelphia Master Gardener, a member of the Delaware Valley Water Garden Society, and a keen "ponder". 9:30AM Registration 10:00 Workshop $10.00 Registration fee online registration available at http://agsci.psu.edu/second-saturday/philadelphia

The Second Saturday Gardening Series is a series of gardening workshops presented by the Penn State Master Gardeners in Philadelphia County held on the second Saturday of each month through November. The workshops are presented to the general public and gardening enthusiasts on a variety of gardening topics. The topic for July 13, 2013 is "Do-It-Yourself Garden Ponds and Water Features." Sandy Grimwade, a Penn State Master Gardener in Philadelphia County and “keen ponder," will teach you how to plan and build a pond, stream or fountain for your garden with minimal expense and effort. Constructing a water feature will enhance your garden, whether large or small, and bring you years of enjoyment.

The purpose of this class is to prepare for the Pennsylvania certified pesticide applicator exams in Core and Categories 06 (Ornamental and Shade Tree), 07 (Lawn and Turf), and 23 (Parks and Schools Pest Control). Students should attend three or four days of training, depending on the license(s) they wish to obtain. Core training is held on July 16 and 18, and is required for all licenses. See the section on the Summary page of the registration website titled "What Days of Training Should I Attend?" to determine when you will need to attend class. Testing is conducted by the PA Department of Agriculture after completion of the class and requires additional fees. Class Dates: July 16, 18, 19, 23, 2013 (9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) Optional Exam Date: July 25, 2013 (9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)

Experience the Academy After Dark. Enjoy interactive activities and meet some of our live animals--all with the guidance of the Academy's experienced naturalists!

The shift to Philadelphia gives the show something it’s never had before: opportunities for socializing in a richly diverse cultural and historic urban hub.

Exam starts at 4:00 PM; Registration Deadline: July 29, 2013

Class Date for Certification and Recertification: August 5, 2013; Exam for Certification Only: August 12, 2013 at 9:00 AM; Registration Deadline: July 31, 2013

The Second Saturday Gardening Series is a series of gardening workshops presented by the Penn State Master Gardeners in Philadelphia County held on the second Saturday of each month through November. The workshops are presented to the general public and gardening enthusiasts on a variety of gardening topics. The topic for August 10, 2013 is "Culinary Herbs: Fragrant, Flavorful, and Festive Foods." Linda Grimwade, a Penn State Master Gardener in Philadelphia County, will show how to grow herbs from seed and preserve them by drying or freezing. Participants will also have an opportunity to contrast and compare the fragrance and flavor of herbs, and use fresh herbs in recipes.

Linda Grimwade a Philadelphia Extension Master Gardener will show how to grow herbs from seed and preserve them by drying or freezing. Participants will also have an opportunity to contrast and compare the fragrance and flavor of herbs, and use fresh herbs in recipes. Fairmount Park Horticultural Center N. Horticultural and Montgomery Drive Philadelphia, Pa.19131 9:30AM Registration 10:00 Workshop $10.00 Registration fee Online registration at http://agsci.psu.edu/second-saturday/philadelphia

Class Dates: August 13 and 20, 2013; Registration Deadline: August 9, 2013

Class Date: August 14, 2013; Registration Deadline: August 9, 2013

Pest identification and management for turf and landscape professionals.

Exam starts at 4:00 PM; Registration Deadline: September 2, 2013

Instruction covers fundamentals of HACCP with application in meat and poultry processing operations. The course provides participants with hands-on experience in developing a HACCP plan. Taught by instructors certified by the International HACCP Alliance with extensive experience in food safety training. Meets USDA requirements for HACCP training for fresh and further-processed meat and poultry processors. The dates and times for this event are September 10, 2013 - 10:00 AM-5:00 PM; September 11, 2013 - 8:00 AM-5:00 PM; and, September 12, 2013 - 8:00 AM-12:00 PM

Is your local organization struggling to stay productive? Is membership falling? Are you challenged to find or manage resources? Does the group feel like it is going in too many directions, or maybe no direction at all? Six Steps to a Highly Effective Organization works with a leadership team from your organization to identify and develop concrete steps to increase effectiveness. Six monthly workshops will focus on how your organization operates: leadership, structure and committee roles, decision-making and resource management and much more.

ONE-DAY WORKSHOP FOR THE HOME GARDENER - Topics include: Raising Monarchs - Get the Digs on Dirt - A Day in the Fall, Setting the Stage for the Birds - Description of Plants in Murder and Mayhem - Gardening for EVERY BODY - Native Alternatives to Invasive Garden Plants - Insects - Cast a Leaf - The Healing Garden - What's Happening in My Garden? - Vegetable Gardening from November to January

The Second Saturday Gardening Series is a series of gardening workshops presented by the Penn State Master Gardeners in Philadelphia County held on the second Saturday of each month through November. The workshops are presented to the general public and gardening enthusiasts on a variety of gardening topics. The topic for September 14, 2013 is "Organic Gardening Panel." Have questions on organic gardening? A panel will cover soil preparation, IPM, as well as general questions about the what and why of organic gardening, understanding your garden site and choosing the right plants for the right place.

This meeting focuses on weed management in industrial and right-of-way settings. Industry and university specialists present the latest weed management information.

Join us for this end-of-season landscape update. Review the past season’s pest problems and pick up a few timely core and category pesticide credits.

Join us for this end-of-season landscape update. Review the past season’s pest problems and pick up a few timely core and category pesticide credits.

Join us for this end-of-season landscape update. Review the past season’s pest problems and pick up a few timely core and category pesticide credits.

Join us for this end-of-season landscape update. Review the past season’s pest problems and pick up a few timely core and category pesticide credits.

Exam starts at 4:00 PM; Registration Deadline: September 30, 2013

Class Dates: October 8 and 15, 2013; Registration Deadline: October 4, 2013

Class Date: October 9, 2013; Registration Deadline: October 4, 2013

Going green saves green. Designing and maintaining a corporate or industrial site can be an expensive undertaking. This workshop will showcase sustainable landscape practices that can reduce costs, support a healthier, more productive workforce, and protect water quality.

The Second Saturday Gardening Series is a series of gardening workshops presented by the Penn State Master Gardeners in Philadelphia County held on the second Saturday of each month through November. The workshops are presented to the general public and gardening enthusiasts on a variety of gardening topics. The topic for October 12, 2013 is "Historic Gardens ... Bartram's Garden." “whatsoever whether great or small ugly or handsom sweet or stinking…everything in the universe in thair own nature appears beautiful to mee.” John Bartram, 1740. Join Joel Frye as he talks about the garden's history and the relevance of heirloom plants for today’s gardener.

Class Date for Certification and Recertification: October 21, 2013; Exam for Certification Only: October 28, 2013 at 9:00 AM; Registration Deadline: October 16, 2013

Exam starts at 4:00 PM; Registration Deadline: October 28, 2013

The Second Saturday Gardening Series is a series of gardening workshops presented by the Penn State Master Gardeners in Philadelphia County held on the second Saturday of each month through November. The workshops are presented to the general public and gardening enthusiasts on a variety of gardening topics. The topic for November 9, 2013 is "Build a Terrarium Workshop." Terrariums, popular in the 70's, have rebounded in popularity. Lori Hayes, a Penn State Master Gardener in Philadelphia County, will show you how to design, make, and maintain these miniature gardens in a glass container. This is a hands-on workshop. Participants must provide a small glass container and plants will be available to purchase at the workshop. Space is limited to 20. Pre-registration is required.

Exam starts at 4:00 PM; Registration Deadline: November 25, 2013

Class Date for Certification and Recertification: December 2, 2013; Exam for Certification Only: December 9, 2013 at 9:00 AM; Registration Deadline: November 27, 2013