WEST CHESTER — Penn State Cooperative Extension in Chester County will hold a workshop “Thinking of Starting a Vegetable Garden?” for residents interested in growing their own food. The workshop will be held Saturday, March 26, from 1-3pm at the Oakbourne Mansion, 1014 South Concord Road, Westtown, PA. Master Gardeners will provide easy step-by-step instructions for setting up a successful vegetable garden. The cost is just $10 and space is limited so reservations are strongly encouraged. Register by calling 610-696-3500.
Rising fresh produce prices and concern for food safety has led many people to consider creating a productive vegetable, herb, and fruit garden. What most people don’t realize is that it is relatively easy to grow your own produce—whether in raised beds, amongst flowers, or even in containers. The “Thinking of Starting a Vegetable Garden?” workshop will teach participants how to select the fruits, vegetables, and herbs are best suited for their families, where to locate the garden, and what they can do to save time and minimize problems during the growing season. Soil preparation, composting, seed starting, transplanting, care, irrigation, pest management, harvesting, and preserving the harvest will be covered.
Master Gardener Programs are affiliated with land-grant universities such as Penn State and managed through the Cooperative Extension service. Master Gardeners are volunteers who educate the public about gardening and horticultural issues. Chester County Master Gardeners work year-round on a variety of projects, including demonstration gardens, horticultural therapy programs, community gardens outreach, and a Speakers Bureau that offers talks on a wide range of horticultural subjects.
For more information about the Penn State Master Gardener program, please contact the Chester County Penn State Cooperative Extension office located at 601 Westtown Rd. in West Chester by calling 610-696-3500 or email Nancy Sakaduski, Chester County Master Gardener Coordinator, at nds13@psu.edu. The Chester County Master Gardeners also maintain an informational page on Facebook.