For the week of September 8, 2025
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 viewing later, as well. Continue to search our website: extension.psu.edu for the latest offerings.
Free Pressure Canner Dial Gauge Testing – Penn State Extension is offering free canner lid testing on the first Wednesday of every month from 10 AM to Noon 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. Additionally, free information on safe food preservation methods will be available. If you have any questions, please contact the Extension Office at 717-263-9226.
Saturday – September 13, 2025, 9:30 AM – Webinar – Brake the Rake: Surprising Ways to Winterize the Garden – Don’t put your garden to bed—let it rest wild and full of life. In this timely webinar, Penn State Master Gardener Kevin Kelly will share practical ways to prepare your landscape for winter while supporting the ecosystem just outside your door. Register online at https://extension.psu.edu/brake-the-rake-surprising-ways-to-winterize-the-garden-webinar or by telephone at 1-877-345-0691.
Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 12:00 PM – Webinar – Community Forestry: What’s Wrong with My Tree? – Accurate diagnosis is the first and most critical step in managing unhealthy trees and shrubs in the landscape. In this one-hour live webinar, you will learn how to identify common symptoms and follow a step-by-step process for diagnosing tree diseases, insect pests, and abiotic disorders. Register online at https://extension.psu.edu/community-forestry-whats-wrong-with-my-tree or by telephone at 1-877-345-0691.
Thursday, September 25, 2025, 7:00 PM – Webinar – Home Food Preservation: Wild Game – Discover the science behind safely preserving wild game in this engaging ninety-minute live webinar. As interest in home food preservation grows, understanding modern, research-based methods is essential for ensuring both safety and quality. Learn how to properly can, freeze, and dry wild game while dispelling common myths and outdated practices. Register online at https://extension.psu.edu/home-food-preservation-wild-game-webinar or by telephone at 1-877-345-0691.
Saturday, September 27, 2025, 10:00 AM – Franklin Fall Farm Fun Fest – The Franklin County Farm Bureau is pleased to announce the 35th annual Franklin Fall Farm Fun Fest. 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Creekside Dairy Farm, 4675 Fort McCord Road, Chambersburg, PA, 17202. Hosted by Dean and Denise Ocker and their three daughters. Save the date for this free educational and fun family event. Free Admission & Free Parking. For more information, please call the Franklin County Farm Bureau at 717-264-4090.
Saturday, October 4, 2025, 1:00 PM – 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 three-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 a lecture, a 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, October 9, 2025, 4:00 PM – Upcoming Greenhouse and Berry Crops Twilight Meeting– Twin Springs Fruit Farm – Join us on October 9th at a PVGA-sponsored event to learn about operations at Twin Springs Fruit Farm. The sun will be setting earlier then, so this meeting will be held from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. The meeting will start out in one of Twin Springs’ vegetable production greenhouses, where Tom Childs, one of the farm’s managers, will talk to us about how Twin Springs grows greens successfully year-round. Then we will move out to the field where most of the time will be spent discussing methods used for growing plasticulture strawberries with dormant plants as the planting stock. This is especially timely considering current disease issues in parts of the strawberry plug plant supply. Jesse King, Twin Springs co-owner, will show us Twin Springs’ bramble varieties and trellising methods, and Kathy Demchak will cover blueberry establishment practices, nutrition, and current disease issues. Refreshments (provided at no charge) will be served by The Cow to end the evening. Growers are welcome to stay and continue conversations informally afterwards. The address for the meeting is: Twin Springs Fruit Farm, 936 Orchard Rd. Orrtanna, Pennsylvania 17353. Please enter Rodney Lee Drive via the Orchard Road entrance only. Online registration is appreciated to help with planning, but is not required at:
https://extension.psu.edu/greenhouse-and-berry-crops-field-walk Walk-ins will also be accepted.
Saturday, October 18, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Franklin County 4-H Open House – Do you have youth in your life aged 5 – 18? Come learn about awesome opportunities for them! The Franklin County 4-H Program is hosting an Open House on Saturday, October 18, from 10 AM to 12:00 PM at the Franklin County Extension Office, located at 181 Franklin Farm Lane. We have programming ranging from animal projects, sewing projects, craft projects, food projects, and more! Learn about all of our opportunities at one time and place. Call 717-263-9226 with questions.
Save the Dates – December 1, 2, 3, 2025 – Master Gardener Evergreen Workshops – Join Penn State Master Gardeners of Franklin County for their Evergreen Identification and Winter Centerpiece and Wreath Workshops. Registration and additional details to come.
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