CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — Penn State Extension in Franklin County is keeping a full calendar of educational programs through late summer and early fall, offering workshops, webinars and hands-on learning opportunities for gardeners, homeowners, farmers and food preservation enthusiasts.
The Extension office, at 181 Franklin Farm Lane in Chambersburg, continues to serve local residents with seasonal services, including the Master Gardener Hotline, which operates Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. through the end of September.
Gardeners can stop in, call 717-263-9226 or email [email protected] for help with plant, insect and garden problems. Photos or samples are encouraged to aid in diagnosis and recommendations.
One of the next offerings is free pressure canner dial gauge testing on Wednesday, Aug. 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Franklin County Extension office. The service is held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, and participants only need to bring the lid. No registration is required.
On Thursday, Aug. 6, Penn State Extension will present “An Incident Just Happened on the Farm: What Should You Do?” at the Newville Lions Club, 433 Shippensburg Rd. in Newville. The free workshop, set for 10 to 11:30 a.m., is aimed at farm workers, family members, extension educators and emergency personnel interested in farm emergency awareness and safety response. Registration is available online or by calling 1-877-345-0691.
A culinary workshop, “Herbs: From Garden to Kitchen,” is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Franklin County Extension office. The $20 class will cover how to grow, prune, harvest and preserve herbs, along with ways to use them in cooking. Participants will make a dry herbal ingredient mix to take home.
Penn State Extension also is accepting orders through Aug. 25 for its 2026 native tree and shrub fundraiser through the Master Watershed Stewards program. The sale includes plants in 1-, 2- and 3-gallon pots, with proceeds supporting watershed improvement efforts. Franklin County pickup is set for Friday, Oct. 9, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the extension office. Orders must be placed in advance.
Later in the season, the schedule includes a series of webinars and workshops on plant science, food preservation and cooking. Those events include “Hidden Canopies: Exploring Underutilized Trees and Shrubs” on Sept. 9, “Fall Garden Day” on Sept. 12, “Let’s Cook Mediterranean” on Sept. 17, “Basic Tree Identification” on Oct. 3, “Home Food Preservation: Wild Game” on Oct. 5, and the two-part webinar series “Decay Demystified: Understanding Mushrooms and Tree Decay” on Oct. 7 and Oct. 14.
Additional information and registration details are available through Penn State Extension’s website or by calling 877-345-0691.
