April 21st to 26th
Let’s Get Ready to Garden!!
Listed below are the upcoming webinars from the Penn State Extension offered during Seed Library Week. All Free Webinars are used with permission from the Penn State Extension Office and are offered for educational purposes. Some information may not be appropriate for children. Parental guidance is encouraged. Views and opinions expressed in the webinars are those of the speakers/educators and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Florence Community Library.
Choose from a variety of seed packs. Get up to 20 packs for free! Free information! Free garden supplies and seed starting containers, while supplies last!
Flower Gardening in Small Spaces [Pollinator Pathway series] (1.5 hours), Wednesday, April 23rd at 7:00pm
Maximize your garden’s potential, no matter how limited your space. In this webinar, you’ll uncover creative techniques like container gardening, raised beds, vertical planting, and companion planting to transform small spaces into lush, vibrant gardens. Learn how to choose plants that thrive in tight areas while making a bold statement. Whether you have a balcony, patio, or compact yard, this session will equip you with practical strategies to create a stunning, pollinator-friendly garden that dazzles year-round.
Who is this for? Home gardeners looking to maximize their space; Anyone interested in gardening with limited areas; Gardeners seeking techniques for small-space gardening; Current gardeners planning to downsize in the future
What will you learn? How to optimize gardens when space is limited; Techniques for container gardening; Best practices for raised bed gardening; Tips for successful vertical gardening
Home Food Preservation: Introduction to Preserving (1 hour) Thursday, April 24th at 12:00pm
The Home Food Preservation: Introduction to Preserving event will explain the scientific reasoning behind today’s recommended methods for home food preservation while dispelling food preservation myths and unsafe practices of the past.
In recent years, there has been increasing interest in home food preservation. Canning, freezing, and drying are preservation methods that allow you to enjoy seasonal foods all year long. While these methods of home food preservation have existed for centuries, we have learned much about the science behind these methods in recent years.
Who is this for? Anyone interested in learning the basics of food preservation
What will you learn? The basics of using a pressure canner based on current USDA canning guidelines for canning low acid foods such as vegetables and meat. How a pressure canner works and canning safety. The basics of using a water bath or atmospheric steam canner for canning high acid foods such as fruits, tomatoes, pickles, salsa, jam and jelly. The latest canning recommendations based on USDA canning guidelines including acidifying tomatoes and the use of salt and sugar. Best practices for ensuring quality frozen food, such as de-activation of enzymes through blanching. Best practices for drying foods safely and troubleshooting problems when drying foods.
Pennsylvania Invasive Species: Ticks – Nuisances and Invaders (1 hour) Saturday, April 26th at 10:30am and 2:30pm
Join us as we explore the history and evolution of tick populations in Pennsylvania. Discover the historical presence and behavior of common ticks with medical and veterinary importance, shedding light on their impact on both human and animal health over the years. Learn about the recent emergence of invasive tick species and the looming threat of new invasions as we examine how these ticks are spreading and posing potential risks to the region. Register for this webinar to empower yourself and your community to combat this threat.
Who is this for? Landowners, Natural resource professionals, Vegetation management personnel, Conservation volunteers educators, Green industry professionals, Anyone interested in learning about invasive species.
What will you learn? History of tick population in Pennsylvania; Tick behavior; Tick diseases; Tick prevention and control.
Forest Farming: Introduction to Ramps and Wild Leeks (1.5 hours) Saturday, April 26th at 11:30am and 3:30pm
Discover the art and practice of forest farming with an introduction to ramps, also known as wild leeks—one of Pennsylvania’s prized non-timber forest products. This session explores how to cultivate and sustainably harvest these flavorful spring onions, which thrive in wooded landscapes across the eastern United States. Whether for personal use or potential income, ramps offer a unique opportunity to engage with agroforestry while preserving native ecosystems. All registrants will receive access to the event recording, ensuring you can revisit the insights at your convenience.
Who is this for? Forest landowners. Recreational and commercial foragers. Foraged plant consumers. Natural resource agency personnel. Foresters. Land managers. Gardeners. Forest farmers. Agroforesters. Chefs.
What will you learn? Identification of ramps (wild leeks), Common look-alikes of ramps (wild leeks), Preferred habitat for ramps (wild leeks), Stewardship and cultivation practices for ramps (wild leeks)