STARK COUNTY
Plant grant. Stark Soil and Water Conservation District and The Wilderness Center received the 2020 Native Plant Society of Northeast Ohio Grant. The $500 grant will be used to establish and promote a demonstration native rain garden at the center’s headquarters, in Wilmot.
The demonstration rain garden will teach homeowners in northeast Ohio not only how to create their own rain garden but also educate them on their benefits.
Some of the benefits include enhancing the beauty of individual yards and communities with an attractive native habitat and reducing stormwater pollution of our streams, creeks and rivers by increasing the amount of rain water that infiltrates into the soil rather than draining into a storm water system.
Part of the grant will also include offering workshops connected to the demonstration rain garden. The grant will enable the organizations to purchase plant material, soil amendments, and education signs.
CENTRE COUNTY (PA)
Plant course. In October, Penn State Extension launched its newest online course, “Plant Establishment and Maintenance.” The course is designed to teach participants about planting and maintaining woody and herbaceous plants in ornamental landscapes. The skill level for this course is beginner to intermediate.
The course is intended for green industry professionals such as landscape contractors, landscape maintenance professionals and horticulturists. People seeking employment in landscape design, installation and maintenance will benefit from this course. It also offers landscape businesses the opportunity to provide additional training to experienced employees.
The course is self-paced and will cover techniques for properly assessing site conditions for successful ornamental landscapes, planting woody and herbaceous plants, and pruning or caring for young and established plants. The seven sections in this course contain educational videos, short readings and end-of-section quizzes.
To receive the certificate of completion, participants need to achieve a score of greater than 80% on each quiz. The cost is $139, and participants will have access to course materials for one year. For more information or to register, visit extension.psu.edu/plant-establishment-and-maintenance.
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