Master Gardeners Children’s Pizza Garden
Canonsburg and Peters Township
residents Marianne Campbell, Laura
Delach and Tina Martin are working to
educate the masses on how to become
their own master gardeners.
By W.B. Fresa
W
ith 26 years of gardening experience between them,
Canonsburg residents Marianne Campbell and Laura
Delach, and Peters Township resident Tina Martin, are
working to ensure the fruits of their labor are taught to
anyone who is interested in getting their hands a little
dirty.
The Master Gardener Program was originally developed in Seattle,
Washington, in 1972. The program was so successful in Washington
it was adopted by many other states within a few years, including the
Penn State Extension in 1982.
Campbell, Delach and Martin each came into the Master Gardener
Program differently but with the same passion and enthusiasm for the
craft.
40 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Canon-Mac
“I received my degree in horticulture from Penn State,” says Delach.
“I worked in the field for a while but stopped to raise my family. Now
that my kids are all grown, I’ve become very involved in the program.”
So involved she is now Washington County’s program coordinator.
Campbell has been a certified master gardener for six years.
In addition to earning her certification, she also serves as secretary
on the advisory committee, Chair of the Historical Garden at John
White House on the Washington County Fairgrounds, and Chair of
the Pollinator Monitoring Committee, which conducts studies on
plant pollination.
Martin’s history with gardening goes back to her grandparents.
Coming from an Italian family, she recalls gardening always being part
of their lives.
“I learned about the Master Gardener Program at a farmers market
in Washington,” she says. “It sounded very interesting so I signed
up. I thought I knew a lot about gardening because my family and
grandparents always had a garden, but I’ve developed my knowledge
tenfold over the last five years.”
Penn State Extension Master Gardeners are volunteers who
support Penn State Cooperative Extension’s educational programs
in consumer horticulture. They develop their horticultural expertise
through participation in educational programs conducted by Penn
State University faculty and Cooperative Extension staff.
Photos submitted by Penn State Master Gardeners of Washington County.
Masters Garden
of
the