Master Gardener Articles

Close-up of several young seedlings growing in dark soil. Each plant shows early development, with smooth oval seed leaves and emerging jagged true leaves, spaced evenly across the frame.

Master Gardener Volunteer Column

From Seed to Seedling: What Every Indoor Grower Should Know
There is something miraculous about starting seeds indoors. You press a tiny seed into damp soil, and wait—trusting that in the dark, something is stirring. When that first pale loop of green pushes through, it feels like a small victory. But...
  • Gardening

Master Gardener Volunteer Column

Grow and Tell with Us!

Every year, the Orleans County Master Gardeners participate in Cornell’s Vegetable Variety Trial Garden program, which evaluates how different herbs and vegetables grow across New York state. We look at their growth, the amount produced, their...

Master Gardener Volunteer Column

Why Seed Saving Matters

Twelve thousand years ago, our hunter-gatherer ancestors made a discovery that would change the course of human history: Saving and growing from seeds could improve their food security. These early farmers exchanged seeds with neighbors, and as...

Master Gardener Volunteer Column

Three Seeds, One Community: Join Us This Growing Season

Tired of watching your grocery bills go up, up, up? Have you ever wanted to grow your own food but don't know where to start? This spring, the Orleans Community Seed Share is launching a program designed just for you. Three Seeds, One Community...