University of Illinois Extension

Connect. Learn. Grow.

Response Resources for COVID-19

The spread and mitigation of coronavirus (COVID-19) is an evolving concern for Illinois. This library of resources can help families, businesses, community leaders, and ag producers cope.

Thanksgiving 2020

Whether you're cooking a turkey for the first time or hosting a much smaller gathering, Illinois Extension has resources to help however you are celebrating.

Good Growing Winter Webinars

NOV 25 | 3 to 4 PM (CT): fun for adults and kids! Learn about different types of evergreens, how to care for a live tree, and how to create nature-themed ornaments.

Illinois Community Food Map

Find all food assistance sites closest to your Illinois zip code, including food pantries, school meal sites, and grocery stores and farmers markets that accept WIC/SNAP.

Economic and Functional Value

A new report finds that Extension provides more than $600 million annual benefit to Illinois, ten times its budget. Read the report.

Food Preservation Video Tutorials

From freezing to fermenting, the Fill Your Pantry video series has you covered when it comes to food preservation.

En Español

La Extensión de la Universidad de Illinois es el principal alcance emblemático de la Universidad de Illinois en Urbana-Champaign, que ofrece programas educativos a los residentes de los 102 condados de Illinois, y mucho más.

Master Gardener Training

Gain practical experience and horticulture knowledge straight from Extension educators so you can positively impact your community.

Webinars and Digital Training

Information you trust is just a click away. Illinois Extension’s high-quality programs are available for free online as live webinars. Miss a program? Check out the recordings.

Budget-Friendly Nutrition Tips

Make healthier choices for your family on any budget. Find your healthy lifestyle with Eat. Move. Save.

Advocate for the Environment

Love nature? The Master Naturalist program works with adult volunteers to support natural spaces and wildlife around Illinois as environmental stewards.

Toy turkey in small shopping cart on red background
Smaller turkeys, lower prices on Thanksgiving menu
With more intimate gatherings being the new norm for Thanksgiving and Christmas, small whole turkeys at lower prices are on the menu in 2020.
Diabetes awareness month
Diabetes Tools and Resources
1 in 10 people in the U.S. have diabetes. This collection of diabetes webinars, tools and resources on meal planning, stress management and other topics can help people with diabetes understand risk factors and adopt healthy behaviors to better manage their diabetes.
Lawn sign "2020 state outstanding master gardener award winner"
Illinois Master Gardener volunteers recognized for their dedication
You may not know the names of Illinois’ Master Gardeners, but you know their work. Horticulture is their passion and their mission is helping others learn to grow.
Rotting jack o' lantern
Green your Halloween by composting pumpkins
This Halloween, don’t trash your pumpkins, smash them. Decomposing organic materials in landfills are a major source of the greenhouse gas methane.
Two young women wearing crowns and sashes hold a sign that says "Climb the Hill" while lobbying.
Illinois teen crowned national 4-H civic engagement winner
Elizabeth Weidner won the national 4-H Youth in Action Pillar Award for Civic Engagement. Elizabeth is an advocate for pediatric cancer awareness, research, and funding, and works to support the families patients.
Photo of Chancellor Robert Jones in a 4-H alumni t-shirt
Illinois' Chancellor Jones joins National 4-H Council
U of I Chancellor and 4-H Alum Robert Jones will share his passion for diversity in agriculture and food equity. “It is no exaggeration to say that the first step in my career was joining my local 4-H club."