What’s in a name? The roots of fruit and vegetable names are long and intertwined
URBANA, Ill. – While Ireland is known for potatoes and Italy for its tomato-based sauces, many iconic fruits and vegetables have a tangled global history that has led to what ends up in your garden or on your plate. If someone says aubergine and you say eggplant, or maybe chickpeas and...
Bugged by houseplant pests? Give carnivorous plants a try
URBANA, Ill. – During the chilly, dreary winter months, I enjoy my green houseplants that add a bright spot in my office and living space. So when I was visiting a new specialty plant shop this fall, I had to add a new plant friend, “Ping,” to my collection.
If you have ever dealt...
Plant top annuals of 2023 to create craveable container gardens
URBANA, Ill. – Experienced container gardeners likely know that successful containers have good drainage, appropriate sun exposure, and proper potting media. Get a jump on new annual arrivals each year, discover the best performers, and be the envy of your neighborhood this summer by...
Symposium offers 9 sessions on understanding and controlling invasive species
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois is home to beautiful wild spaces, but invasive species are a growing threat in our forests, lakes, backyards, and agricultural fields. Invasive species pose a serious threat to native species and natural ecosystems and cost the country billions of dollars to combat....
Teens invited to explore healthcare careers at one-day summer event
Healthcare Career Exploration Summer Academy bring hands-on learning to youth
Over the next decade, healthcare careers are expected to grow 13% according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This will...
Make time to be inspired by nature's lessons
URBANA, Ill. — Spending time in nature allows people to take in the world around them. In today's busy world, learning how to hit pause to take lessons from nature and explore the benefits of outdoor activities is vital. University of Illinois Extension...
Sustainable community gardens benefit local growers, ecosystems, communities
URBANA, Ill. – The concept of community gardens is not new. One of the most successful, sustainable, and thriving community gardens in the U.S. is the Historic Bethabara Park in North Carolina. It has been active since 1759 and is the oldest community garden in the nation.
There is...
Foundation awards scholarships for 4-H excellence, mastery
URBANA, Ill. – The career achievements of Illinois 4-H members are being celebrated with $45,000 in scholarships awarded by the Illinois 4-H Foundation.
The scholarships are awarded to five Illinois 4-H...
Sow seeds of change, learn how to save garden seeds
URBANA, Ill. – As gardeners dream of spring and flip through catalogs looking for the best seeds, it makes you wonder where they come. Sure, seeds come from the fruit of a plant, but how does it happen? A good challenge for any gardener is to learn how to harvest and save seed.
If you...
Adams County Master Gardeners present the 27th Annual Gardener's Palette
Get ready for Spring at the 27th Annual Gardener’s Palette!
Join us on Saturday, March 4 at the Quincy Senior & Family Resource Center, 639 York St, Quincy. Program runs from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
This all-day conference, hosted by University of Illinois Extension Master...
Connect with natural world, join Western Illinois Master Naturalists
Quincy, Ill. – Within parks, streams, and native prairies, University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalists volunteers serve as environmental stewards in their communities. Illinois Extension is relaunching a Master Naturalist chapter...
Hunters, meat processors, and food pantries aim to solve hunger
URBANA, Ill. – When food prices are high, everyone takes a hit, including food pantries. But now, a local and widespread source of protein – venison – is making its way from the field onto plates providing 24,500 meals with the help of the...
Deer Donation program receives $25,000 to help feed Central Illinois families
URBANA, Ill. – More than a thousand Central Illinois families have been fed this winter thanks to a $25,000 grant from The Lumpkin Family Foundation. The foundation provided the grant to the University of Illinois Extension Deer Donation program in November to help reimburse meat processors....
What is driving the high suicide rate among farmers?
URBANA, Ill. — Josie Rudolphi is a professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign whose research examined suicide among farmers...
Study: Canada geese beat humans in longstanding territory battle
URBANA, Ill. – Canada geese collide with aircraft, intimidate unassuming joggers, and leave lawns and sidewalks spattered with prodigious piles of poop. They’re widely considered nuisance birds, and municipalities invest considerable time and money harassing geese to relocate the feisty flocks....
Study shows the power of 'thank you' for couples
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Gratitude has been a trendy sentiment in recent years – sparking an industry of journals, knickknacks, and T-shirts touting thankfulness as a positive force in individuals’ lives.
New research suggests that gratitude from one’s partner may be a powerful tool for couples...
Master Naturalists get out in the field to protect Illinois’ natural resources
URBANA, Ill. – On a chilly fall morning, amid a background of trees boasting autumnal colors and birds flying south overhead, Master Naturalists gathered for a day of hands-on learning about Illinois’ natural resources. By wading into cold creeks to survey for mussels, fish, and...
Bats protect young trees from insect damage, with three times fewer bugs
URBANA, Ill. – Bats help keep forests growing. Without bats to hold their populations in check, insects that munch on tree seedlings go wild, doing three to nine times more damage than when bats are on the scene. That’s according to a groundbreaking ...
