Home CFIV Blogs

Blogs

A laptop next to a cup of coffee, notepad with a pen and a cell phone.

See the latest from our educators

Popular Blogs

Hear from educators across Extension on a variety of topics
A field of wild bergamot

The Garden Scoop

Featuring Seasonal tips and tricks from educator, Ryan Pankau

View Blog

A brown wallet with a $20 bill and some coins in front of a pair of glasses

Plan Well, Retire Well

Saving and investing your money

View Blog

Celery stalks and carrots in a market stall

Live Well. Eat Well.

Information by our Nutrition and Wellness Extension Educators from across Illinois.

View Blog

Red flower with a yellow center

Good Growing

Keeping you growing with good ideas from Katie ParkerChristopher Enroth, and Ken Johnson.

View Blog

Children's legs and muddy boots

Our Illinois 4-H Story

Telling the stories of Illinois 4-H members, volunteers, and alumni

View Blog

Several fruits and vegetables all sitting on a table

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

Helpful tips to make meals easy, healthy, and tasty!

View Blog

Mushrooms on a moss-covered log in a forest

Naturalist News

Share your passion for nature and learn ways to protect our natural world.

View Blog

Latest Blogs From Illinois Extension

container of geraniums in need of deadheading
Read article: Deadheading for More Blooms
Deadheading for More Blooms
As mid-summer reaches its peak, many flowering plants begin producing faded blooms. One of the simplest maintenance tasks a gardener can do in the...
Group holding Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports banner
Read article: Big crowds, big skills, and a whole lot of safety
Big crowds, big skills, and a whole lot of safety
4-H Shooting Sports: Big Crowds, Big Skills, and a Whole Lot of SafetyIf you were anywhere near Grand Island, Nebraska in June 2026, you felt the...
Colorful mixed landscape bed next to a building
Read article: Starting a lawn care business? Here's how to get licensed for pesticide application
Starting a lawn care business? Here's how to get licensed for pesticide application
More and more lawn care companies have emerged in recent years. Many business owners are just starting their companies and need to obtain the...
lettuce being washed by hand
Read article: Could your salad make you sick? Understanding Cyclosporiasis
Could your salad make you sick? Understanding Cyclosporiasis
Cyclosporiasis is a foodborne illness, specifically a parasite, that has been causing outbreaks of intestinal illness across the United States...
calf swatting flies away
Read article: Preventing Problems: Pests, Parasites, & Pet-Related Risks
Preventing Problems: Pests, Parasites, & Pet-Related Risks
Warm summer temperatures create the perfect environment for challenges from insects and internal and external parasites to transpire. Pets spending...
2 children on their tablets
Read article: More Than Screen Time: Creating Healthy Digital Habits for Families
More Than Screen Time: Creating Healthy Digital Habits for Families
Technology is a constantly adapting and growing form of communication, education, and creation. Children and families spend hours on screens every...
patch of cordgrass among cattails
Read article: Learn how to identify Prairie Cordgrass
Learn how to identify Prairie Cordgrass
While visiting a nature center in Missouri, I was excited to find that they included several native grasses in their landscaping, including Little...
Little boy playing in sand on the beach
Read article: Your guide to smart sun protection
Your guide to smart sun protection
It’s that time of the year! Ball games, cookouts, picnics, bike riding, swimming, and all kinds of fun in the sun. However, if you find yourself and...

See More Blogs From Illinois Extension

See these other blogs from around the state

Agriculture

Acres of Knowledge

All issues concerning Small Farms, Agriculture, Local Food Systems, and Natural Resources.

Hill & Furrow

News from the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural R&D Center.

Community and Economic Development

Building Entrepreneurial Communities

Strategies for strengthening local economies.

Consumer Economics

Be Centsible

Written by college students, for college students. Be Centsible features answers to personal finance questions.

Fearless Financial Future

Research-based financial information helps us develop and maintain thoughtful and effective financial behaviors.

Environment

All About Weather

Learn more about Illinois weather patterns.

Naturalist News

Share your passion for nature and learn ways to protect our natural world.

Naturalist's Notebook

Experience the natural world through reviews and journal entries with Master Naturalists.

Grasses at a Glance

Dig deep into the types of grasses and their uses in our world.

Family

Community Health: Education, Prevention, and Inspiration

Empowering people to make healthy, respectful, and responsible choices.

Family Files

Facts for all ages.

Refill Your Cup with Self-Care

Genuine, sustained self-care is an art.

Salud y Familia

Resources in Spanish.

Horticulture

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

Local and statewide information on a variety of current topics for home gardeners and market growers.

Illinois River Hort

Helping new and experienced gardeners develop their skills and knowledge while encouraging everyone to enjoy the outdoors.

Know How, Know More

Connecting you with your food, farmers, and community.

Over the Garden Fence

Where gardeners come to find out what's happening out in the yard.

Raise, Grow, Harvest, Eat, Repeat

A blog for growers, consumers, and backyard gardeners to grow, eat, and connect in the local food system.

Nutrition and Wellness

Be Smart, Eat Well, Get Healthy

Nutrition information you can use.

Healthy Eats and Repeat

Highlighting food, recipes, and ideas for a healthy lifestyle.

Turnip the Beet! Nutrition and Wellness

Timely news, information, and innovative ideas to promote health and influence change.

Youth Development

Connection Corner

Timely information, activities, and resources to help you stay connected to loved ones, the world around you, and yourself.

Local Blog Authors