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Grow Your Food Business

Learn about the laws, certifications, processes, and practices required to run a home-based cottage food operation safely and legally in Illinois.

Find Cottage Food Resources

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Certified Food Protection Managers Course

This program meets the coursework and examination requirements set by the Illinois Department of Public Health. We offer courses within our unit throughout the year.

Course Info

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Plan Your Garden

Growing your own food brings many rewards. Start planning your garden now to maximize both your garden space and the growing season.

Getting Started Gardening

Events

Honey comb and jars of honey sitting on a wooden table with daises surrounding the honey.

Sweet Creations

September 22, 2024

County

Macoupin

A stressed women with her elbows on the kitchen counter and her hands on top of her head while looking at different vegetables on the kitchen counter.

Lessons for Living

September 24, 2024

County

Macoupin

Vegetables in glass jars that are pickled or sliced, including carrots, green beans, corn, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

Canning with Confidence | Pressure Canning

September 24, 2024

County

Jersey

Lifelong Learning. Lifelong Impact: Illinois Extension's Strategic Plan Launch

September 24, 2024

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News Releases

Up close view of light purple berries growing on a green beautyberry plant.

September 16, 2024

Garden into fall with tips, plants built for seasonal design
URBANA, Ill. — Fall can be a surprise when it arrives, but planning for the seasonal transition can keep the garden looking great until frost.Most gardeners can show their success by battling the summer temperatures, sometimes watering twice daily to keep the plants alive. As summer...

View from the ground of a person pushing a lawn spreader putting on fertilizer.

September 5, 2024

Five fall tips for cool-season lawn care
URBANA, Ill. — As the sun sets on another summer season, lawn care does not stop. When it comes to routine turf maintenance, the late summer to early fall months are critical for cool-season lawns.Cool season lawns are a group of turf species comprised mainly of Kentucky bluegrass, tall...

A herd of black and white Simmental cows grazing in a green pasture.

August 30, 2024

Orr Beef Center Field Day looks to strengthen beef producers' focus on herd health
URBANA, Ill. — Beef cattle producers can dig deeper into herd health and management research by attending the Orr Beef Research Center Field Day on Sept. 11. The meeting will be held at the...

A group of people in safety gear stand around a fallen tree

August 27, 2024

Grow forest management skills in Southern Illinois course for landowners
SIMPSON, Ill. — To understand tree and forest care often requires getting to the root of the matter. The Beginning Forest Landowner Program is returning in 2024-25 to help more Illinois forest owners learn how to...

Hands with puzzle pieces coming together

August 26, 2024

Investment in communications furthers the Illinois Extension mission
URBANA, Ill. — Effective communication is a cornerstone of University of Illinois Extension’s ability to transfer the latest research and best practices to the residents of the state. In this critical pursuit of improving lives and livelihoods throughout Illinois, Extension relies on myriad...

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