Life provides challenges. Trust Extension to help.

CONNECT. LEARN. GROW

Vanilla cupcakes with white icing and a garnish on top of the icing.

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
A chef cutting a green pepper on a cutting board with a variety of vegetables that are cut surrounding the cutting board.

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
Seeds sprouting in a a tray of containers.

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
More Events
News Releases
A pile of specialty decor pumpkins of a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.
Explore commercial pumpkin production at Extension field day
URBANA, Ill. — As Illinois ranks number one in both pumpkin production and processing, it provides a great opportunity to bring together growers, producers, and those who love talking pumpkins.University of Illinois Extension can help kick off...
Yellow and grey Cedar waxwing bird in an evergreen.
Bring birds close to home by gardening for feathered friends
URBANA, Ill. — People plant gardens for food, flowers, and function, but planting for the birds can be beautiful and beneficial to the environment. What if instead of storebought bird seed in a feeder, gardens could include a buffet of different foods for birds while also being a beautiful...
Annie's Project empowers women in agricultural industry
DECATUR, Ill. — Women producers have been taking on more management roles within agricultural operations. To support this rapidly growing population of farmers, the University of Illinois Extension serving DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt counties and Farm Credit Illinois are partnering to offer a six-...
More News Releases
Programs We Offer
Overhead view of town buildings and streets Community & Economic Development
Gardener sitting in row moving plants from flowerpots to ground Horticulture
Youth smiling while stirring pot on stove at cooking class Illinois Nutrition Education Programs
Hands holding a basket of fruits and vegetables shaped like a heart with fitness equipment on the floor Nutrition and Wellness
Youth sewing on a machine Youth and 4-H Programs

Dig Deeper

Topics we address
Agricultural Technology
Beef Cattle
Christmas Trees
Climate
Community Gardens
Community Planning
Composting
Container Gardens
Cottage Food
Crops
Diabetes
Disasters
Economic Development
Energy
Environmental Quality
Family
Farm Management
Firewood
Flowers
Food
Forestry
Fruit Trees for Home Gardens
Health
Hemp
Herbs
Home Vegetable Gardening
Houseplants
Illinois Grasses
Insects
Invasives
Lawns
Livestock
Local Food Systems and Small Farms
Local Government Education
Mental Health
Mushrooms
Natural Resources
Nutrient Loss Reduction
Personal Finances
Plant Problems
Plants
Pumpkins
Rainfall Management
Regenerative Agriculture
Roses
Septic Systems
Small Fruits for Home Gardens
Soil
Specialty Crops
Thriving Youth
Ticks
Turkey
Vaccines
Weather
Youth Gardening

Check out Illinois Extension’s complete offerings

State Extension
Christian, Jersey, Macoupin and Montgomery Counties

Montgomery County
1 Industrial Park Dr.
Hillsboro, IL 62049
Phone: 217-532-3941
Email: uie-cjmm@illinois.edu

Christian County
1120 N Webster St.
Taylorville, IL 62568
Phone: 217-287-7246

Jersey County
201 W. Exchange St.
Suite A
Jerseyville, IL 62052
Phone: 618-498-2913

Macoupin County
60 Carlinville Plaza
Carlinville, IL 62626
Phone: 217-854-9604