Fostering grassroots involvement and building partnerships

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All Cook County Extension offices are open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 3 PM.
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Your Voice Matters

To better serve you, we are thrilled to announce a countywide survey to understand the issues, interests, and educational needs of Cook County residents. Your input will help shape the future of our offerings, ensuring they are tailored to what matters most to you. Your responses are completely anonymous, and eligible participants can enter a drawing to win one of several prizes! Make your voice heard!

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A Strategic Path for Extension Impact

Throughout 2023 and early 2024, Illinois Extension engaged in a comprehensive planning process to refine and refresh its core priorities, goals, and paths to success.
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Recent News
Tiny aphid insects crawling along plant leaves and stems.
Managing pests in the garden
URBANA, Ill. — Warm weather has arrived, and plants are starting to green up and bloom. That also means weeds, insects, and diseases are starting to become active too. As the saying goes, the only things guaranteed in life are death and taxes, and for gardeners, pests are also included in the...
A woman and a girl playing with bubbles
Discover reliable health insights in the Summer Self-Care series
URBANA, Ill. — Technology has improved access to health information, but the spread of misinformation online poses serious risks. To address this, researchers, educators, and communities must work together to ensure people get accurate, evidence-based guidance.The ...
Fishing winners pose with winning catches.
Illinois youth reel in early wins in statewide 4-H fishing tournament
Champaign, Ill.– The Illinois 4-H Hooks Us Together Statewide Fishing Tournament is off to a strong start and continues through July 31, 2025. Youth from across the state are casting their lines and competing in this fun, summer-long challenge that celebrates outdoor...
Growing figs on a plant stem
Go figure, figs are a great addition to home gardens
URBANA, Ill. — Sometimes growers just want to try something new in their garden. How about an ancient fruit with edible leaves? How about figs? For many years, growing figs was relegated to warmer regions, but with the combination of the warming climate and the development of cold-hardy fig...
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Find a workshop that is right for you

4-H Community Health Family Life
Food and Nutrition Education SNAP-Ed Horticulture
Local Food Systems & Sm. Farms Nat. Resources, Envir., & Energy STEM
Popular Topics
Building a Culture of Composting
Conservation@Home
En Español
Gardening
Health
Master Gardeners
Master Naturalists
Master Urban Farmer Training Program
School Programs
Self-Care
Teacher Education
Urban Agriculture
Youth Programs

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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
Food Preservation
Food Safety
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
Wildlife
Youth Gardening

Check out Illinois Extension’s complete offerings

State Extension
Cook County

Willene Buffett
County Extension Director
University of Illinois Extension
8751 S. Greenwood Avenue, Suites 112-122
Chicago, IL 60619
Phone: 773-768-7779
FAX: 773-768-4818
wbuffett@illinois.edu