Cook County grows horticulture team with new bilingual educator
URBANA, Ill. – Whether you’re growing backyard fruits and vegetables, tending a few well-loved houseplants, or responsible for landscaping, gardening is a challenge. The University of Illinois Extension team of horticulture experts connects...
Kemp selected to lead Extension outreach in northeast Illinois
URBANA, Ill. – A 16-year veteran of Illinois Extension was selected to lead the organization's educational programming in the state's northeastern counties. Durriyyah Kemp began her duties as assistant director on Aug. 1.
Extension has a local presence in every Illinois county,...
Map reveals widespread lead pollution in Chicago backyards, parkways
URBANA, Ill. – In backyards and community gardens across Chicago, growers tend fruit and vegetable crops as diverse as the city they live in. Most have one thing in common – lead lurking in the soil.
Legacy lead, leftover from paint, gasoline, and other sources, lingers in the...
Secure your farm's security by knowing your legal rights
URBANA, Ill. – Legal risks can be fatal to a farm business. Understanding legal issues can dispel anxiety and help farmers realize their power to control their circumstances.
University of Illinois Extension partners with Farm Commons for a four-part series on legal issues for farms....
Turn your food scraps into a valuable resource to support the environment
CHICAGO- “By diverting organic waste materials from landfills and recycling it into compost we protect our environment by reducing the amount of methane gas released in to the air,” says Kathryn Pereira, Local Food Systems and...
Illinois Extension celebrates outstanding programs, staff
URBANA, Ill. – Across the state, local University of Illinois Extension staff members help families, businesses, and communities identify local issues and potential solutions to those issues. Extension professionals use research-based knowledge and translate that knowledge into actions and...
Composting can help mitigate climate change and enhance the quality of our environment
CHICAGO, Ill. - “As the second most populous county in the nation, we believe Cook County can take the lead in reducing methane gas emissions from landfills by diverting organic waste through composting, thus helping to mitigate climate change and enhance the quality of our...
Extension’s strategic realignment means more help for Illinois families
URBANA, Ill. – Throughout history, families have grappled with how to manage chronic health conditions, eat well, balance a family budget, and create a stable beginning for their youngest family members. But modern families are faced with a new set of challenges layered on top of the long-...
Exchange your food scraps for compost: an easy way to help our environment
HOMEWOOD, IL- “I think people will be surprised to see how easy and rewarding composting can be!” says Edie Dobrez, Executive Director of the Homewood Science Center. Composting ones’ food scraps keeps them out of the regular garbage...
Bring your food scraps to help our environment and learn about composting
PARK FOREST, IL- “With 40% of food being wasted each year, we want provide our residents opportunities to reduce food waste and divert it from landfills,” explains Carrie Malfeo, Sustainability Coordinator for the...
Improve profitability, sustainability of local food, small farm specialty operation
Improve profitability, sustainability of local food, small farm specialty operations
URBANA, Ill. – There is no off season on the farm and winter is a chance for small producers to gain new knowledge. The University of Illinois Extension 2021 Small Farms Winter Webinar...
Grow great vegetables with beginner gardening webinar series
URBANA, Ill. – The spring of 2020 saw a surge of gardeners taking up the trowel for the first time to try their hand at growing vegetables. This year come prepared with Growing Great Vegetables, a seven-week webinar series covering the basics of starting a vegetable garden start to finish led by...
