Establishing Perennials in the Early Fall
MURPHYSBORO, Ill.— By the end of the summer season, most gardeners are ready to put up their feet and enjoy a bonfire, but it’s a great opportunity to take stock of what worked in the garden the past year, what needs changing, and what can be added. Springtime is crunch time with so many...

Community Garden Raises Spirits at Good Samaritan House
CARBONDALE, Ill.— What once sat as an empty, vacant plot of land behind the Good Samaritan House in Carbondale is now filled with fresh vegetables in a newly built community garden. Terry Foster, a local resident and University of Illinois Extension master gardener and master...

Extension to Host Sheep and Goat Parasite Management Workshop
CAMPBELL HILL, Ill.— Extension will be hosting a free workshop on sheep and goat parasite management on Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Campbell Hill Community Center. One of the greatest challenges for sheep and goat producers is preventing and controlling internal parasites in their animals....

Extension Presents Into to Rain Gardens Workshop
MURPHYSBORO, Ill.— On Saturday Sept. 14, 2019, the University of Illinois Extension and Greater Egypt Regional Planning & Development Commission partnered to present the Introduction to Rain Gardens Workshop which was held at the Jackson County Extension office in Muphysboro.  ...

Extension Hosts Career Field Day for Local Students
EWING, Ill.— Over 100 local high school and community college students had the opportunity to learn more about the field of agriculture during the annual Career and Technology Field Day recently held at the Ewing Demonstration Center. Since its inception four years ago, University of...

Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course
CARBONDALE, Ill.— Do you have concerns about safety in your produce operation? Are you concerned about compliance with FSMA? Do you want to know more about the difference between FSMA and GAPs?  Then the Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training might be for you! On Dec. 18, 2019...

Extension Shares Information on Native Plants
CARTERVILLE, Ill.— Horticulture Extension Educator Austin Little and Energy & Environmental Stewardship Extension Educator Erin Medvecz recently collaborated to provide a free program to local residents on native plants. Little started off the program by sharing information...

Williamson County 4-H and HCE to Host Picnic
MARION, Ill.— Williamson County 4-H and Home and Community Education (HCE) members are joining together to host a picnic for local community members on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ray Fosse Park in Marion, Illinois. During this free event, food will be provided and...

Local Master Gardener Receives State Award
DUQUOIN, Ill.— Karen Glynn received the Outstanding Master Gardener Award at the Illinois Master Gardener Conference on Friday, Sept. 6. Glynn, a DuQuoin resident, was nominated by her fellow Master Gardeners for this recognition. Since her 2014 training, Glynn has helped promote...

Williamson County 4-H to Host Bicycle Workshop
HERRIN, Ill.— Williamson County 4-H will host a youth bicycle workshop on Monday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Herrin House of Hope. Bicycling is a lot of fun but accidents happen. During this free workshop, local youth will learn about general bike safety, bike maintenance...

Health Fair and Food Fair Offered at Attucks Park
CARBONDALE, Ill.— As a member of the Healthy Southern Illinois Delta Network (HSIDN) Diabetes Today Resource Team (DTRT), the University of Illinois Extension worked with Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) and the St. Louis Area Foodbank to provide a Free Health Fair at Attucks Park in...

Randolph County 4-H to Host Scavenger Hunt
SPARTA, Ill.— Have you ever wondered what 4-H is all about? Local youth can learn more through a fun scavenger hunt on September 23 at 6 p.m. at the Sparta City Park. With 6 million members, 4-H is the largest out-of-school youth program in the country. 4-H is in every county in...

Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists Shared Information at Fair
DUQUOIN, Ill.— During the DuQuoin State Fair, several Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists were on-hand to answer horticulture related questions and share information on the area’s natural resources. In addition, several Master Gardener volunteers hosted pop-up programming. ...

Extension Highlights Research at Jackson County
Murphysboro, Ill.- Each year, University of Illinois Extension Local Food Systems & Small Farms Educators Bronwyn Aly and Nathan Johanning look for ways to highlight new and innovative grower practices. Over the past five years, they have partnered with area farms to provide evening meetings...

Illinois 4-H Foundation Honors 80 Volunteers
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.— Three local 4-H leaders were among the 80 volunteers recognized by the Illinois 4-H Foundation as 4-H Hall of Fame recipients during a ceremony Tuesday, Aug. 13 at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. Cathy Hewlett of Franklin County, Sharon Swisher of Jackson County...

Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists Share Information at Fair
DUQUOIN, Ill.— During the DuQuoin State Fair, several Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists will be available to answer horticulture related topics and share information on the area’s natural resources. They will be stationed at the Expo Hall from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Aug. 24 through...

Rain Garden Workshop
MURPHYSBORO, Ill.— Understanding how rain gardens function as well as how to design, install and maintain rain gardens will be the focus of an upcoming Introduction to Rain Gardens Workshop, hosted by the Greater Egypt Regional Planning & Development Commission and University of...

Extension to Host Native Plant Workshop
CARTERVILLE, Ill.- Native plants are a very important part of our ecosystem. They can house and feed our native wildlife and provide unique beauty to any landscape. Horticulture Extension Educator, Austin Little, and Environmental & Energy Stewardship Extension Educator, Erin ...

Extension Hosts Ewing Agronomy Field Day
EWING, Ill.— Extension educators and campus faculty came together to provide best management practices for local growers at the Ewing Agronomy Field Day. Every season presents challenges to production, and this year was no exception. The unseasonably wet spring filled with heavy rains...

Master Naturalists Contribute Photos to Rend Lake Visitor Center
BENTON, Ill.— Years ago, Joanna Gray and Teresa Fouke met during a college photography class. They bonded over their love for birds and for the past few years, this Franklin County duo has spent most Sundays at Rend Lake capturing some great images of the region’s ecosystem. Located in...