Get gardening with our beginning gardener webinar series
MURPHYSBORO, Ill. – Horticulture Educator Austin Little and Local Foods and Small Farms Educator Katie Bell are teaming up to share a webinar series for beginning gardeners starting on April 7.
During our time of quarantine, there is still one thing we can all do – garden! Whether you...
How does ‘stay at home’ order impact farmers markets?
URBANA, Ill. - With winter farmers markets in full swing, the March 20 executive order by Gov. Pritzker requiring individuals to stay at home has market managers wondering if they can stay open. The order...
Time to Prune Your Raspberry and Blackberry Plants
While most fruit trees have been pruned for the season, homeowners should look to prune raspberry and blackberry plants in the next couple of weeks.
Your first step in pruning these is to know that brambles produce primocanes and floricanes. “A primocane would be a cane that grew in...
Unit 26 Office Hours Update
MURPHYSBORO, Ill. - Like others in our community, we are working to navigate safety issues while fulfilling work commitments as the coronavirus situation continues to evolve.
At this time, we have suspended normal hours in our office. Staff will be working from home for the foreseeable...
Unit 26 Event Cancellations in Response to COVID-19
MURPHYSBORO, Ill. -The impact of the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) continues to create uncertainty and concern both globally and here in our community. Illinois Extension is in the process of activating strategies with campus to protect everyone’s health and safety.
This week, the...
Franklin County Students Participate in Teen Conference
INA, Ill. — What do you want to be when you grow up? Some of us may still be searching for the answer to that question. Franklin County students had a chance to explore a variety of careers during an eighth grade teen conference.
The event, hosted by University of Illinois Extension,...
Local FFA and 4-H Members Place at Livestock Judging Contest
DUQUOIN, Ill. —Local FFA and 4-H members competed in a livestock judging contest at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds on Saturday, March 7.
Livestock judging is the evaluation of an animal's characteristics and making a comparison to other animals and the ideal standard of that...
Extension to Host Weed and Pest Management Webinar
MURPHYSBORO, Ill. – Extension will host a free webinar on April 7 to share weed and pest control tips for your home garden and landscape. What was previously scheduled as in in-person workshop at John A. Logan College will now be offered through online delivery.
Weeds, insects and furry...
Extension Helps Local Residents Create Landscape Designs
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Local residents had a little help with their home landscape through a three-part course hosted by Horticulture Educator Austin Little.
During the introductory meeting, individuals learned the fundamentals of home landscape design as they analyzed potential layouts for...
Michelle Wang to Serve on Space Mission Control Team
MURPHYSBORO, Ill. – Michelle Wang will be part of STEM history through the 4-H in Space Mission Control Team (MCT), an elite planning unit comprised of 33 youth throughout the state.
This program is designed to go outside of the typical bounds of current STEM programming as it introduces...
Youth Learn About Weather During Recent Workshop
PINCKNEYVILLE, Ill.— Local youth spent their President’s Day learning more about the weather during a fun workshop in Perry County. Guest speaker, Jacie Brianne from the WSIL-TV3 meteorologist team, answer weather-related questions and discussed the field of meteorology.
Brianne...
Local Youth Place in Livestock Quiz Bowl
PINCKNEYVILLE, Ill. — Local 4-H youth from Perry, Jackson, Franklin, Randolph and Williamson Counties recently competed in the Livestock Quiz Bowl.
The day was filled with fun activities as youth were tested on their knowledge of feed, species, equipment and cuts of meat. This...
Program Helps Child Care Centers Promote Healthy Environments
CARTERVILLE, Ill.— Children in our community are getting a healthy start thanks to a local program provided to six early child care sites throughout Jackson County.
An early learning collaborative has been meeting for the last ten months to support child care centers implement best...
Local Foods and Small Farms Educator Joins Extension
Murphysboro, Ill. — Katie Bell has joined University of Illinois Extension as local foods and small farms educator serving Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Randolph and Williamson Counties. Bell is a native of Neoga, Illinois and two-time alum from Southern Illinois University. She received her...
Local Growers Learn More about Industrial Hemp
MURPHYSBORO, Ill.— Nearly 50 residents gathered at the Jackson County U of I Extension office to learn more about the cultivation, distribution and processing of hemp for fiber, grain and cannabidiol (CBD).
Commercial Agriculture Extension Educator Phillip Alberti, who works...
Training the Next Generation of Shooting Sports Enthusiasts
MARION, Ill.— Illinois 4-H is seeking adult volunteers to train local youth interested in learning about shooting sports. More than 3,600 4-H members participate in one of the five 4-H shooting sports disciplines, and projects teach the responsible and safe handling of firearms. ...
Home Landscape Design Series Offered in Late February
CARBONDALE, Ill.— Need a little help with your home landscape? Horticulture Educator Austin Little will inspire you to create a beautiful outdoor space through an upcoming landscape design course.
The three-part series will take place the last week of February on the campus of SIU....
Local Youth Learn about Bees and Candle Making
SPARTA, Ill.- Local youth learned about the importance of bees during a recent beeswax candle making workshop. Beeswax candles, which are slow burning and have a pleasant, natural aroma, have been around for hundreds of years. Unlike paraffin wax candles, beeswax candles produce very little...