Blogs

Highlight Blog Posts

Grow a more productive garden with a little imagination and hardworking plant combinations

March 10, 2023

With the spring gardening season beginning, imaginations run wild with gardening possibilities. Some gardeners may ponder the complexities of an age-old practice that is regaining popularity in recent years – companion planting. How do certain combinations of plants benefit from being planted alongside each other, yet other combinations seem to struggle? Uncover the secrets of companion planting...

Spring flowering trees and shrubs

March 10, 2023

Signs of spring are beginning to pop up if you look close enough. In the last week or so, I’ve noticed harbinger of spring (Erigenia bulbosa) and spring beauties (Claytonia virginica) in natural areas. The beginnings of Virginia bluebells can also be found as their distinctly purple-blue new leaves poke up in more protected locations on the forest floor or in garden beds. ...

Recent Blog Articles

Protect the environment and your wallet with waste-free lunches

January 26, 2023

When packing a lunch for school, work or an outing, you may think about nutrition, so you pack an apple and baby carrots. You may also think about food safety, so you throw in an ice pack or two. But do you ever think about packing a waste-free lunch? Each person creates an average of 4.5 pounds of garbage per day, which negatively impacts our environment. Nonbiodegradable plastic packaging pollutes our oceans and affects wildlife, and trash dumped in landfills releases powerful methane gas,...

cup of tea, flowers and books on a table

How to manage the winter blues

January 25, 2023

Winter is upon us and those longer hours of darkness coupled with the colder temperatures can make many people experience those “winter blues.” I have become much more aware of the signs of mental health issues since becoming a facilitator for Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Trauma-Informed Care trainings, and also co-facilitating a youth mental health awareness program called Your Thoughts Matter. I would highly recommend anyone to...

Are my seeds still good? Testing seed germination

January 20, 2023

Have you ever found a packet of seeds lying around and wondered if you could grow them? Every year when I get ready to start seeds, I inevitably find a half-full packet or a packet I forgot to plant altogether. Unfortunately, as seeds get older, their germination rate decreases. Fortunately, there is an easy way to test your seeds to see if planting them will be worthwhile. How long do seeds last? Many seeds are capable of lasting for several years if stored properly. 4 to 5 Years...

Round leaves of nasturtium are a mound of growth with red flowers peaking out

Fortify the spring vegetable garden with marigolds, sweet alyssum, and nasturtiums

January 20, 2023

In late spring, a gardener walks out to their vegetable garden ready to collect a harvest, only to discover shot holes through kale and bites taken out of cabbages – even the tomatoes suffered, with many plants nursing broken stems. As the gardener returns to the kitchen, excitement for the morning harvest ends in disappointment. Many vegetable gardeners and farmers experience the disappointment of pests pillaging a garden. Deer and rabbits consume tops off fruiting vegetables while cabbage...

Rolling on an atmospheric river and the Pineapple Express

January 13, 2023

California has recently been slammed with extreme rainfall and snow in the high elevations, along with high winds. Media have attributed these events to an atmospheric river, but what does that mean? What is an atmospheric river? The ones that affect California occur when the polar jet stream splits over the Pacific Ocean, with part of it diving in a big U-shape down to near Hawaii. The same polar jet stream affects us in Illinois during the winter. As it dives south, huge amounts of water...

2023: Year of the Broccoli hands holding head of green broccoli in foreground, field of broccoli in background

2023 is the year of the broccoli

January 13, 2023

With the turn of the new year, it seems to be a tradition to declare it the year of ‘fill in the blank.’ So far I’ve learned 2023 is the year of the Rabbit according to the Chinese Zodiac, Pantone named Viva Magenta color of the year, Rudbeckia ‘American Gold Rush’ is the perennial plant of the year according to the Perennial Plant Association, and Merriam-Webster reflectively assigned words for 2022 such as “gaslighting,” “oligarch,” and “...

Image of hand holding a sliced grapefruit

Grapefruits are nutritious and can elevate any meal

January 13, 2023

It’s the season for many citrus fruits, including grapefruit, which originated in the U.S. The grapefruit is a cross between the sweet orange and the pummelo and can have a red, pink or white flesh. Texas grows mainly all red grapefruit varieties, such as Ruby Red and Rio Red, that have become so popular due to their sweetness. Grapefruits are a nutritious fruit to include in the diet. One medium grapefruit is a good source of fiber and provides 100% of the recommended dietary allowance for...

Dark green and mottled leaves of snake plant

Brighten up dim interiors with low-light houseplants

January 13, 2023

Uplift any room with the look and life of a lush houseplant. While common in the corner of a bright room or displayed in the front picture window, houseplants grow well, even thrive, in low-light rooms; the key to success is choosing the right plant for the right place. Boost indoor air quality and create an indoor greenspace with houseplants for low light. Our cozy homes are filled with low-light areas. The spaces near an east or north-facing window offer low light conditions, in addition...

Food insecurity and cold weather

January 11, 2023

As the holiday season comes to a close, it is important to remember the ongoing needs of people struggling with Food Insecurity. Cold weather is a growing strain on families, making it even harder than normal to keep everyone fed. In the spirit of continued giving, consider donating to local food pantries. Non-perishable food is still preferable, despite the ready access to refrigeration brought by winter weather. As always, be sure to donate highly nutritious and delicious foods that are...

Prevent post-shoveling aches and pains

January 9, 2023

It’s officially winter which means snowfall is imminent! There are an estimated 11,500 snow shovel-related injuries and medical emergencies a year. Follow these tips to prevent aches and pains this winter season. “As residents of the Midwest, we understand weather can be subject to change in the blink of an eye. When heading out for snow removal, check for icy conditions underneath the snow. This can prevent slips and falls that could lead to unplanned injuries and expensive emergency room...

Personal Finances

Illinois Extension can guide your family through all of life's stages.

Great retirements don't happen by accident. Tips for saving and investing your money.

Live Well. Retire Well.

Money talk by college students, for college students.

Be Centsible

Develop and maintain thoughtful and effective financial behaviors using these trusted methods.

Fearless Financial Future

Family

In today's hectic lives, families find themselves raising children, caring for elders, and working.

Read these timely resources for wellness across the lifespan.

Family Files

Health

Living well means taking time for ourselves so we can be healthy for others who need us.

Take steps to living a healthier life.

To Your Health

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Genuine, sustained self-care is an art.

Refill Your Cup with Self-Care

A journey of wellness dedicated to awareness and the power of knowledge to help you on your health and wellness journey.

Walking the Line to Wellness

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Empowering people to make healthy, respectful and responsible choices.

Community Health: Empowering People

Nutrition and Wellness

Eating healthy shouldn't be this hard.

Healthy information for better living

Live Well. Eat Well

Nutrition information you can use.

Be Smart, Eat Well, Get Healthy

Highlighting food, recipes, and ideas for a healthy lifestyle.

Healthy Eats and Repeat

Helpful tips to make meals easy, healthy and tasty!

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

Community and Economic Development

Illinois Extension helps communities develop strategies to thrive.

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Strategies for strengthening local economies.

Building Entrepreneurial Communities

Participants in Illinois Extension Illini Science Scholars Program share their experiences in this unique opportunity.

Scholars Speak

Natural Resources

We have one planet. Let's work together to ensure its future and ours.

Dig deep into the types of grasses and their uses in our world.

Grasses at a Glance

Read the latest news in natural resources.

Naturalist News

The Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy guides efforts to improve water quality at home and downstream.

Nutrient Loss Reduction

Weather impacts food production, transportation, homes, and lives.

All About Weather

Horticulture

From the flowers you enjoy to the produce you eat to the plants that add value to our life, we offer help for growing strong.

Keeping you (and your garden) growing with good ideas.

Good Growing

Gardening in Illinois including everything from vegetable gardening to native plants.

The Garden Scoop

Where northern Illinois gardeners come to find out what's happening out in the yard.

Over the Garden Fence

Local and statewide information on a variety of current topics for home gardeners and market growers.

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

Helping new and experienced gardeners develop their skills and knowledge while encouraging everyone to enjoy the outdoors.

Illinois River Horticulture

Archive of the most popular blog articles from Illinois Extension

Our Greatest Horticulture Hit Blogs

Local Food Systems

Growers are diverse, from urban agriculture and beginning small farmers to farmers markets and organic agriculture.

Learn new resources for urban growers.

Local Foods | Local Farms | Local People

The "Jungle" refers to Elizabeth Wahle's personal St. Louis Metro East garden and it provides the backdrop for her writings about building and sustaining viable food webs and ecosystems within the home landscape.

Welcome to My Jungle

A blog for growers, consumers, and backyard gardeners to grow, eat, and connect in the local food system.

Raise, Grow, Harvest, Eat, Repeat

Connecting you with your food, farmers and community.

Know How. Know More. Connecting Food, Farmers, and Community

Ramping up local food production in the second-most populous county in the US.

Cultivate Cook County

Agriculture

The cattlemen's connection to timely topics, current research, and profitable management strategies.

The Cattle Connection

All issues concerning Small Farms, Agriculture, Local Food Systems, and the Natural Resources.

Acres of Knowledge

Current topics about crop production in Western Illinois, including field crops research at the NWIARDC in Monmouth.

Hill and Furrow

Youth Development

We're the friend you've been looking for.

4-H’s learning opportunities are intentionally designed around four essential concepts necessary for positive youth development: a sense of belonging with a positive group, independence and self-determination, a spirit of generosity toward others, and a wide variety of opportunities to master life challenges.

Our Stories from Illinois 4-H

Timely information, activities, and resources to help you stay connected to loved ones, the world around you, and yourself.

Connection Corner: Activities for Families