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Blogs Written by Our Educators
A little girl with arms outstretched is sitting on her father's shoulders.

Family Files

 Two seedling emerging from the soil. Good growing logo.

Good Growing

 A young girl sitting against a tree in the woods is drawing in a journal.

Naturalist Notebook

 Looking up through some trees to a bright blue sky with white puffy clouds.

Naturalist News

Recent Blog Articles

Blog Articles
State award winners
Local Master Gardeners earn state recognition for service and impact
Master Gardener volunteers help strengthen communities across central Illinois through education, local food production, conservation, and community...
fall color in home landscape
Why are fall colors so brilliant some years and dull others?
The science behind autumn color and trees to consider for your landscape.The change from summer to autumn is often signaled by leaves glowing in...
apple
Grow your own apple orchard and enjoy the bounty
By Jennifer Bass, Extension Master Gardener and Master NaturalistServing Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell CountiesI grew up on a...
Staying physically active throughout the year
Exercise is one recommended way to improve physical and mental health. Experts suggest that adults work toward obtaining 150 minutes of moderate-...
a freshly harvested pile of garlic bulbs with roots and stems intact
Ready, Set, Garlic!
The crisp fall weather has arrived, and I’m here for it. For gardeners, this season is often associated with closing the garden for the year, but...
Money surrounded by corn and soybeans.
A cautiously optimistic 2027 crop budget outlook
For grain producers across central Illinois and the Midwest, the last few years have been some of the most challenging in recent memory. Low...
addressing streambank erosion
How plant roots hold soil in place and help prevent streambank erosion
Stable streambanks are an important aspect of watershed management in Illinois. Across the state, we are experiencing increased rainfall and...
Janine Donahue
Recording the natural world through nature journaling
Nature journaling is a way to slow down, pay attention, ask questions, and create a record of the natural world around us. A journal might include...
More Blogs

Popular Blogs from across Illinois Extension

Agriculture

Acres of Knowledge

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

Hill & Furrow

News from the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural R&D Center.

Community & Economic Development 

Building Entrepreneurial Communities

Strategies for strengthening local economies.

Community Health

Community Health: Education, Prevention & Inspiration

Empowering people to make healthy, respectful, and responsible choices.

Consumer Economics 

Be Centsible

Written by college students, for college students. Be Centsible features answers to personal finance questions.

Fearless Financial Future

Research-based financial information to help us develop and maintain thoughtful and effective financial behaviors.

Plan Well, Retire Well

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

Environment

All About Weather

Learn more about Illinois weather patterns.

Naturalist News

Share your passion for nature and learn ways to protect our natural world.

Naturalist's Notebook

Experience the natural world through reviews and journal entries with Master Naturalist's.

Grasses at a Glance

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

Family 

Community Health: Education, Prevention and Inspiration

Empowering people to make healthy, respectful and responsible choices.

Family Files

Facts for all ages.

Refill Your Cup with Self-Care

Genuine, sustained self-care is an art.

Salud y Familia

Resources in Spanish.

Horticulture 

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

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

The Garden Scoop

Featuring seasonal tips and tricks from the horticulture team at Illinois Extension.

Good Growing

Keeping you growing with good ideas from Christopher Enroth, Ken Johnson, and Emily Swihart.

Illinois River Hort

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

Know How, Know More

Connecting you with your food, farmers, and community.

Over the Garden Fence

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

Raise, Grow, Harvest, Eat, Repeat

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

Nutrition and Wellness 

Be Smart, Eat Well, Get Healthy

Nutrition information you can use.

Healthy Eats and Repeat

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

Live Well, Eat Well

Information by our Nutrition and Wellness Extension Educators from across Illinois.

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

Helpful tips to make meals easy, healthy, and tasty!

Turnip the Beet! Nutrition and Wellness

Timely news, information, and innovative ideas to promote health and influence change.

Youth Development

Connection Corner

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

Our Illinois 4-H Story

Telling the amazing stories of Illinois 4-H members, volunteers, and alumni.