Home-to-Market Act expands options for Illinois’ growing cottage food industry
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois’ Cottage Food Law allows food entrepreneurs, local producers, and home cooks to sell non-potentially hazardous homemade foods and drinks to the public. Prior to 2012, those foods had to be prepared in a licensed commercial kitchen, an expensive option for those running a...
Pelleted seed gives gardeners a sown in advantage
URBANA, Ill. – Have you noticed the windowed packets of seeds at garden centers with brightly colored “seeds”? These pelleted seeds are small or irregular seed that have a specialized inert coating applied to improve planting, spacing, and germination. Often the coating, which increases the...
Southern Illinois youth place at livestock and dairy judging contest
DUQUOIN, Ill. – The cold weather didn't keep over 100 local FFA and 4-H members from gathering at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds for the return of the in-person livestock judging contest on Saturday, March 12.
Livestock judging is the evaluation of an animal's characteristics and...
Strive to Thrive series will teach youth fundamentals to help them flourish
MARSHALL, Ill. – All youth should feel a sense of purpose, joy, and direction in their lives. Sometimes though, it may seem like some aren't as engaged as they could be. Illinois 4-H knows the importance of thriving and is offering four online workshops for all youth ages twelve and older to...
Keep jumping worms from damaging lawns, gardens, natural areas
URBANA, Ill. – A new threat is invading Illinois. Jumping worms attack gardens, lawns, and natural areas with devastating results.
Illinois Extension forestry research specialist Chris Evans says the worms are voracious eaters that decrease soil quality and reduce organic matter....
Trim trees, shrubs in the dormant season for stronger, healthier plants
URBANA, Ill. – Throughout the growing season, gardeners and arborists talk about the benefits of pruning woody ornamentals while they are dormant, and that time is almost here.
“Pruning can seem like a daunting task, but it is an important cultural practice for the health and vigor...
Garden catalog season gives gardeners chance to explore, shop for next year's seeds
URBANA, Ill. – January begins the annual flight of vegetable, flower, and fruit tree catalogs to your mailbox or inbox. Depending on your level of gardening, the catalogs are starting to arrive frequently and en mass.
“It used to be you would get either a vegetable catalog or a fruit...
Plant cover crops at home for healthier soils
URBANA, Ill. – Healthy soil is essential for healthy plants. Using cover crops in the home garden is one way to promote soil health.
Cover crops are non-harvested crops that add organic matter to the soil, transfer nitrogen to plants, and break up heavy clay or compacted soil. They...
Give houseplants new life with DIY kokedama moss balls
URBANA, Ill. – Free your houseplants’ roots this winter by creating organic art for your home through kokedama, a form of Japanese bonsai, where plants are grown in a special soil mix and wrapped in moss. Kokedama is a uniquely beautiful way to grow houseplants in a non-traditional way.
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Give Christmas trees a second life after the holidays
URBANA, Ill. – Once holidays are over, the Christmas trees tend to come down. Instead of hauling this year’s tree to the dump or having the city pick it up, consider repurposing it in your landscape.
University of Illinois...
Poinsettias add a rainbow of color options to holiday décor
URBANA, Ill. – With their bright red blooms, Poinsettia’s are a holiday tradition, but buyers don’t have to limit their selection to one color. This winter, celebrate and decorate with a rainbow of Poinsettias.
University of...
Make a big difference on small farms with winter workshops
URBANA, Ill. – Every small farm is different. Direct market farmers sending produce to local restaurants have different needs than homesteaders getting started with livestock for the first time. But small farmers, hobby operations, and backyard growers alike can always trust University of...
Low-maintenance, winter blooming holiday cacti are gift that keep on giving
URBANA, Ill. – With their vibrant, floral displays and low-maintenance needs, holiday cacti are a great holiday gift. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter cactus are each different species. They bloom reliably each year without much upkeep.
“Every December, one plant...
Remember electrical safety when decking the halls
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – While decorating can be one more thing to mark off an extensive holiday to-do list, take a little extra time when using electrical light strands or other plug-in decorations and while using a ladder.
Holiday decorating-related injuries include those caused...
Learn to grow with Master Gardener online training
URBANA, Ill. - From small farms and rural towns to the suburbs and inner-city, more than 2,600 trained Master Gardeners put their mission of “helping others learn to grow” into practice around Illinois through community service...
Make informed decisions on the farm with newest field research updates
URBANA, Ill. – Winter is a time for the agriculture community to pause and plan for the next growing season. Crop producers, consultants, and industry professionals can get the latest updates on Illinois crop production in person or online at the 2022 Crop Management Conference in January and...
Mental health matters: Learn how to respond when someone needs aid
URBANA, Ill. – Mental health and substance use issues are common. Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults lives with a mental illness according to the National Institute of Mental Health. From 1999 to 2016, 630,000 people died from drug overdose according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....
