Extending Knowledge. Extension Is Here To Help.

Resources and Upcoming Programs

Office update

Our Edwardsville office will be operating under irregular and limited hours until further notice. Our office will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00 am - 4:30 pm and Tuesday and Friday is by appointment only. For questions or to schedule an appointment, contact us at 618-344-4230 or uie-mms@illinois.edu. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience.

We are hiring summer extra help

Looking to make a difference this summer? Join the Illinois Extension team as part of our Summer Extra Help (INEP) program! Apply Now to support healthy living and nutrition education in your community. Send your resume or letter of interest to: uie-mms@illinois.edu. Have questions? Contact William Catalano at wsc@illinois.edu or 618-875-8939.

Become a Master Gardener

Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who dedicate their time and skills to share reliable and research-based information with home landscapers and gardeners. Learn how to get involved.

Become a Master Naturalist

Volunteer as a Master Naturalist to educate others about natural resources.

Strengthen management skills during spring planting

The series of webinars is another way to dig deeper, consider more plant options, strengthen management, and keep growing. Two new webinars explore the growing impact of invasive plants and how to get rid of them properly, and all about squash, pumpkin, and cucumber pests as garden visitors. The series focuses on home gardening, environmental stewardship, and backyard food production.

Now enrolling: Youth Cooking School

Calling all young chefs ages 9-14! Register now for a fun-filled culinary adventure packed with hands-on cooking, exciting activities, and delicious creations. Don’t miss out—spots are filling fast!

Wellness Wednesday Nature Walk

Discover the power of nature! Explore the positive effects of nature on both your physical and mental well-being. Engage all five senses to fully appreciate the beauty and stress-relieving qualities that nature has to offer. Take a break and reconnect with nature!

Diabetes Support Group

Are you or someone you care about living with diabetes, or at risk for developing diabetes or other chronic illnesses? Nutrition and Wellness Educator, Kris Juelfs, with University of Illinois Extension, will exchange practical tips and advice with peers who are navigating the challenges of living with diabetes. Join us on Thursday, May 8, where we’ll focus on Eating Right for Gut Health. Call or email to reserve a spot at 618-939-6232 or mtl@waterloolibrary.org.

Eat well, stay active, and save money

Find tasty recipes, shopping tips, and activities to keep you and your family healthy.

Events

Wellness Wednesday

May 14, 2025

County

Monroe

Honey and Health: Nature's Sweet Treat

May 15, 2025

Poultry Processing and Farm Market Tour

May 19, 2025

County

Union

Managing Common Squash and Pumpkin Pests

May 20, 2025

More Events

News Releases

April 30, 2025

Meat from Illinois State Fair Sale of Champions donated to Feeding Illinois food banks through new ACES, IDOA partnership
URBANA, Ill. — The...

April 29, 2025

Illinois Extension offers free dial-gauge pressure canner testing for home canners
URBANA, Ill. — With summer gardens gearing up, it’s time to take canning equipment out of storage. Illinois Extension offers free dial-gauge pressure canner testing to ensure the equipment works accurately.A variety of foods can be canned at home through boiling water bath canning and...

White fuzzy appearing specs that are mealybugs on a houseplant stem.

April 28, 2025

Keeping outside pests off indoor plants
URBANA, Ill. — Keeping houseplants is a hobby that has recently seen a huge resurgence. Now, nurseries that were all but shuttered for the winter are hosting houseplant parties and other events to help people keep their hands dirty all year.Tending to houseplants is a way to maintain our...

A corn field with a sunset showing in the background.

April 28, 2025

Summer Twilight Series continues the tradition of learning and connection with local growers
SIMPSON, Ill. - For a decade, the Summer Twilight Series has been a beloved tradition in southern Illinois, bringing farmers, educators, and community members together to explore the diversity and innovation of local agriculture. Now in its tenth year, Illinois Extension is proud to continue...

A gas analyzer measures carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide from fields.

April 25, 2025

Illinois leads most rigorous agricultural greenhouse gas emissions study to date
URBANA, Ill. — Farmers apply nitrogen fertilizers to crops to boost yields, feeding more people and livestock. But when there’s more fertilizer than the crop can take up, some of the excess can be converted into gaseous forms, including nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that traps nearly 300 times...

More News Releases

Programs We Offer

4-H Youth Development