The Extension Connection

a whitetailed deer running through grass in fall

Hunters Feeding Illinois provides 97,000 meals to Illinois families

March 19, 2025

URBANA, Ill. — In the 2024-25 hunting season, Hunters Feeding Illinois distributed 25,794 pounds of frozen, ground venison to 54 food pantries across east-central and southern Illinois. This provided an estimated 97,000 meals, reaching nearly 49,800 families.Formerly the Illinois Deer Donation Program, Hunters Feeding Illinois expanded this year with new partners and increased coverage. Illinois...

Blog articles

Pole barn with piece of machinery in front

Farmland owners – Can I rent out an old pole barn machine shed?

March 18, 2025

Farm Coach

Older machine sheds built in the 1970s dot the Illinois farm landscape. Are these old sheds worth keeping and using as rental buildings? The challenge is that many old pole sheds are in bad shape and too small for modern farm equipment. These sheds are expensive to maintain and repair. The owner is...

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Events

April 8, 2025

Do I Really Need Native Pollinators?
The Crossing Garden Education series is a free monthly program focusing on a variety of topics during the 2025 growing season. Join the Master Gardeners for this month's session to learn why pollinators are important and how natives can play a role in the garden. Dates and topics for...

April 9, 2025

Homegrown Harvest: Cool Season Crops
Homegrown Harvest is a series of free, family-friendly vegetable garden workshops designed to support beginning gardeners through the growing season. Topics include seed starting, warm and cool season crops, planting, harvesting, soil health, and garden tool maintenance.Workshop materials will be...

April 11, 2025

Gardening Made Easy
With the arrival of spring, many of us look forward to planting our flower and vegetable gardens and the new plants growing. Did you know that there are ways you can simplify your gardening chores while making gardening less work and not back breaking? Learn how to make your home gardening easier...

Spring Wildflowers cursive text layerd over a picture of spring flowers

April 15, 2025

Spring Wildflowers
Spring wildflowers love the early spring sunlight and are often found in woodland edges, meadows, and along stream banks. Learn about the beauty of our native spring-blooming plants and resources on cultivating and caring for these plants at home in your garden.  Register by April...

April 30, 2025

Container Gardens
Container Gardens with DeWitt & Piatt County Master Gardeners  Learn about the advantages of gardening in containers and tips for creating a beautiful flower container garden. We'll cover containers, soil, plant selection, and proper care procedures. Participants will...

May 3, 2025

Master Gardener Plant Sale
Come and join the Master Gardeners and the Master Naturalists for our annual Plant Sale. We will have a variety of plants such as annuals, perennials, house plants, natives, succulents, hanging baskets, vegetables, tomatoes, and herbs.  Master Gardener and Master Naturalist volunteers will...

Sourdough bread in front of a bowl of flour and other ingredients.

May 8, 2025

Unlock the Secrets of Sourdough
Turn simple ingredients like flour, water, and salt into flavorful sourdough loaves.  Join this class to gain a better understanding of the entire sourdough breadmaking process and leave with a list of resources to help you continue your breadmaking journey at home.  Please register by...

May 9, 2025

Windowsill Wonders: Herb Magic
Learn how to grow, cut, dry, and cook with fresh herbs from your own windowsill.  Participants will plant rosemary, basil, and dill to take home.  Please register by April 28 by clicking the "register here" button or by calling 217-935-5764.

Read DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt's annual report