Blog Posts

close up of old jack o'lanterns in a pile
Don’t trash pumpkins this Halloween: Smash them!
Apple cider and crisp fall air call for Halloween festivities and of course, you can’t forget about pumpkins! It would not be an Illinois Halloween...
carved jack-o-lantern pumpkins with scary faces
U of I Extension, Rader Family Farms to host 2nd McLean Co. Pumpkin Smash to combat climate change
U of I Extension, Rader Family Farms to host 2nd McLean Co. Pumpkin Smash to combat climate changeHalloween night may be filled with...
Reduce methane generation with composting
The problem with food scraps in landfillsIn the U.S., food waste is a big problem. Nationally, landfills and trash incinerators receive 167 million...
daffodils
Spring Gardening: When is the best time to get started
By Ella Maxwell, Extension Master Gardener serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria and Tazewell counties The temperatures this spring have been up...
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News Releases

sign on white fence that says compost happens
Illinois Extension to train new wave of community compost leaders
OREGON, Ill. - Composting plays a vital role in creating sustainable communities, from reducing waste to enriching soil. This spring, learn to be a composting leader with University of Illinois Extension's Compost Ambassador program.The five-week training program, which began in Cook,...
Illinois Extension Compost Ambassador training
Illinois Extension to train new wave of community compost leaders
URBANA, Ill. — From reducing waste to enriching soil, composting plays a vital role in creating sustainable communities. This spring, learn to be a composting leader with University of Illinois Extension's Compost Ambassador program.The five-week training program, which began in Cook,...
diverse group of young people gardening
Spring into gardening with tools and tips at upcoming gardening programs
URBANA, Ill. — Spring is near, and your green thumb is ripe for gardening. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just getting started, growing nutrient-rich vegetables, fresh fruits, and aromatic herbs is more than just a way to fill your plate; it is like a badge of honor. Gardening...
Smash, Don’t Trash, Pumpkins this Season
Fall is the pumpkin’s time to shine, but what happens when it is time to say goodbye to the short-lived jack-o-lanterns? Green your Halloween by recycling pumpkins into compost at a free, outdoor Pumpkin Smash offered by the University of Illinois Extension and Sauk Valley...
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Videos

Vermicomposting - Turning Leftovers into Soil

When we are asked to describe an ocean, forest, desert, or even our backyard we can give a pretty clear description about what one might find there. When asked what is under the ground, we tend to be unsure and it becomes clear how little we know about what is below our own backyards. Worms come...

Getting Started with Composting

Composting food scraps and yard waste is a positive alternative to sending the waste to the landfill or down your garbage disposal, and the results of composting provides a nutrient rich material that can be added to our gardens. Learn more about how to get started with composting by joining...

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