Winter begins challenges to the small flock chicken owner. There are issues that need to be solved: keeping the water from freezing, preventing the birds from getting frostbite, and maintaining egg production. Winterize the Coop Chickens need a dry, draft-free, and well-ventilated building to...

2020 has been quite a year for all of us with all the changes that have been thrust upon us. This includes our farmers who supply fresh produce and meats to our local markets. With the health restrictions, many farmers had to quickly change from face-to-face market sales to online sales with...

Fields are turning to browns and golds and harvest has begun. With farmers across Illinois spending long hours in the fields, they and their farm families are shifting mealtime from the kitchen table to the field. Being in the middle of a field without kitchen conveniences like microwaves,...

If you enjoy those sweet tender vegetables of spring, then you get another opportunity to enjoy them during the cooler temperatures of fall. The catch is that you have to plant them now during the month of August. Why does a fall crop need to be planted in August? Daylight and temperature. Here...

Spring has sprung, the weather is gorgeous, and everyone wants to get outside. However, social distancing measures prevent many of us from being in public spaces. We can’t gather with others, but we still care about our families and our community. What a perfect time to revisit the victory garden ...

If you love having vases full of fresh flowers around the house, but not the price tag cut flower gardening is for you! A little planning now will have your home full of unique floral arrangements all summer long. First off, what is a cut flower? A cut flower is simply any flower or flower bud...

One of the secrets to getting fruit out of your home orchard year after year is annual pruning during the dormant season. This early-spring task can increase fruit quality, reduce the occurrence of diseases, and improve tree health in the long term, but many people are nervous about pruning or too...

This spring has provided ample opportunity for DIY projects so here’s one more to add to the list.   Worm Composting! For many, this might be unthinkable, but in reality, worm composting or vermicomposting is a great way to fulfill your mission to reduce, reuse, recycle. ...

Food science is so fun! Like overmixing batter to see "tunnels" develop because of gluten. Or turning cream into butter or ice cream. And especially dyeing with food and plant pigments. Pigments are the compounds that make up the colors in food and plants. Egg dyeing with food and plants is an...

I’m a big tea drinker – chai, green jasmine, oolong – you name it, I probably have a secret stash of loose leaf squirreled away. And just in time for St. Patrick’s Day and all things green, I’ve recently succumbed to matcha madness. While matcha is traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies,...

Hydroponics continues to be a popular topic in the horticulture industry, but usually it is on a very large greenhouse scale.   Why is it so popular? Well, it's because your plants can grow 30% to 40% faster. And it is just pretty darn cool. Did you know that you can build a hydroponic ...

Suicide rates are higher for farmers than any other occupation Centers for Disease Control Think about that for a moment.  Farm life is stressful. Most pressures are constant and uncontrollable....