Blog Archive

a bunch of light blue serviceberries on a bush ready to be picked

Serviceberry Success - new fruit bushes at the Refuge Food Forest will increase food access

May 22, 2026

Serviceberry Success – new fruiting bushes at Refuge Food Forest will increase food accessIt was a cold, windy late-winter morning at the southeast corner of the Refuge Food Forest in Normal when three of us gathered to talk about slightly expanding the site’s edible landscaping...

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a close up image of the whip and tongue graft - rootstock and scion joined together

Grafting – an important age-old skill for aspiring orchardists

April 14, 2026

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

This month, I took on something I’ve only done once before—fruit tree grafting for Extension food access projects across the tri-county area. Last spring, I grafted 24 apple scions onto 24 rootstocks. 23 of those grafts were successful, leaving me a great problem to have – finding homes for 23...

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a cluster of ripened and ripening blackberries on the bush - the photo is called "Blackberries" by jared_smith and is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Plant a Small Fruits Garden and Increase Perennial Household Food Security

March 17, 2026

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

Plant a Small Fruits Garden and Increase Perennial Household Food SecurityThe spring thaw is happening albeit in fits and starts. Gardeners across central Illinois are chomping at the bit to plant their annuals. But they should also consider planting certain perennials this year....

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a freshly harvested baby ginger rhizome with stems and leaves attached held up in the air

Illinois Ginger Growers Collaborative prepares for second year of crop production research

February 17, 2026

Illinois Ginger Growers Collaborative prepares for second year of crop production research A Growing Market for a Globally Loved SpiceLast year, the U.S. consumed about 99,000 tons of ginger rhizome—the knobby, brown‑skinned, yellow‑fleshed, aromatic spice (sometimes...

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Bloom into Spring at Home, Lawn and Garden Day 2026

February 6, 2026

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

Get ready to shake off winter and welcome spring! Picture a lively gathering of gardeners eager for the season ahead, hallways filled with local vendors and exhibitors showcasing their products and services, and engaging presenters sharing their expertise on everything from new plant varieties to...

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heirloom tomatoes of various colors on a table

F1 hybrid vs. heirloom vegetable seed: What the choice means for home gardeners and market growers

January 6, 2026

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

Winter may have just started, but now is the time for home gardeners and market growers alike to flip through troves of seed catalogs and plan the 2026 planting season. Many of the top performing varieties are labeled (F1) or (F1 Hybrid) after the cultivar name, while others might be labeled “...

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A person digging into soil in a raised flower bed

New Year's resolutions of a gardener

January 2, 2026

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

The New Year brings fresh traditions, opportunities, and resolutions. For gardeners, it also signals the start of a new growing season. Why not set a few personal gardening resolutions to become a more sustainable and successful gardener? Here are some ideas for one gardener to another....

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Blog Archive

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass 2026

Serviceberry Success - new fruit bushes at the Refuge Food Forest will increase food access

Grafting – an important age-old skill for aspiring orchardists

Plant a Small Fruits Garden and Increase Perennial Household Food Security

Illinois Ginger Growers Collaborative prepares for second year of crop production research

Bloom into Spring at Home, Lawn and Garden Day 2026

F1 hybrid vs. heirloom vegetable seed: What the choice means for home gardeners and market growers

New Year's resolutions of a gardener