Blogs

Highlight Blog Posts

Shiitake mushrooms growing on inoculated logs

Grow your favorite fungus at home: How to cultivate shiitake mushrooms

March 31, 2023

Growing mushrooms is a time honored tradition. Cultivation of shiitake mushrooms on hardwood logs dates back at least 1000 years in Japan. After button mushrooms, the shiitake mushroom is the most commonly cultivated mushroom in the world, according to Cornell University. Despite their high retail cost, growing shiitake mushrooms is achievable at home without great expense. Shiitake mushrooms...

Growing apples in your home orchard

March 30, 2023

There is a lot of interest by home gardeners to raise and produce organic fruit. The good news is it can be done! Home growers need to be attentive to their fruit trees and know when to apply control measures. Producing fruit that is relatively free of discoloration and damage from diseases and pests requires the use of various control measures- cultural, mechanical, and...

Recent Blog Articles

Stages of parturition

February 3, 2023

Calving season in Illinois offers an array of uncontrollable challenges such as cold, windy weather and mud. However, being knowledgeable and prepared during calving season is completely controllable and is one of the most important preparations. Understanding the three stages of parturition will...

Image of person chopping broccoli on a cutting board in a kitchen

Eating your broccoli doesn't have to feel like a burden

February 3, 2023

Broccoli is the dependable vegetable that can serve as the star of the meal or a trusty side dish. It’s a cruciferous vegetable, like cauliflower or cabbage. Cruciferous vegetables have both pros and cons. The con is the fact that they contain glucosinolates, sulfur compounds that give an...

Urban Forest: Not a contradiction but a critical resource overhead photo of a community with low residential buildings and many trees blue sky with a few white clouds

Urban Forest: Not a contradiction, a critical resource

February 3, 2023

By definition, a forest is a large area of land covered with trees and understory growth. Traditionally, these parcels of land are often imagined as plant-dense woodlands with a diverse mix of species layered from tall trees down to mosses on the woodland floor. These plants are growing where seeds...

Our local food system through the eyes of bread

February 3, 2023

One recent Saturday morning, I awoke to an amazing aroma coming from my kitchen. It was slightly sweet, yeasty, and tangy, all at once. The smell was like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold night. My wife had just baked bread from the dough I made the day before, and it was time to eat—...

Gray background with two pink hearts side by side

Celebrate love and prevent heart disease

February 2, 2023

February is not only the shortest month of the year but is also considered the month of love by many. Whether you express that love by fostering relationships with family and friends or focusing on self-care, being kind to yourself and others has far-reaching benefits. Kindness has been shown to...

Tree removal is easier when trees are dormant

February 1, 2023

Sometimes a tree becomes a hazard This is the time of year I prefer to take down any trees that have died or become a hazard in the garden. I say “prefer” because sometimes you don’t have the luxury of waiting. I experienced this last year when a large tree lodged over as a result of heavy rains...

Is canning flour safe?

February 1, 2023

During gardening season, Americans home can fruit and vegetables to store them at room temperature and enjoy them throughout the year. Fruits and vegetables go bad much quicker than dry ingredients such as flour, but how long can flour be stored, and is it safe for home canning like fresh produce?...

Decluttering Your Life

January 31, 2023

Does the clutter in your house cause you stress? Is the clutter a cause for conflict with other family members? Do you want less clutter but you are too overwhelmed to begin? No one goes through life without accumulating stuff, but many of us struggle to keep up with the clutter in our lives. Over...

U.S. Native Tree Checklist

January 28, 2023

Across the United States, our urban and natural forest ecosystems support a wide range of both flora and fauna. Trees are certainly the center of these plant communities and remain the most symbolic and recognized plant life on the landscape. Have you ever wondered exactly how many native species...

Calving season tips

January 27, 2023

Calving season is here! Breeding decisions made the previous year are finally coming to life and are showcased through newborn calves. Although there are year-round management strategies that can impact calving season success, here are some short-term, in-the-moment calving tips for success this...

Personal Finances

Illinois Extension can guide your family through all of life's stages.

Great retirements don't happen by accident. Tips for saving and investing your money.

Plan Well. Retire Well.

Money talk by college students, for college students.

Be Centsible

Develop and maintain thoughtful and effective financial behaviors using these trusted methods.

Fearless Financial Future

Find the financial balance that fits your personal budget and financial planning goals.

Finding Financial Balance

Family

In today's hectic lives, families find themselves raising children, caring for elders, and working.

Read these timely resources for wellness across the lifespan.

Family Files

Health

Living well means taking time for ourselves so we can be healthy for others who need us.

Take steps to living a healthier life.

To Your Health

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Genuine, sustained self-care is an art.

Refill Your Cup with Self-Care

A journey of wellness dedicated to awareness and the power of knowledge to help you on your health and wellness journey.

Walking the Line to Wellness

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Empowering people to make healthy, respectful and responsible choices.

Community Health: Empowering People

Nutrition and Wellness

Eating healthy shouldn't be this hard.

Healthy information for better living

Live Well. Eat Well.

Nutrition information you can use.

Be Smart, Eat Well, Get Healthy

Highlighting food, recipes, and ideas for a healthy lifestyle.

Healthy Eats and Repeat

Helpful tips to make meals easy, healthy and tasty!

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

Community and Economic Development

Illinois Extension helps communities develop strategies to thrive.

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Strategies for strengthening local economies.

Building Entrepreneurial Communities

Participants in Illinois Extension Illini Science Scholars Program share their experiences in this unique opportunity.

Scholars Speak

Natural Resources

We have one planet. Let's work together to ensure its future and ours.

Dig deep into the types of grasses and their uses in our world.

Grasses at a Glance

Read the latest news in natural resources.

Naturalist News

The Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy guides efforts to improve water quality at home and downstream.

Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy

Weather impacts food production, transportation, homes, and lives.

All About Weather

Horticulture

From the flowers you enjoy to the produce you eat to the plants that add value to our life, we offer help for growing strong.

Keeping you (and your garden) growing with good ideas.

Good Growing

Gardening in Illinois including everything from vegetable gardening to native plants.

The Garden Scoop

Where northern Illinois gardeners come to find out what's happening out in the yard.

Over the Garden Fence

Local and statewide information on a variety of current topics for home gardeners and market growers.

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

Helping new and experienced gardeners develop their skills and knowledge while encouraging everyone to enjoy the outdoors.

Illinois River Horticulture

Archive of the most popular blog articles from Illinois Extension

Our Greatest Horticulture Hit Blogs

Local Food Systems

Growers are diverse, from urban agriculture and beginning small farmers to farmers markets and organic agriculture.

Learn new resources for urban growers.

Local Foods | Local Farms | Local People

The "Jungle" refers to Elizabeth Wahle's personal St. Louis Metro East garden and it provides the backdrop for her writings about building and sustaining viable food webs and ecosystems within the home landscape.

Welcome to My Jungle

A blog for growers, consumers, and backyard gardeners to grow, eat, and connect in the local food system.

Raise, Grow, Harvest, Eat, Repeat

Connecting you with your food, farmers and community.

Know How. Know More. Connecting Food, Farmers, and Community

Ramping up local food production in the second-most populous county in the US.

Cultivate Cook County

Agriculture

The cattlemen's connection to timely topics, current research, and profitable management strategies.

The Cattle Connection

All issues concerning Small Farms, Agriculture, Local Food Systems, and the Natural Resources.

Acres of Knowledge

Current topics about crop production in Western Illinois, including field crops research at the NWIARDC in Monmouth.

Hill and Furrow

Youth Development

We're the friend you've been looking for.

4-H’s learning opportunities are intentionally designed around four essential concepts necessary for positive youth development: a sense of belonging with a positive group, independence and self-determination, a spirit of generosity toward others, and a wide variety of opportunities to master life challenges.

Our Stories from Illinois 4-H

Timely information, activities, and resources to help you stay connected to loved ones, the world around you, and yourself.

Connection Corner: Activities for Families