Blogs

Blogs Written by Our Educators

multi generations of family in a kitchen cooking. text family files
Family Files
light bulb with a plant inside of it. text good growing
Good Growing
hand holding a journal with writing and pictures
Naturalist Notebook
prairie grass in front of trees. text naturalist news
Naturalist News
Recent Blog Articles
Blog Articles
Swiss chard on wood table
Swiss chard: From bitter to better
Swiss chard is the less popular green when it sits next to spinach and kale, but it deserves its shining moment, too. It has big, dark green leaves...
Multiple ambulances
Xylazine: Approved for Animals, not Humans
Substances, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl are all ones that the public may know can be bought and consumed illicitly....
A collection of small ticks gather on the end of a leaf
Livestock recommendations for the Asian Longhorned Tick
Recently, the Asian longhorned tick was found in west-central Illinois. This invasive species can pose challenges to cattle populations in the area....
Periodical cicadas are here...now what? Adult periodical cicadas resting on a hazelnut bush
Periodical cicadas are here…now what?
The long wait is finally over! After spending 13 (or 17, depending on where you’re at) years underground feeding from roots, periodical cicadas have...
flower of bulbous bluegrass held in a hand
Watch out for Bulbous Bluegrass, a weedy grass
While hiking through an open woodland, I saw a grass that looked different from any other I’ve seen before. I bent down and snapped some pictures,...
A group of teens pose on the street in front of the White House
Fulton County 4-H teen attends national 4-H summit
Maddy Lettow, a seasoned eight-year member of the Fulton County Logan Leaders 4-H Club,  was selected to  attend the ...
Picture of an old building with trees and flagpoles in the distance
New webinar series launched for small business owners
Small businesses form the backbone of Illinois’ economy, especially in smaller cities and rural areas.  With this in mind, a team from...
young students working on an art project
4-H Clover Clinic empowers youth through skill-building and exploration
On February 17, 2024, Spoon River College buzzed with excitement and enthusiasm as young people from across...
More Blogs

Popular Blogs from across Illinois Extension

Agriculture

Acres of Knowledge

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

Hill & Furrow

News from the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural R&D Center.

Community & Economic Development 

Building Entrepreneurial Communities

Strategies for strengthening local economies.

Community Health

Community Health: Education, Prevention & Inspiration

Empowering people to make healthy, respectful, and responsible choices.

Consumer Economics 

Be Centsible

Written by college students, for college students. Be Centsible features answers to personal finance questions.

Fearless Financial Future

Research-based financial information to help us develop and maintain thoughtful and effective financial behaviors.

Plan Well, Retire Well

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

Environment

All About Weather

Learn more about Illinois weather patterns.

Naturalist News

Share your passion for nature and learn ways to protect our natural world.

Naturalist's Notebook

Experience the natural world through reviews and journal entries with Master Naturalist's.

Grasses at a Glance

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

Family 

Community Health: Education, Prevention and Inspiration

Empowering people to make healthy, respectful and responsible choices.

Family Files

Facts for all ages.

Refill Your Cup with Self-Care

Genuine, sustained self-care is an art.

Salud y Familia

Resources in Spanish.

Horticulture 

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

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

The Garden Scoop

Featuring seasonal tips and tricks from the horticulture team at Illinois Extension.

Good Growing

Keeping you growing with good ideas from Christopher Enroth, Ken Johnson, and Emily Swihart.

Illinois River Hort

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

Know How, Know More

Connecting you with your food, farmers, and community.

Over the Garden Fence

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

Raise, Grow, Harvest, Eat, Repeat

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

Nutrition and Wellness 

Be Smart, Eat Well, Get Healthy

Nutrition information you can use.

Healthy Eats and Repeat

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

Live Well, Eat Well

Information by our Nutrition and Wellness Extension Educators from across Illinois.

Simply Nutritious, Quick and Delicious

Helpful tips to make meals easy, healthy, and tasty!

Turnip the Beet! Nutrition and Wellness

Timely news, information, and innovative ideas to promote health and influence change.

Youth Development

Connection Corner

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

Our Illinois 4-H Story

Telling the amazing stories of Illinois 4-H members, volunteers, and alumni.