Blogs

Blogs Written by Our Educators

Recent Blog Articles
Blog Articles
Scrub brush sitting on window sill in kitchen next to bottle of dish soap
Read article: A guide to keeping your sponges, dish rags and scrub brushes clean
A guide to keeping your sponges, dish rags and scrub brushes clean
A little spring cleaning and decluttering can be hard work, but the end result is worth it. According to National Science Foundation (NSF), the...
people in a group holding up their arms and laughing
Read article: Celebrating Older American's Month: Powered by Connection
Celebrating Older American's Month: Powered by Connection
Established in 1963, Older Americans Month (OAM) is celebrated every May. Led by a federal agency, the Administration for Community Living (ACL), OAM...
a shadowy woodland under story with a "Beware of Ticks" sign
Read article: A bad year for ticks? Take steps to protect yourself
A bad year for ticks? Take steps to protect yourself
Ticks! I can’t stand these parasitic arachnids. I have had far too many run-ins with ticks throughout my life. They seem to find me every year. So...
Brent Fowler standing in blooming prairie with a corn field in background
Read article: Quail comeback
Quail comeback
By Carla Rich Montez, Extension Master Naturalist serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell counties   Almost everywhere you look on...
girl blowing bubbles
Read article: How do you save money during the summer?
How do you save money during the summer?
Summer is around the corner! For those of us in the colder regions of the U.S., the warmer months present us with options we longed for during the...
Cicada Map of Central Illinois
Read article: Will the 2024 cicada invasion affect me
Will the 2024 cicada invasion affect me
We have been hearing for months that two broods of periodical cicadas will emerge from the ground this May in central Illinois: the 13-year Brood XIX...
hand holding pulled out weeds
Read article: Know your enemy: Identifying common weeds in Illinois fields
Know your enemy: Identifying common weeds in Illinois fields
As the growing season begins in Illinois, it is not just our crops that will be sprouting.  Growers should soon begin monitoring their fields for...
Read article: Watching your cows
Watching your cows
Observation and reflection seem to be a lost art in a world dominated by phone screens, data sets, and short attention spans. I challenge you to...

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 EnrothKen 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.