New year, new possibilities. We'll help you grow.

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Embrace a new season.

Put the new year to work for you at home, at work, and in your community. Get inspired, build confidence, and trust Extension’s reliable and relatable information to help you navigate health and resilience in all areas of life.

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Plan your garden.

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Growing your own food brings many rewards. Start planning your garden now to maximize both your garden space and the growing season. Find expert tips on planning, planting, growing, and managing a great garden, and look over resources to help you know when to plant vegetables in each Illinois plant hardiness zone.

 

 

Connect. Learn. Grow.

cupcakes on a counrt

Grow Your Food Business

Learn about the laws, certifications, processes, and practices required to run a home-based cottage food operation safely and legally in Illinois.
New bright green plants emerging from the soil in springtime

Springtime Brings Growth

Kick off the spring season by learning about cicadas, replacements for invasive trees, and steps to take to prepare for days spent outdoors.
diseases under microscope

Don't Get Sick this Winter

Say yes to being healthy. Find out which 12 vaccines are most commonly recommended for adults and children.
Recent News
Overhead view of compost filled bin during winter.

Spring into composting by reviving a compost pile after winter

URBANA, Ill. — If you haven’t touched your compost bin or pile all winter, don’t worry, you are not alone. It could be filled with kitchen scraps to the top or left untouched since the fall. Getting a compost pile going again after the long, cold winter can be intimidating, but it is possible…

Darci Webber

New Extension environmental educator takes root in central Illinois

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — When it comes to coexisting with nature, the solutions aren’t always straightforward. What do you do if your native plant landscaping attracts a family of groundhogs? How do you work with your neighbors to remove encroaching invasive species? Where can you go in town to find…

Fungi growing at the base of a large old tree in a forest

Spring back into nature with sustainability tips from Everyday Environment series

URBANA, Ill. — Every spring, nature reminds us of the beauty of the wild spaces that surround us. Wildflowers bloom in the forest understory. Mushrooms pop up overnight in your front yard. The sun sets slowly over a lake. Explore tips to manage the threat of invasive plants, explore the fungus…

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Wellness Wake Up Call

In this episode, we explore the three pillars of holistic well-being - physical, mental/emotional, and community engagement - and how they contribute to living well.
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