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Environment Blog Posts

Close-up of a young leafy green vegetable plant growing in a salad table with other herbs and marigolds.

January 16, 2018

If you are planning for your vegetable garden this spring, a salad table or two might be in order. Salad tables are a great addition to a traditional vegetable garden or wonderful on their own.
​(Photo by Kevin Hudson)

Two birds visit a platform feeder full of black oil sunflower seeds

January 9, 2018

2018 arrived with a breath of fresh, frigid air. Colder temperatures can mean limited food for our feathered friends. Many people like to provide supplemental food for birds in the winter, which is a great way to draw birds to your backyard for observation.

flowers

December 6, 2017

Teaching your children or grandchildren about nature can start in your own backyard. Birdwatching is a simple, inexpensive way to start a conversation about our natural resources and their importance in the ecosystem.

But first, you’ll need a set of binoculars that you can actually see through clearly. If you have only one set, you’ll want to adjust them properly for each user. 

Bud vases filled with greenery, holly berries and roses

November 28, 2017

With Thanksgiving celebrations behind us, we’re beginning to decorate our homes for Christmas, and calendars are filling up with Christmas parties. That has everyone thinking about hostess gifts, parting gifts and thoughtful gifts for friends.

Our floral design specialist Jim DelPrince has an easy, inexpensive bud vase that can meet all those needs. He’ll show you how it’s done.

Close-up of a fall decorative basket with pine cones, pumpkins, gourds and artificial flowers and grasses.

October 31, 2017

If you want to freshen up your fall décor or add a new piece to the mix, this project is for you. Our MSU Extension Service floral specialist Jim DelPrince shows you how to make an easy and pretty basket to hang on a wall or door.

Plastic debris is seen in an open black trash bag sitting on the beach at the 2016 Mississippi Coastal Cleanup.

October 10, 2017

How much trash does your family generate? How much of that trash is single-use plastic, like water bottles and food packaging?

You might be surprised to know that much of that plastic ends up littering our waterways, beaches and oceans. In fact, the No. 1 item polluting these areas is plastic.

Two men hold a hammerhead shark while conducting research aboard a boat.

September 28, 2017

Our Extension photographer Kevin Hudson went out to sea to snag some great photos of the Master Naturalist training last weekend. We wanted to share a couple with you! On hand was our new Extension marine fisheries specialist Marcus Drymon. 

Deer University logo showing buck with huge rack.

September 26, 2017

Gear ready? Check.

Hunter’s Safety Course & hunting license? Check.

Know the rules for your hunting spot? Check.

I’ve learned a lot about hunting since marrying into Mississippi 10 years ago. And whenever I really want to score points with my husband, I bring home information from MSU Extension experts. Now everyone can access science-based information whenever they want it, thanks to a new podcast, Deer University!

headshot of Dr. Jay McCurdy, PhD

September 19, 2017

Are you longing for a great looking yard next summer – the kind that wins the neighborhood Yard of the Month award? Well, there are a few things you need to do now to get that lush, green carpet.

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About Extension for Real Life

Extension for Real Life is a product of the MSU Extension Service’s Office of Agricultural Communications.

That’s a long way of saying we are professional communicators who get to talk about food, families, 4-H, flowers, and farming for a living. Pretty good gig, right?

The three main writers for the blog are Ellen Graves (Seamstress of Social Media Strategy), Susan Collins-Smith (Content Connector) and Keri Lewis (Captain Cat Herder). But we get by with a lot of help from our friends in Ag Comm and Extension!

You can reach us at 662-325-2262 or extreallife@msstate.edu

Recent Posts

Sun shining through red maple tree branches
They get the name, “red maple” from the color of their leaves in the fall, and from the color of their blooms in the spring.
Tree of the Month: Red Maple
A hand is shown dipping a bell pepper strip into a bowl of garlic chickpea dip.
Garlic Chickpea Dip is a quick and easy appetizer for all your gatherings this fall.
The Food Factor: Garlic Chickpea Dip
White chickens.
Broilers vs. Layers