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A well maintained landscape.

When it comes to lawn care, summer is one of the busiest times of the year.


Red and green tomatoes with blossom end rot.

Gardening Myth Busters

March 19, 2021

Don’t believe everything you hear. That piece of advice can be applied to gardening as well. We’ve all done something because a friend said that it works.

homemade meat pizza on a teal plate with white floral border

The Food Factor: No-Yeast Pizza Crust

March 16, 2021

If you want to make homemade pizza crust but don’t have any yeast, this recipe is for you! You probably already have all of these ingredients in your pantry. Try using half whole-wheat flour for extra nutrition.

An Eastern Wild Turkey in a field.

Critter of the Month: Eastern Wild Turkey

March 12, 2021

Spring is here, and wild turkeys are on the minds of many Mississippians. While there are five species of wild turkeys, Mississippi is home to the Eastern wild turkey, which is the most abundant. 

A woman stands at a kitchen island.

Can You Find Nutritious Foods in the Grocery Store Center Aisles?

March 9, 2021

You’ve probably heard that shopping the grocery store's perimeter is the best way to pack your cart with healthy foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables. But the center aisles actually provide a lot of nutritious options.

A ruby-throated hummingbird.

How to Attract Hummingbirds to Your Yard

March 5, 2021

Ruby-throated hummingbirds will soon be migrating north, so it’s time to prepare for their arrival! Most ruby red-throated hummingbirds will be throughout Mississippi by the end of March.

Zucchini and tomatoes in a colorful bowl

The Food Factor: Zucchini and Tomatoes

March 2, 2021

Video by Jonathan Parrish.

I’m always looking for easy vegetable dishes with a lot of flavor, and this one hits the spot!

This recipe serves four, so you may need to double it, depending on the size of your family.

Did you know you can save some calories and fat by cooking your vegetables in water or broth instead of butter or oil? At about 100 calories per teaspoon, fat can add up quickly.

A person using a green manual fertilizer.

March Garden Checklist

February 26, 2021

Pat yourself on the back. You made it through the historic February ice storm! The weeklong event probably set you back on your garden chores and likely created more work for you to do. Tidy up any damage and get your spring garden in shape with these garden tasks.

A worker bee sips honey from a piece of honeycomb in a frame.

How to Start Beekeeping

February 23, 2021

While it seemed like winter would never end last week, many parts of Mississippi are already experiencing spring-like temperatures. I can’t think about the return of spring without thinking about bees!

For several years, my husband and I kept several bee colonies after he took an MSU Extension beekeeping course. When people ask us how to get started beekeeping, it’s no surprise our first recommendation is always, “Talk to your local Extension agent!”

An Eastern mole.

Critter of the Month: Eastern Mole

February 19, 2021

If you’ve noticed irregular, snake-like raised ridges throughout your lawn, Eastern moles have most likely found themselves at home. They are known for building a network of tunnels underground, and typically spend 90 percent of their lives there.

Eastern moles are around 5 to 7 inches long and are covered in brown or grey fur. At a glance, they look similar to mice. Despite their resemblance, they are actually more closely related to shrews and bats than they are mice! Eastern moles have hairless snouts, paddle-like claws, and poor eyesight. Their eyes are sensitive to the light...

Food Factor host Natasha Haynes holds a mug of cocoa while standing in a kitchen

The Food Factor: Quick Hot Cocoa for One

February 16, 2021

Many recipes—on The Food Factor and elsewhere—make multiple servings. Typically, I’m a fan of leftovers, but hot chocolate just does not warm up well in my opinion. That’s why I was excited to discover this fast, microwavable option for a single serving.

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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.

Blog content is created by a core team of communicators, including Susan Collins-Smith, Ellen Graves, Natasha Haynes, Qula Madkin, Michaela Parker, and Jonathan Parrish. 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