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Several types of plastic and other waste surround a green chasing arrows emblem.

Whether you recycle or not, you probably are familiar with the “chasing arrows” emblem found on plastic products. But many consumers don’t know that this symbol denotes only the type of plastic an item is made from, not its ability to be recycled. Check out these tips that can help you reduce your plastic waste.


peach salsa in a bowl

The Food Factor: Peach Salsa

September 20, 2022

Fruit salsas are fabulous and can add even more dimension to the flavors of your dishes. Try this peach salsa with fish, chicken, or pork.

Ruby throated hummingbird on a leaf.

Fall Hummingbird Migration

September 16, 2022

Hummingbirds are fascinating little creatures and are adored by many people. If you’re a hummingbird lover, you’re probably giddy to have them flock to your yard again this season. 

fruit smoothies

How to Improve Brain Health

September 12, 2022

Did you know that some key lifestyle changes can help decrease our risk of cognitive decline or poor brain health? Check out these five tips to begin loving your brain better.

golden rain tree

When and How to Prune Landscape Plants: Early Fall/Winter

September 9, 2022

Pruning is one of the least understood gardening tasks and for good reason – it’s confusing. When, how, and if you should prune depends on the type of plant or tree you have and your goal for the plant. Check out these pruning tasks for the last one-third of the year.

Bowl of Greek Island Salad

The Food Factor: Greek Island Salad

September 6, 2022

I really enjoy eating Mediterranean style food and this tasty, protein-filled salad with Greek seasoning is perfect for me.

pot of boiling water

What to do Under a Boil Water Notice

August 30, 2022

Do you know what is safe and unsafe when it comes to using water that is under a boil-water alert? Here's what to do and not do if you are under a boil water notice.

A fly on a window with homes in the background.

How to Control Flies in Your Home

August 29, 2022

There are not very many things quite as annoying as a pesky house fly in your home. House flies will buzz inside anytime a door or window is opened. Airconditioning, modern sewage management, and the lack of livestock near our homes means most people don’t see large numbers of flies in their homes these days. Think about how bad they were back in the day before proper window screening existed! But there are times when flies will occasionally get inside and certain settings that can increase the fly population around your home. 

Catfish on a plate

Catfish Recipe Roundup

August 26, 2022

August is National Catfish Month! Celebrate by adding some farm-raised, Mississippi catfish to your regular menu plan. Check out some of our previously featured recipes.

Figs

An Overview on Figs

August 22, 2022

With figs in season, they’re on my mind a lot these days. The sweet, Southern decadence is quite the treat! I associate figs with my grandparents since they had a tree in their backyard. I remember helping them pick buckets full of figs when I was younger and eating them soon after they were picked. 

A child sleeping

Back to School: Tips for Better Sleep

August 19, 2022

As your child heads back to school this fall, you’ve made sure they have all the supplies, clothes, technology, and other items they need to be successful in the classroom. There’s just one thing missing from this list: Sleep. Consistent, quality sleep is just as important to a successful academic year as anything you can purchase.

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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