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Eastern redcedar needles and berries

The Eastern redcedar, scientifically known as Juniperus virginiana, is a versatile and resilient evergreen tree native to North America. 


A redbird sits on a platform bird feeder full of black oil sunflower seeds.

How to Choose a Bird Feeder

October 27, 2023

Want your feathered friends to have a supplemental source of food this winter? Set out a bird feeder for them. There are many types of bird feeders, but they are not all created equal. Check out the common types of feeders and decide which ones will work best in your yard.

Canned vegetables.

Canned vs. Fresh vs. Frozen Produce

October 26, 2023

When buying produce, there are several different routes you can choose––you can buy fresh, frozen, or canned.

Four jack-o-lantern pumpkins

How to Dispose of Halloween Pumpkins

October 20, 2023

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. I love having pumpkin carving parties with friends. Pair the night with apple cider and a bonfire, and it’s my ideal day!

A bowl of peachy green beans sits on the kitchen counter with a woman holding a serving size in a separate bowl.

The Food Factor: Peachy Green Beans

October 17, 2023

Peachy Green Beans can be made with frozen and canned produce if you’d like to give it a try in the fall or winter.

Man raking leaves

To Rake or Not to Rake?

October 16, 2023

To rake or not to rake? Some people believe you should rake up fallen leaves, while others think they shouldn’t be touched. So, what is the right answer?

A woman stands in a kitchen with various root vegetables on the counter.

4 Ways to Cook Root Vegetables

October 16, 2023

The sun is setting sooner, the nights are getting cooler, and some of our produce looks a little spookier. Don’t be spooked by fall produce, especially root vegetables. Try some of these tasty ways to prepare them!

Students in green shirts posing for a picture.

What is 4-H?

October 6, 2023

One of the best kept secrets out there is 4-H!

A woman in a kitchen smiles and holds a forkful of salad up for the camera.

The Food Factor: Fall Harvest Salad

October 3, 2023

It's finally fall, and this healthy, simple salad is a great way to celebrate the new season!

A rake in orange leaves.

October Landscape Checklist

September 29, 2023

As of September 23, it’s officially fall! Cue the pumpkins, apple cider, and bonfires! The weather normally takes a while to realize that it’s actually fall but isn’t this cooler weather glorious!

Tufted Titmouse

Bird of the Month: Tufted Titmouse

September 27, 2023

The tufted titmouse is a bird you’ve likely seen in parks, woodlands, and in your back yard. They’re native to the eastern parts of the United States and are attracted to areas where there is an abundance of broadleaf trees, such as oaks, hickories, and maples. 

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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