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A hand is shown dipping a bell pepper strip into a bowl of garlic chickpea dip.

This dip is easy to whip up with a few ingredients you probably have on hand and a food processor.


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. 

Soil testing boxes full of soil waiting to be tested.

How to Take a Soil Sample

September 21, 2023

Early fall is one of the best times to test your soil. A soil test can tell you if your lawn or garden needs critical nutrients and how much. This way, your plants and your wallet will stay healthy. You won’t waste your money applying fertilizer or lime that your plants don’t need.

Mighthy Skillet Meal cooking in a skillet on the stove.

The Food Factor: Mighty Skillet Meal

September 20, 2023

When you need a hearty meal in a hurry, this Mighty Skillet Meal fits the bill.

Combine driving on the road.

Road Safety during Harvest Season

September 15, 2023

It’s harvest season, and you’re likely to see large farm equipment on the roads, whether that be bright green combines, red tractors, or anything in between.

A woman stans in a kitchen with fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts and other foods on display.

Cholesterol: Do You Know Your Numbers?

September 12, 2023

Did you know people of all ages can have high cholesterol? High cholesterol can cause heart disease, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. So, it’s important to know your cholesterol levels.

Southern Brown Turkey Fig

Celeste vs. Southern Brown Turkey Figs

September 8, 2023

Figs are in season from July to October. So, now is the perfect time to find some figs to eat and cook with! There are two main fig varieties found in Mississippi: Celeste and Southern Brown Turkey.

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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