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Extension for Real Life

Description

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

  • Man stressed out looking at a Christmas tree.

    Managing Holiday Stress

    The holidays are painted as bright, sparkly, and magical, but that’s not always reality.

  • Fresh oranges, grapes and greenery arranged on a table surrounded by festive decorations and gifts, creating a warm holiday atmosphere with vibrant colors

    Tips for a Sustainable Holiday Season

    The holidays bring parties, fun decorations, extra time with friends and family—and trash. A lot of trash. 

  • To-go containers of food and sauces on a table

    Leftover Food Safety

    Raise your hand if you love Thanksgiving leftovers! There’s nothing I love more than leaving our family’s Thanksgiving gathering and being told to fix myself a to-go plate. And by plate, I mean two or three!

  • Close-up of leaves and pecans ready for harvest on a tree.

    Are Pecan Trees Toxic to Other Plants?

    You may have heard that pecan trees are toxic to some other plants growing nearby. But is this really true? 

  • Wood Duck on a branch over water.

    What are Wood Ducks?

    The wood duck, sometimes called “the bird of the shadows,” is the state duck of Mississippi.

  • Sweet Potatoes

    Harvest of the Month: Sweet Potato

    Sweet potatoes are one of Mississippi’s top 15 commodities, with more than 30,000 acres harvested each year! They are a vegetable loaded with nutrients perfect for a balanced diet.

  • Pink, purple, and white pansies

    Pansy Container Combos

    Just because the colder temperatures have arrived doesn’t mean your curb appeal has to fade.

  • A woman in a kitchen with ingredients for fajitas on the counter.

    Fajita Night! Two Ways: Vegetarian and Chicken

    Keep weeknight meals simple. Try these one-pan fajitas!

  • Several cast iron cookware

    How to Care for Cast Iron

    There’s nothing finer than cooking with a cast iron skillet. I’ve inherited skillets from both sets of my grandparents, and they’re something I will always treasure.

Mississippi State University Extension 130 Bost Drive Mississippi State MS 39762