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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

  • Black Bear

    How to Identify Black Bear and Skunk Tracks

    Have you ever been on a walk in the woods, park, or backyard and noticed animal tracks in the mud or dirt? 

  • Tobacco hornworm caterpillar feeds on a tomato plant in the vegetable garden.

    How to Manage Hornworms on Tomatoes

    Have you seen big green worms on your tomato plants? These are likely hornworms, and we have an easy way to keep your tomato plants safe from their voracious appetites. 

  • Colorful tomatoes

    Harvest of the Month: Tomato

    Tomatoes are one of my favorite foods. I almost always keep some handy to snack on or cook with.

  • Canning tomatoes

    Homesteading: How to Preserve Your Harvest

    There’s just nothing quite like popping open a jar of homemade sweet pickles in the dead of winter.

  • A woman sits at a kitchen table with a bowl of yogurt and berries.

    How to Eat for Eye Health

    Healthy eyes start on your plate! Check out our 5 tips to help prevent cataracts.

  • Thermometer facing the sky with a reading of 100 degrees F.

    Tips for Heat and Sun Safety

    Y’all, it’s hot! But you didn’t need me to tell you that. It’s that time of year where you’ll break into a sweat when you step outside even for a moment.

  • School lunchbox packed with nutritious foods surrounded by colorful school supplies

    Back-to-School: How to Stock the Kitchen

    Pop Quiz: Is your kitchen ready for nutritious and fuss-free back-to-school snacks and meals?

  • Asian Lady Beetle

    How to Prep for Asian Lady Beetles

    Now is the time to outsmart Asian lady beetles—yes, in the middle of summer! You’re probably thinking, “Aren’t those a problem in winter? Can’t I just deal with them when the time comes?”

  • Green Tree Frog

    Species of the Month: Green Tree Frog

    Who’s that green climber? The green tree frog, or Hyla cinerea, is a striking green frog with sticky pads on its toes.

Mississippi State University Extension 130 Bost Drive Mississippi State MS 39762