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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

  • Colorful flowers planted in a white pot.

    Container Gardening for Cold Weather

    Container gardening is a quick and easy way to spruce up your front porch during the fall and winter months! My favorite cold weather plant is the pansy. They’re easy to take care of and they bring the perfect amount of color to any landscape. They also act as the perfect spiller plant for a ‘thriller, filler, spiller’ styled container. (Photo by Michaela Parker)

  • A woman holds a smoothie while standing in a kitchen.

    The Food Factor: Peanut Power Smoothie

    When you need a boost of protein before you dash out the door, try this quick smoothie. You can experiment with different fruits, add ice if you prefer a frozen drink, and swap out peanut butter for an alternative like sunflower seed butter if you have allergies.

  • A display of healthy treats for Halloween.

    Tips for a Happy, Healthy Halloween

    Trying to eat healthy during the Halloween season can be frightening and a little challenging. Here are a few tips to get your broomstick flying in the right direction.

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    How to Store Caladiums

    If you have caladiums in your landscape and want to be sure they come back next year, you’ll need to dig them up just before the first frost. Mississippi’s winters are too cold for the plants to survive in the ground.

  • Ripe muscadines on the vine.

    How to Pick the Right Muscadine Variety to Grow

    If you want to grow muscadines at your home, choosing the right variety can be intimidating. With so many varieties to pick from, how do you know you’re picking the right one?

  •  Green lettuce and cooked chicken wrapped in a wheat tortilla.

    The Food Factor: Sunshine Roll-ups

    Fans of The Food Factor know I love rotisserie chicken. I’ve added this quick recipe to my repertoire for using a store-bought rotisserie chicken. You could also use canned chicken breast or even sliced chicken or turkey from the deli.

  • Woman filling out paper work with two children.

    How to Join 4-H

    The most common question we get is: how do I join 4-H? It’s encouraging to see so many young people wanting to get involved in the activities 4-H offers!

  • Cooked noodles, vegetables, and beef.

    The Food Factor: Asian Beef & Noodles

    I’m always looking for recipes that cook up fast and reheat well. This Asian Beef and Noodles recipe gives me a delicious dinner and fabulous leftovers for my lunch.

  • A mum with maroon budding flowers in a clay pot.

    Tips for Buying and Caring for Mums

    Nothing says fall like buying mums to incorporate into your home landscape! They’re the perfect plant to transition from hot to cool weather. With several gorgeous colors to choose from, mums are a must for fall weather.

Mississippi State University Extension 130 Bost Drive Mississippi State MS 39762