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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

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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.

  • Rows of yellow mums.

    What to Do in Your Garden in October

    Fall is my favorite time of year. The autumn colors people incorporate into their landscape just make me giddy! 

  • A man kneels in a flower bed next to some plants.

    How to Divide Perennials

    Fall is one of the best times to divide perennials, such as daylilies and irises. It is best to divide these kinds of plants when they are not blooming. If you don’t get this task done in fall, don’t worry. You can divide perennials throughout the winter and into early spring.

  • A pink blended raspberry dessert in a green cup.

    The Food Factor: Razzleberry Shiver

    Eating healthy foods doesn’t mean saying no to all desserts. For me, it means finding recipes that satisfy my sweet tooth but also help me meet my goals for daily fruits and vegetables. This recipe for a frozen treat is low in fat and loaded with fruit and fiber.

Mississippi State University Extension 130 Bost Drive Mississippi State MS 39762