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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

  • A brown swallowtail butterfly with white spots drinks nectar from a flowering pink and yellow lantana plant.

    How to Plant a Pollinator-Friendly Landscape

    Sometimes bad news can feel overwhelming, as if one person can do little to make a difference. Growing plants that support honeybees and butterflies doesn’t solve a major world problem, but it can give these important pollinators a boost while also offering loads of beautiful color to your yard or garden. Now is the time to plan! (Photo credit: Kat Lawrence)
  • A woman with a dog in front of chocolates, which can make dogs sick.

    Love Your Pet Day

    It’s National Love Your Pet Day, so give those four-legged family members extra special treatment. More noggin’ pats and extra-long walks are in order. But be careful with the treats. Some human foods can be harmful to pets. For dogs, that includes chocolate. (Photo/video credit: MSU Extension/ Brian Utley)
  • USDA graphic explains egg grades and sizes and what the carton labels mean.

    Get the Facts on Eggs

    Eggs are a staple in most kitchens, and for good reason. They’re a great source of protein and can be prepared a variety of ways for any meal of the day. They’re even good snacks. (Photo by USDA)
  • Green leaves cover branches that end in pink crape myrtle blossoms.

    How to Prune a Crape Myrtle

    Southern landscapes are filled with crape myrtles of all sizes and colors because they are easy to grow and provide beauty for several months. However, they do need a little TLC this time of year. (Photo by Gary Bachman)
  • An assortment of green, orange, and red vegetables are arranged in a heart shape.

    February is Heart Health Month!

    Wearing red in February isn’t just for Valentine’s Day. It’s also worn to raise awareness of the dangers of heart disease.
    The American Heart Association reports about 2,300 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day. 
  • This Valentine's arrangement has a stuffed bear and a red heart hugging an arrangement of twigs with candy attached using red ribbon.

    How to Make a Quick and Easy Valentine's Day Gift

    With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you might already be racking your brain for a gift idea to give to that special someone. Have you ever thought of making the gift yourself?  p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 23.0px Calibri}   (Photo/video by Jonathan Parrish)
  • A football referee in a black and white striped shirt blows a whistle while another raises his arms to signal a touchdown. Another illustration uses a thermometer to depict the proper freezing, refrigeration, cooking and holding temperatures for food.

    Score a Major Win with Food Safety

    I may not be very interested in football, but I love food. So for me, Superbowl parties are all about the snacks! (Photo credit: Karen Blakeslee/Kansas State University Research & Extension)
  • A group of ripening tomatoes are shown in a close-up.

    Get Ahead of Vegetable Diseases

    Bone-chilling temps have you stuck inside dreaming of that first home-grown tomato sandwich? Well, this is a great time to prepare for a healthy crop. (Photo by Alan Henn)
  • :Black, white, and red logo showing a stylized wild hog with a red circle and a diagonal line across. Text reads Hold Our Ground Operation H.O.G.

    Wild Hogs: Always Open Season

    Got wild hogs? You need a trap. Winter is the best time to use this management tool.
  • The green leaves of an oak tree create a canopy overhead while the thick, rough brown bark covering the leaves and branches dominates the right side of the photograph.

    Free trees for Arbor Day!

    This time of year, my love for trees joins my love for all things free, thanks to the generosity of several organizations, including the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil & Water Conservation District, and Mississippi Soil & Water Conservation Commission. (Photo by Kevin Hudson)
Mississippi State University Extension 130 Bost Drive Mississippi State MS 39762

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