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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 Choose and Care for Houseplants

    If you struggle to keep houseplants healthy, you probably don’t have the right plant for your home or office.  (Photo by Kevin Hudson)
  • A group of teenagers posing on a stage.

    Join the 4-H Family

    Ah yes, 4-H. We talk about it quite a lot in Extension. You’ve probably seen the green clover on our website and around your community. You might even know some 4-H’ers who talk about how much they love being a member. But what exactly is it? (Photo by Kevin Hudson)
  • MSU Extension agent Sandy Havard wears a maroon shirt and holds an Extension soil sample box.

    How to Take a Soil Sample

    If your lawn, landscape, or garden look a little sickly, it might be time for a soil health checkup. (Photo by Jonathan Parrish/Cindy Callahan)
  • A close-up of a large brown Russet potato on a green plate with a white rim inside a microwave oven.

    How to Make Microwave Baked Potatoes

    When the weather begins to cool down, I start thinking of wintery foods. But let’s face it: in Mississippi, it’s not going to be cold for a while! Instead of heating up the oven, you can save time by making a “baked” potato in the microwave! (Photo by Jonathan Parrish)
  • A single hummingbird stands out against a blurred background as it feeds on homemade nectar at a feeder.

    Help Hummingbirds Prepare for Fall Migration

    It’s September, and that means hummingbirds are preparing to migrate to warmer climates for the winter.

    These tiny creatures need lots of energy to make this trip. You can help by providing feeders for them to visit as they pass your way. (Photo by Jonathan Parrish)
  • A brown bamboo bowl filled with fried rice made with brown rice, scrambled egg, and mixed vegetables including green beans, peas, carrots and corn.

    The Food Factor | Fried Rice Makeover

    Leftover rice – whether you’ve brought it home from a local restaurant or cooked it yourself – is the perfect foundation for a fun and easy weeknight supper: fried rice. But if you’re not careful, fried rice can be chock full of calories and sodium.

    Here are some tips for making your fried rice healthier! (Photo by Jonathan Parrish)
  • Three young people drive ATVs on a marked course in a field during a safety training.

    4-H Contest Raises ATV Safety Awareness

    Abbye Buchanan, of Florence, is the 2018 winner of the Mississippi State University Extension Service 4-H ATV Safety PSA Contest. Buchanan is 11 years old and has been a member of 4-H for 3 years. (File photo/MSU Extension Service)
  • A grouping of various kinds of cast-iron cookware sit on a kitchen counter.

    How to Season a Cast Iron Skillet

    Here in the South, a good cast iron skillet will never go out of style. Before using a new skillet, follow these steps to season it.
    (Photo by Jonathan Parrish.)
  • A person holds a canister of dry powder pesticide and a measuring spoon of powder over a fire ant mound.

    How to Treat Individual Fire Ant Mounds

    Even if you preventatively treat your yard periodically through the year for fire ants, you’ll still see mounds pop up.

    There are two ways to treat these mounds: liquid drenches and dry powders. (File photo by MSU Extension Service.)
Mississippi State University Extension 130 Bost Drive Mississippi State MS 39762

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