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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

  • Green and purple lettuce.

    Harvest of the Month: Lettuce

    Did you know lettuce was one of the first vegetables brought to America by Christopher Columbus? What a great fun fact!

  • A woman stands in a kitchen and holds a bowl of soup.

    The Food Factor: Vegetable Cheese Soup

    Swiss cheese and curry powder amp up the flavor in this quick soup.

  • A woman stands in a kitchen.

    7 Tips for Heart Health

    Show your heart some love —because a healthy heart means a healthier YOU! Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women in the United States. But the good news is that, in many cases, heart disease can be prevented. 

  • Rose bush being pruned with pruners

    Tips for Pruning Roses

    If you have rose bushes in your landscape, now is the time for pruning! Heavy pruning needs to be done mid-February to mid-March while the plants are still dormant.

  • Girl in red shirt showing a pink Yorkshire pig.

    Different Types of Show Pigs

    January and February are busy times for our 4-H’ers, especially those participating in livestock!

  • A pot of Quick Chili sits on the stove.

    The Food Factor: Quick Chili

    Do you need a warm, satisfying meal fast? Try this Quick Chili. All you need are five ingredients and 30 minutes.

  • Several human hands hold dirt

    Ready, Set, Garden: Soil Sampling 101

    Are you already thinking about what you will plant this spring and summer? If you are, don’t forget to test your soil. It’s the best way to know if your garden or lawn needs critical nutrients and how much.

  • A woman sits at a kitchen table and smiles for the camera.

    Mindfulness for Health and Wellness

    A new year is perfect for resetting and refocusing on your health and wellness goals. Being more present or mindful is a great way to start. What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is the process or practice of gently focusing on your awareness in the present moment. Being more mindful can help you feel your best and meet the goals you set for yourself.

  • Woman in a greenhouse watering plants.

    Extension Does That?

    “Extension does that?”  That’s the typical response when we tell people about all the services MSU Extension offers. We’ve been a trusted partner for families and communities in Mississippi since 1914, offering programs, resources, and expertise in a variety of areas.

Mississippi State University Extension 130 Bost Drive Mississippi State MS 39762