Extension news

Need something to do this winter? The Whiteside County Extension has you covered with several classes, workshops and other activities.

Pumpkins smashed will be composted into the SVCC field soil to help next year’s pumpkins grow.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Illinois Extension is partnering with several organizations across the Sauk Valley region, including Sauk Valley Community College, Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital, CGH Medical Center, and the Lee County Council on Aging.

The University of Illinois Extension will offer a Business Structure Basics Webinar at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 22, via Zoom as part of the Legal Training for Illinois Small Farms Webinar Series.

It's never too late to plant a tree and other woody plant as long as the hole is pre-dug, according to Nancy Kuhajda, Illinois Extension horticulture educator serving Grundy, Kankakee, and Will Counties.

Nancy Kuhajda, whose served for more than 22 years in Will County as an Extension program coordinator, now moves into the role of horticulture educator serving local communities.

Is the current summer-like September an anomaly? No – but Northern Illinois may see more of them.

Hosted by University of Illinois Extension, Ag Awareness Days ‘24 took 338 youths on a fast-paced, interactive, guided tour of science, engineering and technology that drive today’s farm operations.

An open house will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, at The Next Picture Show, Dixon.

In the Business Structure Basics Webinar, led by staff from Farm Commons in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension, producers will learn how to apply straightforward decision-making factors to their situations.

Supplemental watering, weeding and managing pests will go a long way to keep landscapes growing through the summer.

ew gardening terms sound so off-putting, especially to novice gardeners. Nonetheless, deadheading can be an important task.

Gardening is often taught through community connections whether cultivated from our families, neighbors, community group, or our chosen families.

Here are three less common native groundcovers to consider; all have attractive foliage and unique flowers and are resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits

Planting Summer is not a great time to plant trees. If you can wait until fall, the tree will probably experience less transplant shock and stress.

The program can benefit anyone seeking to enhance their strength, flexibility and overall fitness as they age.

Tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, are on the rise because of the increased exposure to humans and animals. What can we do to protect ourselves?

Classes teach basic dance skills and Tai Chi, stimulate the brain.

Looking for something to do? Here is a list of upcoming Extension courses set in Whiteside and Carroll counties.

In response to the current weather and climate cycle, one change that we can make is how we water plants. Let’s look at some ideas that can conserve water and provide a good vegetable crop.

Friends of Extension and 4-H Foundation will hold a pork dinner fundraiser to raise money for several Kendall County organizations.

The hammerhead worm is perhaps one of the strangest and least well-known invaders to our gardens. They eat other invertebrates, such as earthworms, slugs, isopods (rolly pollies), and other insect larvae.

Viburnum leaf beetle was first reported in the Chicagoland area in 2013. Within two years, it was regularly reported to the Morton Arboretu

Introduced commercially to the United States in 2012, pineberries are hybrid, everbearing, white to pink strawberries with red seeds, and they have a flavor and aroma of pineapple, though not everyone can taste it.

These gardens highlight plants with the purpose of appealing to human senses. The plants are meant to be enjoyed in a variety of ways including being touched, smelled, heard, felt, and even tasted.

Illinois 4-H partnered with Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) to help turn the tide by planting more than 900 oak trees in 38 counties this spring.

What if we kept rain water where it fell, used it, and directed it back into the ground. We could help mitigate flooding, conserve water, and be rewarded with a beautiful garden!

Exercise your brain, cook with kale, send your kids to sewing class

Warm weather season means more time spent outdoors. It is also time for ticks to be out more and everywhere. Changes in climate are leading to an increase in the ticks and the potential for unwanted diseases.

This extensive lilac collection is a result of a trip to France made by Col. William Plum and his wife Helen. William was a Civil War veteran and lawyer.

Growing plants from seed can be magical and it’s easy.

Cicada larva (or grubs) spend most of their life underground, feeding on tree roots. Depending on the species, this can be anywhere from two to 17 years!

Even though it has felt like spring, spring frosts are still expected in northern Illinois. It can be hard to resist putting out new plants and getting a jump on spring planting.

Spring has sprung! And with it, many spring ephemerals. Ephemeral means only lasting a short time, which explains why this group of plants has this very name.

University of Illinois Extension and Sinnissippi Centers will host a Youth Mental Health First Aid workshop April 10, 2024, at the Whiteside Extension Office in Sterling. The workshop will run from noon to 5 p.m.

University of Illinois Extension has announced two upcoming programs aimed at improving everyday life through laughter and memory enhancement.

To be successful in growing roses in Midwest gardens, keep in mind some basic considerations, such as plant selection and an understanding of potential disease and insect problems.

Led by environmental experts, this University of Illinois Extension program explores a new natural resource topic each month and provides small and meaningful ways to connect with nature.

The most common species of hummingbird in Illinois is the Ruby Throated Hummingbird. Their tiny size and iridescent green feathers with the white (female) or red (male) gorget on their throat makes them unmistakable.

Outside in your yard, as the temperatures begin to moderate and we start to get rains or the air is full of moisture, the bud scales protecting the flower blooms slowly begin to soften and loosen.

Events for spring 2024 include brain fitness classes, dog training, youth development, gardening, cooking and more.

Spring will soon be sprung. Kick it off by discovering a new outdoor hobby or backyard project to add to the to-do list through Four Seasons Gardening webinars beginning March 19 through the University of Illinois Extension.

As spring approaches, many people’s thoughts turn toward spring cleaning or moving into a new home. The latter also is true in the animal world, particularly with birds.

Seed Starting, Big and Small Gardening, Mindful Mechanics among planned sessions.

Sometimes called air plants, Tillandsias can do very well in our Midwest homes, adding some pizzaz to your houseplant lineup.

Weather patterns have shifted significantly in the past century and Illinois has dealt with both warmer temperatures and more precipitation, according to the Prairie Research Institute’s Illinois State Climatologist.

This event aims to engage youths aged 5-18 in a fun-filled exploration of various activities, showcasing unique project options available in the 4-H program.

A new educator has joined the Illinois Extension and its statewide effort to provide programming that promotes positive health practices.

Mild temperatures are inviting homeowners to get outside for spring yard work. Pruning is an essential maintenance activity to promote tree health, safety and aesthetics.

Timo Wayman, an entomology graduate student at University of Illinois, is interested in native bee conservation and bee parasites and is conducting a research project on bee hotels in Illinois.