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A woman stands behind a kitchen counter with a variety of foods displayed.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a significant risk factor for heart disease. However, healthy lifestyle choices can reduce or eliminate your risk.


Person planting vegetables.

What are Plant Hardiness Zones?

February 26, 2024

Spring is right around the corner, and you probably are getting an itch to start setting out plants in your landscape and garden. If you’re new to gardening, you’ll need to know what plant hardiness zone you’re in.

A woman stands in a kitchen and holds a serving of Chicken with Peachy Ginger Sauce.

The Food Factor: Slow Cooker Chicken with Peachy Ginger Sauce

February 20, 2024

Who says peaches are just for dessert? Slow Cooker Chicken with Peachy Ginger Sauce is a perfect meal for those busy workdays!

Blackberries growing.

Tips for Planting Blackberries

February 16, 2024

Looking to plant a fruit plant on your property but not sure which to choose? May we suggest blackberries! Blackberries are among the easiest fruit plants to grow, and they produce tasty berries that are perfect for baking!

A woman stands in a kitchen with high-fiber foods on the counter.

How to Get More Fiber in Your Diet

February 13, 2024

Has your doctor ever recommended more fiber in your diet? Fiber is an important part of a healthy diet. Research shows that most Americans don't get enough. These tips can help you get the recommended amount.

a bowl of Buffalo Chicken Dip stis on a plate surrounded by celery stalks

The Food Factor: Buffalo Chicken Dip

February 6, 2024

This tangy, creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip will become a party favortie!https://food.unl.edu/recipe/gameday-buffalo-chicken-dip

American Holly

Facts about American Holly Trees

February 2, 2024

Whether it’s in your home as a holiday decoration or planted in your yard, you should have no trouble recognizing the American holly tree!

Pink roses

Five Rose Varieties You Should Know

January 31, 2024

Roses and Valentine’s Day go hand in hand. If you’re like me, roses are at the top of your list of favorite plants. They’re a flower that never goes out of style! 

Yellow buttercup weeds.

Common Winter Weeds

January 26, 2024

Whether you have a large lawn, field, or pasture, you’ve probably had to deal with pesky weeds. 

A bowl of Egg Roll in a Bowl.

The Food Factor: Egg Roll in a Bowl

January 23, 2024

Skip the takeout. Try this simple, tasty twist on on egg rolls.

Three men stand around a trailer that holds a large irrigation pipe.

What Can Extension Do For You?

January 19, 2024

You may know Extension for it's strong connection to agriculture and the 4-H youth development program. But Extension offers much more. Get a glimpse of the wide range of programs and services our organization provides.

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About Extension for Real Life

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