We believe in Illinois: its people, its diverse neighborhoods and communities, and our shared future. We believe that health and wellness are the foundation for individuals, families, and communities reaching their full potential. We believe in and promote a culture of service as fundamental to strong and healthy families, neighborhoods, and state. We believe that the long term sustainability of the environment and agricultural productivity requires stewardship and care. We believe in and respect youth’s potential to change the world and work to support nurturing communities and opportunities to learn and grow.
We believe in the state of Illinois and we are committed to our mission, linking local communities to the University and developing programs, tools, and knowledge that will support needed change. These webinars help us fulfill our mission: to align research to needs and translate research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities.
Home Fruit and Vegetable Gardening
March 2: Growing Great Vegetables: Diseases and Disorder
This session will cover the challenges of vegetable plant diseases and disorders of vegetable plants. Learn about diseases and wildlife pests and how to prevent and handle them.
March 9: Four Seasons: Adaptive Gardening
Chris Enroth discusses best practices for adapting your garden to accommodate age and mobility. Learn how to help yourself, as well as others, enjoy the art of gardening at home, schools, and assisted living facilities. Contact: Nancy Kreith
March 9: Growing Great Vegetables: Attracting Pollinators and Controlling Pests
Increasing vegetable production in a garden can make it more appealing to pollinators, such as butterflies, bees, beetles, and moths. Learn methods for attracting pollinators, as well as how to control unwelcome insects. Contact Ken Johnson
March 13 : Garden Day Workshop
The lineup for this year’s Garden Day Workshop includes Chris Enroth on “How to Not Kill Your Tree,” Master Gardener and radio personality John Bodensteiner on “Creating a Garden for Hummingbirds,” Eliana Brown on “Rain Gardens and other Sustainable Water Practices in the Garden,” Erin Harper on “Seed Starting and Vegetable Garden Design,” and Master Gardener Pat Sollars on “Fill Your Garden with Four Seasons of Color.”
Future Learning Opportunities
- March 27: Good Growing Garden Pollinator Webinar
Local Food Systems, Small Farms, and Specialty Operations
March 4: Business Spotlight: Funks Grove Heritage Fruits & Grains | Small Farms Winter Webinars
Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup has developed a value-added product line using fruits and grains from their Bloomington-area farm. Jeff Hake will discuss those efforts and the next steps for the farm, including how they tie into opportunities and issues created by policy, regulations, larger markets, the COVID-19 pandemic, and climate change.
March 11: Containerized Production: Options When Quality Native Soil Isn’t an Option | Small Farms Winter Webinar
Many urban farmers find they have limited options for growing in high quality native soils. Containerized production offers an alternative. The growing media and container are the key decisions for non-soil based production. In this webinar, we will look at container options, non-container options, growing media, and the economics of containerized production. Contact: Zach Grant
Future Learning Opportunities
- March 18: Food Desert or Food Apartheid?
- March 25: Too Small for Wholesale Markets? Think Again
Commercial Agriculture
March 4: Certified Livestock Managers Training Virtual Live Webinar
Now, managers have a convenient, online opportunity to complete the Certified Livestock Managers Training. This live virtual webinar provides Illinois livestock producers the manure management training they need to meet the requirements of the state’s Livestock Management Facilities Act. Asynchronous options are also available. Contact: Jay Solomon
Family, Food, and Finances
March 2: Let’s Talk Money: Credit Scores RevealedWhy is credit such a mystery? What’s the difference between a credit score, credit report, and credit history? Contact: Kathy Sweedler
March 3: Get the Facts on Supplements | Springtime Science Health Series
Interested in taking dietary supplements, but not sure if you need them? This webinar helps you understand supplement labels and decide if they’re right for you! Presenter: Leila Shinn (RDN, FAND). Contact: Chelsey Byer
March 4: Health at Home: Focus on Fiber
A high-fiber diet promotes heart health, supports a healthy gut microbiome, and reduces the risk for diabetes. Learn the different types of fiber, the best sources of fiber, and simple ways to include more fiber in your meals.
March 4: Happy Healthy Providers: Mindfulness in the Classroom Part 2
Mindfulness can help reduce your stress and improve job satisfaction and focus. Develop your own mindful practice by learning how to maintain a moment-by-moment awareness of your thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment with openness and curiosity. Contact: Michelle Fombelle
March 9: Let’s Talk Money: Secrets for Financial Success
Money comes in. Money goes out. Do you have money left for your important goals and wants? Learn the secrets of directing your money to where you want it to go. Contact: Kathy Sweedler
March 10: Get Savvy: Investing Basics
You see investors take big risks in movies and maybe hear of family or friends who invest in the markets. But what exactly is investing, and how do you actually do it wisely? Knowing and understanding terminology, fees, types of professionals, and investment types can be a whirlwind of knowledge that can be confusing. Learn the basics and have a better understanding on how investing works. Contact: Camaya Wallace-Bechard,
March 10: Hungry for Change: Impact of COVID 19 on Food Insecurity | Springtime Science Health Series
Food insecurity has many implications besides hunger. The pandemic has compounded the burden on 35 million Americans who experience food insecurity. Learn ways to help reduce food insecurity in a COVID-19 environment. Contact: Chelsey Byer
March 11: Health at Home: Life is Sweet
Learn how to identify added and natural sugars in your diet, increase knowledge of the nutrition facts label, and gain tips in limiting added sugar to keep your heart beating strong. Contact: Lisa Peterson
March 11: Happy Healthy Providers: Family Engagement
Family engagement systems support children’s school wellness and academic achievements. Gain a better understanding of what family engagement really means and start to develop resources to encourage easy family involvement activities in your school settings. Contact: Michelle Fombelle
March 11: Cottage Food Law: Selling Homemade Foods at Farmers Markets
If you are considering selling homemade foods at a farmers market, make sure to know the basic guidelines that growers and vendors must observe in preparation for farmers market sales. Contact: Lisa Peterson
March 16: Let’s Talk Money: Framing Biases, Overcoming Hurdles!
Our financial fears and personal biases can hold us back from making wise financial decisions. Learn how to overcome poor spending choices by using behavioral economics techniques. Contact: Kathy Sweedler
Future Learning Opportunities
- March 17: Free-Radical Fighters: Understanding the Importance of Antioxidants | Springtime Science Health Series
- March 23: Let’s Talk Money: Make your savings grow
- March 24: Our Chemical Environment: A Primer on Toxicology and Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals | Springtime Science Health Series
- March 25: Keys for Embracing Aging: Positive Attitude
- March 31: Our Chemical Environment: Phthalates, BPA, and the Developing Brain | Springtime Science Health Series
- April 1: Keys for Embracing Aging: Eating Smart
- April 7: Stand Up Against Sitting Down: The Benefits of Sitting Less | Springtime Science Health Series
- April 8: Keys for Embracing Aging: Physical Activity
- April 14: Get Savvy: Student Loan Repayment
- April 14: Myths and Misconceptions of Metabolism | Springtime Science Health Series
- April 15: Keys for Embracing Aging: Brain Activity
- April 21: Get to Know Your Brain: What We Know About Alzheimer’s Disease | Springtime Science Health Series
- April 22: Keys for Embracing Aging: Social Activity
- April 28: Food for Thought: Exploring the Gut-Brain Axis | Springtime Science Health Series
- April 29: Keys for Embracing Aging: Tuning in to the Times
- September 2: Keys for Embracing Aging: Safety
- September 9: Keys for Embracing Aging: Know Your Numbers
- September 16: Keys for Embracing Aging: Stress Management
- September 23: Keys for Embracing Aging: Financial Affairs
- September 30: Keys for Embracing Aging: Sleep
- October 7: Keys for Embracing Aging: Taking Time for You
Community Economic Development and Local Government
March 17: DEI in Education Policy: Equitable Employee Management
Workplace conditions and managerial practices shape employees’ access to resources. Based on fieldwork done in five public high schools, case study results show how demographic composition of employees, manager practices around employee hiring and placement within the organization, and the extent to which managers informally socialize or monitor employees, affect coworker social support and social ties. Join a research-based discussion on the issues which public sector organization managers may at first see as secondary, but should consider as primary, in their strategy for creating effective and equitable organizations.
Energy and Environment
March 6: Spring Has Sprung
Nature-loving children, families, and educators are invited to explore different nature themes through video stories and lessons. The pre-recorded, hour-long sessions are appropriate for families with children age 4 to 7 and pre-K to second grade educators. Program materials can be accessed starting March 6. Learning through nature-related stories, lessons and virtual hikes will give children a view of nature they don’t always see or hear.
March 11: Severe Weather Everyday Environment Webinar
Spring brings severe weather back to Illinois and the Midwest. Thunderstorms pack high winds, heavy rain, lightning, and potentially tornadoes. To learn more about these phenomena, join Extension Educator Duane Friend as he discusses types of thunderstorms and how they form, forms of lightning and what research is learning about lightning, and current research in tornadoes. Contact: Duane Friend
Future Learning Opportunities
- March 24: Crop Tree Management: Science and Application
- March 30: Rural Pond Management Webinar
- March 31: Tree Planting Basics
- April 3: Wee Naturalists: Earth Gifts
- April 7: Get Lost: How to Navigate in the Backcountry
- April 14 | Identification and Management of Herbaceous Invasive Plants
- April 21: Safe Use of Herbicide in Natural Settings
- April 28: Providing Suitable Woodland Habitat for Secretive Animals – Bats, Snakes, and Salamanders
- May 1: Wee Naturalists: Roots Slurp
4-H Youth Development
March 2: Ag Career Exploration: Production Ag
March 9: Ag Career Exploration Ag Sales
March 16: Ag Career Exploration Ag Companies
Explore numerous professional pathways related to agriculture. Seeing your professional pathway as a career ladder can help align short term and long term goals.
March 6: 2021 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl
You don’t need a cow. You don’t need to like milk. You don’t need to be taking a dairy project. All you need to compete in the State 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest is a desire to do it.
March 6: Speaking for Illinois 4-H Training
Prepare teens to be the voice of 4-H at state legislative events. Participants learn public speaking skills to improve their interaction with county and state elected officials, potential donors, civic groups, and volunteers. Learn to adapt your 4-H story to specific audiences and improve your business etiquette skills.
Future Learning Opportunities
- March 30: Ag Career Exploration Vet Medicine
- April 6: Ag Career Exploration Ag Ed/Outreach
- June 27 – July 1: Illini Summer Academies
If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in programming, contact the presenter listed. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your needs.
***Report Courtesy of the University of Illinois Extension***
