Desoto County Extension Office

08/09/2026

Registration opens tomorrow for the fall 2026 session online Master Gardener course! AND we are planning our 2027 FACE-TO-FACE DeSoto County Training Course.

Registration for the self-paced online seminars opens August 10th until September 9. The sessions will be available from October 1 to December 10.

If you are interested in the Face-to-Face training contact our DeSoto County Extension Office to be added to our sign-up list and make plans to take the course locally in the Spring with us!

The Master Gardener Volunteer program is a way to gain horticultural expertise at a low cost, meet fellow gardeners, connect to a local community and belong to a well-respected educational organization. The program is managed by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

In exchange for 40 hours of educational training, participants must return 40 hours of volunteer service within a year of their training. Each subsequent year requires 20 hours of service and 12 hours of additional training to maintain Master Gardener certification. Volunteer hours should help local Extension offices with horticulture projects that benefit local communities.

The cost for Master Gardening Volunteer training option is $175. The Home Gardening Course, which requires no volunteer community service, is available for $225.

Learn more here: http://msuext.ms/mg

08/08/2026

Exactly 1 month from TODAY we are hosting a Fall Gardening Workshop! NOW is the time to learn so you can have a successful fall garden full of cool season veggies to enjoy this fall and winter. Fall grown produce is better because it ripens in a cooler, less stressful time of the season. It suffers less from sunburn or sunscald, and a fall garden has fewer insects and diseases! Register by calling 469-8480 or message us here on Facebook.

08/07/2026

You can't beat canning fresh vegetables! MSU Extension Agent Lara Angel held a home canning workshop yesterday!

A special thanks goes to Circle T Farms for donating fresh purple hull peas and tomatoes for us. They are located at the edge of DeSoto County over on Smith Road in Coldwater, MS! Go give their farm stand some support since they supported us this canning season at the Extension Office. The DeSoto County Extension Office Extension Community Raised Bed Garden supplied the peppers for our workshop too!

Didn't attend but still want the information? Access our Complete Guide to Home Canning Extension publication here:

https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/the-complete-guide-home-canning

08/07/2026

How did your routine go this morning? Getting back in the school routine can be hard! If you find yourself stressed over the course of the next few weeks. Try deep breathing!

o Take a short break and just breathe.
o Breathe deep, filling your lungs.
o Let the air out slowly.
o Do this once—get immediate relief.
o Do this five times—it’s even better.
o Repeat as necessary—it’s painless

Help your child learn the skill of deep breathing for those stressful moments they might encounter at school this year. Practice using bubbles! Take deep breaths and blow slow to make huge bubbles.

For more tips on managing stress visit this information sheet!https://extension.msstate.edu/sites/default/files/publications/is1401.pdf

08/06/2026

Food production and preservation are popular modern homesteading activities that help people live more self-sufficient lifestyles! If this is a topic you want to explore more about our next Master Urban Homesteading Course registration starts on August 10th!

To read more about preparing to homestead check out this article...you might recognize a few people who were interviewed!
▶

News Type Study, plan homesteading before beginning By Susan Collins-Smith Published July 24, 2026 3:09pm Updated July 24, 2026 3:16pm Food production and preservation are popular modern homesteading activities that help people live more self-sufficient lifestyles. (Photo by FotoHelin/stock.adobe.co...

08/05/2026

🍀👩‍🌾Calling all youth gardeners!

Junior Master Gardener Interest Meeting August 25th!💛🌿🧡

📱Call our office to sign up at 662-469-8480.
📅Date: August 25,, 2026
🕘Time: 4:30 pm
📍Location: DeSoto Co. Ext. Office (1170 Star Landing Rd. West Nesbit, MS)

For youth ages 8-18, join us to discover what this program is, how you can be involved, and experience gardening and hands-on activities!

08/05/2026

Meal prep is very helpful to get through hectic days. It’s one of the easiest ways to be intentional about what you eat plus it helps you stick to a healthy lifestyle and habits. The added bonus is that its a great time and money saver!

A few things to consider are....
✅Proper storage. Properly storing your meals can help you preserve nutrients, flavor, and texture, and prevent food-borne illness caused by harmful bacteria.
✅Label containers. So you know what items are inside and the date in which they need to be used by.
✅First-in, first-out. This is a great system to help you stay organized! Get in the habit of putting the foods with the oldest date in front or on top of other containers so they will be the first ones you grab.
✅Eat meals within 3-4 days

Lara Angel will be covering these tips and MORE at this class at the Southaven Library on August 10th! Join her!

08/04/2026

Stock up on snack options to send to school & for after school snacks when kids get home. Include a lean protein and fiber-rich carbohydrate for lasting energy.
For ideas read herenhttps://extension.msstate.edu/publications/healthy-snacks-for-kids-the-go-or-home

08/03/2026

🌽🚜 It's National Farmers Market Week! 🎉

This week, we celebrate the farmers who make fresh, locally grown food accessible to communities across our county, our state, and our country!

Local DeSoto County Farmers Market(s)
Hernando Farmers Market
Olive Branch Farmers Market

Maybe you're not from here or maybe you're traveling around the state! Use this website to find a farmers market near you! https://agnet.mdac.ms.gov/website/FarmersMarkets/FarmersMarkets

08/02/2026

Have a Healthy State of Mind going into the SCHOOL YEAR! Check out these tips!

📍Eat Well: When you eat healthy foods and stay well hydrated, you provide your body with the nutrition it needs to fight stress.

📍Mindfulness: Taking time for meditation or mindfulness practice is a way to lower stress that can be done anywhere and at any time.

📍Positive Thinking: Your thoughts create your reality. Try using positive affirmations instead of negative self-talk.

📍Exercise: It produces endorphins, the feel-good chemicals for your brain and body, which can improve sleep and decrease stress.

📍Take Breaks: You need a break most when you believe that you do not have time to take a break.

📍Support: Surround yourself with family and/or friends who lift you up and encourage you.

📍Ask for Help: Everyone needs help from time to time, and that is okay. Utilize the many resources available.

We hope these tips help you to have a healthy state of mind as you enter this new school year!