Dixon Springs Agricultural Center - Illinois Extension

09/01/2026

Summer gardens are beginning to turn brown and it's time to look ahead to fall. You may be wondering, "what will I do now?". Before you put up your garden tools for the summer, there are a few things you can do to set your garden up for success for the next growing season!

Join Extension on Sep. 22 at the Eldorado First Baptist Church for a Summer Garden Wrap-Up event to learn about fall garden tasks, cover crops for the home or community garden, and tips and resources for ensuring safe storage of home-preserved food!

Learn more and register at go.illinois.edu/SummerGardenWrap-up

08/25/2026

The greenhouse is currently OUT of tomatoes but has plenty of cucumbers and peppers for sale. Greenhouse hours are Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a lunch closure from noon-1 p.m. Please note that the greenhouse will be CLOSED on Wednesday, August 26th.

08/24/2026

Congratulations to our local 4-H members for their achievements at state fair!

08/13/2026

The greenhouse currently has green tomatoes and cherry tomatoes available, although supplies are limited and expected to run out into next week. There are plenty of cucumbers and peppers available at this time.

The greenhouse is open from 8 a.m to 4 p.m with a lunch closure from noon to 1 p.m. Please note that the greenhouse will be closed on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

08/03/2026

That's a wrap on the 2026 Grow, Harvest, Prepare, and Share summer youth program at Dixon Springs Agricultural Center!

Participants spent the summer planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, and learning about where food comes from. In the kitchen, they discovered ways to prepare new dishes and build confidence in cooking. Participants also gave back to the community by harvesting fresh produce from the garden to help fill the Blessing Box.

The final cooking class ended on a sweet note with homemade ice cream made in a bag. Participants also enjoyed a visit with some of the DSAC cows.

Be on the lookout next summer for more opportunities!

07/31/2026

Big news from Illinois Extension!
We’re proud to announce the launch of our new Health and Community Wellness (HCW) program area — designed to meet the evolving needs of Illinois residents as families and communities face challenges in health, nutrition, relationships, and financial well-being.

One of the first initiatives: the Center for Food Systems, Nutrition Security, and Health Integration — opening in July 2026. This statewide hub will drive research, innovation, and leadership to strengthen food systems, improve nutrition security, and advance community health across Illinois.

Housed within the University of Illinois College of ACES, Illinois Extension connects the research and expertise of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with communities across all 102 Illinois counties.

👉 Read to learn more https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/extension-launches-health-and-community-wellness-center-strengthen-illinois-communities

07/28/2026

You can help shape solutions to food waste! Take a 10-minute survey about meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking, and what happens in the kitchen at go.illinois.edu/FoodWasteSurvey.

Your thoughts on what works well for your household and what is challenging will help guide food waste prevention programs that support cost savings, stronger communities, and a healthier environment.

Questions? Contact Ashley Belle at [email protected].

07/22/2026

Join Extension for the final installation of the Summer Twilight Series as we tour Friendly Farms, a southern Illinois family-owned farm specializing in growing mums and pumpkins. Learn more or register at the link below:
https://extension.illinois.edu/events/2026-08-17-growing-mums-and-pumpkins

07/19/2026