![Closeup of twigs on a bitternut hickory tree.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/bitternut-hickory.jpg?h=757e7cd9&itok=R9IXVeM9)
Extension's natural resources educators set out to use sustainable practices to reduce the carbon and climate change impacts of their annual conference.
Wild bee populations can fluctuate from year to year depending on environmental factors. If the weather or the flowers that grew the year before weren't optimal, you could be seeing fewer bees.
![A soil core of a lawn with grass at the top, a layer of thatch and a layer of soil.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/lawn-thatch-credit-Andrew-Hollman.jpg?h=ac26666a&itok=eN6S50Hy)
Fall is the best time for almost everything you’ve been waiting to do for your lawn, so consider all your options and get them on your home calendar.
![Marie Davis is joined by Extension intern Noah Burley at her raised bed garden at Lake Minnetonka Shores senior living.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/mg-LakeMinnetonkaShores-MarieDavis-NoahBurley-2022.jpg?h=03dccae2&itok=eetDFRGv)
Gardening has been part of resident life at Lake Minnetonka Shores for 40 years. Extension has been helping them out since 2008.
![A large white pumpkin with a white cloth cover being held above it by white pvc piping. Underneath the pumpkin is black landscape fabric covered with sand. Next to the pumpkin stands a bobblehead of the University of Minnesota mascot Goldy Gopher with its arms outstretched to either side.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/giant-pumpkin-Audrey-080222.jpg?h=c5a6735e&itok=nB7gRa-0)
Extension's horticultural educators have squashed some bugs and named the pumpkins. See CBS Minnesota news coverage.
![A mural of flowers with the word love in big letters on a building in Northfield, Minn by artist Brett Whitacre.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/love-mural-northfield-nov2020-188-w1400.jpg?h=b926f812&itok=t0de-_b6)
What does it mean to be an ally? Learn how you can support marginalized communities.
![A maroon mailbox that says "Gophers" and has the U of M logo on a family farm.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/U-of-M-mailbox.jpg?h=5bcd39c6&itok=Fgr85BJk)
Eighty-five farm families and operations will be honored in August by the University of Minnesota at the 2022 Farm Family of the Year ceremony.
![Diatomaceous earth under the microscope reveals rice shaped diatoms.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/de-under-microscope.jpg?h=5d26e97a&itok=02jfKxLe)
Diatomaceous earth is used in many ways, including for pest control. But how effective is it in Minnesota?
![Small, yellowish pumpkin on a vine.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/northern_pumpkin_1_week.jpg?h=3e5104a7&itok=t45BFpRw)
The giant pumpkins have finally started to fruit!
![Early blight produced brown spots with yellow halos and concentric rings.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/eb-spots.jpg?h=9aa2b746&itok=PEziR8bV)
As tomatoes start to set fruit, you might notice brown spots on the lower leaves. This can be caused by early blight or septoria leaf spot.
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