The Hidden Dangers of Artificial Turf

Thousands of artificial turf fields have popped up across the country in the past few decades. The argument is that they’re cheaper, easy to maintain and perfectly safe. Really? We talk to a group of concerned Lake Forest, IL citizens from Go Real Go Grass, who reveal the dark side of artificial turf. Meanwhile, Ryan Anderson explains how you can grow real turf without using pesticides. He also announces a new certification program for healthy turf. Bob Dolgan from This Week in Birding talks about the latest chapter in the Monty and Rose saga and reports on World Migratory Bird Day.

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Expect Great Growing in 2022

With the start of the 2022 gardening season upon us, we look at the business end and the personal side of great growing. Chris Beytes from Ball Hort’s publication GrowerTalks reports on the state of the industry. LaManda Joy previews the Great Grow Along with presenter Nicole Burke of Gardenary and Rooted Garden.

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Can Backyard Composting Change the World?

We don’t know if backyard composting can change the world, but it’s a heck of a good start. Composting experts Amy Bartucci and Kate Caldwell walk you through how to set up your pile, bin or tumbler and explain why composting is such a good idea for everyone.

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Forest Preserves Unlock the Mysteries of Nature

Yes, it cold and there’s snow. But if you live in the Chicago region, those are two excellent reasons to get out to a nearby forest preserve. Nina Baki from the Cook County and Rebekah Snyder from Lake County talk about the activities they have to offer and why a visit to nature–even in winter–can be so rewarding.

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Puppets Pick Apart Plastic Myths

The 2020 Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival is coming to Chicago this week. We talk to its founder, Blair Thomas, and to artist Robin Frohardt, who has created an installation called The Plastic Bag Store. It is stocked with food-like items that are handcrafted from discarded, single-use NYC plastic trash. Marta Keane from the Illinois Recycling Foundation joins the conversation to talk about how we deal with what is a world-wide plastic crisis. Meteorologist Rick DiMaio reports on snowstorms in America and exploding volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean.

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How to Create The Healthy Garden

We start a brand new year with a brand new book. The Healthy Garden: Simple Steps for a Greener World is written by a couple of gardening pros–Kathleen Norris Brenzel and Mary-Kate Mackey. We’ll talk about how and especially why you should become a friend of the earth. Then Mike and Peggy talk about some of the environmental stories making headlines. And meteorologist Rick DiMaio has his first report of the year, following Chicago’s first snow of the year.

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It’s a Wonderful Slice 2021!

Mike and Peggy wrap up 2021 with their annual presentation of It’s a Wonderful Slice of It’s a Wonderful Life, featuring an all-star cast of friends of the show. Cindy Crosby talks about her book Chasing Dragonflies and why getting out into the natural world is important in winter. She is joined by Illinois Master Naturalist Mac Austin.

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How to Provide Good Food Through Growing Solutions

This Sunday we explore how different groups work to provide healthy, local food to the Chicago region, while sometimes improving the lives of the people who grow that food. We talk to Bob Kopach from the Eco-Friendly Farm Stand Project and Tucker Kelly, lead grower at Growing Solutions Farm, which is part of Urban Autism Solutions. Mike and Peggy will have some advice giving during the holiday season. And meteorologist Rick DiMaio follows up on the devastating tornadoes in the middle part of our country.

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And Now for Something Completely Different

As the weather gets cooler and we head into the holiday season, Mike and Peggy chill literally and figuratively. They discuss the latest environmental stories while playing music by friends of the show–singer Bruce A. Henry and guitarists Judy Handler and Mark Levesque.

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Prairie Uprising on the Horizon

Two months ago, not many folks had ever heard of Bell Bowl Prairie in Rockford, Illinois. Now, it is at the forefront of a prairie uprising. Amy Doll from Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves and Chris Benda, the Illinois Botanizer, bring us up to speed on the latest developments to save this valuable remnant prairie. Dan Kosta from Vern Goers Greenhouse in Hinsdale, Illinois, has advice on which holiday plants to buy and how to keep them healthy.

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