environment Archives

What Happened to Glass Recycling

November 13, 2021November 14, 2021 Mike Nowak Bartlett Tree Experts, Don't Trash Glass, environment, Glass Packaging Institute, Illinois Recycling Foundation, Jill Bondi, Peggy Malecki, Scott DeFife, sustainability, The Mike Nowak Show, tree care, women in arboriculture

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Scott DeFife from the Glass Packaging Institute and the Glass Recycling Foundation reports on efforts to increase the glass recycling rate in Chicago and the U.S. Jill Bondi of Bartlett Tree Experts explains how more and more women are getting into the tree care industry.

Climate change Environment Environmental justice Gardening

Solutions for a Planet on the Brink

November 6, 2021November 8, 2021 Mike Nowak Bell Bowl Prairie, climate change, COP26, Dr. Allan Armitage, eco-influencer, environment, gardening, GreenTown Rockford, Peggy Malecki, Sustain Rockford, sustainability, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:04:51 — 60.2MB)

Horticulturist Allan Armitage stops by to talk about his latest book, which isn’t about gardening at all. The latest attempt to stem the tide of climate change is happening at the COP26 Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. Mike, Peggy and Rick DiMaio will attempt to make sense of the proceedings, not that anyone can. GreenTown Rockford happens next week, and we’ll preview it with Brad Roos from Sustain Rockford.

Hog CAFOs Threaten Quality of Life in Illinois

animal welfare Clean water Conservation Environment Environmental justice Factory farms Farming Information from Past Shows Water conservation

Hog CAFOs Threaten Quality of Rural Life

October 30, 2021November 2, 2021 Mike Nowak Chris Petersen, environment, hog CAFOs, Illinois chorus frog, Illinois Coalition for Clean Air & Water, Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Karen Hudson, Mahomet Aquifer, Peggy Malecki, Socially Responsible Agriculture Project, The Mike Nowak Show, water contamination

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:07:57 — 61.1MB)

Hog CAFOs in Illinois and other states continue to be a threat not only to the animals confined in them, but to the well-being of rural communities. In Illinois, one proposed factory farm could threaten Mahomet Aquifer, which provides water for at least 500,000 citizens in the center of the state. Members of the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project and Illinois Coalition for Clean Air & Water talk about the dangers of CAFOs and whether citizen action can stop them in their tracks.

Biology Birding Conservation Environment Insects Native plants Natural sciences

Is a Parking Lot More Valuable Than a Prairie?

October 23, 2021October 27, 2021 Mike Nowak Bell Bowl Prairie, conservation, environment, McHenry County College Green Living Expo, native plants, Natural Land Institute, parking lots v prairies, Peggy Malecki, remnant prairie, rusty patched bumble bee, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:01:39 — 57.8MB)

Time is running out for Bell Bowl Prairie at Chicago Rockford International Airport. Kerry Leigh from the Natural Land Institute, landscape designer Domenico D’Alessandro, and Jen Kuroda from Sinnissippi Audubon talk about how–and if–the prairie can be saved. Kim Hankins previews the McHenry County College Green Living Expo on November 6.

Biology Environment Natural sciences

Of Sound Mind, Learning and Feeling

October 9, 2021October 13, 2021 Mike Nowak brain trauma, Brainvolts Lab, dementia, environment, hearing and brain function, hearing and learning, music and hearing, Nina Kraus PhD, Northwestern University, Of Sound Mind, Peggy Malecki, The Mike Nowak Show

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Nina Kraus, PhD, is director of the Brainvolts Lab at Northwestern University. She joins us today to discuss her decades of work exploring hearing and the brain. That research has led to her new book, “Of Sound Mind: How Our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World.”

Clean energy Climate change Composting Environment Environmental justice Gardening Lawn Care Recycling soil health

Melinda Myers Reveals Fall Gardening Secrets

September 11, 2021September 14, 2021 Mike Nowak Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, climate change, environment, Faith in Place, fall gardening, gardening, gardening expert Melinda Myers, Guerrilla Recycling Project, Peggy Malecki, Rev. Brian Sauder, Rooted for Healing, sustainability, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:03:30 — 57.5MB)

Who could have known that autumn would follow summer? Gardening expert Melinda Myers, that’s who! She brings a wealth of fall gardening tips to the show. Katherine Tellock is launching the Guerrilla Recycling Project and she needs volunteers. Rev. Brian Sauder from Faith in Place previews their annual Green Team Summit.

Podcast

Preventing Monarch Butterfly Roadkill

November 9, 2019November 26, 2019 Mike Nowak eco-influencer, environment, gardening with nativars, Greenprints garden humor, insect decline, Kimberly Neely du Buclet, leave the leaves, Minnesota Extension, monarch butterfly roadkill, Pat Stone, Peggy Malecki, Texas A&M, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:34:44 — 43.4MB)

Dr. Robert Coulson from Texas A&M University explains how they are studying “hot spots” where migrating monarch butterflies have high mortality rates along Texas roads. Dr. Elaine Evans, Assistant Extension Professor with the University of Minnesota Extension, says “leave the leaves” on your lawn and garden this season to help overwintering insects. Pat Stone explains how Greenprints Magazine reveals the joy, the humor, the headaches, and the heart of gardening. Commissioner Kim du Buclet promotes the MWRD “Road Show.”

Podcast

Allan Armitage and Solution Gardening

October 26, 2019October 28, 2019 Mike Nowak Dr. Allan Armitage, environment, gardening, Green Living Expo, herbaceous perennial plants, Illinois Extension, McHenry County College, Peggy Malecki, pumpkin smash, SCARCE, solution gardening, sustainability, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:42:36 — 47.8MB)

Dr. Allan Armitage returns to the show to talk about his concept of “solution gardening,” his books, upcoming classes and more. Sarah Batka from Illinois Extension and volunteer Ivy Tzur talk about how “pumpkin smashes” are keeping organic matter out of landfills. McHenry County College Sustainability Director Kim Hankins previews next week’s Green Living Expo.

Podcast

Excellent Gardens, Excellent Garden Advice

October 12, 2019October 17, 2019 Mike Nowak Chicago Excellence in Gardening Awards, composting, environment, fall gardening, gardening, Hugelkultur, Melinda Myers, Peggy Malecki, planting bulbs, pumpkins, sustainability, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:45:49 — 50.2MB)

Gardening expert and show regular Melinda Myers returns to talk about the arrival of fall and perhaps a little bit about the horticultural industry. It’s also the day after the 2019 Chicago Excellence in Gardening Awards ceremony and Mike and Peggy welcome two of the winning gardeners to the WCGO studios.

Podcast

Sustainable Landscapes Make an IMPACT

October 5, 2019December 6, 2019 Mike Nowak Chicago weed law, Christine Nye, environment, gardening, ILCA, IMPACT conference, migratory bird garden, native plants, Peggy Malecki, permaculture, Shedd Aquarium, sustainable landscaping, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:43:57 — 48.8MB)

Christine Nye, who recently retired as horticulture manager at the Shedd Aquarium, stops by to talk about the gardens she created there. She is joined by Pam Karlson, Annamaria Leon and Ken Williams to promote the upcoming ILCA IMPACT Conference. Pete Czosnyka explains how he faces a $675 fine for growing native plants in his front yard.