April 17, 2016-I Grow Chicago, “Come to the Table” Dinner, Renewable Energy, Gardening Now

The Mike Nowak Show this week will be missing only one important ingredient—Mike. (He’s recovering from surgery and, although his crankiness and sense of humor are fully restored, his voice isn’t.) All the other ingredients for a great show will be very much in evidence, starting with three members of the team.

Peggy Malecki, one of today’s guest hosts, is publisher of Natural Awakenings Chicago, the magazine about healthy living on a healthy planet. Lisa Albrecht, a long-time team member, is a renewable energy specialist, vice president of the Illinois Solar Energy Association and a frequent speaker on renewable energy topics. Sarah Batka, another team member from way back, is program coordinator in horticulture for University of Illinois Extension, Cook County. She is also @frugalfoodgal, a voice for healthy food on a budget.

Peggy, Lisa, and Sarah will be talking today with Stephany Price, Executive Director of I Grow Chicago, an organization dedicating to providing a safe, inter-generational haven to children and at-risk community members. Through sustainable farming and educational programs in nutrition, movement yoga and the arts, they foster creativity, wellness and empowerment for individuals in the community as a whole.

Kathleen Bolin of Angelic Organics Learning Center and Alexandra Desorbo-Quinn will join us in the studio to talk about the upcoming “Come to the Table Dinner,” which is a joint project of Angelic Organics and Pilot Light Chefs, a Chicago-based non-profit that integrates food and nutrition education into school curriculum.

Of course, Sarah will also talk about what you should be doing in your garden in the upcoming days and weeks, and Lisa will be filling us in on developments in renewable energy in Illinois. And the inimitable Rick DiMaio will talk about weather in the way that only he can.