May 28, 2017 – Veggies, Baby!
Joey and Holly Baird, who are, collectively, The Wisconsin Vegetable Gardener, are back on the show this morning, and not just because I was on their program last week. Thought it doesn’t hurt to be nice to the people who are nice to you. And if you’re wondering where their program is, it’s on WNOV 860AM and 106.6FM in Milwaukee, every Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. CDT.
It’s part of what I like call their “empire,” which includes the website, videos, podcasts, speaking engagements, and now, from March 4 to October 28, their radio show. They describe themselves this way:
Joey & Holly make videos on Youtube about how to grow your own food organically, reusing found items (or items you may just throw away), what to do with the food you grow, home canning and simple home living.
Along with traditional ground gardening they also grow indoors year-round using up and coming methods along with winter growing in cold frames and low tunnels.
Their goal through their videos and social media pages is to show the average person how easy it is to grow food, store food, and reuse everyday items. Their motto is “for the average gardener, simple home living, and using what you already have”.
Joey and Holly enjoy speaking at garden expo’s throughout the midwest. Holly is also an award winning home canner with a handful of ribbons from the Wisconsin State Fair including a Best of Show award for her home canning talents.
In other words, they actually DO the things that I just TALK about on my own show. No wonder they have an empire!
I’m not even sure what the subjects will be today, but considering that we’re about to lurch into summer and there are a lot of things already growing in my yard, I think I’m going to be asking Holly and Joey a lot of questions. You’re welcome to join the conversation, too, by calling 847-475-1590, or posting at The Mike Nowak Show on Facebook, or tweeting to @MikeNow.
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June 5 is World Environment Day (WED). Wikipedia tells us that it is
the United Nation’s principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. First held in 1974, it has been a flagship campaign for raising awareness on emerging environmental issues from marine pollution and global warming, to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime.
Because June 5 is a Tuesday this year, the Chicago Botanic Garden‘s WED celebration is Saturday, June 3, from 10am to 3pm, with the theme of biodiversity. Some of the festivities:
- Learn from the Experts
- Bryo-diversity: It’s All About Moss!
- Ecofriendly Lawn Care
- Choosing and Using Mulches
- Native Plants for Chicago Gardens
- and more
- Family Fun
- A World of Birds: make your own bird’s nest to take home.
- Become a citizen scientist with project BudBurst.
- Play a game on a giant map of Illinois.
- Dig in the soil and take part in fieldwork games.
- Make your own herbarium sheet and try the seed counter machine.
- Learn about native pollinators and how to attract them to your garden; meet a beekeeper and take a selfie with a larger-than-life bee.
- and more
- Recycling Events
- Free Film Screenings
- 10 a.m. Chicago’s True Nature: The Forest Preserves of Cook County
See a 20-minute version of the documentary spotlighting our Forest Preserves and all they have to offer. - 1:30 p.m. Chasing Ice
This film, a favorite of Tom Skilling, is the story of James Balog’s mission to change the tide of history by gathering undeniable evidence of our changing planet. See revolutionary time-lapse footage of a multiyear record of the world’s changing glaciers.Tom Skilling will answer questions after the film.
- 10 a.m. Chicago’s True Nature: The Forest Preserves of Cook County
And I’m just scratching the surface here. Kristie Webber, Director of Interpretive Programs at the Chicago Botanic Garden, drops by this morning to tell us more.
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If Rick Moskovitz is in the house, it probably means that we’re going to be treated to a song…or at least an advertising jingle. It also means that we will be talking about non-toxic pest control. Rick is the proprietor of A-Plus Pest Control and A Plus Natural Enzymes, and he has been helping people in the Chicago area solve their pest problems since 1979. A-Plus Pest Control
eliminates both the annoying pests and the worry about using toxic chemicals around your home, apartment building, condo, restaurant (goodbye fruit flies), warehouse, hotel, or other business. Our products are completely safe to use around all family members, including pets.
Over the years, they have become experts in dealing with bedbugs, head lice, ants, carpenter bees, mosquitoes and other insects.
Rick is a Commissioner on the Village of Skokie Sustainable Environment Advisory Commission & also serves on the Stay Green Committee of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association. And in 2016, A-Plus Pest Control, Inc. received the 2016 Skokie Business of the Year Award.
But I alluded to Rick’s musical skills. He reports on his website that he
is also a singer and songwriter. Recently he sang a song in Branson, MO, accompanied by Leroy New on banjo and Kenny Christianson on piano. Leroy was 2010 Guitar Player of the Year in Branson and Kenny was the pianist and arranger on Christy Lane’s big hit, “One Day at a Time.”
In fact, you can see several of his videos on Youtube here.
On The Mike Nowak Show, we don’t just book the A Listers. We book the A-Plus Listers!