Conservation Archives

What a Long, Strange Garden Trip It’s Been

June 11, 2022June 14, 2022 Mike Nowak Bird Conservation Network, Breeding Bird Trends in the Chicago Region, Chicago Audubon Society, Depave Chicago, Depave Portland, improving water quality, Judy Pollock, mitigating heat islands, Peggy Malecki, Sinnissippi Audubon Society, Sounds of the Mississippi Flyway, The Mike Nowak Show, The Water Lab

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:12:52 — 63.3MB)

On our final show (for awhile), we talk about the Depave Movement across the world. Katya Reyna from Depave Portland and Mary Pat McGuire of Depave Chicago report on their respective programs. Judy Pollock and Bob Fisher from the Bird Conservation Network comment on the results of a 22-year study of breeding bird trends in the Chicago region. We’ll also play some music from Birdsongs, Volume 1-Sounds of the Mississippi Flyway by Micky Torpedo.

Birding Conservation Environment Insects Native plants

How to Discover a Wild Area in the 21st Century

May 21, 2022May 23, 2022 Mike Nowak access to natural areas, Amanda Smith, discovering natural areas, IN Nature, Indiana Nature, Lydick Bog, native plants, Peggy Malecki, Shirley Heinze Land Trust, St. Joseph County Kettle Lakes Corridor, Steve Sass, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:03:17 — 58.8MB)

What’s it like to “discover” a high-quality natural area in the Midwest? We talk to naturalist Steve Sass, who helped identify Indiana’s Lydick Bog in 2014. He is joined by fellow naturalist Amanda Smith. The two are responsible for the educational website Indiana Nature and for the very popular Facebook page IN Nature. We talk about the variety of plants and animals in northwest Indiana and their efforts to teach the public how to be good stewards of the land.

Climate change Conservation Environmental justice Insects Native plants Tree Care

Doug Tallamy on Fighting to Save Trees and Natural Areas

April 9, 2022April 16, 2022 Mike Nowak carbon sequestration, David J. Nowak, Doug Tallamy, Homegrown National Park, Jeannette Hoyt, native plants, Peggy Malecki, Save Bell Bowl Prairie, Save Jackson Park, The Mike Nowak Show, tree loss due to Obama Presidential Center, USDA Forest Service

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:57:07 — 56.3MB)

Author and educator Doug Tallamy returns to the show to talk about the importance of protecting and creating spaces to promote biodiversity. Jeannette Hoyt from Save Jackson Park and David J. Nowak from the USDA Forest Service in Syracuse, New York, discuss the damage done to local ecosystems–and urban neighborhoods–by removing large swaths of trees, which is happening with the construction of the Obama Presidential Center on Chicago’s south side.

animal welfare Birding Clean water Climate change Conservation Food justice Information from Past Shows

Sacrificing Birds for a Marketing Gimmick

February 19, 2022February 23, 2022 Mike Nowak Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, climate change, food justice, Harms Woods, light pollution, MWRD Commissioner Kim du Buclet, One Earth Film Festival, Peggy Malecki, Raj Patel, Skokie Carvana Tower, sustainability, The Ants & the Grasshopper, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:04:25 — 58.5MB)

Mike and Peggy welcome back MWRD Commissioner Kim Neely du Buclet to talk about recent green infrastructure water projects and even ways to trace coronavirus in our water supply. Raj Patel, director of The Ants & the Grasshopper explains the food and social justice components of his film about climate change. Annette Prince from Chicago Bird Collision Monitors and Skokie resident Kim Polka report on their efforts to stop a potentially bird-killing Carvana Tower in that Chicago suburb.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:06:05 — 59.1MB)

Entomologist, ecologist and author Doug Tallamy returns to the show. He discusses his latest book, The Nature of Oaks and his work to create Homegrown National Park. But he will also talk with Kerry Leigh, executive director of the Natural Land Institute about the continuing threat to Bell Bowl Prairie in Rockford. On the good news front, we’ll chat with Debra Behrens from The Prairie Enthusiasts about a grant they just received to expand Mounds View Grasslands Preserve near Madison, Wisconsin.

Biology Composting Conservation Environment Gardening Insects Local food Native plants Natural sciences soil health

Exploring Sustainability Myths and Solutions

December 4, 2021December 7, 2021 Mike Nowak edible landscaping, gardening, gardening myths, native plants, Peggy Malecki, Robert Kourik, root myths, Save Bell Bowl Prairie, sustainability, Sustainable Food Gardens, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:11:47 — 63.8MB)

On Sunday’s show, we look at how to grow food sustainably. Is that permaculture? Or regenerative gardening? How about appropriate horticulture? We’ll ask Robert Kourik, author of the just-released Sustainable Food Gardens: Myths and Solutions. Then Mike and Peggy dip into the grab bag of environmental news. Also, meteorologist Rick DiMaio is back and we’ll talk about why it won’t snow in Colarado but it will in Hawaii.

Conservation

What a Long, Strange Garden Trip It’s Been

How to Discover a Wild Area in the 21st Century

Doug Tallamy on Fighting to Save Trees and Natural Areas

The Possibilities of Amazing Native Plants

Sacrificing Birds for a Marketing Gimmick

Forest Preserves Unlock the Mysteries of Nature

Doug Tallamy on Saving Nature and Ourselves

It’s a Wonderful Slice 2021!

Exploring Sustainability Myths and Solutions

And Now for Something Completely Different