Conservation Archives

Create Sanctuary for Wildlife in your Garden

June 26, 2021June 29, 2021 Mike Nowak Creating sanctuary for wildlife, fighting HOAs, invasive plants, Janet Crouch, lawns v gardens, Nancy Lawson, native plants in the garden, Peggy Malecki, pokeweed as garden plant, The Humane Gardener, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:02:15 — 57.3MB)

Nancy Lawson has written an exceptional book called The Humane Gardener. On today’s show, she talks about strategies for encouraging critters of all types, whether they are reviled or not, to become part of your local ecosystem. Her sister, Janet Crouch, then reports on how she took on her HOA to protect her native plant garden, and not only won the case, but got state law in Maryland changed.

Conservation Lawn Care Podcast

Feel Good About Caring for Your Lawn

April 24, 2021May 18, 2021 Mike Nowak Alec McClennan, Budburst, Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago City Nature Challenge 2021, Chicago Wilderness, Dan Dinelli, Good Nature Organic Lawn Care, iNaturalist, No Mow Until Mother's Day, North Shore Country Club Glenview, North Shore Plant Club, Peggy Malecki, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00:51 — 57.4MB)

Like it or not, many homeowners think that gardening means maintaining a lawn. Alec McClennan from Good Nature Organic Lawn Care and Dan Dinelli, superintendent of North Shore Country Club in Glenview, discuss non-toxic ways of keeping lawns healthy. Taran Lichtenberger from Budburst at the Chicago Botanic Garden wants you to grab your camera and participate in next week’s City Nature Challenge 2021. Leslie Graham and Chris Crone explain how the North Shore Plant Club can help folks save money on all kinds of plants.

Birding Conservation Monarch butterflies Podcast

Rescuing Species with Urban Sanctuaries

April 10, 2021May 18, 2021 Mike Nowak Douglas Stotz, Erkia Hasle, Izabella Redlinski, Keller Science Action Center, Monarch Community Science Project, Montrose Beach Dunes, Monty and Rose, Peggy Malecki, protecting natural habitat, The Field Museum, The Mike Nowak Show, This Week in Birding, Turnstone Strategies LLC

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00:14 — 56.6MB)

This week, we talk about efforts to protect butterflies and birds in Chicago, and what that means for the populations of monarchs, piping plovers and other species. Erika Hasle, Izabella Redlinski and Douglas Stotz from The Field Museum, and filmmaker Bob Dolgan join us.

Irreplaceable - Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus)

Conservation Environment Podcast

Irreplaceable In Every Way

March 13, 2021May 18, 2021 Mike Nowak Egyptian vulture, endangered species, Evanston Environmental Association, Irreplaceable, Julian Hoffman, Karen Taira, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, nightingale decline, Peggy Malecki, The Mike Nowak Show, The Wetlands Initiative, Wild & Scenic Film Festival

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:53:49 — 53.7MB)

Julian Hoffman has written an exceptional book about the crises our natural areas and iconic species face. Called “Irreplaceable,” it chronicles his visits to the far corners of the planet in search of the ordinary people who will ultimately save our planet, if it can be saved at all. Karen Taira from the Evanston Environmental Association (EEA), previews the Wild & Scenic Film Festival.