Environment Archives

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.

Environment Gardening soil health sustainability Tree Care

The Sky’s the Limit for Women in Arboriculture

May 14, 2022May 17, 2022 Mike Nowak Adapting to Dive, Bartlett Tree Experts, Diveheart, Megan Kacenski, Peggy Malecki, scuba therapy, spring tree care, sustainability, The Mike Nowak Show, women in arboriculture

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:06:01 — 60.4MB)

ISA certified arborist Megan Kacenski from Bartlett Tree Experts stops by to talk about how she became an arborist representative and what kind of opportunities exist for women in the tree care industry. She is joined by show regular Skeet from Bartlett. Diveheart, which helps disabled children, adults and veterans gain confidence and independence through scuba diving, is coming out with a documentary. Executive Director Tinamarie Hernandez previews the world premiere showing on May 18.

Birding Clean water Environment Lawn Care Plastics Recycling

The Hidden Dangers of Artificial Turf

May 7, 2022May 8, 2022 Mike Nowak Bob Dolgan, dangers to student athletes, Dim the Lights for Birds at Night, environment, Go Real Go Grass, Monty and Rose, Peggy Malecki, PFAS in artificial turf, recycling artificial turf, The Mike Nowak Show, This Week in Birding, World Migratory Bird Day

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:01:36 — 58.8MB)

Thousands of artificial turf fields have popped up across the country in the past few decades. The argument is that they’re cheaper, easy to maintain and perfectly safe. Really? We talk to a group of concerned Lake Forest, IL citizens from Go Real Go Grass, who reveal the dark side of artificial turf. Meanwhile, Ryan Anderson explains how you can grow real turf without using pesticides. He also announces a new certification program for healthy turf. Bob Dolgan from This Week in Birding talks about the latest chapter in the Monty and Rose saga and reports on World Migratory Bird Day.

Climate change Environment Gardening Local food

Expect Great Growing in 2022

March 5, 2022March 7, 2022 Mike Nowak Chris Beytes, climate change, environment, Gardenary, Great Grow Along, green living, GrowerTalks, Kitchen Garden Revival, LaManda Joy, Nicole Burke, Peggy Malecki, sustainability, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:55:26 — 55.3MB)

With the start of the 2022 gardening season upon us, we look at the business end and the personal side of great growing. Chris Beytes from Ball Hort’s publication GrowerTalks reports on the state of the industry. LaManda Joy previews the Great Grow Along with presenter Nicole Burke of Gardenary and Rooted Garden.

Biology Clean water Climate change Composting Environment Gardening Native plants Plastics Recycling soil health

Can Backyard Composting Change the World?

February 5, 2022February 7, 2022 Mike Nowak backyard composting, climate change, environment, food waste, gardening, greenhouse gasses, Illinois Food Scrap Coalition, Peggy Malecki, soil health, sustainability, The Mike Nowak Show, University of Illinois Extension, zero waste

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:01:23 — 57.4MB)

We don’t know if backyard composting can change the world, but it’s a heck of a good start. Composting experts Amy Bartucci and Kate Caldwell walk you through how to set up your pile, bin or tumbler and explain why composting is such a good idea for everyone.

Birding Conservation Environment Insects Lifestyle Native plants

Forest Preserves Unlock the Mysteries of Nature

January 29, 2022January 30, 2022 Mike Nowak coyotes, environment, Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Lake County Forest Preserve District, native plants, Nina Baki, Peggy Malecki, Rebekah Snyder, The Mike Nowak Show, winter activities

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:04:44 — 59.2MB)

Yes, it cold and there’s snow. But if you live in the Chicago region, those are two excellent reasons to get out to a nearby forest preserve. Nina Baki from the Cook County and Rebekah Snyder from Lake County talk about the activities they have to offer and why a visit to nature–even in winter–can be so rewarding.

Biology Birding Climate change Conservation Environment Gardening Insects Monarch butterflies Native plants Natural sciences

Doug Tallamy on Saving Nature and Ourselves

January 22, 2022January 24, 2022 Mike Nowak Bell Bowl Prairie, Bringing Nature Home, climate change, Doug Tallamy, gardening, Mounds View Grasslands Preserve, native plants, Natural Land Institute, Peggy Malecki, sustainability, The Mike Nowak Show, The Nature of Oaks, The Prairie Enthusiasts

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.

Climate change Environment Natural sciences Plastics Recycling

Puppets Pick Apart Plastic Myths

January 15, 2022January 18, 2022 Mike Nowak Blair Thomas, Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, climate change, environment, Illinois Recycling Foundation, Marta Keane, Natural Awakenings Chicago Magazine, Peggy Malecki, plastic myths, Robin Frohardt, The Mike Nowak Show, The Plastic Bag Store

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:08:38 — 115.1MB)

The 2020 Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival is coming to Chicago this week. We talk to its founder, Blair Thomas, and to artist Robin Frohardt, who has created an installation called The Plastic Bag Store. It is stocked with food-like items that are handcrafted from discarded, single-use NYC plastic trash. Marta Keane from the Illinois Recycling Foundation joins the conversation to talk about how we deal with what is a world-wide plastic crisis. Meteorologist Rick DiMaio reports on snowstorms in America and exploding volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean.

Climate change Composting Environment Gardening Information from Past Shows Insects Lawn Care Local food Monarch butterflies Native plants Natural sciences Recycling soil health

How to Create The Healthy Garden

January 8, 2022January 11, 2022 Mike Nowak environment, gardening, Gathering of Gardeners, green living, healthy world, healthy you, Kathleen Norris Brenzel, native plants, Peggy Malecki, Sunset Magazine, sustainability, The Healthy Garden, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:03:32 — 58.8MB)

We start a brand new year with a brand new book. The Healthy Garden: Simple Steps for a Greener World is written by a couple of gardening pros–Kathleen Norris Brenzel and Mary-Kate Mackey. We’ll talk about how and especially why you should become a friend of the earth. Then Mike and Peggy talk about some of the environmental stories making headlines. And meteorologist Rick DiMaio has his first report of the year, following Chicago’s first snow of the year.

Biology Climate change Conservation Environment Holiday Insects Native plants Natural sciences

It’s a Wonderful Slice 2021!

December 18, 2021December 20, 2021 Mike Nowak Bell Bowl Prairie, Chasing Dragonflies, Cindy Crosby, environment, gardening expert Melinda Myers, It's a Wonderful Slice, Lisa Albrecht, Mac Austin, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Mighty House Home Improvement Show, Peggy Malecki, Skeet from Bartlett Tree Experts, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00:22 — 110.4MB)

Mike and Peggy wrap up 2021 with their annual presentation of It’s a Wonderful Slice of It’s a Wonderful Life, featuring an all-star cast of friends of the show. Cindy Crosby talks about her book Chasing Dragonflies and why getting out into the natural world is important in winter. She is joined by Illinois Master Naturalist Mac Austin.

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