Podcast Archives

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.

Beekeeping Gardening Plastics Podcast Recycling

Plastics Mess on Aisle 2 in the Green Industry

March 6, 2021May 19, 2021 Mike Nowak Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD), Beth Botts, Bike a Bee, Illinois General Assembly, Institute for Justice, Marie Chieppo, Nicole Virgil, Peggy Malecki, plastic pots, Qae-Dah Muhammad, recycling plastics, Right to Garden law, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:01:17 — 56.8MB)

Landscape designer Marie Chieppo examines why can’t we figure out what to do with horticultural plastic. Jana Kinsman from Bike a Bee and Qae-Dah Muhammad of Arthur Ashe Beach Park Advisory Council talk about raising honey bees in Chicago. Nicole Virgil returns to talk about the Right to Garden bill. She’s joined by Ari Bargil from the Institute for Justice, which is supporting her effort to grow food in her Elmhurst hoop house.

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How to Avoid a Winter of Discontent

February 6, 2021February 8, 2021 Mike Nowak Bartlett Tree Experts, deicer alternatives, freeze and thaw cycles, ISA certified arborists, M. D. Skeet, Peggy Malecki, pet safety, PlaySafe Ice Blocker, salt damage to vegetation, sodium chloride, The Mike Nowak Show, winter tree care

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:02:56 — 57.8MB)

As Chicago finally gets its share of winter weather, we welcome back ISA certified arborist M.D. Skeet (aka “Skeet”) back to the show to talk about winter care for your trees and shrubs. Speaking of winter, if you’re using salt products on your sidewalks and driveways, you’re putting your pets and your groundwater at risk. Mitch Vestal, president of PlaySafe, explains how you can prevent ice and do it safely.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:58:27 — 55.9MB)

Nicolaas Mink, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Sitka Salmon Shares, returns to the show to talk about how his company is working to sustain fish populations in our increasingly threatened oceans. Christine Esposito, project director of “Third Coast Disrupted: Artists + Scientists on Climate” joins artist Barbara Cooper and Tyrone Dobson from Alliance for the Great Lakes to talk about the environmental and existential threats posed by our insatiable plastic production and consumption.

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When Native Garden Plans Go Bad (and Good)

January 23, 2021January 26, 2021 Mike Nowak Bluhm Legal Clinic, environmental justice, garden design mistakes, General Iron, Ken Williams, native garden planning, Peggy Malecki, Peggy Salazar, pollution on Chicago southeast side, Southeast Environmental Task Force, The Land Conservancy of McHenry County, The Mike Nowak Show, West Cook Wild Ones

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:55:24 — 54.9MB)

Horticulturist Ken Williams and Sarah Michehl of The Land Conservancy of McHenry County preview a three-part series about planning native gardens in your own yard, sponsored by West Cook Wild Ones. Peggy Salazar from Southeast Environmental Task Force (SETF) and Nancy Loeb from Bluhm Legal Clinic at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law continue to fight the relocation of an iron recycling company in Chicago’s 10th Ward.

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2 Million Blossoms, Umpteen Million Seeds

January 16, 2021January 18, 2021 Mike Nowak 2 Million Blossoms, bees, Fruition Seeds, gardening during the pandemic, heirloom plants, open pollinated plants, Peggy Malecki, pollinators, Seed Savers Exchange, seed sharing, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:58:04 — 56.4MB)

Roger Hartwell from Seed Savers Exchange and Petra Page-Mann of Fruition Seeds explain how there has been an explosion of gardening in the past year and why you might want to get your seed orders in early. Kirsten S. Traynor, PhD explains how, in an age of online publications, it’s still possible to create a quality quarterly print magazine–about pollinators!

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Happy Not 2020! Tomatoes and Tallgrass Prairie

January 1, 2021January 3, 2021 Mike Nowak Bill Kurtis, Citizen Science Initiative, Dr. Harry Klee, Garden Gem Tomatoes, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, National Bird Day, National Forest Foundation, Peggy Malecki, prairie restoration, Proven Winners, The Mike Nowak Show, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:01:38 — 58.1MB)

On the first show of Not 2020, Mike and Peggy welcome back Dr. Harry Klee from the University of Florida, who is breeding tomatoes that are prolific, ship well, and actually taste great. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Mary Mitsos from the National Forest Foundation and Mike Redmer from Midewin tell us about a year full of activities.

Podcast

Irreplaceable In Every Way

Plastics Mess on Aisle 2 in the Green Industry

Ten Years of Environmental Good

Wild Things Invade(s) Chicago Again

How to Avoid a Winter of Discontent

Climate Art and Science Disrupted

When Native Garden Plans Go Bad (and Good)

Reclaiming Real Organics

Happy Not 2020! Tomatoes and Tallgrass Prairie