Recycling

Artificial turf
Birding Clean water Environment Lawn Care Plastics Recycling 

The Hidden Dangers of Artificial Turf

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

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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.

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

Can Backyard Composting Change the World?

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

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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.

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Plastic Myths - The Plastic Bag Store
Climate change Environment Natural sciences Plastics Recycling 

Puppets Pick Apart Plastic Myths

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

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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.

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Healthy Garden - Joe Gardener
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

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

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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.

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Are You Ready for Some Illinois Fun?
Composting Conservation Environment Farming Local food Recycling 

Are You Ready for Some Illinois Fun?

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Mike and Peggy travel Illinois to talk about farming, pumpkins, chickens, music festivals and beer. Guests are Jeff Hake from FarmFED Co-op, Jennifer Murtoff of the 11th Annual Windy City Coop Tour, and Katie Troccoli, Christina Eltrevoog and Tom Gaffney from the WRWO 94.5 FM “Fresh from the Midwest” music festival.

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Melinda Myers
Clean energy Climate change Composting Environment Environmental justice Gardening Lawn Care Recycling soil health 

Melinda Myers Reveals Fall Gardening Secrets

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:03:30 — 57.5MB)

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Who could have known that autumn would follow summer? Gardening expert Melinda Myers, that’s who! She brings a wealth of fall gardening tips to the show. Katherine Tellock is launching the Guerrilla Recycling Project and she needs volunteers. Rev. Brian Sauder from Faith in Place previews their annual Green Team Summit.

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Talking Chicago Environmental Smack
Environment Environmental justice Recycling Tree Care 

Talking Chicago Environmental Smack with the Experts

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:59:27 — 56.4MB)

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In a special 90-minute deep green dive, Mike and Peggy welcome former City of Chicago department heads Suzanne Malec-McKenna and Sandra Henry. They will talk about the current “Chicago State of the Environment”–the good, the bad, and where we go from here.

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Recycling Failures 101
Podcast Recycling soil health 

Recycling Failures 101: It’s not Always Your Fault

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:03:48 — 58.1MB)

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Will County Recycling Program Specialist Marta Keane returns to talk recycling failures and successes. Dennis Warnecke from Tainio Biologicals Inc also returns to instruct us on the importance of soil biology in growing plants.

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Plastics Mess
Beekeeping Gardening Plastics Podcast Recycling 

Plastics Mess on Aisle 2 in the Green Industry

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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

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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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Ten Years of Environmental Good
Composting Environment Environmental justice Plastics Podcast Recycling 

Ten Years of Environmental Good

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:55:02 — 55.1MB)

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The One Earth Film Festival celebrates “10 Years of Inspiring Change” with a fully virtual event. Mike and Peggy welcome filmmakers Christi Cooper and Shannon Germaine. On the heels of her company’s own 10th anniversary celebration, Erlene Howard from Collective Resource Compost hopes for an uptick in food scrap collection in 2021.

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