soil health 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.

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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:01:24 — 57.3MB)

The Mike Nowak Show with Peggy Malecki helps the Illinois Food Scrap Coalition kick off International Compost Awareness Week. Merleanne Rampale from SWALCO, James Kim from Vernon HIlls Park District, and Vytas Papedinskas of Save Our Soil LLC report on a pilot program that is helping communities utilize the regeneration properties of compost. John Bates from Field Museum Birds helps clear up some confusion regarding use of backyard bird feeders during the current avian influenza outbreak in the U.S.

Climate change Composting Food justice Gardening Local food Native plants Organics soil health

How to Go Beyond Organic Growing

March 26, 2022March 29, 2022 Mike Nowak beyond organic growing, Bob Benenson, Chicago's Green City Market, Emily Murphy, fighting climate change in your garden, GROW NOW, Local Food Forum, opening farmers markets in April, Peggy Malecki, regenerative gardening, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:57:23 — 55.6MB)

If it’s spring, it’s time to talk once again to Bob Benenson from Local Food Forum. He reports on as many issues as he can get to in about 20 minutes, They include the reasoning behind Chicago’s Green City Market’s decision to open a month earlier. Author Emily Murphy returns to the show to talk about her new book, GROW NOW. In it, she shares the gospel of regenerative gardening, no-till, and what it means to go beyond organic.

Composting Gardening Organics soil health Tomatoes

Start the Best Fruits and Vegetables

February 26, 2022March 1, 2022 Mike Nowak Chicago Botanic Garden, Lisa Hilgenberg, organic gardening, Peggy Malecki, Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden, seed starting, sustainability, The Mike Nowak Show, The Orchid Show: Untamed

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00:16 — 57.9MB)

Lisa Hilgenberg is horticulturist for the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden. There, she is responsible for some 50,000 plants, including 400 types of edibles. Today she has advice on when and how to get your seedlings started for the Midwest growing season. We also talk about The Orchid Show: Untamed at the Garden.

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 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.

Climate change Gardening Information from Past Shows soil health Tomatoes

Tomatomania IV: Attack of the Nasty Shorts

August 14, 2021August 14, 2021 Mike Nowak "code red" from IPCC, Craig LeHoullier, Epic Tomatoes, gardening, KC Tomato, Keith Mueller, nasty shorts, Peggy Malecki, The Mike Nowak Show, tomato diseases, tomatoes in hot weather, U.S. wildfires

The tomato guys are back! Keith Mueller (aka KC Tomato) and Craig LeHoullier (author of “Epic Tomatoes”) return for Tomatomania IV: Attack of the Nasty Shorts. They talk about late season tomato issues and offer expert advice. Meteorologist Rick DiMaio also returns to report on wildfires, hurricanes and the “code red” about climate change from the IPCC.

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