Now on Zoom!

Garden clubs all over the state that are looking for entertaining garden and environment talks have been passing the word around. Mike Nowak is funny. He’s also knowledgeable and packs more information into a handout than most people get into a full-length book. But sometimes, if you’ve just had a really good lunch, “funny” can be the most important thing. And if you want insightful looks at garden and environment, he’s the guy.

All talks are roughly an hour long plus time for Q & A

Contact Mike for availability and fees.

NEW! Fixing Climate Change in Your Backyard (and Frontyard)

A lot of us are pretty unhappy about the direction in which our planet’s environment is headed. Unfortunately, many people also think there’s nothing we can do about it. That’s not exactly true. The decisions we make in our yards—especially if done en masse—can make a huge difference in saving plant and animal species and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Mike walks you through the basics—native plants (especially oaks), harvesting rainwater, reducing lawn area, composting and other gardening decisions—all designed to help your yard conserve rather than deplete natural resources. Knowing you’re doing something positive will also give you some peace of mind, which, after the past few years, is near the top of everyone’s list.

 

Everything You Know About Gardening Is Wrong: Myths, Misinformation and Well-Meant but Inaccurate Advice from Mom, the Intertubes and Beyond

Gardeners are generally trusting souls. And, like a lot of other folks, they put too much faith in the Intertubes, which can sometimes land them in a heap of trouble. For instance, look at the graphic on the right, which might have shown up on your Facebook timeline once or twice. Can you spot the error? (Hint: it’s circled!) If you can’t, it’s time for Mike to speak to your group. He will point out the difference between fact and fiction, and science and hearsay in the garden. You can start by visiting sites like Illinois Extension. In the process, he’ll bust some myths that you were absolutely convinced were true, and tell you where to find factual answers to your garden and environment questions. If you don’t laugh at least once during his presentation, it’s because the surgeon accidentally removed your humor instead of your humerus. (You’d be surprised how often that happens.)

 

I’m Not Really a Garden Expert, I Just Play One on the Radio

This is Mike’s most popular talk, and he’s constantly tweaking and updating it. He looks at a wide range of gardening issues—why we need to rethink our attitudes regarding insects, why reaching for the pesticide is usually the worst response to a garden problem, why weeds always win, why a lot of fertilizing is overrated, why a lot of garden design is overrated, why some garden design could help, why it’s so easy to kill those expensive plants, why there’s no such thing as a native garden yet it’s still important to grow native plants, and how folks sometimes do the weirdest things in the name of gardening. If you’re not having fun, you probably walked into the wrong room, so turn around and find out where Mike is speaking.

 

Good Planets are Hard to Find

As host of a radio gardening program, Mike has found himself playing a lot of roles in twenty years: interviewer, student, skeptic, advocate, teacher, novice, expert, priest and rabbi. In his talk, Mike attempts to make some sense of what he’s learned and to present some practical advice about the role of nature in urban/ suburban/exurban settings and how each person’s role is much more significant than they can imagine. He looks at gardens, lawns, native plants and sound horticultural practices and muses about where we have gotten it right, where we’ve gone off the rails, how some of us have been brainwashed (ever watch TV?) and why.

Thriving in Hard Soil

Mike’s betting that most of you have never lived five doors from a drug corner in Chicago (and we’re not talking about a CVS). Well, he did for a decade until he and his neighbors figured out that if you put a community garden on the drug corner, the drug dealers might get nervous in the presence of broccoli, kale, tomatoes, beans and all of the folks helping them grow. Mike presents an inspiring look at the possibilities and challenges of creating a community garden, using his experience working at the Green on McLean community garden in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago. You’ll learn about soil contaminants, layered barriers, raising funds, and why kids are the key to making a community garden a success.

 

Guys on Grass (or Natural Lawn Care 101)

As a die-hard gardener, Mike’s philosophy about lawns can be summed up in this phrase: “When in doubt, rip it out”.  Yet, as a radio show host, he knows that people love their lawns, so his compromise is to preach the gospel of natural lawn care. In this talk, Mike looks at why the concept of the “perfect lawn” is so harmful, starting with that lock-step mentality and moving on to the use of synthetic fertilizers and pervasive pesticides.  He explains how some simple cultural practices can be just as effective as expensive chemicals to keep your lawn green and healthy.  He shows you why what’s in your soil is at least as important as what’s above it.  And he dares to ask the question, “Why are weeds so bad?” (Hint: they’re not.)

The 800 Pound Banana in the Room: Recycling Organics

Good gardeners have known forever that composting is the key to healthy soils. But until recently, the issue of what to do with organics–which account for approximately one third of our waste stream–has not entered the consciousness of non-gardeners. How do municipalities, large and small, begin to educate their citizens that recycling organic materials–specifically food waste–can not only reduce the size of our landfills but, if composted correctly, replenish the nutrients in our soils and become a source of renewable energy? Mike is also happy to opine (because he’s not short on opinions) on the value of recycling systems for non-organic materials like glass, metal and plastics.

 

 

 

That Ain’t No Way to Treat a Tree

Mike Nowak is not really an arborist. He just plays one on the radio. Actually, for the past twenty-plus years on Chicago radio, people have asked him to answer their tree care questions, which means that he’s gone to a lot of arborists for answers. Along the way, he’s figured out that a lot of folks are clueless about how trees work. So, he walks you through the basics—how to choose a tree, where to site it, how to plant it, how to water, mulch and prune it, and more. Here’s a tip: visit sites like The Morton Arboretum. He also shows you some spectacular specimens and equally spectacular “tree fails.” And he has some advice for the kinds of trees you should—and shouldn’t—be planting in your yard.