Podcast

The New Sustainable Reality

September 26, 2020November 2, 2020 Mike Nowak Alaina Harkness, Chicago Water Week, Current Chicago, eco-influencer, fall tree care, Great Lakes, Peggy Malecki, Skeet from Bartlett Tree Experts, The Mike Nowak Show, trees under drought stress

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:27:21 — 40.0MB)

(September 27, 2020) Has it really been three weeks since Peggy and I were on what is known as “terrestrial radio.” It seems like a lifetime. On the other hand, it seems like six lifetimes since things were normal on our planet. Whether we’re talking about COVID-19 or wildfires in the west or hurricane season or even (sigh) the upcoming election, these are not normal times. That said, we’re working on the new sustainable reality of reporting on the environment and gardening and how it affects our daily lives. It also coincides with the new sustainable reality of our show.

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10:32 Skeet from Bartlett Tree Experts
57:47 Alaina Harkness of Current and Chicago Water Week

Our team (and that includes the wonderful Kathleen Thompson), has been working to put our new format together. The learning curve is steep, and we’re still figuring out what our show will look like as we move forward. Sunday, September 27, marks a seminal day in our progress. We’re doing what folks in the marketing biz call a “soft launch,” in order to test the tech. But that doesn’t mean we’re not going to give you great information about practical sustainability. So let’s get to it.

We couldn’t be more pleased to start our new format with Skeet from Bartlett Tree Experts. He’s a show regular, he packages his knowledge as a certified arborist in fun, easy-to-digest language and he’s a fan of our program. That’s what I call win-win-win. In full disclosure, Bartlett is the primary sponsor of The Mike Nowak Show with Peggy Malecki and we couldn’t be prouder of that. If we’re going to save our planet, caring for our trees will be at the top of the list of solutions.

While Bartlett is an international company, Skeet works in the Chicago area, which has had a weird weather year (aren’t they all?) Record rains in spring. A 40-year derecho in late summmer. Moderate drought conditions as we head into fall. Skeet had some advice this week.

Fall is in the air….cooler air. Please do not let the cooler temps fool you into not watering the trees. This week no rain is predicted, and please supplement the plants with water. Working with many landscapers, they are frustrated as they have held off on re-seeding, and planting…. And were also hoping for rain.

I hate watering my garden–except for spot watering my vegetables. But the last month or so has been particularly brutal. Okay, not west coast brutal. But Skeet is spot on when it comes to reporting on cooler temperatures. A lot of folks assume that plants won’t need water as the temperatures ramp down. They couldn’t be more wrong. Water is life–for us and for plants, including trees. And if you planted a new tree this year, it’s especially important to keep your baby hydrated.

Bartlett has more great tips for fall tree care.

As summer ends, it’s important to note any changes in your trees. Trees under stress display key symptoms indicating that a serious problem may exist or could develop if ignored. Some things to look for:

- wilting or unusual loss of leaves or needles;
- yellowing of leaves or browning of needles;
- premature autumn pigmentation and leaf drop;
- wet, sappy spots on branches and stems.

In some cases, it may be your trees simply need more (or less) water. However, these signs could be evidence of insects and disease or may indicate problems with the roots or soil. Correctly identifying the underlying cause is critical to addressing the problem and nurturing trees back to good health. A yearly check-up is a good idea to identify any early warning signs and keep your trees in top shape.

While we’re at it, the latest newsletter from Bartlett has good information about tree and shrub care. We hope you join us this morning–even if there are glitches. You will learn a lot.

The New Sustainable Reality: Chicago Water Week

The new sustainable reality isn’t just about our show. Or trees. Water is always important, of course, but it has taken an even higher priority in 2020, as we’re washing our hands umpteen times a day in the pandemic, and paying more attention to both cleanliness and where our food and water come from. The basic right of everyone to equally access clean, reliable drinking water is an ongoing social and environmental justice concern in our communities. And as environmental policies continue to roll backward in the current federal administration, it’s an ever-growing environmental issue as well.

Here is Chicago, we’re fortunate to be situated on Lake Michigan, which is a part of about 20 percent of this planet’s fresh water held within the Great Lakes, as well as a multitude of rivers and lakes. Yet the Chicago metro area, indeed the entire Midwest, faces myriad challenges related to water. Enter a Chicago-based nonprofit called Current and the first Chicago Water Week, taking place virtually from September 28 to October 2. Most sessions are free, it’s online, it’s open to the public and it’s going to be an eye-opener.

We received the event press release from George Brigandi, Current’s partnership and development manager, and agreed that this was a perfect topic to cover in the launch of our new format. George last joined us in 2017 to talk about creating Chicago River habitat. (You may also remember him as our intern when we operated out of “Pirate Radio” back in 2016). George explained to what Chicago Water Week is.

Five days, dozens of virtual events, hundreds of cross-sector water leaders highlighting the critical role of water in Chicago’s environment, society and economy. This occasion is programmed in partnership with the civic, industry, investment, public sector and university leaders across the environmental and economic development spectrum.” In addition, they “Officially have 29 program partners and 31 events across all 5 days.”

He adds that the program “will educate participants about water-related challenges in the Chicago region and highlight leaders working to solve them. Presentations will cover artificial intelligence in water research, jobs in the blue economy, Lake Michigan water quality monitoring, investment trends, emerging technologies, and more.”

Joining us this Sunday morning is Alaina Harkness, Executive Director of Current, which calls itself a “water innovation hub.” Alaina says Current is “a small organization with a big vision: to make Chicago a global center of innovation that will help solve the world’s most pressing water problems. Accomplishing that goal will take powerful partnerships. Chicago Water Week is a great showcase for the cross-sector leaders who are working together to create solutions.”

One of the things that caught our attention is how many companies and organizations are involved in Chicago Water Week. The event is presented by Greeley and Hansen, and is made possible by Current’s many program partners and supporters, including the City of Chicago, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory. The full list of partners is on their website, and it’s very impressive.

The Chicago Water Week schedule and more information are posted at https://www.currentwater.org/chicago-water-week. We’re looking forward to talking with Alaina Harkness this morning on our trial foray into the Intertubes.