Local Food Forum Archives

Monarch Butterflies: Yet Another Species on the Brink

May 28, 2022May 30, 2022 Mike Nowak Bob Benenson, Dolly Foster, gardening, Local Food Forum, monarch butterflies, monarch population 2022, Peggy Malecki, summer farmers markets, The Green Dispatch, The Mike Nowak Show, types of milkweed

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The monarch numbers from Mexico were just released and they’re…okay. Which means that the iconic species is still threatened. Horticulturist Dolly Foster returns to the show to talk about choosing plants–including milkweed–to attract monarchs and other pollinators to your yard. Bob Benenson of Local Food Forum reports on the start of summer farmers market season and some developments for small farms and growers.

Beyond Organic - GROW NOW by Emily Murphy

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

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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.

Conservation Environment Insects Local food

Can One Bee Rescue a Valuable Remnant Prairie?

October 2, 2021October 5, 2021 Mike Nowak Bell Bowl Prairie, Bob Benenson, Chicago Rockford International Airport, endangered species, fall farmers markets, Kerry Leigh, Local Food Forum, Natural Land Institute, Peggy Malecki, remnant prairie, Robb Telfer, rusty patched bumble bee, The Mike Nowak Show

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An expansion at Chicago Rockford International Airport threatens a valued prairie remnant. Thanks to the sighting of an endangered rusty patched bumble bee, the construction is on hold…for the moment. We talk to Kerry Leigh from the Natural Land Institute and naturalist/artist Robb Telfer about what this means for natural areas across the state. Bob Benenson from Local Food Forum returns to preview the remainder of the farmers market season.

Good Food - Andy Hazzard of Hazzard Free Farms

Clean energy Clean water Climate change Conservation Environment Environmental justice Gardening Information from Past Shows Local food soil health Water conservation

Local Food Is Getting Better In Illinois

July 24, 2021July 29, 2021 Mike Nowak Bob Benenson, Climate Action Plan for the Chicago Region, cottage food laws, Edith Makra, Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, Local Food Forum, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, Molly Gleason, National Farmers Market Week, Peggy Malecki, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:04:25 — 59.4MB)

Where local food is concerned, it was a good spring session in the Illinois General Assembly in 2021. Molly Gleason from the Illinois Stewardship Alliance talks about the various local food and conservation programs that were passed by the Illinois General Assembly. Bob Benenson joins the conversation and promotes National Farmers Market Week. Edith Makra and Geneva, Illinois Mayor Kevin Burns from the Metropolitan Mayors Council discuss the roll out of the Climate Action Plan for the Chicago Region.

Environment Factory farms Local food Tree Care

Survival Tips; Confronting Aldi; Saving Blue Ash

June 5, 2021June 10, 2021 Mike Nowak Aldi USA, blue ash trees, Bob Benenson, Crate Free USA, emerald ash borer, factory farms, gestation crates, Guy Sternberg, Jessica Chipkin, Local Food Forum, Peggy Malecki, Starhill Forest Arboretum, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:03:45 — 59.6MB)

Bob Beneson from Local Food Forum stops by to talk about the explosion of farmers markets in Illinois, and offers some tips for shopping in hot weather. Jessica Chipkin from Crate Free USA attempts to explain why Aldi USA continues to resist attempts to forego sourcing of meat from factory farms that use gestation crates. Guy Sternbergs say there might be hope for blue ash trees in central Illinois in the battle against emerald ash borer.

Local food Podcast

Farmers Markets Stay Strong in 2021

May 8, 2021May 18, 2021 Mike Nowak 60-Second Garden Video Challenge, Bob Benenson, Chicago Excellence in Gardening Awards, Farmers Markets, Food co-ops, Illinois Farmers Market Association, local food and COVID-19, Local Food Forum, Monty & Rose, Peggy Malecki, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00:06 — 57.0MB)

When May starts, so does the farmers market season. Food aficionado Bob Benenson explains why he started his newsletter Local Food Forum. Farmers market manager Elsa Jacobson joins the conversation to talk about the state of 2021 farmers markets. Mike talks about his visit to see Monty & Rose at Montrose Beach in Chicago. Meteorologist Rick DiMaio reports on unusually cool and dry spring weather.