Peggy Malecki Archives

Growing Plants in the Dark

December 21, 2019December 27, 2019 Mike Nowak A Gardening Xmas Carol, eco-influencer, Gabby Road, Grow in the Dark, growing indoor plants, Hollywood movie parody, It's a Wonderful Slice, Lisa Eldred Steinkopf, Mighty House, Peggy Malecki, Playtime with Bill Turck and Kerri Kendall, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:32:00 — 42.7MB)

It’s a Wonderful Slice 2019! Mike, Peggy and an all-star WCGO Radio cast perform the 10 (or 12 or 14) minute version of the Hollywood Holiday Classic. Lisa Eldred Steinkopf talks about her new book, Grow in the Dark: How to Choose and Care for Low-Light Houseplants. Mike reprises his own holiday classic, A Gardening Xmas Carol.

Podcast

Passive Houses Get Aggressive

December 14, 2019December 16, 2019 Mike Nowak Architecture 2030, eco-influencer, global decarbonization, Madrid COP25, Nate Kipnis, net zero, net zero energy, NextHaus Alliance, passive houses, Peggy Malecki, retrofitting homes, The Mike Nowak Show, Tom Bassett-Dilley

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:31:32 — 43.5MB)

Chicago area architects Nathan Kipnis and Tom Bassett-Dilley return to the show to discuss the importance of passive houses and concepts like embodied carbon, global decarbonization, and net zero energy use.

Podcast

Growing Organic Microgreens Indoors

November 23, 2019November 26, 2019 Mike Nowak eco-influencer, environmental news, Gabby Road, gardening advice, growing microgreens, indoor gardening, Jeanne Nolan, Peggy Malecki, SmartTalk Radio Network, The Mike Nowak Show, The Organic Gardener

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:28:56 — 41.4MB)

Jeanne Nolan from The Organic Gardener visits the WCGO Studios to talk about their new service that helps people grow microgreens indoors. Hannah, Justin, and maybe even Fred from Gabby Road join Mike and Peggy to talk about their new show.

Podcast

The Albatross and the Mouse

November 16, 2019November 19, 2019 Mike Nowak albatross, Chicago Eco House, Chicago gardening, clean energy, eco-influencer, Illinois Solar Energy Association, Island Conservation, Lisa Albrecht, Midway Atoll, Peggy Malecki, sustainability, The Mike Nowak Show, urban flowers

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:33:12 — 43.9MB)

Wieteke Holthuijzen might be a Northern Illinois University student, but she spends a lot of time studying the albatross on Midway Atoll and why they are threatened by house mice. Lisa Albrecht returns to the show to talk about the state of solar energy in Illinois.

Podcast

Preventing Monarch Butterfly Roadkill

November 9, 2019November 26, 2019 Mike Nowak eco-influencer, environment, gardening with nativars, Greenprints garden humor, insect decline, Kimberly Neely du Buclet, leave the leaves, Minnesota Extension, monarch butterfly roadkill, Pat Stone, Peggy Malecki, Texas A&M, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:34:44 — 43.4MB)

Dr. Robert Coulson from Texas A&M University explains how they are studying “hot spots” where migrating monarch butterflies have high mortality rates along Texas roads. Dr. Elaine Evans, Assistant Extension Professor with the University of Minnesota Extension, says “leave the leaves” on your lawn and garden this season to help overwintering insects. Pat Stone explains how Greenprints Magazine reveals the joy, the humor, the headaches, and the heart of gardening. Commissioner Kim du Buclet promotes the MWRD “Road Show.”

Podcast

“Tidy thoughts are for losers”

November 3, 2019November 26, 2019 Mike Nowak animal abuse, carriage horses humane, Chicago Alliance for Animals, eco-influencer, gardening with nativars, growing native plants, Kelsay Shaw, Peggy Malecki, Possibility Place Nursery, Rick DiMaio, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:30:57 — 44.5MB)

Kelsay Shaw from Possibility Place Nursery returns to the show to talk about the benefits of untidy gardens. Jodie Wiederkehr also returns to report on a proposed ordinance to ban carriage horses in Chicago that has now been stalled for two years in City Council.

Podcast

Allan Armitage and Solution Gardening

October 26, 2019October 28, 2019 Mike Nowak Dr. Allan Armitage, environment, gardening, Green Living Expo, herbaceous perennial plants, Illinois Extension, McHenry County College, Peggy Malecki, pumpkin smash, SCARCE, solution gardening, sustainability, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:42:36 — 47.8MB)

Dr. Allan Armitage returns to the show to talk about his concept of “solution gardening,” his books, upcoming classes and more. Sarah Batka from Illinois Extension and volunteer Ivy Tzur talk about how “pumpkin smashes” are keeping organic matter out of landfills. McHenry County College Sustainability Director Kim Hankins previews next week’s Green Living Expo.

Podcast

Stump the Scott This Morning!

October 19, 2019October 23, 2019 Mike Nowak Bartlett Tree Experts, Chip Osborne, clean energy, Clean Jobs Coalition, fall tree care, gardening, Illinois Green Veterans, Midwest Grows Green, natural lawn care, Peggy Malecki, Scott Jamieson, sustainability, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:43:54 — 48.9MB)

Scott Jamieson from Bartlett Tree Experts joins Mike and Peggy to talk about fall tree care and how to get your trees ready for winter. U.S. Army Reservist Sgt. Jessica Klinge explains why she is trying to establish an Illinois chapter of Green Veterans. Mike and Peggy preview this Thursday’s Midwest Grows Green 4-year anniversary with Benjamin Krumstok of Composting Partners and the Illinois Food Scrap Coalition.

Podcast

Excellent Gardens, Excellent Garden Advice

October 12, 2019October 17, 2019 Mike Nowak Chicago Excellence in Gardening Awards, composting, environment, fall gardening, gardening, Hugelkultur, Melinda Myers, Peggy Malecki, planting bulbs, pumpkins, sustainability, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:45:49 — 50.2MB)

Gardening expert and show regular Melinda Myers returns to talk about the arrival of fall and perhaps a little bit about the horticultural industry. It’s also the day after the 2019 Chicago Excellence in Gardening Awards ceremony and Mike and Peggy welcome two of the winning gardeners to the WCGO studios.

Podcast

Sustainable Landscapes Make an IMPACT

October 5, 2019December 6, 2019 Mike Nowak Chicago weed law, Christine Nye, environment, gardening, ILCA, IMPACT conference, migratory bird garden, native plants, Peggy Malecki, permaculture, Shedd Aquarium, sustainable landscaping, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:43:57 — 48.8MB)

Christine Nye, who recently retired as horticulture manager at the Shedd Aquarium, stops by to talk about the gardens she created there. She is joined by Pam Karlson, Annamaria Leon and Ken Williams to promote the upcoming ILCA IMPACT Conference. Pete Czosnyka explains how he faces a $675 fine for growing native plants in his front yard.