Peggy Malecki Archives

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.

Biology Climate change Gardening Insects Natural sciences Organics

Phenology Is a Key Component of Life on Earth

March 12, 2022March 15, 2022 Mike Nowak Budburst, climate change, Fruition Seeds, gardening, growing tomatoes, heirloom seeds, Nature's Notebook, Peggy Malecki, Petra Page-Mann, The 606, The Mike Nowak Show, USA National Phenology Network

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00:23 — 57.0MB)

If you’re not familiar with the concept of phenology, we hope to give you an introduction on today’s show. Alyssa Rosemartin from the USA National Phenology Network and citizen scientist Jean Linsner, who has worked on The 606 in Chicago, talk about the importance of keeping track of nature’s calendar. Petra Page-Mann from Fruition Seeds returns to explain why her company focuses on organic heirloom seeds.

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.

animal welfare Birding Clean water Climate change Conservation Food justice Information from Past Shows

Sacrificing Birds for a Marketing Gimmick

February 19, 2022February 23, 2022 Mike Nowak Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, climate change, food justice, Harms Woods, light pollution, MWRD Commissioner Kim du Buclet, One Earth Film Festival, Peggy Malecki, Raj Patel, Skokie Carvana Tower, sustainability, The Ants & the Grasshopper, The Mike Nowak Show

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:04:25 — 58.5MB)

Mike and Peggy welcome back MWRD Commissioner Kim Neely du Buclet to talk about recent green infrastructure water projects and even ways to trace coronavirus in our water supply. Raj Patel, director of The Ants & the Grasshopper explains the food and social justice components of his film about climate change. Annette Prince from Chicago Bird Collision Monitors and Skokie resident Kim Polka report on their efforts to stop a potentially bird-killing Carvana Tower in that Chicago suburb.

animal welfare Lawn Care Lifestyle

Protect Creatures Great and Small

February 12, 2022February 13, 2022 Mike Nowak animal welfare, Chicago Alliance for Animals, Hawk City K9, Hounds & Grounds, Illinois Humane Pet Store Bill, Jodie Wiederkehr, lawn chemicals, Midwest Grows Green, natural lawn care, Peggy Malecki, Ryan Anderson, The Mike Nowak Show, The Pet Fund

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:59:00 — 56.8MB)

We talk animal welfare on today’s show. Ryan Anderson from Midwest Grows Green previews “Hounds & Grounds,” an event that will feature agility training for dogs and advice about natural lawn care for their owners that will keep their pooches healthy. Jodie Wiederkehr of Chicago Alliance for Animals is fighting to stop animal sales in the Chicago area. She explains the new state law to stop so-called “puppy mill” sales that is a step in that direction.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:06:05 — 59.1MB)

Entomologist, ecologist and author Doug Tallamy returns to the show. He discusses his latest book, The Nature of Oaks and his work to create Homegrown National Park. But he will also talk with Kerry Leigh, executive director of the Natural Land Institute about the continuing threat to Bell Bowl Prairie in Rockford. On the good news front, we’ll chat with Debra Behrens from The Prairie Enthusiasts about a grant they just received to expand Mounds View Grasslands Preserve near Madison, Wisconsin.

Peggy Malecki

How to Go Beyond Organic Growing

Green School Farms on the Front Line of Sustainability

Phenology Is a Key Component of Life on Earth

Expect Great Growing in 2022

Start the Best Fruits and Vegetables

Sacrificing Birds for a Marketing Gimmick

Protect Creatures Great and Small

Can Backyard Composting Change the World?

Forest Preserves Unlock the Mysteries of Nature

Doug Tallamy on Saving Nature and Ourselves