Peggy Malecki

Start with Something Simple and Beautiful
Clean energy Gardening Podcast 

Start with Something Simple and Beautiful

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:02:40 — 58.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Garden writer and author Beth Botts returns to the show after a long absence to offer basic gardening advice. Colleen Smith, Deputy Director at the Illinois Environmental Council, weighs in on the chances of passing clean energy legislation for the state in the waning days of the Illinois General Assembly’s spring session.

Read more
Recycling Failures 101
Podcast Recycling soil health 

Recycling Failures 101: It’s not Always Your Fault

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:03:48 — 58.1MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Will County Recycling Program Specialist Marta Keane returns to talk recycling failures and successes. Dennis Warnecke from Tainio Biologicals Inc also returns to instruct us on the importance of soil biology in growing plants.

Read more
Farmers Markets Stay Strong in 2021
Local food Podcast 

Farmers Markets Stay Strong in 2021

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , ,

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

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

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.

Read more
Right to Garden Victory in Illinois
Composting Environmental justice Podcast 

Right to Garden Victory in Illinois

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:06:22 — 59.4MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Nicole Virgil returns to the show with good news about her Right to Garden campaign in the Illinois General Assembly. She is joined by Ari Bargil from the Institute for Justice. Benjamim Krumstok from the Illinois Food Scrap Coalition (IFSC) and Mike Dimucci from Garden Prairie Organics talk composting and promote International Compost Awareness Week. May 2-8.

Read more
Feel Good About Caring for Your Lawn
Conservation Lawn Care Podcast 

Feel Good About Caring for Your Lawn

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00:51 — 57.4MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Like it or not, many homeowners think that gardening means maintaining a lawn. Alec McClennan from Good Nature Organic Lawn Care and Dan Dinelli, superintendent of North Shore Country Club in Glenview, discuss non-toxic ways of keeping lawns healthy. Taran Lichtenberger from Budburst at the Chicago Botanic Garden wants you to grab your camera and participate in next week’s City Nature Challenge 2021. Leslie Graham and Chris Crone explain how the North Shore Plant Club can help folks save money on all kinds of plants.

Read more
Practical and Reliable Visit from Melinda Myers
Environment Gardening Podcast 

Practical and Reliable Talk from Melinda Myers

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:01:16 — 57.1MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Garden expert Melinda Myers returns to offer advice about spring gardening, even as the potential for yet another April snow event looms. Mike and Peggy list some Earth Week events, including the One Earth Film Festival. Then, they report on the return of the CEGA 60-Second Video Challenge.

Read more
Rescuing Species - Montrose Beach
Birding Conservation Monarch butterflies Podcast 

Rescuing Species with Urban Sanctuaries

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00:14 — 56.6MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

This week, we talk about efforts to protect butterflies and birds in Chicago, and what that means for the populations of monarchs, piping plovers and other species. Erika Hasle, Izabella Redlinski and Douglas Stotz from The Field Museum, and filmmaker Bob Dolgan join us.

Read more
Food Co-ops in an Age of Uncertainty - Food Shed Co-op
Local food Podcast Sustainable architecture 

Food Co-ops in an Age of Uncertainty

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00:02 — 56.4MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

How does a food co-op get off the ground? Representatives from Food Shed Co-op in McHenry County, Prairie Food Co-op in DuPage County, and Chicago Market: A Community Co-op in Chicago tell their stories. Architect Nate Kipnis returns to the show to talk about high design/low carbon sustainable buildings.

Read more
Trowels Out at Garden Rant
Gardening Podcast Water conservation 

Trowels Out at Garden Rant

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:00:25 — 57.3MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Garden Rant is celebrating its 15th year of poison pens and killer wit about all things gardening. Ranter Marianne Willburn and co-founder Susan Harris stop by to talk about their work…and fun. Alaina Harkness of Current Water returns to talk about World Water Day 2021 and protecting water quality in the age of climate change and coronavirus.

Read more
Irreplaceable - Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
Conservation Environment Podcast 

Irreplaceable In Every Way

Mike Nowak , , , , , , , , , , ,

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:53:49 — 53.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

Julian Hoffman has written an exceptional book about the crises our natural areas and iconic species face. Called “Irreplaceable,” it chronicles his visits to the far corners of the planet in search of the ordinary people who will ultimately save our planet, if it can be saved at all. Karen Taira from the Evanston Environmental Association (EEA), previews the Wild & Scenic Film Festival.

Read more