October 21, 2017 – Keeping Food Slow
Jody Osmund of Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm and CSA returns to The Mike Nowak Show to talk about the practical and political achievements of the Slow Food Movement.
Oct 27, 2017
The Mike Nowak Show
Mike and Peggy cover ever a little bit of everything green under the sun—the environment, gardening, local food, sustainable living and more—in a style that is casual, accessible, entertaining, informative and fun.
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Episodes
October 15, 2017 – When Plants Fight City Hall
Nicole Virgil and Ron Cress each explain why they are fighting their town's laws to grow, respectively, food and native plants. Michele Hoffman talks about a new growing technique that might give the world’s declining coral reefs a fighting chance.
Oct 20, 2017
October 14, 2017 – Bring Guns, Oaks and Art
Paul Coffey from the Art Institute of Chicago and Jeff Levrant of Homan Grown explain how the Oaks of North Lawndale project will bring trees and art to that west side Chicago community.
Oct 20, 2017
October 15, 2017 – When Plants Fight City Hall
Nicole Virgil wants to grow vegetables in a backyard hoop house and Ron Cress wants to grow native plants on his lot, and they both find themselves fighting City Hall to make it happen. Michele Hoffman welcomes Dr. David Vaughan to the Science Desk to talk about his new growing technique that might give the world's declining coral reefs a fighting chance.
Oct 15, 2017•1 hr 45 min
October 8, 2017 – Start the Garden Revolution
Author and native plant landscaper Benjamin Vogt talks about his new book, A New Garden Ethic. Gale Community Academy Principal Augustine 'Augie' Emuwa and A Just Harvest’s Rev. Marilyn Pagan-Banks and Tonia Andreina a teaching students about growing food
Oct 12, 2017
October 7, 2017 – Temple of Bloom
Landscape architect Carol Yetlen talks about managing the gardens surrounding the Baha’i Temple in Wilmette. Tom Klitzkie from Nature’s Perspective Landscaping has advice on keeping your plants well-watered in a dry spell.
Oct 12, 2017
October 1, 2017 – Seeds, Giant Pumpkins and Solar Panels
Sharon Bladholm talks about her latest nature-focused art exhibit. Mike and Peggy interview a man who grew a 1,852 pound pumpkin this year. Erik Carlberg and Doug Snower from Windfree Solar explain why this is a good time for clean energy in Illinois.
Oct 06, 2017
September 30, 2017 – LIVE from the SCARCE Green Fair!
Peggy and Mike broadcast live from the SCARCE Green Fair at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, where reduce, reuse and recycle are the words of the day.
Oct 06, 2017
September 24, 2017 – Toxic Environments
Toxicologist David J. Zaber comments on the efficacy of spraying mosquitoes. Kay McKeen from SCARCE promotes their Green Fair. Mike Mikulka from EPA Region 5 visits the Science Desk with Michele Hoffman and reports on efforts to gut the federal agency.
Sep 29, 2017
September 23, 2017 – A Couple of PhDs Talking Tree Extinction
Some of our iconic ash and oak species are on the brink of extinction. Dr. Murphy Westwood from The Morton Arboretum and Dr. Rex Bastian from Davey Tree Experts talk about why that has happened and what we do to save them.
Sep 29, 2017
September 17, 2017 – Wildcrafting, Tracking Monarchs
Lisa M. Rose talks about her book Midwest Medicinal Plants and how you can forage for those plants in your own yard. Doug Taron from the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum reports on Midwest monarch populations as they begin their migration to Mexico.
Sep 23, 2017
September 16, 2017 – Remaking Plans to Remake Jackson Park
Friends of the Parks Executive Director Juanita Irizarry returns to the show to discuss the latest developments surrounding the proposed Obama Presidential Center in Chicago’s Jackson Park.
Sep 23, 2017
September 10, 2017 – Reclaiming Plastics and Toxics
BK Sharma from ISTC explains how scientists are using pyrolysis to convert plastic back back into petroleum products. Two recycling experts explore the possibilities of reclaiming household storm debris.
Sep 21, 2017
September 9, 2017 – The Challenge of Food Waste
Gary Oppenheimer, founder and Executive Director of AmpleHarvest.org, explains his organization’s mission to enlist backyard gardeners to fight food waste by connecting them to local food pantries.
Sep 21, 2017
September 3, 2017 – Chicago: City of Big Celery
Ken Santowski from Chicago Logistic Service explains to recover Styrofoam. WBEZ’s Monica Eng gives a history lesson on Chicago’s farming past. Michael Howard promotes the Go Fund Me campaign for Eden Place Nature Center on Chicago’s south side.
Sep 09, 2017
September 2, 2017 – Hurricane Harvey: Predicting and Coping with the New Normal
Harriet Festing from Flood Forum USA and meteorologist Rick DiMaio discuss the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey–the role of climate change in catastrophic weather events and whether we will be prepared for the next one.
Sep 09, 2017
August 27, 2017 – Live from Heirloom Fest at the Chicago Botanic Garden!
Mike and Peggy head to the Chicago Botanic Garden to broadcast live from Heirloom Fest: Tomatoes and More. Horticulturist Lisa Hilgenberg from the Regenstein Fruit and Vegetable Garden joins them to talk about the 50,000 plants under her care.
Aug 31, 2017
August 26, 2017 – Hall of Fame Horticulturist
Peggy and Mike welcome garden author, lecturer and media star Melinda Myers back to the show. She was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame of GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators.
Aug 31, 2017
August 20, 2017 – Respect for Animals Large and Small
Jessica Chipkin from Crate Free Illinois and Scott Beckstead of the Humane Society preview the new Illinois Agriculture Advisory Council. Michele Hoffman of Microcosm and Shedd Aquarium’s Mark Schick report on the future of coral populations.
Aug 29, 2017
August 19, 2017 – The Dark Side of the Sun
Mike and Peggy welcome NASA Senior Scientist Meagan Thompson, who answers questions about the coming total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017.
Aug 29, 2017
August 13, 2017 – Cultivating Resilience
Peggy Malecki and Lisa Hilgenberg from the Chicago Botanic Garden co-host the show. They talk to Michelle Hickey of The Resiliency Institute about permaculture, then get summer growing advice from plant care specialist Chris Beiser.
Aug 18, 2017
August 12, 2017 – Moms Fight to Breathe Free
Peggy Malecki fills in for Mike and welcomes back Kelly Nichols from Moms Clean Air Force to discuss the connection between clean energy and clean air. Rick DiMaio returns to talk about 2016–another year that goes into the record books for extreme heat.
Aug 18, 2017
August 6, 2017 – Breeding Success
Mary Hennen and Peggy Macnamara on their new book, The Peregrine Returns; Laura Calvert is new executive director of Advocates for Urban Agriculture; Dr. Harry Klee on his quest to breed the perfect commercial tomato; Jonathan Kruger previews Veggie Fest.
Aug 10, 2017
August 5, 2017 – Plastic Behavior
Jordan Park of Bring Your Bag Chicago returns to the show to talk about the success of the 7 cent fee on single-use plastic bags in Chicago.
Aug 10, 2017
July 30, 2017 – Snipping and Spraying
Dan Kosta answers gardening questions and promotes the Prairie State Bonsai Society annual event. Ruth Kerzee from the Midwest Pesticide Action Center and Laura McGowan from Clarke talk about the complexities of controlling mosquitoes in the Chicago area.
Aug 04, 2017
July 29, 2017 – Fun with Foliage
Karen Chapman and Christina Salwitz, authors of Gardening with Foliage First, explain to Mike and Peggy how to design a beautiful garden while almost making blooms an afterthought.
Aug 04, 2017
July 23, 2017 – Soil Sisters, Ocean’s Daughter
Farmers Lisa Kivirist and Alison Parker preview Soil Sisters and In Her Boots events. Michele Hoffman previews her trip to Florida to research plankton and the affects of the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe. Coorens reports on a big land use deal in Chicago
Jul 26, 2017
July 22, 2017 – The Chef and the Meteorologist
Chef Paul Virant previews the 10th Annual Peak Harvest Farm Dinner presented by Angelic Organics Learning Center. Rick DiMaio returns from and educational trip to Iceland to study climate change.
Jul 25, 2017
July 16, 2017 – Floating Gardens, Trash Talking Professors
Urban Rivers has an idea for bring floating nature to the Chicago River; Carl Zimring and Kris Kaar explain the IRA event "A Couple of Professors Talkin' Trash;" plus an update on the British Columbia wildfires from Dave Scott of Spaced Out Radio.
Jul 19, 2017
July 15, 2017 – 49 Years and Counting
Former Chicago Gardener of the Year and co-director of the 49th Annual Sheffield Music Festival and Garden Walk Laury Lewis stops by the studio to promote “The Summer’s Best Festival” and talk a little gardening.
Jul 19, 2017
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