David J. Zaber is your instructor for Garden Chemicals 101, a look at the pesticides and fertilizers that we put in our yards and the consequences of using them. Rick Moskovitz from A Plus Pest Control returns to talk about how to deal safely with indoor pests. He might sing a song, too. Be prepared.
Mary Phillips from the National Wildlife Federation reports on how the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge is creating wildlife habitat in backyards. Ryan Anderson promotes Chicago Grows Green Week, presented by Midwest Grows Green. Madison Hopkins returns to the show to talk about her most recent article for the Better Government Association about Chicago's failing recycling system.
Skeet from Bartlett Tree Experts returns to talk about tree issues for a colder and wetter than normal spring. Dick Peach from the Evanston Environmental Association previews Nature's Night Out. Grant Kessler and Sofia Jouravel explain why you should join the Chicago Market co-op. David and Laura Mitchell from Lumican.com want to change the world, one LED street light at a time.
Margaret Frisbie from Friends of the Chicago River talks about next week's Chicago River Day, while Chicago folk musician Mark Dvorak explains how Pete Seeger helped to save the Hudson River. Lorraine Ballato has great hydrangea care info in her new book, "Success with Hydrangeas." Carol and Steve Wenzel from Blazing Star Nursery explain how farmers and backyard gardeners can create healthy soil.
Nationally renowned garden expert Melinda Myers has advice about spring snow storms and plants. Paul Botts of The Wetlands Initiative and Teri Valenzuela from Audubon Great Lakes talk about the restoration work being done at Indian Ridge Marsh on Chicago's southeast side.
The Mike Nowak Show spends this holiday Sunday broadcasting from the brand spanking new City Grange on Chicago's northwest side. Founder LaManda Joy joins us, along with staff members, who talk about the mission of this not-so-usual retail establishment. America's Seed Artist Shilin Hora also stops by to talk about a seed quilt that she has created with students from Emerson Elementary School in Berwyn.
Lydia Scott from the Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI) and Colleen Murphy-Dunning of the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies preview an event this Wednesday at The Morton Arboretum about trees and climate change, where Mike will be moderator.
Dan Protess, writer and producer for Urban Nature, talks about the second season of the WTTW online show, featuring an episode about forager Dave Odd, who is also in studio. Nicole Virgil reports on how she is fighting to rewrite Illinois law if the City of Elmhurst won't allow her to site a hoop house on her property. Laura Calvert from Advocates for Urban Agriculture joins the conversation by phone.
We head to Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery on Chicago's south side for a honey tasting "mead n' feed" event, featuring Chef Carrie Schloss. Phil Fitch and Nick Arensmann from Bartlett Tree Experts answer urban tree care questions. Nina Baki from Forest Preserve District of Cook County and Val Kehoe from Illinois Extension talk about how you can be part of the Conservation@Home program.
The Mike Nowak Show with Peggy Malecki heads to Navy Pier for the Chicago Flower & Garden Show. Mike and Peggy welcome a roster of guests that includes designers, educators and even a 6th grade chef who has already been on national television.
Dan Gibbs, The Backyard Gardener, talks about how to plan your home grown crops. FamilyFarmed founder Jim Slama previews the 15th Annual Good Food EXPO.
Jason Hammel, founder of Lula Cafe and recipient of the Good Food EXPO Chef of the Year Award, explains why farm to table food has been successful at his restaurants. Austin Hall talks about why he bought Greenwise Organic Lawn Care and whether there will be a new direction for the company.
Ed and Dale Hubbard outline the challenges of running a composting operation in Chicago. William Moss the Garden Boss and Tony Abruscato preview the 2019 Chicago Flower & Garden Show.
Journalist Steve Horn returns to the show to talk about his new position at the Climate Crisis Bureau for The Real News Network. Joey and Holly Baird, The Wisconsin Vegetable Gardener, visit Mike and Peggy in the Evanston studios of WCGO.
Teresa Speight from Cottage in the Court talks about passing along her passion for gardening. Joel Karsten explains why the techniques in Straw Bale Solutions have become popular throughout the world. Marcy Cravat returns to the One Earth Film Festival with a documentary about our hopes for sequestering carbon.
Certified arborist David Story from Bartlett Tree Experts talks about winter care and answers your tree questions at 877-711-5611. Crate Free Illinois founder Jessica Chipkin and Josh Richards from The Humane League preview Tuesday's screening of the documentary film Eating Animals.
Claudia West and Benjamin Vogt will be at West Cook Wild Ones The Naturally Beautiful Garden Conference. Nick Lucas of Advocates for Urban Agriculture previews the 7th Annual Urban Livestock Expo. Tom Szaky from TerraCycle explains how the Loop program could exponentially increase packaging reuse.
Lisa Hilgenberg, horticulturist for the Regenstein Fruit and Vegetable Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden, has seed choosing and seed starting tips. Lan and Pam Richart from Eco-Justice Collaborative follow up on efforts to protect the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River in Central Illinois from coal ash contamination.
Commissioner Debra Shore returns to talk about the challenges facing the MWRD as it copes with the uncertainty of climate change. Susan Martin and Laura Deeter preview the Perennial Plant Symposium at The Morton Arboretum.
Green Diva Meg returns to talk low stress ways of being sustainable. Gary Oppenheimer of Ample Harvest explains how they're working to help food pantries deal with the government shutdown. Robert Nevel of KAM Isaiah Israel and Terri Reardon of the Chicago Park District preview the 10th Annual MLK Food Justice and Sustainability Weekend.
Landscaper David Pearling tells you how to plan a simple, effective garden design with five simple rules. Civic educator and warrior Tom Tresser talks about fighting for open spaces and community justice in Chicago.
Robb Telfer, conservationist, poet and performance artist, previews the 2019 Wild Things Conference. Adam Goldstein from Do the Right Thing! Recycling, talks about why it's still important to recycle a Christmas Tree. Meteorologist Rick DiMaio joins Mike and Peggy for the entire second hour to recap the 2018 climate and weather year.
An Xmas Carol is a retelling of the Dickens classic by Mike Nowak for the November-December 2018 issue of Chicagoland Gardening Magazine. For more holiday madness, check out the podcast of It's A Wonderful Slice 2018! Mike and his merry band of misfit perform the classic holiday film in about 10 minutes. Okay, maybe 13, when the fooling around and flubs are considered.
On the Christmas Show, the Not-Ready-for-Anytime-Anywhere-Players, including Ron Cowgill, Rich Cowgill and Bill Turck, help Mike and Peggy do the annual performance of It's A Wonderful Slice of It's a Wonderful Life. Judy Pollock stops by to report on the Audubon's 119th Christmas Bird Count.
Dr. Nicolaas Mink, CEO of Sitka Salmon Shares, comes to the studio to talk about how their company and Community Supported Fisheries are part of sustainable harvests. Photographer Carol Freeman returns to talk about her photos of endangered Illinois species.
Bill Turck and Nic Romano explain how to help the homeless. Mandy Bayer from Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts Amhurst has advice on de-icing products for your walks and driveways. Lisa Albrecht and Clay Sterling promote solar installation training classes in Illinois.
Crystal Clair, Thad King and Karen Hudson talk about the fight to keep a CAFO from being sited next to Sunset Lake Organics in Adams County, Illinois. Nicole Doucet from Open Water explains why they're selling water in aluminum cans rather than plastic bottles. Bill McLaughlin from the United State Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. and Joe Heidgen from Shady Hill Gardens in Elburn, Illinois, talk about old and new poinsettias.
Three farmers and Liz Moran Stelk from Illinois Stewardship Alliance explain why the signing of the industrial hemp bill makes sense for the state. Alderman Scott Waguespack and representatives of Friends of the North Branch Park & Nature Preserve talk about the fight to make open space in the new Lincoln Yards neighborhood.
William Moss The Garden Boss returns to the show to offer gardening advice. Mike and Peggy examine the latest in the battle regarding whether the carriage horse industry will continue in Chicago.
Gardening expert Melinda Myers returns to talk about late season strategies for your outdoor garden and early season strategies for indoor plants. Mike and Peggy report on post-election environmental stories.
