The Mike Nowak Show

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December 10, 2017 – Snow Leaves and Ponzetters Dec 16, 2017

Show notes

Doris Taylor, manager of the Plant Clinic at the Morton Arboretum explains why trees in the Midwest have been reluctant to drop their leaves this fall, and whether that will harm them going into winter. Kate Green from Lurvey Garden Center in Des Plaines, has advice on keeping your indoor holiday plants healthy. Meteorologist Rick DiMaio makes a special studio visit to talk about devastating wildfires in California and their relationship to climate change.

December 3, 2017 – Glyphosate: Why the Controversy Won’t Die Dec 16, 2017

Show notes

'Redneck Rosarian' Chris VanCleave has advice for winter rose care and promotes his upcoming Rose Kings Sustainability Tour with fellow rosarian Brian Puckett. Carey Gillam, author of Whitewash: The Story of Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science explains that there are still unanswered questions about the world's most popular weed-killer.

November 26, 2017 – The Good, The Bad and The Wha? of Holiday Gifts Dec 13, 2017

Show notes

Michelle Byrne Walsh, editor at State-by-State Gardening, Inc., returns to the show to join with Mike and Peggy in presenting the Good, the Bad and the Wha? of horticultural and environmental holiday gifts. Polly McGann and Victor Zaderej from Happy Leaf LED talk about growing plants indoors with their sophisticated grow lights.

November 19, 2017 – The Science Desk: Permafrost Losing Its “Perm” Nov 24, 2017

Show notes

Mitch McNeil reports on how the Surfrider Foundation is suing U.S. Steel for “repeated Clean Water Act violations at their Portage, Indiana facility.” Bird City Wisconsin Director Bryan Lenz talks about how this program is making a difference in local bird conservation efforts across his state. Michele Hoffman is back at the Science Desk and introduces us to Dr. R. Eric Collins of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, who explains why the loss of permafrost is so consequential.

November 12, 2017 – Chicago’s Hot Recycling Mess Nov 19, 2017

Show notes

Anna Stork is co-founder of LuminAID, which supplies portable, inflatable LED solar lanterns for disaster relief around the world. She explains how the lanterns work and how they are helping people affected by natural disasters around the world. Chicago Alderman Scott Waguespack comments on the City's inability to raise its recycling rates.

November 5, 2017 – The Future of Fracking and Energy in Illinois Nov 11, 2017

Show notes

Scott Stewart, executive director of the Millennium Park Foundation, talks to Mike and Peggy about how plants, art and design come together in urban parks. Environmental writer Kari Lydersen reports on how a relatively new Illinois law will affect fracking efforts in the state.

November 4, 2017 – Live from the 10th Anniversary Green Living Expo at McHenry County College! Nov 11, 2017

Show notes

Mike Nowak and Peggy Malecki broadcast their final Saturday show on WCGO from the 10th Anniversary Green Living Expo at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Their guests include Kim Hankins, director of the Sustainability Center at McHenry County College, members of the Eco Illini Supermileage Team, Lori McConnville and Freddy Lagunes from Marvin’s Toy Store in Crystal Lake, and Paul LaBarbera, founder and CEO of Magitek Energy Solutions, Inc..

October 29, 2017 – Survivor Queen Quest Nov 02, 2017

Show notes

Patrick O’Neill, CEO of Amp Your Good, discusses the Give Healthy Movement, which hopes to change the way Americans donate food. Kim Hankins, director of the Sustainability Center at McHenry County College, previews their 10th Anniversary Green Living Expo. Margaret Frisbie, Executive Director of Friends of the Chicago River, reports on a mysterious oil slick in the Chicago River. Bill Whitney owner of City Bee Savers, explains how he is looking for what he calls Survivor Queens.

October 28, 2017 – Miscellany Morning Nov 02, 2017

Show notes

Mike Nowak and Peggy Malecki wax poetic on a potpourri of subjects, including a mysterious oil spill in the Chicago River, a 10 million dollar prize to be awarded to the team that can come up with a solution for phosphorus pollution in our fresh waterways, and the threat of oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean (again!) Meteorologist Rick DiMaio makes a special studio visit to look back at the weird October weather.

October 22, 2017 – A Great Lake on the Brink Oct 27, 2017

Show notes

Lisa Hilgenberg, manager of the Regenstein Fruit and Vegetable Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden, has advice for fall gardening, including bulb planting. Molly Flanagan is vice president of policy for Alliance for the Great Lakes, and Tony Maas is manager of strategies for Freshwater Future and the Director of the Forum for Leadership on Water (FLOW Canada). They report on their organizations' battle against algae blooms in Lake Erie.

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