The Mike Nowak Show

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Get Yer (Coal) Ash Out of the Vermillion River! Aug 01, 2021

Show notes

In a victory for clean water, Dynegy recently agreed to remove toxic coal ash from the floodplain of the Middle Fork of the Vermillion River in east central Illinois. Pam Richart from Eco-Justice Collaborative, Jenny Cassel of Earthjustice, and Andrew Rehn from Prairie Rivers Network explain how that happened only after years of work from a broad coalition of concerned groups and citizens.

Local Food Is Getting Better In Illinois Jul 25, 2021

Show notes

Where local food is concerned, it was a good spring session in the Illinois General Assembly in 2021. Molly Gleason from the Illinois Stewardship Alliance talks about the various local food and conservation programs that were passed by the Illinois General Assembly. Bob Benenson joins the conversation and promotes National Farmers Market Week. Edith Makra and Geneva, Illinois Mayor Kevin Burns from the Metropolitan Mayors Council discuss the roll out of the Climate Action Plan for the Chicago Region.

Climate Change and Chicago’s Water Jul 17, 2021

Show notes

Commissioner Debra Shore of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago explains the connections involving climate change, extreme weather events and clean water. She and science and policy advisor Justin Hart talk about the ongoing battle to keep the water supply in Chicago safe as well as its historical back and forth battles with Lake Michigan and the swamp land on which it was established.

Return of the Butterfly Whisperer Jul 11, 2021

Show notes

Doug Taron is a PhD, Chief Curator of the Chicago Academy of Sciences at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, director of the Illinois Butterfly Monitoring Network and much more. But we prefer to call him The Butterfly Whisperer. At least this week. He joins us on the show to talk monarchs, regal fritillaries, insect decline, and whatever else comes up in the realm of entomology.

How to Rescue Storm Damaged Trees Jul 04, 2021

Show notes

Following a June 2021 that featured drought, excessive rain and destructive storms, homeowners and municipalities are assessing the damage done to their trees. Skeet from Bartlett Tree Experts and Julie Janoski, Plant Clinic Manager at The Morton Arboretum, offer advice on how to cope with severely compromised trees. Bob Dolgan from This Week in Birding reports on construction work at Chicago's famed Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary and why it has some conservationists perplexed.

Create Sanctuary for Wildlife in your Garden Jun 27, 2021

Show notes

Nancy Lawson has written an exceptional book called The Humane Gardener. On today's show, she talks about strategies for encouraging critters of all types, whether they are reviled or not, to become part of your local ecosystem. Her sister, Janet Crouch, then reports on how she took on her HOA to protect her native plant garden, and not only won the case, but got state law in Maryland changed.

Tomatomania III: The Looming Drought Jun 19, 2021

Show notes

Tomato experts Craig LeHoullier and Keith Mueller (KC Tomato) return to celebrate Tomatomania III: The Looming Drought. They talk about their work growing and breeding tomatoes and offer tips for backyard gardeners during dry conditions. Meteorologist Rick DiMaio then continues the conversation about the 2021 U.S. drought across most of the West and some of the Midwest.

Talking Chicago Environmental Smack with the Experts Jun 12, 2021

Show notes

In a special 90-minute deep green dive, Mike and Peggy welcome former City of Chicago department heads Suzanne Malec-McKenna and Sandra Henry. They will talk about the current "Chicago State of the Environment"--the good, the bad, and where we go from here.

Survival Tips; Confronting Aldi; Saving Blue Ash Jun 05, 2021

Show notes

Bob Beneson from Local Food Forum stops by to talk about the explosion of farmers markets in Illinois, and offers some tips for shopping in hot weather. Jessica Chipkin from Crate Free USA attempts to explain why Aldi USA continues to resist attempts to forego sourcing of meat from factory farms that use gestation crates. Guy Sternbergs say there might be hope for blue ash trees in central Illinois in the battle against emerald ash borer.

Start with Something Simple and Beautiful May 23, 2021

Show notes

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.

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