Information
from Past Shows

Home      "The Mike Nowak Show"       CG Columns      Garden Talks      Resources     Green Tips      Photographs       Mike in the News       Events       Advertising

Zina Murray
(Photo by Saverio Trugli for the Chicago Reader)

Some of the businesses that use the
Logan Square Kitchen

Cucumber beetles

Early planting at Green on McLean

Green on McLean picnic

Lithograph of a passenger pigeon

Squirrel in Brookfield, Illinois

Mayor Rahm Emanuel (This is actually an
official picture. He approved it. Yikes!)

Our favorite picture of Martha Boyd

The Yarden

One of the scrappers from the documentary Scrappers

Sweet Home Organics farmstand

Lamanda Joy and Peter

The Duluth Trading Company
Real Women Test Panel

Rebecca Claypool

Phil Schaafsma

Dr. Bonny Flaster

Beth Botts

Dearborn garden walk

Sheffield garden walk

Graceland West garden walk

Left, John E. Kaminski; Andrew Spear for The New York Times
The browning needles on Imprelis-treated trees.

A young male lion, threated with extinction

Jake Leinenkugel and Mike before the friendly canoe float down the Chicago River.

That's not Tim Conway on the left. It's the distinguished publisher Bill Aldrich.

Hail-damaged squash

Hail damage at Green on McLean

Hail damage at the Garfield Park Conservatory

More of the millions of dollars worth of damage at the Garfield Park Conservatory.

Carrot sisters from last year's Peterson Garden Project party.

.

 

August 28, 2011

Sustainable Food Fundamentals:
Logan Square Kitchen is officially FED UP, takes on Chicago Department of Public Health

I spent part of Thursday afternoon in court. It wasn't about me, though. I was supporting Zina Murray, who has been a guest on my radio program and who runs the Logan Square Kitchen. It is self-described as a " private event space that supports a commercial kitchen available to small food businesses. Known as a 'shared kitchen,' LSK gives food entrepreneurs access to a commercial kitchen on an hourly basis--long before they could afford [to create a space of their own].  As a greenhouse for little businesses, we give culinary talent a place to develop."

When they're not being harassed by the Chicago Department of Public Health, that is.

That might sound like an over-the-top statement. Until you understand that LSK has been inspected 19 times in 2 years. The law requires two per year. The latest inspection resulted in a violation notice and a $500 fine. Murray, in the documentation she brought to court, calls the violation "groundless," and "retaliation for questionting a decision made by Chicago Health Department Supervisor Arleen Lopez."

If you want to see how your hard-earned tax dollars are spent by Chicago's Department of Public Health, Murray details the events of the August 2 inspection and subsequent fine--with photos--here. Read it and judge for yourself. She notes that with 30-something health inspectors and some 20,000 restaurants in Chicago, taxpayers are not getting much bang for our buck when the same spotlessly-clean shared kitchen space is inspected 11 times in 9 months.

So I found myself in court because I wanted to see for myself how justice works in the Windy City. Here's part of the post that Zina wrote following her appearance:

LSK appearance in Administrative Hearings yesterday resulted in a finding of 'not liable'--  so no fine.  Note the court does not find you 'innocent'.  There is no right or wrong in administrative hearings, only liable or not liable.  It acts like a court, but when I requested the Judge order CDPH to issue a new, clean inspection report, her response was, "I can't do that." Whaaaa?  A court with no remedy?

So the 'court' in Administrative Hearings can fine me, find me at fault, or dismiss charges or find me not liable.  But NO remedies are available to me in the Dept. of Administrative Hearings.  I still have an inspection report posted with three groundless violations on it, and every client in a farmer's market or outdoor festival must submit.  So there's a meeting/phone call/email every time to explain that, 'yes I have violations, but they have been corrected.  Yes, I am still open.'  Yada, yada. CPDH, the gift that keeps on giving.

It's insane, really. LSK hosted the Chicago Recycling Coalition's fundraiser last week, and because I'm CRC President, I got to see the LSK space up close and personal. Let me put it this way. I don't know how many people would literally be willing to eat off the floor there. But I would. It's that clean. Oh, by the way, did I mention that Zina Murray donated use of the space to CRC because she thought it was a good cause?

So why the fuss over an obviously well-loved and well-managed small business in Logan Square? To get a sense of that, you might want to take a look at an article in the Chicago Reader last October called Bread & Circuses: Will the city's licensing laws catch up with new food business models in time to save Zina Murray's Logan Square Kitchen? The advantages of LSK and other shared-use kitchens is also their chief problem. They allow small-food entrepreneurs to take advantage of the fully equipped and licensed spaces on an hourly basis. This is a benefit to caterers, bakers, confectioners, and others who either can't afford their own kitchen or simply don't need a full-time workspace.

The City of Chicago had a hard time wrapping its head around the licensing protocol. The small businesses needed licenses to operate, but when they applied for their papers, they were told that there was already a license for that space--namely Logan Square Kitchen. As for LSK, it got inspected every time a new client came into the building. It's possible that this issue will be resolved when the new Shared Kitchens Ordinance goes into effect next month. Or maybe CDPH will find other, more creative ways to make Murray's life miserable.

Meanwhile, in its own words, Logan Square Kitchen is FED UP. Murray started a petition to change the culture at the Department of Public Health. She offers five ways to make CDPH more efficient and accountable:

1. Our Local Food Community should be represented on the Chicago Board of Health—currently consisting of doctors and lawyers. Public health will benefit greatly from the perspective of those working to heal our local food system.

2. Food Safety Division of Chicago Dept. of Public Health needs fresh, qualified leadership—a person with a strong moral compass and food business background to serve a changing and vital sector of our economy. Get suggestions from successful food businesses and restaurants.

3. Provide an independent ombudsman to hear complaints and order corrective action.

4. Fire non-performing employees, no matter who they know or how long their tenure. Empower the right people in the right jobs to make changes as they see fit.

5. Engage us, the citizens of Chicago; we’re ready to participate in our government and work with City workers to make our City the envy of major cities worldwide. Let’s go!

Her goal is to get 23,000 signatures--one for each food business in Chicago. I've already signed. You go, girl!

Hurricane Irene: Meteorologist Rick DiMaio is on the job

As my radio show begins this morning, Hurrican Irene is pummeling New York City and much of the northeast coast. Such is the lot of meteorologists that the most important work they do is to help mitigate the misery of people in the path of destructive acts of nature.

I'm giving Rick as much time as I can to discuss the damage already wrought by this once-in-a-century event, and to inform us of what's to come. If you are fascinated by weather as he an I are, you can follow the path of Irene at this website: http://www.stormpulse.com/atlantic.

Is it Fall already? I must have missed the memo

It must be--or at least pretty darned close--because I just received this years final Plant Health Care Report from the Morton Arboretum. This report, along with the Home, Yard & Garden Newsletter from University of Illinois Extension, are two of my favorite ways to keep abreast of what is going on in the plant world during the growing season.

I want to call your attention in particular to the article "An Ounce of Prevention in the Autumn" by Stephanie Adams. She gives some excellent advice about how some minor cleanup of your garden in the coming couple of months can save you needless heartache next spring and summer. You can find the story by clicking here and scrolling down the report.

 

August 21, 2011

Attack of the cucumber beetles!

Those of you who follow my radio show and this website know that I have been privileged to be part of a community garden not just in my neighborhood, but on my very block. It has been rewarding, humbling, surprising, frustrating and a constant source of joy for me and for several dozen people who have chosen to participate.

If you want to see how the garden has developed, my sweetie Kathleen Thompson has chronicled the whole thing in the Green on McLean blog. If you want even more interesting reading about what goes on in our neighborhood, I suggest that you check out Kathleen's personal blog, KathleenThompsonWriter. On that site, she writes candidly about our relationship with the gangs that have controlled our block for 30 years.

And when she titles one piece "Gang Kryptonite," referring to the garden and its effect on the neighborhood, you realize that something quite profound is going on here. Namely, the gang bangers are losing their grip on this block, slowly but inexorably. Will they be back? Probably. Will they have the same power they had in the past? Probably not. It's hard to tell, really. But for a lot of people of all ages and backgrounds that II have come to know over tomato and squash plants and pot luck gatherings and schlepping mulch, it is a fervent hope.

By the way, if you want a really good read, start following Kathleen's online book, Just Another Writer, which you can link to at her blog. In it Kathleen writes about writing...and she has some pretty heady stories to tell that invlove people like Hugh Downs, Oprah Winfrey, Studs Terkel and other luminaries who have reviewed her work and interviewed her during her forty year writing career. I give it 5 stars. Of course, I'm prejudiced. If I weren't, I'd be sleeping on the couch.

Now, it might sound as though I'm writing this as a plug for Kathleen's writing, which I am. But this is really about cucumber beetles, which have invaded our community garden. They don't seem to be inflicting as much damage on the cucumbers as they are on our pole beans. Regardless, I had to call out the heavy artillery--which means "Dr." Wally Schmidtke from Pesche's Garden Center in Des Plaines. Wally notes that cucumber beetles can cause losses to cucurbits by direct feeding on young plants, blossoms, and fruit. They also vector bacterial wilt and viruses

Not only is he on the show this morning, he sent me a number of websites that will give you a fighting chance in dealing with this garden menace.

From Cornell University
From Utah State University
From GH Organics
Rijk Zwaan introducing cucumber variety resistant to mosaic virus
More resistant varieties from Rogers

The Last Passenger Pigeon: a legacy of environmental arrogance

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
- Genesis 1:26

When it comes to the health of our planet, that might be the single most destructive sentence ever penned. In fact, I challenge you--show me another that comes even close.

Case in point: in the 19th Century there were billions of passenger pigeons in North America. According to the Smithsonian, "it is believed that this species once constituted 25 to 40 per cent of the total bird population of the United States." In 1914, the last one died. However, they didn't succumb to some exotic disease or insect attack. Human beings killed them. Every last one. With incredible and devastating efficiency.

In almost exactly three years, we will be commemorating the death of "Martha," the last passenger pigeon, in 1914. Again from the Smithsonian site:

She died at the Cincinnati Zoological Garden, and was donated to the Smithsonian Institution, where her body was once mounted in a display case with this notation:

MARTHA

Last of her species, died at 1 p.m.,
1 September 1914, age 29, in the
Cincinnati Zoological Garden.
EXTINCT

I am pleased to have Joel Greenberg on the show today to talk about Project Passenger Pigeon. Joel is author of A Natural History of the Chicago Region and a research associate at the Chicago Academy of Sciences and its Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, He is currently writing the first book-length history of the passenger pigeon in over 50 years: River of Shadows: The Life and Times of the Passenger Pigeon. He also has his own radio show at WKCC in Kankakee, where I appeared a couple of months ago. I guess he owed me one.

Also joining me is Steve Sullivan, Curator of Urban Ecology at the Chicago Academy of Sciences and its Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Steve directs Project Squirrel, a study of urban squirrels and their habits.

To get a sense of how destructive a species human kind can be, click onto the video The Last Passenger Pigeon. If people would like to contribute to Project Passenger Pigeon, please send a check and note that the money is for Project Passenger Pigeon to Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive, CHicago, 60614. For more information please contact Joel at Joelgreenberg@earthlink.net.

Sustainable Food Fundamentals:
Is this urban agriculture's big moment in Chicago?

Tuesday, July 26, 2011 might be a day that local foodies remember for a long time. On that day, Mayor Rahm Emanuel unveiled his plan to bring urban agriculture into the mainstream in Chicago, assuming that his proposed ordinance meets with the approval of both urban agriculture advocates and City Council.

The ordinance the mayor formally introduced two days later would expand the maximum size of community gardens to 25,000 square feet and ease fencing and parking requirements on larger commercial urban farms to reduce operating costs. In addition, urban farms would also be free to sell their wares at farmer’s markets.

To get the full effect of this ordinance, which would begin to bring Chicago food growing into the 21st Century, check out the Urban Agriculture FAQ page, which the city posted on the heels of Emanuel's announcement. Among the questions addressed:

What would this zoning amendment do?
The proposed zoning amendment will clearly define community garden and urban farm uses, identify where each use is permitted and establish regulations designed to minimize potential impacts on surrounding property and help maintain the character of Chicago’s neighborhoods.

What is the difference between a community garden and an urban farm?
Community gardens are typically owned or managed by public entities, civic organizations or community-based organizations and maintained by volunteers. Plants grown on site are intended for personal use, for charity, or for community beautification purposes. Urban farms grow food that is intended to be sold, either on a nonprofit or for-profit basis. Due to their commercial purpose, urban farms require a business license.

Could produce from a community garden be sold?
Yes. A community garden would be allowed to sell surplus produce that was grown on site if the sales are accessory or subordinate to the garden’s primary purpose described above.

Martha Boyd of Angelic Organics Learning Center, drops by today to help clarify the proposed ordinance and where it might take urban agriculture in Chicago.

The "banksters" win...again

As many of you know, Sid's Greenhouses was a big sponsor of my radio show...until several weeks ago, when they announced they would be shutting down. It came as a shock to a lot of us in the horticultural industry, as they had been a big part of Chicagoland gardening for 50 years. Shortly after their announcement, company president Phil Schaafsma, Sr. appeared on my program to talk about exactly what happened. I suggest you listen to his very candid interview on this podcast from July 24, 2011.

Also revealing is this article from the August edition of Today's Garden Center. It is appropriately titled "When Banks Attack." While the bank that figurately lined up Sid's Greenhouses and financially gunned them down is not named in the article, I do know the name. If, someday, I can reveal it without causing any more pain to the good people at Sid's, I will do it, so that insitution can be revealed for the heartless, money-grubbing jerks they are. May they rot in hell.

 

August 14, 2011

A week of special events:
Event #1 - Now streaming LIVE: #gardenchat party at The Yarden!

You might even have noticed my shiny new uStream screen on the home page. It's up there because I'm going to be streaming the 2011 Garden Party Event from my own website Monday evening, August 15. If it all works well, (and you know what can go wrong with technology) you can just click on tomorrow evening and join the fun. Here's what's will be happening.

As I mentioned last week, the Independent Garden Center Show, or IGC, is one of the really big horticultural trade events of the year. It's at Naviy Pier this week, Tuesday, August 16 through Thursday, August 18 and features 1,000 vendor booths and dozens of seminars. And when the big industry shows are in town, the industry media descend, to see what's hot, what's news and generally what's happening. More and more, that means garden writers armed devices that allow them to immediately connect with their followers on their blogs, on Twitter, on Facebook and more.

As a kickoff to IGC week, some of those social media types will be gathering in LaManda Joy's fabulous garden on Chicago's northwest side. LaManda is one of the forces behind the Peterson Garden Project, a historic 40th Ward victory garden that has become the largest community garden in the City of Chicago. She is also known as the proprietor of The Yarden blog, and her Twitter handle is @TheYarden (quelle coincidence!)

It's a Twitter garden party, as a bunch of aforementioned horticulture media types gather to have some food and drink, tour her garden, but more importantly, tweet until their fingers drop off! If you have a Twitter account, just go to #gardenchat to join in the conversation. If you couldn't care less about Twitter (and you know who you are), the whole shebang is going to be streamed live on Ustream from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. CDT tomorrow, August 15,

I will be co-hosting the event with garden writer Brenda Haas, who goes by the Twitter handle @BG_garden, and who has her own blog, BGgarden. If you are a Twitterphile, there are a number of good reasons to log into #gardenchat from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. CDT. The first is that you might win some great prizes, just for tweeting during the event.

One lucky participent will have their name drawn at the end of the #gardenchat Summer Party Event 8/15 in @TheYarden as the winner of the @Subaru_Life Tailgate Wagon. YOU MUST BE tweeting on #gardenchat during the 7 -9 p.m. CT event to be eligible to win the Subaru Wagon. Now before you get all breathless about winning an automobile, you need to know that the Tailgate Wagon isn't that. It's a wagon--you know, like a Radio Flyer--except that it's the perfect size for...um, a tailgate party. Hence the name.

A few other great companies, who sponsor #gardenchat will have things to give away. They include Corona Tools, Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs,and Easy Gardener , to mention a few. To see the full list of giveaways, click on to the Summer 2011 Garden Party Event link.

Rumor has it that horticultural TV guru P.Allen Smith and social media expert Kyle Lacy awill be on site, which doesn't do you any good, 'cause you didn't get an invitation. No offense. There's only so many people that will fit into LaManda's garden. Which is why you should log on for the Chicago garden event of the season. It's going to be fun. I hope you join us on Twitter or watch us on uStream. TWEET ON, DUDES!

Event #2 - Recycle Now! fundraiser for CRC on Thursday

If you live in Chicago, you've heard these questions more than once:

• When is my block going to get blue carts?
• Why do I have to schlep my recyclables to a drop off site?
• Why can’t Chicago recycle???!

I have a question of my own:

• Why the heck are we still talking about this in the 21st Century?

It used to be that the city had an excuse--Mayor Richard M. Daley was in charge and he didn't care about recycling. You could look it up. Well, you could if he had ever said anything about the issue, Now we have a new mayor--some guy named Rahm Emanuel--and it's hard to tell where he stands on this important environmental matter..At least it is to us at the Chicago Recycling Coaltion, because he's done his darndest to pretend that our organization doesn't exist.

First, in the interest of full disclosure, I am president of the CRC. However, I don't make a dime for holding that position. I don't exactly make a lot of money for being the host of my radio show, either. Boy, can I pick 'em or what?

Last month, Mr. Emanuel announced that he was intiating a six month "managed competition" program for Chicago's Blue Cart Program. In essense, the mayor is pitting city workers against private contractors to see who can more effeciently and cost-effectlvely perform reycling services. To read more about the media reaction to the mayor's proposal, go to the CRC home page for a list of stories. The CRC has its own reservations, detailed in an article called Is Mayor Emanuel's “managed competition” really just “stealth privatization?”

One of the questions that CRC asks is whether this is the first step in turning over ALL Bureau of Sanitation pick ups to private companies--including garbage. To get a good sense of where this might be headed, check out Mick Dumke's excellent piece in The Reader: Why you should care about the way garbage is picked up.

Meanwhile, this is no time to sit back while the mayor makes unilateral decisions that will have far-reaching consequences. (Think parking meters.) it's time to take action...and I hope you'll join me next Thursday to do just that.

The CRC is holding a fundraiser at the beautiful, Gold LEED certified Logan Square Kitchen on Thursday, August 18 at 6:00 p.m. Do you have something to say about recycling? Do you want to hear what other people have to say? Do you want to be part of a new game plan for a new administration? If you stop by, You'll meet people who have been fighting for recycling in Chicago for twenty years and people who just moved into town and can't believe that recycling isn't recognized as a basic city service. You will have a chance to talk with Chicago Recycling Coalition board members about how we can mobilize to get an efficient, socially fair recycling program instituted in Chicago.

We're trying to make it an offer you can't refuse in a number of ways. How? Check it out:

• The documentary Scrappers will be shown. Shot by local filmmakers, it's about two metal scavengers in the alleys of Chicago.
• PC Rebuilders & Recyclers will be on hand to pick up your electronic waste.
• There will be tours of the gorgeous Logan Square Kitchen facilites.
• You can talk to CRC board members about possible solutions to moving recycling forward in Chicago.
• There will be gourmet popcorn (FREE!), as well as craft beer, wine and craft sodas for sale (proceeds go in part to CRC)
• You can sign up for future strategy sessions with the CRC.
• AND IT ONLY COSTS $20!!!

Reservations can be made at Brown Paper Tickets. However, I know that many of you won't be able to attend. So I hope you consider sending a message to city hall that Chicago is an embarrassment in the "greenest city in America" competition until it has a comprehensive recycling program. You can do that clicking RIGHT HERE to make a tax-deductible donation.

"Scrappers" filmmakers Brian Ashby, Courtney Prokopas and Ben Kolak join me in studio this morning to talk about their film, which, among other things, received 3 1/2 stars from Roger Ebert. They'll be joined on the phone by Zina Murray of the Logan Square Kitchen.

Sustainable Food Fundamentals:
Sweet Home Organics keeps up with changing seasons

It's time for another visit with "commuting farmer" Kim Marsin of Sweet Home Organics. Even she has begun to use that phrase, which I guess I coined. I can't wait for the royalty checks to start rolling in. You might remember that Kim and Rachel are part of a new breed of farmers who don't own the land on which they grow crops. Primrose Farm, where they lease land, is owned by the St. Charles Park District. The farm itself is the last of a line of what used to be 3-5 working dairy farms. The former neighboring farms have since been torn down or turned into homes. The park district runs the farm as a living history farm open for the public for tours (on Wed and Saturdays).

I spoke with Kim the other day and she gave me an ear full of how she and partner Rachel Reklau are "switching fields." That is to say, they're about to start planting on fields that have been growing cover crops, which help fertilize the soil naturally. In fact, why don't I let Kim explain it herself?

We're in the process of switching fields. We're on a 2-year rotation, so we've been growing our veggies on the East 2 acres and next year we'll grow on the Whabitatest 2 acres (that was previously growing a red clover/annual rye cover crop). Clover does a great job of breaking up soil and fixing nitrogen. Cut clover makes tasty hay for the Primrose dairy cows and draft horses. We're excited to make this switch because we know our veggies will do very well.

Today the farmers of Primrose cut the clover one last time to make hay for their animals. Next week we'll till in the clover and put down our fall cover crop, forage peas and oats. These will winter-kill (die over winter), which will allow us to plant straight into the ground (without tilling) in spring. We've previously tried growing over-wintering (plants that will go dormant during the winter, but then start back growing once the ground warms up) cover crops. We found this added stress trying to kill off the cover crop in the midst of unpredictable spring soil moisture craziness. I used to shake my head when I'd drive by all the fields that have just bare open soil in winter, wondering why don't they plant a cover crop to prevent soil erosion, etc. After what we struggled through earlier this spring, I now understand the draw to leaving the soil exposed and ready to plant come spring.

Having half or part of fields resting or growing cover crops/green manures is a key component to most organic agriculture practices. It's a great way to allow soil to build up organic matter and replenish nitrogen and other nutrients (without bringing in compost or other 'bought' fertilizers). A fun side benefit is the habitat it provides for beneficial insects. We have a yard of honey bee hives on site and the beekeeper likes that we grow clover as it makes for lots more great-tasting honey!

By the way, Angelic Organics Learning Center, which often helps me bring guests to the Sustainable Food Fundamentals segment, features Sweet Home Organics in their latest farmer profile.

 

August 7, 2011

Mike goes to a garden party...get ready to Tweet!

One of the most influential garden shows in America is the Independent Garden Center Show, or IGC, as it is known in the biz. It's happening at at Navy Pier Tuesday, April 16 through Thursday, April 18, featuring 1,000 vendor booths and dozens of seminars. As they modestly say on their own website: "IGC is the industry's only must-attend event." Of course, that's if you're in the horticultural business. If you're an average backyard gardener, probably not so much.

That's where media types like me come in. We're the ones who are supposed to attend these events to pass along the best and hottest new things in the garden. Many of the media folks who attend are professional garden writers who belong to the Garden Writers Association (GWA), as I do. As you can imagine, more and more of the writers count on social media like Facebook and Twitter to get their messages out...which is where the garden party comes in.

If you follow my show or website at all, you know that LaManda Joy is one of the forces behind the Peterson Garden Project, a historic 40th Ward victory garden that has become the largest community garden in the City of Chicago. She is also known as the proprietor of The Yarden blog, and her Twitter handle is @TheYarden (surprise!) On top of that, she and husband Peter have one of the most beautiful gardens on the northwest side, for which I despise her...but only professionally.

As a kickoff for the IGC Week in Chicago, LaManda has graciously agreed to host a Twitter garden party in her yard, as part of a weekly Twitter conversation called #gardenchat. If you're not into Twitter, your eyes are starting to glaze over. Believe me, it's okay. All you need to know is that I'm co-hosting the event, from 7 to 8pm on Monday, August 15, with @BG_garden, whose real name is Bren, and who has her own website and blog. If you're on Twitter, just go to #gardenchat.

But even better, the event will be video streamed on my website. It's not up yet, but by next week you'll be able to log onto my uStream Channel, "The Mike Nowak Show," which will be on the home page of this website. I. Am. So. Psyched. More info next week.

Sustainable Food Fundamentals:
Veggie Fest returns to Naperville...bigger than ever

Did you know that the largest vegetarian food festival in the United States--and possibly North America--is happening next week in suburban Naperville? It's Veggie Fest 2011, and you're going to love the fact that the admission is free and there's free parking (one of the advantages of being in the suburbs).The event takes place on the grounds of the Science of Spirituality Meditation Center: 4S 175 Naperville-Wheaton Road, Naperville, Illinois, 60563

When I say that it's "possibly" the largest festival of its kind in North America, I'm quoting Michael Ribet--a vegetarian of 42 years--who is Director of Sponsors, Vendors & Demos. He says that last year, 22,000 people showed up. This year, they're expecting 25,000, which just might eclipse the Toronto festival.

I know that I could list the exhibits--you know, vegetarian food court, food demonstrations where you can learn new vegetarian recipes, dozens of experts speaking on vegetarianism, spirituality, and healthy living, live music, activities for kids and more than 100 exhibitor booths and more.

But no. I'm not that kind of guy. I'm a lot more shallow than that. When Ribet told me that there was going to be vegetarian junk food, I was ready to hop in the car. What's he talking about? How about vegetarian corn dogs! I can't even imagine how you would begin to fix a vegetarian corn dog. Michael also mentioned cakes, cookies, panini sandwiches, sushi, Connie's pizza (which is a long-time supporter of the festival), falafel sandwiches, Chinese, Thai, and North and South Indian cuisine. Okay, not all of it sounds like junk food.

I'm fascinated by the Vegetarian Challenge, which encourages people to "ease" their way into becoming vegetarians. Folks are encouraged to try a vegetarian diet for a week. If they make the pledge, they get goodie bags, support: tips, restaurant lists and recipes. You might be surprised to learn that the Veggie Fest people expect a couple of thousand people to give it try.

Duluth Trading Company is looking for a few good women

Hey, aren't we all?

Sorry, I'll get to the story.

If you're a real woman who does real work and likes real clothing, you might just be the next catalog model for Duluth Trading Company. But you have just one more week to apply--until Saturday, August 13. Duluth calls itself a " solution-oriented workwear" company, mainly because their products are tradesman-tested and approved, Among their lbest -known products are the Longtail T®, which prevents embarrassing revelations when you get into the crouch position (think Dan Akroyd as the plumber on Saturday Night Live).

In 2005, Duluth Trading decided to expand its clothing line to accomodate women who work just as hard as men (which means all of them, at least in my experience). Duluth prides itself on using professionals on its catalog pages – but no professional models. The 10 members of the Real Women Test Panel are involved in environmental fieldwork, construction, landscape design, organic farming, are large and small animal veterinarians, vet surgeons and master gardeners.

One of the Duluth Real Women models is Rebecca Claypool, an agroecology grad and Midwest produce farm owner. She and her husband operate Yellow Barn Farm in Avoca, just west of Spring Green, Wisconsin. While they use organic practices, they're not yet certified. Yellow Barn's produce is available through a CSA and at local Farmers' Markets.

Claypool stops by today to tell me how women can enter the contest by going to the Duluth Trading Real Women Contest page . The winner, who will be announced at an event at Duluth Trading's flagship store in Mt. Horeb, WI, on October 1, will receive a $1,000 Duluth Trading shopping spree and the opportunity to participate in catalog and online photo shoots this Fall.

Says Stephanie Publiese, Duluth Trading's senior vice president of product development and marketing:

“Duluth builds products with hands-on, self reliant women in mind – women who view clothing as an asset for real life and work, not a fashion runway. We want the women who grace our pages to inspire others by photographing them in their own environment and highlighting the hard work that makes them so inspiring.”

Works for me.

"Toxics to Treasures" ain't your average tour

You have to admire the Southeast Environmental Task Force--they don't shy away from the reality of their neighborhoods. In fact, they embrace it.

That's why they created the "Toxics to Treasures" tour--a 3 hour tour of the natural areas, restoration work and industrial sites found on the  Southeast side of Chicago. And afterwards, they head over to a local establishment for a couple of sammiches and a glass of cold, frosty milk. Or something like that.  

Peggy Salazar, Executive Director of the SETF, says the lastest tour focuses on energy production in the Calumet region, taking people through blocks of fuel storage tanks, past mountains of coal and ending up at a sea of solar panels. (Who says Chicago doesn't have diversity?) The tour will wind its way through sites in Indiana, Southeast Chicago and West Pullman, before ending with a buffet at Club 81 Too.

The tour runs from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, August 13. The $35.00 cost includes lunch. The tour starts from the restaurant: 13157 Avenue M in Chicago.

For more information, call 773/646-0436 or go to the SETF blog.

Five weeks after the hailstorm, the Garfield Park Conservatory makes a slow comeback

Unlike the hail storm that laid waste to the he Garfield Park Conservatory, its recovery is not going to happen overnight.

And yet, the work continues to restore this hallowed institution to a glory that will be potentiall greater than before the freak weather event shattered approximately half of the glass panes in the roofs of the historic Fern Room, Show House, and ten propagation greenhouses.

Mary Eysenbach, Director of Conservatories for Chicago Park District, says that while some events have necessarily been canceled at the conservatory, others are going on as planned. Here are the lists:

Open to the Public

• The Palm House, Sugar from the Sun, Elizabeth Morse Genius Children's Garden, and Horticulture Hall inside are all open to the public.
• The Monet Garden, Sensory Garden, Labyrinth, City Backyard Garden, and most of the City Garden outside are also open to the public.
• Three meeting rooms - the Classroom, Community Room, and Jensen Room are all open.
• The display houses now open to the public were not damaged in the hailstorm. The glass roofs of these rooms were renovated in recent years with modern laminated glass that survived the storm. The rooms that were damaged had not yet been renovated.

Closed to the Public

• The Fern Room, Show House, Desert House, and Aroid House are closed indefinitely.
• The majority of the Bluestone Terrace and small portions of the City Garden are also closed indefinitely to ensure the safety of the public.
• The Aroid House was not damaged in the storm, but is closed because it can only be accessed through damaged rooms. The Chihuly glass pieces in the Aroid House were not harmed.

The clean up process alone is being estimated at $2 million, Meanwhile, a number of benefits will be raising money, all or in part to aid in the reconstruction of the conservatory. Of course, the generosity of the public will be key in bringing back this venerable instituion. For a Better Chicago is matching donations made to CPC, up to $10,000. But every dollar counts. You can click here to contribute to the Gafield Park Conservatory.

 

July 31, 2011

Nobody said gardening in the city would be easy...but it shouldn't be this difficult

I received an email from Doug Wood of the Wicker Park Garden Club earlier this week...and I wasn't the only one. It was a call to action:

Hello Commander Flores, Alderman Moreno & Staff, Art Richards & Park District Staff, Community Organizations, Friends of Wicker Park, Press,

Even though ALL OF YOU are trying hard to be vigilant - This has been quite the summer of chaos:
Plantings damaged and stolen (4 -25year old Caucasians), Graffiti on Wicker Sculpture, beer parties most every night (7-11 is really getting a lot of late night business), rail riders number growing exponentially-daily, and now these photos of even more vandalism.  
Your INPUT would be much appreciated.   Let us Work TOGETHER to solve this one?

The Red Graffiti on the Fountain Basin appeared Tuesday Morning, July 27.
The Black Graffiti on all the 3 sets of stairs to the fountain - 2 weeks ago-no obvious attempt made to remove.
The Beer Cans/Wine Bottles - The rose gardens grow them DAILY!
No photo - but - Graffiti is on the benches for over 3 weeks - graffiti in portable toilet.

CAN WE CLEAN THIS UP BEFORE THE WEEKEND?  Unattended Graffiti seems to Generate More!
Thanks, Doug Wood - WPAC - WPGarden - Neighbor

If you're wondering what in the world happened, read this account of this latest in a series of acts of vandalism in Wicker Park. You will undoubtedly be disturbed by the response of the police and 311, at least as reported in the story. What's even more disturbing, of course, is the vandalism itself. What kind of knucklehead finds pleasure in ripping plants out of containers or a garden bed? I speak from the experience of having gardened in Chicago for almost two decades.

I'm pleased to have Wicker Park resident and historian Elaine Coorens in studio with Wicker Park merchant David Ginope. David is working with Wicker Park & Bucktown (WPB), the Special Service Area for the Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods, on the Orange Walls Mural Project, which is directed toward reducing graffiti. Joining us on the phone is 1st Ward Alderman Proco Joe Moreno. One of the questions I am likely to ask is why, oh why there are no security cameras in the park, given the history of vandalism there? Just askin'. Tune in.

"Our Beautiful Earth" at the Chicago Botanic Garden

I have to admit that I'm giving a little publicity to next week's standard flower show, "Our Beautiful Earth" at the Chicago Botanic Garden, mainly because Adele Klein, who is publicity chairman for the District IX Garden Clubs of Illinois, asked me. Of course, she and I are both Illinois Master Gardeners and have both written a number of things for Chicagoland Gardening Magazine and, hey, if you can can't give a writing buddy a little air time, what are you good for?

However, it isn't Adele, but show chairman Meredith Schnelle, who stops by this morning. By the way, the show includes table top arrangements, floral designs, educational exhibits, photography, artistic crafts, youth exhibits, and of course, horticulture exhibits. Adele adds, "You do not need to be a member to exhibit horticulture. Bring your best specimens before 9 am Sat. August 6 to enter them. We want to see the best and the brightest.!" 'Nuff said. For additional details visit www.gardenglories.org.

You might be interested to know that the Garden Clubs of Illinois has 9648 members in 206 clubs, an additional 18 affiliate plant societies, arboretums and the-like, and 27 Junior Clubs in Illinois. Founded in 1925, they are a charter member of National Garden Clubs, Inc., an international organization that is the largest volunteer gardening organization in the world

Sustainable Food Fundamentals: Harambee Barter Day

The last time Seamus Ford from Root Riot Urban Garden Network was on the show, I had just visited their Harambee and Madison Street locations, not just as show prep, but to get some ideas for the community garden in my own neighborhood, Green on McLean, which was going to be planted within the week.

Seamus is back today with a new idea for one of the Root Riot gardens. “Harambee Barter Day” has been organized around the idea of bringing people together to discover the unique resources possessed by the community around them. 

But if you want to take part, you'll have to move fast. It takes place THIS AFTERNOON, Sunday July 31st, from 4-7PM. Bring a pot luck dish along with an idea of what kind of product or service you are willing to trade with another person. Pretty simple, really. Here are some examples of things that you might barter:

Child Care
Music lessons
Gardening
House cleaning
Drawing a picture
Self defense instruction
VCR programing
Canning and preserving
Drywall installation
Raising goats and/or chickens
Composting
Handyman
Job search coaching
Bike repair
Furniture moving
Dog walking
Snow removal
Reading a book to children
Resume writing
Building a website
Exercise buddy

Get the idea? Perhaps you have something to offer and will get something you need in return.

Got Lead?

That's the title of an article I wrote for the July/August issue of Chicagoland Gardening Magazine. And the answer, unfortunately, for too many of us who live in urban areas, is "yes." This is the legacy of our use of leaded paints and gasolines until the end of the 1970s. And, thirty years later, we're still finding obscenely high levels of the element in our soils.

When we started the Green on McLean community garden on my block this year, our solution to the lead problem was essentially to cap it. We put down cardboard, covered it with mulch, covered that with landscape fabric, then put down clean soil.

While what we did was organic, in a sense, what if there was a way to change the soi, to make it safe to grow vegetables in without covering it or digging it up and shipping it somewhere else? At least three people in the past couple of weeks have sent me this article from the New York Times (warning: they might make you log in to read the whole thing) about a technique that just might do the trick. It involves using Alaskan pollock bones, turning them into a kind of paste, and mixing it into the soil

Quoting from the article:

The principle is straightforward, said Victor R. Johnson, an engineer with Civil & Environmental Consultants Inc. “The fish bones are full of calcium phosphate,” he said. “As they degrade, the phosphates migrate into the soil.” The lead in the soil, deposited by car exhaust from the decades when gasoline contained lead or from lead-based paint residue, binds with the phosphate and transforms into pyromorphite, a crystalline mineral that will not harm anyone even if consumed.

This alchemy has been practiced in university and commercial laboratories for more than 15 years, and more recently has been employed at acid-mine sites and military bases.

The approach is being tried out in the residential neighborhood of South Prescott in Oakland, which this month became the first in the country where fishbone meal is being mixed into the soil for lead control under a project organized by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Hokey smokes, Bullwinkle! Give me some of that stuff and I'll slam it into the ground in Chicago. The author, Felicity Barringer, received so much mail after the article was published that she wrote a follow up blog post the next day. It just shows you that people are desperate to do the right, safe thing as organically as possible. Is it possible that we might start spending our research money on organics rather than synthetic chemicals??

Nah.

I hope I'm wrong.

 

July 24, 2011

So long, Sid's Greenhouses

When I started broadcasting at Chicago's Progressive Talk a little more than three years ago, one of the very first companies to sign on as a sponsor was Sid's Greenhouses in Palos Hills and Bolingbrook. I knew the company president, Phil Schaafsma, Sr., having interviewed him when I was at WGN Radio. Given that it was now 2008 and the economy was already tanking, it was not exactly a great time to start Mike Nowak LLC and my new show at WCPT 820AM.

When I asked Phil if he would advertise on my new show, he didn't hesitate, and Sid's became one of my major clients. It meant a lot to me because they took out 52-week contracts each year, whereas most garden centers preferred to run commercials during just the spring growing season.

Last Friday, I received a call from Sid's Marketing Director, Scott Henderson, who told me that the company was planning to shut down. Earlier this week, it became official and, thus, one of the great garden centers in the Chicago area becomes part of history.

This is a sampling of the response I received when I posted the news on Facebook and Twitter:

• Awww! So sad.
• Every Spring in the seventies, my family would make regular weekend trips out to Sid's on Southwest Highway. My parents will miss the getting gardening advice from the professionals and Schaafsma family members who worked there. Sad to see them go.
• Wow, purchased from them all the time. Thanks for telling us.
• Sorry Mike, you lost a good sponsor. Sorry for the Schaafsma family, sorry for all the workers. We are a sorry mess.
• Sad news. I went into my favorite nursery the other day and discovered the place half empty. I'm sure it's also "circling the drain." It's all depressing.
• Very sad indeed. An institution.
• Oh Noooooo! Sid's is my favorite garden store! This is devastating.
• Terrible shame. Wonderful stores, wonderful people. Don't suspect we could have made a go of the magazine without their unflinching support. (from Bill Aldrich, who started Chicagoland Gardening Magazine)
• Very sad and telling. They were one of the best.
• A worker at the Menards garden center here told a friend of mine that her garlic mustard was a cool wildflower! Don't go, Sid's!!
• Who will be left standing, Mike?

The last question is particularly pertinent, as the recession continues and more independent garden centers close. Are box stores killing the IGCs? Or is something else going on? Regardless, Phil Schaafsma is being a stand-up guy by stopping by Sunday morning's show to answer questions about the demise of one of Chicago's great garden centers. If you want to show your support for IGCs, log onto the Facebook page "Locally Owned Garden Centers or Nurseries (LOGON)"

Yes, Virginia, you can garden without pain

Maybe I should have done this show segment earlier in the gardening season, but I suppose that anytime is a good time to learn how to work in your garden without messing yourself up physically. Dr. Bonny Flaster, of River North Wellness, is not only my friend, she's also a chiropractor, acupuncturist and natural healer.

Bonny has some simple tips for surviving your own garden in her post I’VE GOT A GOAL – GARDENING WITHOUT BACK PAIN. Most of them involve common sense...which is why they're so often ignored. Another problem for a lot of gardeners is allergies and, yes, Bonny says that she has had success treating those, too, using NeuroModulation Technique (NMT). It's a pleasure to have Bonny in the studio this morning.

Green Organics: bringing Illinois composting into the 21st Century

It's hard to believe that less than three years ago, food scraps were pretty much categorized as toxic waste in the state of Illinois. Then, with the passage of SB99, things changed. Not only did the cost to set up a food-composting facility come down dramatically, SB99 also exempted facilities that accept food waste for composting from pollution control facility requirements. Also, it opened the door for food waste composting businesses, creating jobs for Illinois, and creating a new Illinois made product – food waste compost – that can be sold around the country.

At least that's how it's supposed to work. Are we there yet? You kids just sit quiet in the back of the car and play with your food scraps! Sorry, I went somewhere for a few seconds.

Anyway, Green Organics is a company that had already been composting yard waste from waste companies, garden centers and landscapers since 1999. But with the passage of SB99, their mission changed considerably, according to a Chicago Metropolitan Area for Planning (CMAP) Case Study:

Before the passage of Senate Bill 99, this facility was not allowed to accept food waste for composting. This bill helped to distinguish food scraps from “pollution” and allows them to be treated as a resource, rather than a nuisance. Made effective in January of 2010, the bill allows commercial landscape-composting facilities to accept food waste – up to 10% of their total intake, without modifying the existing siting permit. They could accept more if their permit were modified...

Green Organics has begun the process to become OMRI-listed, which allows them to sell compost to certified organic farms. Their compost is a valuable soil amendment that provides fertilizer and pest control to soil, reducing the need for toxic fertilizers and helping conserve our region’s water quality. In addition to the various environmental benefits to the land, reducing the amount of waste that we send to landfills will also reduce future municipal landfilling costs, reduce GHGs, and protect water quality.

David Gravel is Vice President of GO and he joins me in studio to talk about how Illinois has progressed in the area in food scrap composting and where it still needs to go. By the way, he will be speaking on Thursday, July 28 at 1:45 p.m. for the International Erosion Control Association Roadshow at the Bartlett Nature Center, 2054 W. Stearns Road in Bartlett, Illinois.

Beth Botts tells you how to water...and you better listen!

You know the lyrics to the song "What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours." Well, geez Louise, those words couldn't more appropriately describe what happened between Friday and Saturday. One day, I'm riding my bicycle in 100+ heat index weather (well hydrated, of course), and the next night, I'm wading in 8" deep water in my basement, frantically trying to move my belongings to higher ground. Welcome to climate change, folks!

The point is that when Beth Botts, award-winning horticultural writer and occasional guest-host of The Mike Nowak Show, showed me the two fabulous blogs on her site Growing in Chicago that she had written about watering your garden, it was in the middle of a heat wave that was producing very little rain. I said, "Great! Let's talk about it on my show on Sunday. What can possibly happen before then?"

Cue the 7 inches of rain that hit Chicago on Friday night.

Regardless of that, more heat is on the way, and you should read her two posts: How to water: a manifesto, and What to water with. Bookmark them, print them out, carve them into stone, graffiti them onto your garage door, tattoo them on your left leg. Whatever. They will come in handy. Trust me.

 

July 17, 2011

Just in time for garden walks...the hottest weather in 6 years

Sometimes you just have to wonder why folks schedule garden walks for the summer. I mean, aside from the fact that that's when plants are growing. If it were me, I'd look at January. Aside from the occasional blizzard, there's not a lot going on in that month, and you certainly don't have to deal with heat waves. As you can tell, I'm not much of a fan of hot weather. And we're going to get it in spades this week.

I can always tell when we're about to encounter a weather anomaly because meteorologist Rick DiMaio starts sending me websites to peruse. This week, he even sent me a PowerPoint presentation called "Heat Waves and Droughts: A Silent Killer." You might want to check it out. Here are the temperatures and heat index levels that Rick is forecasting for the next five days:

Sunday: High 92 - Peak Heat Index 98
Monday: High 94 - Peak Heat Index 102
Tuesday: High 90 - Peak Heat Index 92
Wednesday: High 94 - Peak Heat Index 105
Thursday: High 96 - Peak Heat Index 108
Friday: High 95 - Peak Heat Index 105

Nice. I might as well move to Oklahoma City.

Rick also has some very important information regarding kids and cars. He says that, on average, nearly 50 children die in cars each year due to heat.  Pets are also susceptible and should not be taken for granted. There's more at this website.

Like I said, however, a lot of garden walks happen at this time of year. To get an overview of what's out there for July, you can click onto Chicagoland Gardening Magazine's garden walks page. One of the country's oldest events of this kind is the Dearborn Garden Walk, now in its 53rd year. That walk is being held today, July 17 from noon to 5 pm. Tickets are $35 each and the entry is at The Latin Lower School, 1531 North Dearborn in Chicago.

The 43rd Annual Sheffield Garden Walk and Festival is a the younger sibling by 10 years but it doesn't take a back seat in terms of fun. Master Gardener and former Chicago Gardener of the Year Laury Lewis stops by the studio today for his annual visit to plug the two day event and to help me answer gardening questions. Here's most of what you need to know:

• More than 90 gardens to view on a self-guided tour, Saturday and Sunday noon – 5:30 pm
• Guided Garden Tours 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
• Guided Architectural Tours, Saturday at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm, Sunday at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm. Italianate, Romanesque and Queen Anne architectural styles will be viewed.
• Ask a Master Gardner, Saturday and Sunday 1:00 – 4:00 pm
• Bands each day from 12:15 to 10:00 p.m., including Soul Asylum and Poi Dog Pondering
• Kids’ Corner - free family entertainment
• Barry Winograd and the Alternatives Big Band will play on the grounds of the Little Sisters of the Poor, on Belden between Lakewood and Racine, Saturday 2:00 - 5:00 pm. On Sunday, Barry and the Alternatives Little Band will entertain from 1:00 - 5:00 pm.
• Food Vendors, featuring Robinson’s Ribs, Sal’s Deli, Quang Noodle, Kasia’s Deli and St. Vincent de Paul.

Impressively, about 450 volunteers contribute their time and effort to this community event. Proceeds provide continued support for neighborhood schools, local institutions, and community projects. In addition, proceeds are allocated to SNA's Award-Winning Beautification Program, a 7-10 year plan to maintain Sheffield as the Garden District of Chicago.

Information for one other garden walk of note today was sent to me by Doug Wood of the Wicker Park Garden Club. He says that the Graceland West Community Association's 29th annual Garden Walk (also known as Donna Forsberg's Garden Walk) will take place this afternoon from noon-5PM, free. 

This is a self-guided tour of 50 gardens including our famous Warner Park which was voted  one of the "best places to relax and read" in Chicago. Enjoy our friendly neighbors on tree lined streets with lovely homes on spacious lots.

Pick up a map at 4334 N. Greenview (DONNA'S HOUSE). The boundaries are Clark-Ashland-Montrose-Irving Park. For more info, donnaforsberg@sbcglobal.net

Gardening and environment stories on my radar

Since Laury Lewis and I will be chatting about gardening and other things, I thought I'd list a few items that have caught my eye recently. I hope you will find them useful.

• I mentioned this WAY too briefly on my show last week. Julie Bass, a ,mother of six in Oak Park, Michigan (not to be confused in any way, shape or form with Oak Park, Illinois or any other Oak Park in the nation) was cited by her city for growing vegetables in her front yard. Ring a bell? That's what happened last fall in the Chicago suburb of Northbrook, when Alex Lyakhovetsky and his mother Dora quickly became the poster children for the suburban Locavore movement. In that case, it ended happily, when Northbrook decided to allow front yard vegetable gardens without size restrictions. Not so much--so far--in Oak Park, Michigan. Only God knows why a city government--WHICH HAS ALREADY LOST THIS BATTLE IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION--would dig in its heels. And yet, it does. All you have to do is scroll through a few of the latest posts on Julie's blog, Oak Park Hates Veggies, to see that Oak Park is acting pretty much like a fourteen-year-old who can't believe that it isn't getting exactly what it wants. Our love of lawns, benign shrubs and pesticides that will will wipe out anything that doesn't remotely look like a blade of grass has gone far beyond fetish. When it keeps people from growing their own food, simply because their neighbors don't like the "aesthetic," we have become a gravely ill society.

• DuPont recently had an herbicide called Imprelis approved by the EPA for use on lawns. It was supposed to be more environmentally friendly than other lawn treatments, while killing pernicious weeds like creeping charlie and violets (if you consider them weeds--it's all in the perception, kids). Now Imprelis has been implicated in the death of thousands of Norway spruces, eastern white pines and other trees on lawns and golf courses across the country. Oops, our bad.

• Speaking of turf, here's what I consider an unholy alliance. According to SafeLawns.org's Paul Tukey, Scotts Miracle-Gro and Monsanto are working hard to develop a Roundup-Ready variety of Kentucky Bluegrass. And now the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has stated that it will not regulate 'Frankenturf," even in the face of reports that Roundup can cause birth defects.

• As we head into a week of plus-90 temperatures, Paul Tukey has some good advice about lawns, cool-season grasses and fungal diseases.

• Remember earlier in the year when I applauded Governor Pat Quinn for vetoing a bill that would have created a coal-gasification plant on Chicago's southeast side? I take it back. This week, the governor approved the plant, after "consumer protections" were added to the bill. The NRDC's Rebecca Standfield takes Quinn to task for his short-sighted decision.

• I was on Mighty House Saturday morning and Ron Cowgill asked me why I planted onions next to strawberries in the WCPT Parking Lot Farm. He wondered if I was trying to mix the flavors. Well, what I was doing is practicing something called "companion planting," which is when you mix certain crops and ornamental plants to increase yield. You can find specific lists of plants and their buddies on these pages at Seeds of Change and Golden Harvest Organics.

• Climate change is already taking a toll on five national parks in the Great Lakes region, according to a new study by the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization (RMCO) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The major factors of decline are higher temperatures, less winter ice, erosion of shorelines and dunes, loss of wildlife and loss of birds.

• Speaking of ways in which humans tend to screw up the planet, the journal Science says that the loss of large predators and large herbivores may be "humankind's most pervasive influence on nature."

• File this under the heading "No Brainer." A new study from the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) concludes that the simplification of the landscape has led to an increased abundance of crop pests and therefore higher use of insecticides.

 

July 10, 2011

10,000 native wildflower plugs seeking a good time, er, home

That headline is just a tiny bit misleading. It implies that those native plants don't have a place to be planted. They do, actually, and it's at one of the great restoration projects of the 21st Century. If you are not familiar with Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, you should be. And If you believe in returning at least part of the prairie to "The Prairie State," you might want to stop by next weekend and help put those plants in the ground.

Here's the story. I received a message the other week from Allison Cisneros, Volunteer Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy at Midewin. She said that they had received a grant from the National Forest Foundation to purchase these plants. The problem, as you can see, is that there are 10,000 of them and they need to get in the ground quickly. Midewin relies on its volunteers to help with many projects, and they make a huge difference.

The planting dates are

Saturday, July 16
Sunday, July 17 (only if the July 16 date is rained out)
Monday, July 18
Tuesday, July 19

RSVP to Gemma Guenther at 815.423.2148 or gguenther@fs.fed.us 

Work starts at 9am and ends at 2:30pm. Meet at the River Road Seedbeds/Trailhead (directions here). Allison says she'll take a half-day if that's all you can spare. Her goal is to get at least 50 people ages 7 and up.The plugs will be planted near the beginning of the Prairie Creek Woods Trail where they can be enjoyed by hundreds of visitors each year.

Midewin will provide tools, safety gear and water.  Remember to wear layers, field boots and a hat. Bring your own lunch if you plan to stay. After the workday, you can reward yourself by hopping on your bike or grabbing your binoculars to explore their trails or hike through a woodland or prairie restoration.

Last but not least, if you're intererested in keeping up with what's going on at Midewin, you can subscribe to the Meadowlark Newsletter.

Mike and Heather paddle the Chicago River...and live to tell the tale

It didn't hurt that yesterday might have been a perfect summer day. Temps in the mid-eighties, brilliant sunshine, a little cooling breeze. And with that as confidence-builder, Heather and I lauched our canoe into the Chicago River and paddled from roughly Lane Tech High School to Dearborn and...um, the river.

Upon finishing the several-mile journey, I heard a couple of interesting reports. One was from Margaret Frisbie, Executive Director of Friends of the Chicago River, who was on my radio show last week. Her report? "I haven't seen it that dirty in years." Whoa. Another comment came from Jake Leinenkugel, whose company is behind Canoes for a Cause, which organized the “Friendly Float” event. Said Jake, "That river needs a lot of help." Ouch.

And, you know what, they're right.

After all, the Chicago River was recently called one of the “most endangered rivers” in the country, due to high levels of pollutants in the waterway. You might have heard me interview the Natural Resources Defense Council's Josh Mogerman about their lawsuit to stop the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District from dumping raw sewage mixed with stormwater, as well as algae-fueling pollution, into the Chicago River system. Fortunately, after pressure from NGOs like NRDC and Friends of the Chicago River, as well a ruling from the U.S. EPA, which demanded more stringent pollution controls, the MWRD finally saw the light. Just how long a clean up will take is anybody's guess at the moment--perhaps years--but it will happen...and not a moment too soon.

There are parts of the stretch we canoed that don't seem too bad, but others that are covered in debris, scum, and dead fish. I even spotted a whole pinapple floating among the flotsam and jetsam of a major midwestern city. And, of course, much of the shoreline simply does not exist anymore. It has been replaced by iron pilings. Heather and I noticed one barge that looked as though it had been parked in its spot for half a century or more. We were warned before the trip that

"Should you fall in, do not ingest river water. If you do there is a chance that you will suffer an intestinal upset within the next 24 hours. Take a shower when you get home. Put antibacterial ointment on any open cuts."

That pretty much put the fear of God into Heather and me. NO WAY were we going to risk capsizing.

I think it's crucial that businesses like Leinenkugel's to get on board with cleaning up the river. Leinie's already has a history of protecting waterways in the Midwest, and now they've teamed with Friends of the Chicago River to create Canoes for a Cause, an online resource that encourages Chicagoans to join Leinenkugel’s in improving the Chicago River. For every new “like” on the Leinenkugel’s Facebook page, Leinenkugel’s and its partners will make a monetary donation to Friends of the Chicago River up to $15,000. But you can also donate to the cause individually via a Friends of the Chicago River donation link.

Jake is on the show today to say that the dealine for participating in this fundraising effort has been extended until the end of July, even though the original conclusion date was July 9. So get online, click the "Friend" button on the Leinie's page and help leave the Chicago River for our children in better shape than we found it.

The irrepressible Bill Aldrich

If it weren't for Bill Aldrich, I wouldn't be torturing people in Chicagoland Gardening Magazine. I don't mean that I'm torturing the people who write for the magazine. I mean it's possible that I'm torturing people who read it. And you can blame Bill Alrich, who, some eight and a half years ago, hired me to write my column.

He also started Chicagoland Gardening Magazine, and is the author of a number of books. Here's what Amazon.com has to say about Bill.

WILLIAM ALDRICH is publisher of Chicagoland Gardening, a magazine he founded in 1995 to provide regionally focused gardening information. He is a certified Master Gardener and has been a garden writer for more than 20 years, mostly with the Chicago Tribune. Bill, a past-president of the Garden Writers Association, has written six Lone Pine gardening books designed for Midwest gardeners.

More recently, Bill has been Seminar coordinator at Chicago Flower & Garden Show. I like to have him stop by my show from time to time, if only because he always has interesting things to say about horticulture and the people who practice it.

Bonsai and gardening tips for the week...from Dan Kosta

If you listen to my show long enough you will hear a phone call from Dan Kosta. Dan works at Vern Goers Greenhouse in Hinsdale and, I am happy to say, is a friend fo the show. Of course, that doesn't stop him from correcting me when I get something wrong, or just offering what is usually excellent gardening advice.

He is also a serious collector of bonsai and a member of the Prairie State Bonsai Society. He's here today to talk about Prairie State's annual show at the Morton Arboretum on July 16 & 17. . Hours are 10am - 6pm on Saturday and 10am - 4pm on Sunday. There will be bonsai demonstrations, workshops, vendors, and a display of members' trees. The show is free but you must pay for admission to the Arboretum. The show is located in the Arboretum visitor's center. You can register for workshops 630-719-2468 or registrar@mortonarb.org

Dan says this a great event for anyone who wants to learn more about the art of bonsai as well as those who are experienced in growing bonsai, or just curious of what bonsai all about. Of course, he will be making a presentation himself--a workshop on Dawn Redwood trees on Saturday morning and another demonstration on Sunday.

Okay, that's the bonsai stuff. Dan has also written to me lately about other matters, including the hail storm that hit the squash plants in the Green on McLean community garden on my block. His advice, per the subject line of his email, is to "toss the squash." Here's why.

Rip out the damaged squash. Do not save them. Replant seed. This is when I always plant my squash seed and this is not just because I am crazy. The squash borer female is out in June laying her eggs. By the first of July she is gone (aka dead) and so you avoid getting borers. This is something I got from the extension service a few years ago and it works. You will still get plenty and no borers killing the vines. I have even told this to customers and it works for them. The warm soil will make the seeds germinate quickly and the vines grow fast as well.

He also commented on other plants:

One of my customers said he has plenty of flowers on his tomatoes but only 2 fruits. Most flowers fall off. I am guessing a pollination problem, lack of bees. There have been other unusual problems brought in as well. Apple scab seems to be big this year and lots of verticillium problems on tomatoes, especially heirloom types. Just another one of our usual strange years.

He added this in another email:

More garden problems are being brought in. One woman brought in a bunch of aphids of a real pretty red color. Don't recall seeing that color aphids before. A lot of leaves that have torn themselves up as well. That's due to fluctuating temperatures. Its an easy one to spot if you know what to look for.

Since Dan has so much good information for me, I am happy to say that I was able to return the favor. You might recall that last week I had Robert Nevel of KAM Isaiah Israel on the show. While he was in the studio, he happened to mention that his cucumbers were not growing up to expectations. I commented that we had experienced the same thing on McLean. LaManda Joy, who was also on the show, confirmed our complaint.

And then, this week, Kathleen and friend Mac stopped in at the Green City Market in Lincoln Park. They just happened to mention the cucumber problem to an organic farmer...who immediately knew what they were talking about. We're embarrassed that we didn't get this farmer's name, because her advice makes lots of sense.

She said that she was experiencing the same problem on her farm. She blamed it on the cool weather that occurred while the cucumbers should have been growing vines. The temperatures caused the vines to be slow in developing. Then, suddenly, hot weather hit, which sent a signal to the plants to start producing fruit. The problem was that because the plants were so small, there was no way that they could sustain fruit growth.

The farmer said that she hit her plants with a a double dose of nitrogen-rich fish emulsion, to immediately stimulate plant growth. She suggests that it should be done a week later, to insure that the plants get up to speed. It makes sense to me, and I suspect that it will work on other cucurbits and perhaps even other plants that have been lagging because of our inconsistent weather. If you happen to try this approach, drop me a line and let me know how your veggies respond.

 

July 3, 2011

Five minutes of hail = five million dollars of damage

I heard a noise on Thursday evening. It was coming from the back of the house. "Now what?" I thought. Remember, mine is a neighborhood.where gang bangers shoot craps on the sidewalk in front of my 89-year-old neighbor's house (I watched this happen on Thursday). Where the fire hydrant at the end of block, which was going to be the source of water for our community garden, has now become a gang-themed water park for this block and many others in the area. Where my most loathed holiday of the year is the Fourth of July because I know that most of the fireworks that are sold in Indiana will end up on my block.

With all of that in mind, I made a move toward the back door. Then I heard a noise in the front. Then on the skylight. Then on the roof. Then...everywhere. It wasn't squirrels, it wasn't gang bangers (who often behave like squirrels), it was...hail. Not just any hail. This was the hail that you see in news stories that you've never experienced. Golf ball sized hail. I always thought that was an exaggeration. A myth.

Now I was watching it cover the sidewalk and street and litter both with leaves and branches. It was scary. In my neighborhood, it lasted no more than five or seven minutes. That was all it took to wreak havoc on my personal garden (the hostas are toast) and on our community garden, Green on McLean. The full effects of the storm are documented in a video that webmaster Kathleen put together for the blogsite.

But that damage pales in comparison to what happened to the Garfield Park Conservatory. In a few short minutes, somewhere around half of the glass panels of the conservatory were smashed, resulting in millions of dollars' worth of damage. That has left GPC to send out a plea for help, as priceless plants are at the mercy of Mother Nature. While it might seem odd that tropical plants should need protecting in the middle of a Chicago summer, you should know that different rooms in the conservatory have different needs.

For instance, the historic Fern Room requires high humidity to support its collection of rain forest plants, while the Desert House requires arid conditions. With the rooms now open to the skies, those conditions are not sustainable. Yesterday I tracked down Miguel del Valle (no, not the former city clerk and mayoral candidate, but his son), who is General Foreman for the Garfield Park Conservatory.

He and his team were busy picking glass out of the Fern Room displays, while contractors were already on site, beginning repairs on the glass panels overhead. Del Valle says that his crew was also working feverishly to keep the rain forest plants under canopies, because exposure to the mid-June Chicago sun would fry many of them. However, the canopies need to be portable, so workers can easily move from place to place.

Del Valle joins me on the program this morning to talk about the repair work being done, how Chicagoans can help, and where the conservatory goes from here. Fortunately, even though it is only a few miles away, the Lincoln Park Conservatory suffered no damage except for erosion of the whitewash on some glass roof panes. There was also no damage at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool except for a few fallen tree limbs.

For an eloquent reflection on what the Garfield Park Conservatory means to Chicago, the Midwest and to horticulture in general, check out Beth Botts' blog Growing in Chicago. And if you're a weather geek (and what gardener isn't?) meteorologist Rick DiMaio sent me a link to a fascinating review of the storm as it traveled down Lake Michigan and swiped Chicago. The video, produced by the National Weather Service office in Chicago, using radar and 3-D graphics, explains why the hail happened and why it was almost exclusively confined within the city limits of Chicago.

"Like" Leinenkugel and help the Friends of the Chicago River

If you thought that letting Heather and me loose on the Pride Parade was bad enough, just imagine what could happen if they put us together in a canoe on the Chicago River.

Stand back. It's going to happen. Next Saturday morning, July 9, Heather and I will participate in the Canoes for a Cause “Friendly Float” canoeing event on the Chicago River. They're calling it a "leisurely canoe float", meaning that it's not a race, which is a good thing for Heather and me. The point is to show that the Chicago River is a valuable recreational resource, which in turn helps demonstrate appreciation for the River and its potential.

Canoes for a Cause is the brainchild of Jake and John Leinenkugel, whose company, the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, is proud of its history of improving water resources in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and now Illinois. Among their accomplishments is the installation of a new pasteurizer at their plant in Chippewa Falls, which reduces water consumption by 20 million gallons each year.

Now they've teamed with Friends of the Chicago River to create Canoes for a Cause, an online resource that encourages Chicagoans to join Leinenkugel’s in improving the Chicago River. According to "Friends" Executive Director Margaret Frisbie, for every new “like” on the Leinenkugel’s Facebook page, Leinenkugel’s and its partners will make a monetary donation to Friends of the Chicago River up to $15,000. But you can also donate to the cause individually via a Friends of the Chicago River donation link.

You have officially until July 9 to "like" Lenenkugel on their Facebook page and insure that money goes to the Friends of the Chicago River. However, I will be talking to Jake Leinenkugel on next week's show, and a little birdie told me that the deadline might just be extended to the end of the month...or at least the end of the day on July 10, to allow folks listening to my program to participate. Now THAT'S Chicago--and Wisconsin--clout!

Sustainable Food Fundamentals: Food Deserts in a Land of Plenty

In May of 2009, I did a special program from the Third Unitarian Church of Chicago in the Austin community on the west side. It was called Rooted in Austin and, in a significant way, it was my introduction to the myriad of complex issues surrounding urban agriculture and food justice in America. I invited a panel of experts, all of whom were in the front lines fighting the battle for health and food security for people in all walks of life.

In the front row of the audience was a woman with a video camera, who had asked if she could shoot some footage of the event. Her name was Sarah Carlson and the comments from my experts were to be a tiny part of a documentary she was putting together called GROW. At the time, I think I asked her some questions about how she was funding the piece and how long it would take to edit.

Fast foward two years to next Thursday, July 7 at Jane Addams Hull-House Museum at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where a preview of Food Deserts in a Land of Plenty will be shown. The event is, in part, a fundraiser for Growing Films, in partnership with The Center of Excellence in the Elimination of Disparities at Chicago (CEED@Chicago). The address is 800 S. Halsted (M/C 051) Chicago , IL 60607-7017

Beginning at 5:30 p.m., there will be a reception featuring local foods, a community forum about food scarcity in Illinois, and, of course, the film. Sarah says that Food Deserts in a Land of Plenty is actually a shorter version of GROW, which she is still editing. In case you don't know, it's not easy being an independent film producer, which is why this screening was put together. In fact, you can see the trailer of GROW and contribute to the documentary right here.

Here's how Sarah describes her documentary:

The contrasting and converging landscapes of rural and urban Illinois provide the setting for a new movement of people reconnecting to their food. No longer able to rely on the presence of national grocery chains and distributors to bring fresh, healthy items into their “food desert” communities, residents of Grand Crossing on Chicago's South Side and down state's Bureau Valley begin collectively solving the problem through a new agrarianism. GROW turns a lens to activists, Chicago Public School students, single mothers, farmers and legislators helping to shape the developing regional food system by becoming urban rooftop growers, first generation farmers and public policy champions.

Please RSVP, space is limited. $12 donation suggested. For any questions regarding RSVPs, please email info@growingfilms.com . For event questions, contact Sarah Carlson at sarahacarlson@gmail.com .

KAM Isaiah Israel receives 2011 Gourd Award (it rhymes!)

it makes sense to have Robert Nevel of KAM Isaiah Israel stop into the studio while Sarah Carlson is here. Both of them are working towards similar goals--though in different ways. With its Food Justice and Sustainability Program, KAM continues to expand its operations in their Hyde Park Neighborhood. Last fall, volunteers took up about 1,000 square feet of sod at the Kenwood United Church of Christ at 46th and South Greenwood. It's part of KAMII's effort to transform congregational lawns into food producing gardens.

KAM also continues to win awards. This time, The Urban Health Initiative of the University of Chicago Medical Center, SSHVS, presented them with the 2011 Gourd Award, which is given to groups helping to improve health on the South Side of Chicago. The GOURD Award Review Committee was impressed with how KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation is utilizing urban agriculture to creatively address food injustice through community education, engagement, and advocacy.

Not only that, KAM is launching the Food Justice and Sustainability Young Leadership Summer Program. The free program is four Sundays long and open to high school students entering grades 9 - 12. There are two sessions, one in July and one in August. Students who complete the Program may be eligible for community service credit.

According to KAM:

Each Sunday will start with two 45 minute workshops. The first workshop will be
taught by leaders of the faith community and will be centered on what different
faiths teach about sustainability and food justice. The second will be led by
experienced practitioners and will focus on land use, sustainability, urban farming
and local food production. The workshops will be followed, in the afternoon, by 2.5
hours of hands on work in the KAMII food producing gardens. The emphasis will
be on learning methods of urban food production and sustainability.

Celebrate food independence with The Peterson Garden Project

Anybody who knows me also knows that the 4th of July is not my favorite holiday. In fact, I would say that it's my least favorite, mainly because I don't think that two Americans in a hundred actually think about why they have the right to blow off a couple of fingers at midnight just outside my bedroom window.

But I digress. Or I'm right on target.

Here's a much better way to celebrate. Stop by The Peterson Garden Project at Peterson and Campbell on Chicago's northwest side, bring a potluck dish, dress your kids or pets as vegetables for the annual Veggie Parade, and chat with folks who like to garden. There's also face painting, a lemonade stand and decorations by the awesome event team! Ahhh, that's living.

Of course, I'm going to be there as the erstwhile MC (don't know exactly what I'm supposed to do but I'll do it), and it's a great cause. LaManda Joy is on the program this morning to tell you all about it.

Festivities start this afternoon, Sunday, July 3 at 4:00 and go until 8:00 p.m...just in time to go home and listen to fireworks outside your bedroom window.

MAY/JUNE SHOWS