Mike Nowak
» Ecology, Wildlife (33)
» Garden Design (99)
» Organic, Sustainable (94)
» Ornamentals (81)
» Trees, Shrubs (49)
Overview
3512 W. McLean Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60647Mike is the funniest speaker you've never heard of, though he's been talking gardening on Chicago radio for more than 13 years. Think "Big Picture" environmentalism combined with "Show Biz" and you'll get a pretty good idea of what Mike is about.
w: http://www.mikenowak.net/blog
w: http://www.mikenowak.net/podcasts.htm
e: view email mike@mikenowak.net
Additional Information
Description
Mike Nowak has been the Chicago radio voice of gardening and the environment for more than thirteen years. First at WGN Radio and now at WCPT 820 AM, he has consistently informed and entertained his listeners about everything from bugs to battery recycling, from energy audits to Echinacea.
Mike often says that his background in gardening is show business, which is pretty close to the truth. Although he is an Illinois Master Gardener and Openlands TreeKeeper, he started as a professional writer, actor, director, radio personality – and is still a fervent amateur when it comes to growing things.
Mike is host of the aptly-named “The Mike Nowak Show,” Sundays from 9 to 11am on Chicago’s Progressive Talk, WCPT 820AM and 92.5, 92.7 and 99.9 FM (streaming live at www.mikenowak.net) and is an award-winning columnist for Chicagoland Gardening Magazine. He has also appeared on WGN-TV Channel 9, CBS 2 Chicago and the DIY Network.
In 2002, Mike co-founded the Midwest Ecological Landscaping Association, a community of landscape designers, contractors, suppliers and nurseries committed to sustainability.. Mike served as MELA’s president for four years. He is currently president of the Chicago Recycling Coalition. He is also part of the Speakers Network for SafeLawns.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting natural lawn care and grounds maintenance.
Topics
I'm Not Really a Garden Expert, I Just Play One on the Radio
Except for the fact that he has a program on WCPT Radio and, before that, at WGN, Mike Nowak is probably a lot like you and your gardening friends. That is to say, he stumbled onto gardening somewhere in mid-life and has never looked back (except to see what he tripped over). Since then, he's interviewed dozens of horticultural experts--some famous, some not, some controversial, some cranky, some strange--who have taught him valuable lessons about gardening, environmental responsibility and life. WARNING FOR PEOPLE WHO LACK A SENSE OF HUMOR: This presentation may not be entirely serious!
Good Planets are Hard to Find
Like many of you, Mike Nowak has been around to observe the successes and failures of the environmental movement in its short history. There's some gardener out there right now asking, what in the world does that have to do with me? As a founder of the Midwest Ecological Landscaping Association (MELA) and president of Chicago Recycling Coalition, Mike will answer that question, presenting new ways of looking at pests, pathogens and low-impact gardening solutions and, in the process, perhaps persuading you that ants, grubs and yes, even slugs, are less threatening than you ever imagined...but that "weed n' feed" is just a cute name for "poison and fertilizer."
Guys on Grass (Organic Lawn Care 101)
As a die-hard gardener, Mike's philosophy about lawns can be summed up in this phrase: “When in doubt, rip it out.” Yet, as a radio show host, he knows that people love their lawns, so his compromise is to preach the gospel of organic lawn care. He notes that 68% of consumers say that their concern for the environment is a consideration when buying lawn and garden products. Yet these same people are the ones who are afraid of what their neighbors will think if they don't have a lawn that looks like a golf course fairway. In this talk, Mike looks at why the concept of the “perfect lawn” is so harmful, starting with that lock-step mentality and moving on to the use of synthetic fertilizers and pervasive pesticides. He explains how some simple cultural practices can be just as effective as expensive chemicals to keep your lawn green and healthy. He shows you why what's in your soil is more important than what's above it. And he dares to ask the question, “Why are weeds so bad?” (Hint: they aren't.)
Locations
Chicago Illinois 60647
Audience Reviews
Horticulturist
Sue Miller from Batavia IL - 01/26/2012 13:39:42
I am always amazed every time I hear another story about the positive changes that occur when people come together, as a group, to plant a community garden on an abandoned, crime ridden, corner lot in a large urban city. Mike gave an entertaining, informative and Inspirational talk about his work with the Green on McLean Community Garden at the Green Drinks Gathering in Aurora IL. I would highly recommend his presentation on 'Thriving in Hard Soil' !
Great Speaker!
Edward Lyon from Wisconsin - 11/17/2011 11:03:39
Mike presented "I'm Not Really a Garden Expert, I Just Play One on the Radio" to around 100 members of our Wisconsin Hardy Plant Society (avid gardeners!) last night and kept the audience captivated and laughing. It was a great mizx of humor with excellent gardening education focused a great deal on important, timely issues of sustainability and healthy gardening. I beleive the entire group would give him a thumb's up recommendation as speaker for other groups!
What fun!
Carol Cichorski, Past Pres, Elk Grove Garden Club from Chicago,IL - 11/11/2011 17:27:50
Mike recently spoke for our club and it was SOOO much fun. How enjoyable to have a speaker who speaks from the heart, uses common sense, and gets his points across with humor instead of 97 slides!
