Everyday Environment Podcast

Ever think about what will captivate you in retirement? You don’t want to just sit around but you don’t want to over-commit now that you have your own time. Phenology could be a retirement hobby. Join Peggy Doty to talk about how phenology offers an activity for your mind and just enough commitment to wake up interested in this new idea. Phenology is a meeting of people and the wild living things...

Hiding in the thickets of our Illinois woodland habitat, the Northern Saw-whet Owl is a small and secretive owl species that migrates through our area.  During this podcast, University of Illinois Avian Lab Manager and Field Coordinator, Mike Avara, joins us to share research the university is doing on the Northern Saw-whet Owl. Find out why these owls are so special, why they are researching thes...

Join us this week as we chat with Dr. Joy O'Keefe about bats of Illinois and what we can do to support them. Bats are essential to a healthy ecosystem, as they eat insects that are pests to trees, crops, and us. Most bats use trees as their daytime roosts during spring, summer, and fall. If you have good places for bats to hunt for food, how do you attract them to roost on your property? Learn wha...

On this special edition of Spotlight on Natural Resources, hear from Scott Schirmer, State Plant Regulatory Official with Illinois Department of Agriculture, and Chris Evans, Forestry Extension and Research Specialist with University of Illinois Extension as we talk about Spotted Lanternfly. Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive insect that has been confirmed in Illinois for the first time in Septembe...

Join us this week as we chat with Aquatic Invasives Species Specialist Katie O'Reilly about all things aquatic invasives in Lake Michigan. We take a spooky look at what kinds of species are aquatic invaders and what we can do to combat invasive species in our waterways. Illinois Indiana Sea Grant Aquatic Invasive Species Choose Copi The Sea Lamprey from Illinois Department of Natural Resources

September is National Preparedness Month. Kerri Taylor joins us from Illinois Safe Electricity to teach us about how we can better prepare our homes, families, workplaces, and communities in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.  Focusing on storm preparedness, we discuss in-depth how to prepare an emergency supply kit, how to choose and safely use a generator, and how to ensure we are usi...

With high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus entering our waterways and making their way to the Gulf of Mexico, Illinois is taking action to address nutrient loss and hold those nutrients in place. Rachel Curry and Nicole Haverback are the boots on the ground for this project in Illinois, and they join us on the podcast to take about the NLRS and what it means for farmers and the public.   Links me...

With droughts and drastic weather occurring in Illinois, how do we keep our landscapes resilient? Extension Stormwater Specialist, Eliana Brown, joins the podcast to discuss how we can help build healthy landscapes in this extreme weather. Links mentioned: Drought Monitor Website Red Oak Rain Garden Native Plant Resources

Corn sweat - an interesting Midwest phenomenon that happens during the summer months.  Find out what corn sweat really is and how it affects our weather, wildlife and other plants. Duane Friend, Illinois Master Naturalist Coordinator and Climate Specialist, joins us during this episode.  Hint: An acre of corn can “sweat” up to 4,000 gallons of water in a day! Find out more about our Illinois weath...

Biodiversity - such a buzzword these days. But what is biodiversity and why does everyone seem to be talking about it? Extension Educator Abigail Garofalo will break down this scientific concept and give you insights into the biodiversity crisis and what you can do about it. 

Don’t count out nighttime when it comes to exploring.  Each season brings a different “night” whether it be the long winter nights with clear skies or the late sunsets in summer, there is always something to discover in nature at night.  In fact, in terms of wildlife, over 60% of our mammals are nocturnal. Extension Natural Resources Educator Amy Lefringhouse joins Erin Garrett and Abigail Garofal...

Spring is here, and one of the best places to enjoy the season is hiking through a forest. In spring you can find the forest floor bursting with life. Many of the spring-blooming flowers you see when out on a hike are from a group of plants called spring ephemerals. Today we chat with Erin Garrett to learn more about these plants and why they’re so unique. 

Maple Syrup Season in Illinois

What is the difference between snow, sleet and freezing rain?

When people get excited about supporting wildlife on their property, they are usually referring to the ones bring us joy or whimsy or the ones that bring us some function such as pollination. But that sense of awe and wonder with nature tends to take a turn into annoyance, and even fear when we stumble upon more nuisance animals. Learn more about the less charismatic wildlife and how they serve ou...

Resources:    https://learningstore.extension.wisc.edu/products/grassland-birds-fostering-habitats-using-rotational-grazing-p103 https://www.ontariosoilcrop.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/GrasslandBirdsWorkbook.pdf https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/resources/pdfs/agricultural_practices_that_conserve_grasslands_birds_(e3190).pdf

It seems like summer just started, but now is a great time to start planning for fall landscape installations! If you’ve got trees in your backyard, consider adding soft landings around the bases of them. 

If you have had any questions about what to do about your Ponds and whether or not weeds and/or algae are good for your pond listen to this episode to find out more from Duane Friend.

May Theilgaard Watts was an illinois naturalist, author, and poet who worked to develop nature themed programming and educational materials that helped people understand the world around them. You may recognize her work in the famous “Tree Finder” book used by countless naturalists and educators.  Learn about this Illinoisan and the contributions she made to our understanding of the natural world.

Large Predators returning to Illinois is becoming a more common event.  Spring is right around the corner and it seems to be the time of year when these sightings happen so who are these creatures and why are they wandering in and out of Illinois.  

It may not seem like spring is right around the corner, but it will be here before you know it! For those gardeners who are looking to make a difference this season, consider adding native plants to your gardens.  

Winter weather and safety

When considering adding solar panels to your home, one important step is to properly size a solar system to meet your home’s needs. We’ll cover 4 easy steps you can take yourself to estimate how large of a system you’ll need, along with a quick cost estimate – which will give you a starting estimate before you talk to a solar installer.