Good Growing

Talking all things horticulture, ecology, and design.
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Latest Episode

 It’s the most wonderful time of the year, if you’re battling invasive bush honeysuckle! In this Garden Bite, Chris from the Good Growing podcast walks you through effective late-fall control methods.

Ep. 57 Talking Birds with Dr. Michael Ward

We are talking all about birds on this week's Good Growing podcast. We chat with Dr. Michael Ward on the plight of birds. Are the declining populations dire? Why are Midwestern migrating birds being found in shark stomachs in the Gulf of Mexico? Dr. Ward tells what is being done across the borders...

Ep. 56 Answering Native Plant Questions with Martha, Austin, and Layne

In this part two episode of our series on native plants, our special guests Martha Smith, Austin Little, and Layne Knoche answer listener-submitted questions about native plants. Want to watch the podcast? You can on YouTube https://youtu.be/9YJfLhH07vA Should we be planting nativars? What about...

Ep. 55 Talking Native Plant Picks with Landscape Designers

Check out Part One of our talk on native plants with Austin Little, Layne Knoche, and Martha Smith. All talented landscape designers, each guest shares their top three favorite native plants. You won't want want to miss this one as you plan ahead for this growing season. Want to watch the podcast...

Ep. 54 Talking Seed Catalogs with Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle

In this week's Good Growing podcast we chat with Nicole Flowers-Kimmerle, an Illinois Extension horticulture educator. We get into the thick of it as we talk seed catalogs and tips for navigating your way through the inundation of marketing from seed companies in these winter months. Plus your...

Ep. 53 Talking Seed Saving and Production with Gemini Bhalsod

In this week's Good Growing podcast we chat once again with Gemini Bhalsod, an Illinois Extension horticulture educator for Cook County. Gemini and the group dive into seed production and why we are already seeing shortages for the 2021 growing season. We also discuss how you can plan your garden...

Ep. 52 Talking Illinois Extension & the College of ACES with Dean Kim Kidwell

In this week's episode, the Good Growing team sits down with Dean Kim Kidwell to talk about all things Illinois Extension and College of ACES (Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences). Dean Kidwell leads the College of ACES on the University of Illinois campus and oversees the efforts of...

Ep. 51 Ask a Farmer with Matt Duesterhaus

In this week’s episode of the Good Growing podcast, we talk with corn and soybean farmer Matt Duesterhaus about what’s life like for a farmer in Central Illinois. Matt talks about what led him to farming, what it takes to farm from money to knowledge, and what was farming like during 2020. Plus...

Ep. 50 Talking Pantry Pests with Sarah Hughson

On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we chat with entomology specialist Sarah Hughson about pantry pests. Sarah dives into what to do about moths in your cereal and “maggots” in your flour. Still hungry? We also dig into cockroaches and ants. Put down the spatula because you won’t want to miss this...

Promoting The Urban Tree Conference

Good Growing loves trees and we are excited to promote the Urban Tree Conference. A month-long conference in an online format for January 2021. The Urban Tree Conference is host by the University of Illinois Extension. Conference dates: January 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22. Register soon! go.illinois....

Ep. 49 Talking Backyard Wildlife Damage with Peggy Doty

On this week’s Good Growing podcast we sit down once again with Energy and Environment educator Peggy Doty. We catch up from our last meeting as we ponder what happened to Bruno the Bear who wandered throughout Illinois this past summer. Peggy also talks about wildlife and some of the problems...