Everyday Environment Podcast

Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, Erin Garrett
  • 4.9 (10)
  • Education
  • Updated Biweekly

Everyday Environment delves into the intricate web of connections that bind us to the natural world. From water, air, energy, plants, and animals to the complex interactions within these elements, we aim to unravel the ties that link us to our environment. Through a variety of educational formats, including podcasts, blogs, and videos, we strive to foster a deeper understanding of these connections among the residents of Illinois. Explore more at go.illinois.edu/everydayenvironment. Hosted by: Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, and Erin Garrett

  1. 1d ago

    Before the birds nest: Getting your yard ready for spring

    Many of us invite birds to our landscapes - sometimes there is joy and sometimes there is frustration when birds begin to nest near our homes in the spring. Join us during this episode as we talk to Illinois Extension horticulture educator, Kim Rohling, about what to do in the fall to prepare our homes and landscapes for spring nesting birds. Learn more Merlin bird ID appeBird bird recordkeeping appIllinois Extension Pollinator Plant Selector ToolNational Wildlife Federation Native Plant FinderCornell BirdLab Right Bird, Right HouseFall Migration Mini-Sit Birdwatching Event - Cache River Wetlands Natural Area, Cypress ILShare your own Everyday Observation Was there something about this topic we didn’t cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast. Questions? We'd love to hear from you!Abigail Garofalo aeg9@illinois.edu, Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.edu, Amy Lefringhouse heberlei@illinois.edu  Subscribe to our NewsletterCheck out our BlogSee the Everyday Environment Archives

    Before the birds nest: Getting your yard ready for spring

  2. Sep 10

    Energy efficiency is trending on our landscapes

    Before central heating and cooling became a standard feature of many homes, there was a greater emphasis on designing homes and their yards to provide natural climate control. This was accomplished by taking advantage of the heating effects of solar radiation during the winter along with the cooling effects of shade and natural air flows during the summer. As we see more extreme cold and heat events in Illinois and as energy bills continue to rise, it’s a good time to revisit how your landscaping is contributing to your home’s climate control and energy efficiency. Chat with Energy Specialist Andrea Wagner, and Natural Resources Educator Jay Solomon to learn about how we can use landscaping to our advantage to save a few bucks as extreme weather becomes more commonplace. Resources:  Energy Website from Illinois ExtensionSelecting Trees to Plant in IllinoisUnder the Canopy Tree guides can be found at your local Illinois Extension office. Share your own Everyday Observation Was there something about this topic we didn’t cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast. Questions? We'd love to hear from you!Abigail Garofalo aeg9@illinois.edu, Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.edu, Amy Lefringhouse heberlei@illinois.edu  Subscribe to our NewsletterCheck out our BlogSee the Everyday Environment Archives

    Energy efficiency is trending on our landscapes

  3. Sep 3

    Friend or foe? Insects in your landscape with Dr. Ken Johnson

    EO Wilson famously called insects the "little things that run the world." Dr. Ken Johnson, Illinois Extension horticulture educator, joins us this week to solve our insect challenges.  Insects perform numerous services within our ecosystems, but how do we respond when insects start to "bug" us? Mosquitos on your patio, wasps by your door, and ticks in your yard - all these topics are discussed around the table this week on Everyday Environment. Resources Managing mosquitoes at homeVoice of the Wild - Yellow billed cuckooWILSON, E.O. (1987), The Little Things That Run the world* (The Importance and Conservation of Invertebrates). Conservation Biology, 1: 344-346. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1739.1987.tb00055.xFabian, S.T., Sondhi, Y., Allen, P.E. et al. Why flying insects gather at artificial light. Nat Commun 15, 689 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-44785-3. Check out Ken on the Good Growing podcast and blog!Share your own Everyday Observation Was there something about this topic we didn’t cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast. Questions? We'd love to hear from you!Abigail Garofalo aeg9@illinois.edu, Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.edu, Amy Lefringhouse heberlei@illinois.edu  Subscribe to our NewsletterCheck out our BlogSee the Everyday Environment Archives

    Friend or foe? Insects in your landscape with Dr. Ken Johnson

  4. Aug 27

    Managing lawns with ecology in mind with Chris Enroth

    Today we chat with Chris Enroth, horticulture educator for Illinois Extension, about how we can approach our lawn care with fewer inputs. We chat about why we even have lawns, top tips for a healthy lawn with fewer inputs, demystifying seed mixes, and how to shrink your lawn to support pollinators and other wildlife. We get in the weeds this episode and have a fun discussion with lots of examples from our own yards. Check out Chris on the Good Growing podcast and blog! Share your own Everyday Observation Was there something about this topic we didn’t cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast. Questions? We'd love to hear from you!Abigail Garofalo aeg9@illinois.edu, Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.edu, Amy Lefringhouse heberlei@illinois.edu  Subscribe to our NewsletterCheck out our BlogSee the Everyday Environment Archives

    Managing lawns with ecology in mind with Chris Enroth

  5. Aug 20

    What's wrong with my tree? with Sarah Vogel

    When we talk nature-based solutions, trees can be the answer to many problems! Trees planted in our landscapes can deal with a lot of problems though. This week we chat with Horticulture Educator Sarah Vogel about the complexities of the question "what's wrong with my tree?" and what we can do to help set our trees up for success in the long term. Learn moreFor more tips on tree care, use resources like Illinois Extension’s Tree Maintenance Schedule, or USDA Forest Service’s Tree Owner’s Manual.  Share your own Everyday Observation Was there something about this topic we didn’t cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast. Questions? We'd love to hear from you!Abigail Garofalo aeg9@illinois.edu, Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.edu, Amy Lefringhouse heberlei@illinois.edu  Subscribe to our NewsletterCheck out our BlogSee the Everyday Environment Archives

    What's wrong with my tree? with Sarah Vogel

  6. Aug 13

    Working hand in hand with nature in your garden with Amy Powers

    We're kicking off our nature-based solution season with guest Amy Powers, who is a garden coach and social media influencer in the Chicago region. We had a blast chatting with Amy about how we can work with nature rather than against in our home gardens. We talk about native plants, fall garden care, and the importance of paying attention to how we communicate when talking with others about incorporating nature-based solutions. Check out Amy's videos at Powers Plants on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube @Powers_Plants Share your own Everyday Observation Was there something about this topic we didn’t cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast. Questions? We'd love to hear from you!Abigail Garofalo aeg9@illinois.edu, Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.edu, Amy Lefringhouse heberlei@illinois.edu  Subscribe to our NewsletterCheck out our BlogSee the Everyday Environment Archives

    Working hand in hand with nature in your garden with Amy Powers

  7. Aug 6

    Practicing Curiosity: the Season 5 Preview

    Join the Everyday Environment team for our fifth season chatting with experts, researchers, and professionals in the environmental field. Erin, Amy, and Abigail go over the theme for season five and the very exciting guests they have in store. Share your own Everyday Observation Was there something about this topic we didn’t cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast. Questions? We'd love to hear from you!Abigail Garofalo aeg9@illinois.edu, Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.edu, Amy Lefringhouse heberlei@illinois.edu  Subscribe to our NewsletterCheck out our BlogSee the Everyday Environment Archives

    Practicing Curiosity: the Season 5 Preview

  8. May 28

    Answering your invasive species questions: a Q&A with Chris Evans

    For our final episode of our invasive species season we have something a little different: we're sharing the recording of an invasive species livestream we hosted on Facebook with Chris Evans, answering your invasive species questions! Get the answers to your questions about managing different species, communicating about invasives, regulations, and more. Share your own Everyday Observation Was there something about this topic we didn’t cover? See something cool in nature? Let us know! Send us your question or share your everyday nature observation with us at go.illinois.edu/EEconnect, and we may share it in a future blog or podcast. Questions? We'd love to hear from you!Abigail Garofalo aeg9@illinois.edu, Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.edu, Amy Lefringhouse heberlei@illinois.edu  Subscribe to our NewsletterCheck out our BlogSee the Everyday Environment Archives

    Answering your invasive species questions: a Q&A with Chris Evans
See All (193)

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Everyday Environment delves into the intricate web of connections that bind us to the natural world. From water, air, energy, plants, and animals to the complex interactions within these elements, we aim to unravel the ties that link us to our environment. Through a variety of educational formats, including podcasts, blogs, and videos, we strive to foster a deeper understanding of these connections among the residents of Illinois. Explore more at go.illinois.edu/everydayenvironment. Hosted by: Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, and Erin Garrett

Information

  • Creator
    Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, Erin Garrett
  • Years Active
    2009 - 2026
  • Episodes
    193
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 The Board of Trustees at the University of Illinois
  • Show Website
    Everyday Environment Podcast