Nature vs. Art? Dirt trails or marble floors. Wildflowers or gilded frames. Open sky or vaulted ceilings. Too often, we think of nature and art as unrelated experiences. One is outside, the other is inside. Appreciating one means getting dirty, the other means getting cleaned up (at least cleaner than this guy). But the way … Read more
There’s nothing like a good ol’-fashioned November flurry to remind us that winter is on its way. And since for many of us, that’ll mean spending a whole lot more time at home, we thought we’d put together some handy tips and tricks for keeping your digs toasty all season long. 1. Fill in small … Read more
For our regular segment on WBEZ Chicago Public Media, Alaka Wali, anthropology curator at the Field Museum, joins Kate Sackman and Jerome McDonnell to share why she believes, “engaging with art, whether viewing or making it yourself, gives you a visceral experience. This aesthetic, emotional experience [can be a] great way to engage with nature.”
Quick—what’s the first word that comes to mind when you hear the word fireplace? Cozy, right? Yeah. The word itself just makes you want to pull up a chair and settle in wrapped in a nubby blanket with your honey. That said, you may have also noticed you might actually need that nubby blanket, because … Read more
—By Leah Simmons, a rising junior at Cochise College in Southern Arizona Get over it, Kermit. These days it really is easy being green. After another crazy summer, it’s that time once again for college kids to shake it off and head back to campus to hit the books (and, um, parties). Yes, the new … Read more
Every February, as the timeless film reminds us, our lives go into a surreal tailspin as we agonize over whether the iconic groundhog will or will not see his shadow. Even if your Groundhog Day isn’t quite as angsty as Bill Murray’s, there’s still something unnerving about the notion that climate change may be rousing … Read more
Is it better for Mama Earth to dispose of food waste by putting it down the sink disposal or into the trash? In the latest EcoMyths segment on WBEZ, Kate joins Jerome McDonnell to tackle the age-old question of whether it’s greener to send food waste down the sink and into our water system, or … Read more
Can’t Groundhogs Just Snooze Through Changing Climate Issues? In the game of life, hibernation is like a Get Out of Jail Free! card for groundhogs and other marmots. They get to sleep through all the holiday drama, groggily check their shadow in February, then set the alarm for balmier days. So, when global warming makes … Read more
—By Anne Sorensen, president of the Yellow Tractor Project, who pours her love of gardening and education into nurturing garden projects with as many people in as many places as possible. Some of us are driven by a passion to garden from the start…and some of us stumble into it, almost by accident. For me, … Read more
Step 1 to Garden Glory: Admit to Dragging Soil Through the Mud In the dog-eat-dogwood world of gardening, plants get all the glory, while soil has, well, something of a reputation problem. Many of us think of soil as a dull means to an end—that is, if we haven’t already written it off as just … Read more
