Lisa Hilgenberg, horticulturist for the Regenstein Fruit and Vegetable Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden, joins Peggy Malecki as today's co-host while Mike has the day off. Michelle Hickey is co-founder and vice president of The Resiliency Institute (TRI), a non-profit organization with a mission to transform Chicago’s suburbs into resilient communities based on the concept of permaculture. Chris Beiser, Plant Care Specialist for the Chicago Botanic Garden, talks about what he’s seeing in the way of pests and diseases in the summer garden.

While Mike is away, Peggy Malecki brings in Kelly Nichols from Moms Clean Air Force to co-host the show. They talk about clean air issues in Illinois and across the country--including emissions from natural gas and crude oil production, transportation, coal ash and related toxic dust, methane emissions, clean energy jobs,  asthma and more.

Mary Hennen and Peggy Macnamara talk about their book, The Peregrine Returns: The Art and Architecture of an Urban Raptor Recovery. Laura Calvert is the new executive director of Peggy and I are big fans of Advocates for Urban Agriculture (AUA) and she talks about her vision for the group. Dr. Harry Klee from the University of Florida explains his quest for the perfect commerical tomato. Jonathan Kruger previews the 12th Annual Veggie Fest Chicago.

Jordan Parker from Bring Your Bag Chicago Facebook page.talks to Mike and Peggy about the successes and failures of the effort to control plastic bag use in the City of Chicago.

Show regular Dan Kosta answers gardening questions while promoting the Prairie State Bonsai Society and their annual show. Ruth Kerzee, executive director of the Midwest Pesticide Action Center, and Laura McGowan from Clarke discuss the complexities of mosquito abatement in the Chicago area.