Phenology as a Retirement Hobby

Phenology as a Retirement Hobby

Author: Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, Erin Garrett January 30, 2024 Duration: 45:47

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 around them, and you can schedule your meeting any time you like.


Books referenced:

  • The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne & A Garden Kalendar by Gilbert White
  • Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold (and definitely look into Nina Leopold)
  • The Nature of Oaks: The rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Tree by Doug Tallamy
  • Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey
  • The Geese of Beaver Bog by Bernd Heinrich


Community Science Projects:


Hosted by Abigail Garofalo, Amy Lefringhouse, and Erin Garrett, Everyday Environment Podcast is a conversation about the natural systems that shape daily life in Illinois. It’s not just about distant wilderness; it’s about the water from your tap, the trees on your street, the birds at your feeder, and the energy powering your home. Each episode pulls on a single thread-be it soil health, local wildlife, or sustainable practices-to reveal the whole intricate web we’re a part of. You’ll hear clear explanations and practical insights that make the science of our surroundings accessible and immediately relevant. The goal is to move beyond abstract concepts and foster a tangible, deeper understanding of how these environmental connections work right outside our doors. Tune in for thoughtful discussions that equip you with knowledge about the air, land, and water in your own community, making the complexities of our shared ecosystem feel a little more familiar and a lot more connected to the choices we make every day. This podcast is one part of a broader educational effort, designed to engage curious residents who want to look a bit closer at the world around them.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Everyday Environment Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Taking a systems-based approach to community water management [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:34
This week we chat with Kara Salazar from Purdue Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant about how communities approach sustainable development around their water resources. Kara discusses the challenges of managing stor…
Rain gardens and nerding out over native plants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:04
Join the Everyday Environment team as we chat with Layne Knoche, Stormwater Outreach Associate, to explore the importance of rain gardens and how they help manage stormwater, support biodiversity, and improve water quali…
Nutrient loss in our waterways: the role of agriculture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:40
Everybody has a part to play in protecting the valuable resource that is water. So what is the part of farmers? As producers of our food, fiber, and fuel, farmers are essential to our economy, our plates, and our way of…
A gauntlet for Carp: invasives species in our waterways [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:55
From the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan, Illinois’ waters are incredible environmental and economic resources, supporting a diversity of plants and animals, providing drinking water for millions of people, and allowi…
Rain Check: Creative ways to use stormwater to your advantage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:18
In this episode, we talk with Eliana Brown, Water Quality and Stormwater Specialist with University of Illinois Extension. Eliana explains how we can do simple things that improve lakes and rivers and why it's important…
What you should know about contaminants of emerging concern [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:59
When people think about ‘contaminants of emerging concern’ in our waters, it sounds like a scary, complicated thing. But in truth, it’s not. There are a number of things in our everyday lives that can pollute our water –…
From raindrop to river: State Hydrologist explains watershed basics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:22
Watersheds are everywhere, adjusting and reforming all the time - they are not static. Watersheds are a reflection of natural and human activities: as activities change so do watersheds as well as the waterways within th…