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
Water connects us all: a season 2 preview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:11
Preview what to expect from season two of Everyday Environment. Abigail, Erin, and Amy give listeners a peak behind the scenes of how the podcast is produced and what to expect in our upcoming season on water. Subscribe…
Exploring carbon markets as part of emissions reduction goals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:11
This week we’re joined by Sarah Sellars, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Sustainable Farm and Food Systems at South Dakota State University. We’re chatting with Sarah about agricultural carbon markets and…
Cover crops, not mudslides: empowering youth on climate change. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:54
Join us this week as we chat with Peggy Anesi about her career in empowering youth about climate change. By keeping it local and empowering them with realistic options for addressing climate change, we can build a citize…
Exploring the challenges facing pollinators [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:30
Join us as we talk with Brodie Dunn, Outreach Associate in Biodiversity and Pollinators for Illinois Extension, about how pollinators are expected to respond to climate change. Learn more on the blog. Resources to learn…
Will invasive species be helped or hindered by climate change? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:45
This week we welcome Chris Evans to the podcast. Chris is an Extension Forestry and Research Specialist with Illinois Extension based in southern Illinois. We chat about what invasive species are, how their characteristi…
Understanding soil as a system [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:10
This week we chat with Michelle Wander, Emeritus Soil Scientist in the Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences department at University of Illinois. We go belowground to explore the importance of soil health, threat…