It really does matter what you have growing in your yard! If you choose to grow native plants, trees and shrubs, you will be making a positive contribution to the ecology of our urban living space. Native plants make an attractive home for birds, pollinators and other wildlife. Neighbors for Natives is a non profit in Nashville which has as its pur…

Since the early 1950s, the State of Tennessee has had an interest in assisting Tennessee cities and counties in building strong communities through strong Parks and Recreation programs. Recreation consultancy services by the State to local governments continue today, and our guest April Johnson is at the forefront of that effort. April’s effort has…

Our guest today is Michael Robertson the recent recipient of the TRPA Fellow Award. This award is given each year in recognition of significant and sustained contributions to the field of Parks and Recreation. Mike has recently retired as head of Tennessee State Parks operations. Tennessee State Parks are recognized as among the best in the nation.…

For her second appearance on the Mark Fraley Podcast, we interview Joanna Brichetto about her new book, This Is How A Robin Drinks, Essays on Urban Nature. Joanna is a Certified Tennessee Naturalist and the producer of the well known blog/Instagram called Sidewalk Nature. The book consists of 52 essays, arranged by seasons (Summer, Winter, Spring F…

Today I talk with Michael Officer of the Cuan Beo organization in Galway, Republic of Ireland. Michael and his organization are involved with the restoration of the oyster fishery in the Galway Bay. There have a multifaceted approach to their work. Priority is given to managing the quality and volume of the fresh water entering the bay from the wat…

Located in Mid Town Memphis, Overton park is a 342 acre gem. Established in 1902, this park is one of the rare local parks which predates the establishment of the State Park System and even predates the general enabling authority for Tennessee cities to have parks. Designed by George Kessler, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places…

It is long past time that we reexamine the traditional notion of the American Yard. The highly manicured weed free turf grass lawn with associated ornamental shrubs can be highly wasteful in terms of the use of energy and water consumption. The widespread use of herbicides, fertilizers and pesticides by homeowners can be detrimental to the environm…

Fort Negley is a historical park in Nashville, Tennessee. Operated under the auspices of the Metro Nashville Board of Parks and Recreation, the park contains the remnants of a Civil War era Union Army fortress. The fort was mainly constructed by black laborers, many were escaped slaves, who had settled in an encampment surrounding the fort area. Ou…

One subject which continues to inspire grassroots community organization in Tennessee in water quality. Tennessee wants fishable and swimmable waterways. People in Tennessee recognize that clean water is imperative to our health, the environment and to our way of life. The CWEET organization in Cocke County has been working to protect the Pigeon Ri…

The Cumberland River Basin is an area which extends from the mountains of Eastern Kentucky down through Middle Tennessee and finally into Western Kentucky. This is an area of about 1800 square miles. The river provides life supporting water for the citizens who make this place home and supports some of the most ecologically diverse places in North …