Posts tagged radio

FIBS:

Memorial Day signals the start of the summer travel season. Among those taking to the Wisconsin roads will be visitors from Illinois — people Wisconsinites love to hate. Writer Patrick Somerville reflects on both Wisconsin’s and his own conflicted relationship with Illinois.

Patrick Somerville is the author of several books, including his latest novel This Bright River.

Growing Power:

In Milwaukee, MacArthur genius and former pro-basketball player Will Allen is getting ready for another growing season. Allen is a pioneer of the urban farming movement – the founder and CEO of Growing Power, a community-run farm in the middle of inner city Milwaukee. It’s a project dedicated to the proposition that healthy, affordable food should be a civil right.

Will Allen has just published his first book – called “The Good Food Revolution.”

Coyotes:

Coyotes can be found – or at least heard – in every county in Wisconsin. Writer Jill Sisson Quinn sometimes hears them howl as she walks her dog. It got her thinking about her place and that of her dog in the natural order of the world.

Jill Sisson Quinn is a nature writer and teacher in Central Wisconsin.

Photo by jibber11.

Tom’s Workshop:

Today, writer Michael Perry shares one of his favorite places in Wisconsin – his neighbor Tom’s workshop. Here’s an excerpt from his new book, “Visiting Tom: A Man, A Highway, and the Road to Roughneck Grace.”

Michael Perry is an amateur pig farmer, an active member of his local rescue service, and a writer. His books include “Population: 485”, “Truck: A Love Story” and “Coop”. We heard an excerpt from his forthcoming book, “Visiting Tom.”

Big Mama:

Mother’s Day: Commentator Cynthia Woodland remembers the woman she calls “the last of the big mamas” — the matriarch of her family.

Cynthia Woodland is a producer and commentator for Wisconsin Life.

Mother’s Day at Horicon Marsh:

Mother’s Day is coming up this weekend. Every year, poet Kim Blaeser and her family celebrate by spending a day outdoors. Blaeser tells us how their annual trek allows her to connect with the earth and her memories.

Kim Blaeser teaches creative writing and Native American literature at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. She is the author of three books of poetry, including Apprenticed to Justice.

Lost and Found Language:

Cinco de Mayo is the annual celebration of Mexican heritage, and one of the fastest growing holidays in America. Today, Wisconsin poet and school principal Oscar Mireles shares the story of his struggle to hold onto his first language – Spanish. His poem is called “Lost and Found Language.”

Oscar Mireles is the principal of Omega School in Madison. He’s been writing poems for 25 years and is the editor of two anthologies, called “I Didn’t Know There Were Latinos in Wisconsin.”

Spring Sky:

Spring heralds earlier dawns and later sunsets. The change of season also brings a whole new set of constellations into view, including some of the oldest constellations we know. Commentator Jim Lattis takes on a tour of the spring night sky.

Jim Lattis is the Director of the UW Space Place.