Archive for the ‘myths explored’ Category

The (Sea)food Network: Tuning In to the Wild Vs. Farmed Debate

Posted by Daisy Simmons on

EcoMyth: Wild Seafood Is Better Than Farmed

What does the word “wild” mean to you? To us, it conjures up visions of salivating grizzly bears, gun-slinging outlaws, untamed facial hair…that sort of thing. But it can also evoke a fuzzy feeling of natural goodness—pesticide-free lands, clear skies, and clean water teeming with silvery fish.

Problem is, wild isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be—at least not when it comes to seafood. And like the ocean itself, the question of buying farmed versus wild seafood can be tough to navigate…unless you’ve got a Shedd Aquarium pro on your side. So let’s dive in (pun intended, per usual)! (more…)

Root for the Home Team: How and Why to Support Local Oak Trees

Posted by Daisy Simmons on

EcoMyth: The Mighty Oak Will Always Flourish in Illinois

Strength, protection, endurance, Chardonnay…these are all words associated with the mighty oak. In Illinois, we love the acorn-bearer so much that we named one of them our official state tree. (That would be the white oak, or Quercus alba for you crossword fans.) For many of us, an oak-lined street or oak-dotted prairie is one of the most iconic features of the Illinois landscape. But are oaks as mighty as they appear? And can we count on them to maintain their local grandeur for the generations to come?

We chatted with a trio of experts on the subject—the Morton Arboretum’s Forest Ecologist Bob Fahey, PhD, Plant Systematist and Herbarium Curator Andrew Hipp, PhD, and Botanic Gardens Conservation International’s Executive Director Andrea Kramer, PhD—who all agree that we can’t expect our oak forests and woodlands to look the same in the future if we don’t take action today. (more…)