John Wasik has secret knowledge of where some Rusty Patch Bumblebees live. (Spoiler alert - he's not telling).

He's also authored a book on Abraham Lincoln's non-war-related contributions to our nation, He is an actively working journalist, County Board member, Forest Preserve commissioner, and a fascinating person.

This far-ranging conversation recalls construction vehicles rumbling on what is now our walking trails, to how he found out about the bees, to what it means to retire.

For years Jim has organized burns and helped steward our prairie. In this episode we hear about his life before Prairie Crossing and what our prairie looked like when he arrived.

In this episode we hear about all the work that it takes to put Frightfest - a spooky night of entertainment -- together for the residents of Prairie Crossing.

In this episode, we meet Wally Winter and Ellen Ewing, my neighbors and two of the original owners in Prairie Crossing.

In this inaugural episode, I talk to John Schuster about Lake Aldo Leopold and what he and his committee have learned about it and what the long term plans are for our little lake.