“The radishes planted in northwest Ohio go in about this time of year and are left in the ground to die, explained our host, Allen Dean. Planting doomed radishes, it turns out, is an innovative technique he has used in recent years to improve soil nutrients and reduce runoff from his Williams County farm.Here’s the basics on how it works: Farmers plant seeds for a plant called an oilseed radish. It doesn’t actually have to be that plant, but it needs to grow a foot or longer into the soil during the fall in a tubular shape, like a carrot or a parsnip. It also needs to grow a fair amount of foliage up on the ground. Radishes are usually more affordable.It’s important that the plant drill down into the soil so that when it dies, usually during a mid-January freeze, it decays and leaves behind a v-shaped hole for snow and water to penetrate deeper. The decayed radishes Dean showed us looked like organic socks.Oilseed radishes are particularly good at absorbing nutrients from the surface and sending them down into the soil as the tubular plant drills it way into the ground.”
About Newsroom Water Resource Economics A delicious solution to Great Lakes algae issues?
Recent News
- Tomas Höök reflects on a legacy of leadership, collaboration and impact at IISG
- Freshwater jellyfish may increase in numbers as Illinois and Indiana waters continue to warm
- Tomas Höök signing off as Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant director this summer
- Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant welcomes Stuart Carlton as the program’s new director
- Four Illinois and Indiana educators will set sail on Lake Michigan aboard EPA’s research ship
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Tomas Höök has left an incredible mark during his time as Director of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, and now he’s reflecting on a legacy filled with leadership, collaboration, and impact. From expanding our aquaculture and education programs, to helping communities make sense of the effects of Lake Michigan’s shifting shorelines — his work has helped grow what we do and who we serve.
Read the full feature at the link in bio to see what he’ll carry forward in his new role as Head of Purdue’s Department of Forestry & Natural Resources.

The Invasive Crayfish Collaborative is hosting a webinar on Friday, September 12th at 11:00am CT / 12:00pm ET. Join us for the seminar "Red Swamp Crayfish Telemetry Across Seasons and Techniques" presented by post-doctoral researcher Dr. William Ota of Michigan State University. Dr. Ota will present his research on red swamp crayfish movement ecology, which involves the use of both radio and acoustic telemetry.
Register at the link in bio.

In late July, formal and non-formal educators joined @nature_indiana, @indianadnr Division of Nature Preserves, and @lakecountyparks for a workshop exploring ecological restoration in the Grand Calumet River Area of Concern.
Participants toured restored sites in East Chicago and Hammond, engaged with experts in sediment remediation and habitat restoration, and experienced a cutting-edge Virtual Reality curriculum aligned with NGSS for grades 6–12.
From industrial past to ecological renewal, educators left inspired and equipped to bring local environmental stories into their classrooms.
Learn more about the VR Tour at the link in bio.
#TeachingTuesday

Whether you’re teaching in a classroom, leading outdoor programs, or developing community science initiatives, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant offers free, high-quality educational resources to support your work.
🔗 Dive into lesson plans, activities, and professional development opportunities: https://iiseagrant.org/education/
Empowering educators to connect learners with the Great Lakes and beyond. 🌎💧
#TeachingTuesday
