Time to Imagine and Create a Better Place

I've been meaning to blog about wildflowers, but got distracted by the Corona Virus and worrying about how will it affect our efforts to make Tucson more sustainable in the face of climate disaster. 

It is disheartening to read about the hoarding of toilet paper and bottled water - because that means more carbon sequestering trees will be cut down and more single-use plastic will end up in our landfills and the ocean. But mostly because it reflects how our consumer society deals with crisis. Instead of pulling together as a community, we are elbowing our neighbor out of the way to grab the last package of toilet paper (making a shortage where there was none.) 

To be more resilient (or even thrive) as climate change progresses, we need to pull our community together and work towards shared goals. Obviously we aren't there yet.  But...what if we think of this first response as a test run that we can learn from?  An opportunity? What if we take advantage of our free time by reading up on sustainable solutions (like rainwater harvesting) or even trying out a more sustainable lifestyle? 

We finally have time for a leisurely walk, smelling the bountiful wildflowers along the way, or to enjoy being outside tending our yards in this lovely weather. We can finally  take precious time with our kids teaching them how to bake bread or grow their own food in a garden.

The other day Dan and I observed where the rain fell in our yard and adjusted our basins and berms to better direct the water to our native trees. We planted some dill and basil in our kitchen garden. Dan even baked some Irish soda bread for St. Patrick's Day.

A while ago I wrote this poem about a joyful way of living and being. At the time I realized many people are so busy just trying to survive that they don't have the time to enjoy these simple pleasures. But there was a time when only one person in the family had to have a job - so what happened? What if we adjusted our priorities?  What if we were all paid a living wage? What if we reconsidered our consumer lifestyle and spent more time in nature?  Just imagine...

Imagine this place…

Where we live in harmony with nature

Landscaping reflecting the natural beauty of the Sonoran desert

Instead of gravel and cement - agave, mesquite, palo verde flourish

Rainwater washes down roof tops to nourish fruit trees and fill aquifers

When we no longer obstruct the flow but go with it

Rivers surrounded by cottonwood and oak

Flow

Imagine this place

Where we live in harmony with others

Nurturing, inspiring the individual gifts everyone has to share

Instead of TV and Youtube - family, neighbors, community connects

Supporting local farmers, artisans, craftsmen, passionate entrepreneurs

When we no longer obstruct the flow but go with it

Talents developed with encouragement and love

Flow

Imagine this place

Where we live in harmony with the dirt

Harvesting nourishing heritage crops for everyone to share

Instead of teaching lack and fear - we teach love, justice, environmental respect

Restoring local rivers, aquifers with berms, water barrels, catchment basins

When we no longer obstruct the flow but go with it

Desert crops sprout in the dirt, roots reaching for the

Flow

Imagine all the time

Time to live in the present, fully alive

To soak in the brilliance of our sunsets during an evening stroll

To feel the wind in your face as you coast down a hill

Time to take in the fragrance of creosote after the rain

To toast the spectacle of monsoon storms with your love

Time to dig in the garden with your children

To settle back and watch things grow

Time to share your harvest at a neighborhood potluck

 To paint, to read, to bake, to sing, to dance, to play…

Imagine floating on your back, you are part of the flow

Imagine this place

More Information: 

Food Security in the Desert

What Kind of Climate Champion are You?

For the love of Tucson: Creating a desert oasis to combat climate change

What the Coronavirus teaches us about Climate Change (COVID-19)

Desert Landscaping: Going Native for Tucson's Rivers

You don't have to go it alone. Join our community on Facebook. 

Steve K Champions Plan to Use Glass that Would Have Ended Up in Our Landfills

While attending a Mayor and City Council meeting in support of green infrastructure funding, I caught the tail end of their discussion on what to do about our threatened recycling program. Apparently, the city is losing $3 million dollars a year. They discussed ways to save money. One way was to cut down pickups to twice a month. (That change has already been implemented.) They also discussed the high cost of storing glass bottles until they can find a buyer. It was suggested that they throw that glass in the landfill!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I couldn't help but blurt out, "No! Find a use for it!" Not exactly council meeting decorum, I know. But there has got to be a purpose for that glass! In Mexico they used to melt down glass bottles to make glassware. A local artist uses colored glass to decorate her cement candle holders. Since we are running out of sand, couldn't we use glass to replace it in cement structures?

When arriving at the Ward 6 Office for our monthly Sustainable Tucson meeting, my husband pointed out the new sidewalk made out of cement with sand from crushed glass!

When I mentioned the sidewalk to our Council Member Steve Kozachik, he gave me an impromptu demonstration of the glass crusher he had used to make the sand for the cement. He insisted that I try it myself. It was pretty fun.

crushing bottles with labels on them

Steve said that even the cement workers who put in the sidewalk thought it was a crazy idea to use sharp glass.  But any concerns were eased when Steve let me feel for myself how soft and fine the glass sand is.

One of the things I love about Steve K is how responsive he is to his constituents. As much as I'd like to think that my outburst inspired Steve, it was really Val Little who approached him with the idea of using the glass to make sand. She had seen it done in other countries during her travels abroad. Steve got right on it. He surfed the web and found a glass crusher for $6,000 then got the go-ahead from city manager Mike Ortega, who agreed to purchase it for a “pilot program.” 

When I asked Steve why he took on this project, he explained, "We're losing over $3M annually in our recycling program. We have to devise some creative new ways to do the whole reduce/reuse/recycle thing. This is just demonstrating that to city staff."

He told Arizona Daily Star, “What I’m doing back in the garage is really, really (low) retail scale to show the environmental services people that you can scale this up and we can do this on a commercial level. We can create our own secondary market and maybe even make a few bucks."  The sand will be used for monsoon sand bags/mortar mix/filling alley potholes/cover at the landfill/trench lining...anything sand is used for.

I was grateful to have a place to bring the kombucha bottles that were piling up on my back porch. I coudn't bring myself to throw them in the trash when they would just end up in the landfill.  So I brought a few with me when I went to the Sustainable Tucson meeting at Ward 6. 

If you were wondering why the Ward 6 garage smells like a brewery, it is because Steve first approached bars on 4th Avenue to supply him with bottles. He is currently arranging for more drop-off locations around town. In the meantime, you can drop them off in the blue bins in the back parking lot of the Ward 6 office anytime you're in the neighborhood or attending a meeting there. No need to take off the labels, but please help Steve out by removing the plastic and metal lids and dumping out any liquid beforehand.  

What's next? Steve has the city setting up multiple drop off sites around town, buying a commercial scale crusher, and letting Republic Services know that we're not doing business as usual in the recycle world any longer.

So drop by the Ward 6 office anytime with your glass bottles and to thank Steve K! 

The Ward 6 Office is located at 3202 E 1st St, Tucson, AZ (behind the Walgreens on Speedway across from the Loft Cinema.) 

UPDATE: Congrats Steve! The plan worked! On Tuesday, Nov. 17, the City of Tucson Mayor and Council voted to remove glass from the residential and commercial blue barrel program and start reusing it. Glass is no longer be accepted in the blue bins, but instead collected at drop-off sites across the city.

Here's a link to the Glass Reuse Plan with details and drop off spots in Tucson. 

https://www.tucsonaz.gov/es/announcement/glass-reuse-plan

"Move Tucson" Transportation Master Plan: Your input needed!

I attended the City's transportation event to launch Move Tucson.  The goal is to create a Transportation Master Plan that is good for everyone. Mayor Regina Romero spoke about the importance of getting community input and support. She stressed that this information will be used as guidelines for ACTIONS to be taken by the Mayor and City Council. In addition to community hearings, there will be outreach at the major bus stops and in neighborhoods - to ensure equitable representation.

So, please, take a few minutes to fill out the survey (links below.) 

Gabe Klein, co-founder of Cityfi and co-author of "Start-Up City" was the keynote speaker.

If you missed the meeting, you can watch it here:

 https://vimeopro.com/cityoftucson/tv/video/391064887

Here is a Youtube video with Gabe Klein: . 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miN92-DfcOw

The Transportation Master Plan is an important step in mitigating climate change and in making Tucson more sustainable. I personally ride the bus, so I see the need for more stops, later running times and more shade. Right now you can't get everywhere in Tucson. I've heard stories of people getting stranded because they didn't realize that the bus stopped running so early. Imagine being stranded on a cold night. If we are going to get more people to ride the bus instead of driving all over town in one-passenger vehicles, then we need to make it accessible and comfortable. I shared that opinion on the survey below. You can share your thoughts too. 

Move Tucson: Delivering Mobility Choices

The City of Tucson is preparing a city-wide transportation master plan that will create a mobility blueprint for the City's future in a rapidly-changing world. The plan will be innovative, creative, and inclusive. By working together, we can commit ourselves to create a mobility future that works for all of us. How can streets be made safer? How can we expand travel options so more people can walk, bike, or take public transit? How do we improve reliability of travel time, particularly as we grow? Your help is needed in shaping the City's vision and action plan to answer these questions and more. Together, we can create the city we want to be. The outcome of the planning process will be a document that informs the Mayor and Council's decisions in the very near future about policy, resources, and how welcoming and livable our city is to visitors, residents, and business owners.

Interested in helping to shape Tucson's transportation future? Take a short survey and use the city's new interactive mapping app to share what's important to you.

In english: https://www.opentownhall.com/portals/310/Issue_8202

En espanol:https://www.opentownhall.com/portals/310/Issue_8206

UPDATE: On May 14th the City of Tucson hosted town meetings to introduce their mapping app.

This app is so cool. You can click on specific areas and add your own suggestions of what should be included there (like sidewalks, biking trails, green infrastructure, shaded bus stops, safer crosswalks, etc.)

Do you know of an area that needs any of these features? Do you have your own ideas? This is your chance to share them.

Here is a link to the website with the transportation survey and the interactive map app.

https://movetucson.org/

* QUESTIONS? movetucson@tucsonaz.gov

MORE INFORMATION

Tucson wants your input on transportation priorities - Arizona Daily Star, February 10, 2020

What Kind of Climate Champion Are You?

There are all kinds of cool actions we can choose from to ensure a more resilient future here in the desert. 

If you're wondering what you can do, here is a sampling of champions and many types of actions we can take. Check out this list and decide which actions to include in your daily routine. Mix and match. Or come up with your own.

By living a sustainable lifestyle you become an inspiration to your neighbors and friends.  It's time for a paradigm shift in our society. And that starts with our actions and walking the talk. What kind of Climate Champion are you? 

Desert Adapted Gardeners

This rebel gardener bucks the system by growing fresh local edibles that don't require fossil fuels to package them or transport them. The Desert Adapted Gardener promotes food resiliency while conserving the desert's most precious resource, water.

Some examples of what Desert Adapted Gardeners do:

• Sow low-water heritage seeds/fruit trees and edible native trees.
• Implement earthworks, greywater and rainwater harvesting
• Use low-water methods: ollas, cardboard covering and organic mulch to hold the moisture
• Enrich soil with local compost and mulch
• Regenerative and no-till farming techniques  
• Position complimentary plants nearby to keep away pests. enrich the soil or attract pollinators. 
• Keep chickens for poop to fertilize the garden and because chickens eat pests 
• Refrain from using herbicides and pesticides that kill the soil and seeps into our ground water 

Composting food scraps keeps them out of our landfills. At the landfill, food and yard waste  release methane, a greenhouse gas that's 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Compost is a natural way to nourish our gardens without nitrogen fertilizer made from fossil fuels. 

Regenerative agriculture harnesses the relationships between plants and soil microbes to pull excess carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and store it in plants and soils where it is a useful nutrient for farmers.

Local First Shoppers

Local First Shoppers lower their carbon footprint by purchasing fresh, seasonal produce from local farmers and gardeners. They keep their shopping dollars in the local economy by shopping at local businesses whenever possible.

Imported non-local ingredients can require up to four times the energy of an equivalent locally sourced diet.. The typical meal in the U.S. currently travels anywhere from 1,200 to 2,500 miles from pasture to plate.

Buying local has a strong multiplier effect in the economy in addition to reducing the transportation carbon footprint. A 10% increase in purchasing from locally owned businesses in lieu of national chain stores would yield nearly $200 million in incremental major metropolitan area economic activity and create 1,300 new jobs each year. A dollar spent on local products and services can circulate in the local community up to 15 times.

Some examples of what Local First Shoppers do:

• Shop for local produce at farmers markets, Co-op, & Community Supported Agriculture
• Support local artists by purchasing their work at gift giving time
• Shop at locally owned thrift stores and repurpose shops 
• Dine out at local restaurants and brewpubs that use locally sourced ingredients
• Bank at local credit unions that have divested from fossil fuels
• Purchase Zero Waste Products from local businesses
• Shop at local bakeries that use native ingredients
• Avoid products made with palm oil to protect the Rainforest 
• Shop at businesses that have adopted low-water and energy efficiency features 
• Rent apartments that use rainwater to irrigate native landscaping and gardens
• Show support of local businesses by using cash instead of credit 

Local restaurants and businesses create a sense of place and community that makes Tucson a town that people are proud to call home.

Zero Waste Shoppers 

How we shop has a huge impact on the planet. Zero Waste Shoppers try to avoid purchasing products in single-use plastic or Styrofoam. They also use less paper products in order to save trees that sequester carbon. 

Their sustainable lifestyle is an example of how we can transition from a wasteful consumer lifestyle. The goal is to cut back on the manufacturing of single-use plastic that is made from, produced and transported with fossil fuels. The container is used for a moment and then ends up in overflowing landfills (that produce carbon dioxide and methane) and often ends up in our oceans where it is consumed by sea critters. It has been said that by 2050 there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish. Even recycling requires energy, though not as much as mining and then manufacturing new items.

Striving for a Zero Waste lifestyle includes following the 7 R's: Refuse, Reuse, Return, Repair, Repurpose, Recycle, Rot

Some examples of what Zero Waste Shoppers do:

• Tote reusable grocery and produce bags to the grocery store or farmers market
• Bring a reusable water bottle everywhere
• Reuse glass jars to store food
• Replace paper products with reusable napkins and scraps of cloth to save trees 
• Avoid plastic packaging by bringing cloth bags and glass jars when buying bulk
• Get jars tared (weighed) at the check out counter before refilling with peanut butter
• Bring reusable takeout containers and silverware to restaurants
• Refuse to take plastic silverware when getting take out
• Dine at restaurants and food trucks that provide compostable takeout containers 
• Repair appliances rather than purchasing new ones
• Sustainable Tucson's Zero Waste Group started a Repair Cafe! 
• Wear hand-me-down or thrift shop clothes and accessories
• Buy quality clothes that can be mended rather than fast fashion that ends up in landfill
• Resist impulse buys of cheap plastic products
• Cook ugly produce and compost food waste
• Harvest the fruit from their fruit trees and share it with a neighbor. 
• Buy products made from produce rescued by Iskashitaa Refugee Network
• Stop dying hair with chemicals
• Shave with reusable razors rather than disposable shavers 
• Shop at thrift stores
• Recycle as a last resort, but recycle properly
• Join the conversation at Zero Waste Tucson
• For trash that can't be prevented or recycled in the city recycle bins:
• Pack glass in reused cardboard boxes before bringing it to the various drop off points to be ground into sand. 
• Pack plastic in reused or recycled plastic bags (not heavy duty plastic bags that add to the problem) before bringing it to the ward 6 or 4 offices to be made into plastic blocks.  

How to Go Plastic-Free This Year (Or Close to It)

Vegetarians for the Planet

One reason that Vegetarians for the Planet have stopped eating meat is to cut down on carbon and methane emissions (and because they love animals, of course.) Vegetarian-only diets generate up to a whopping 42% fewer greenhouse gas emissions and lead to dramatically lower overall environmental impacts compared to non-vegetarian diets.

The rapid growth of animal agriculture is the leading cause of deforestation. 70% of the Amazon Rainforest has already been destroyed and is now occupied by pastures and feed crops. One of the main crops grown in the rainforest is soybeans used specifically for animal feed. We need to protect those ancient trees because they sequester carbon and make the air we breath. The Rainforest has been called the lungs of the earth.  (Not to mention all the biodiversity and wildlife habitats that are being lost.)

The area needed for animals to graze and grow feed is huge. It takes up about 80% of all agricultural land. Researchers found that the switch to plant-based diets would reduce annual agricultural production emissions by 61%. Additionally, converting former cropland and pastures to their natural state would remove another 98.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by the end of the century.

Those eating a mostly plant-based diet with some sustainably produced beef

I realize that not everyone is ready to give up their juicy burgers. But if everyone cut back on their beef consumption, it would have a huge impact. Also, eating sustainably sourced beef can actually be good for the planet. New research has shown the benefits of rotational grazing to offset greenhouse grass emissions. 

A 2018 study by researchers in Michigan and Washington, D.C., entitled "Impacts of soil carbon sequestration on life cycle greenhouse gas emissions in Midwestern USA beef finishing systems," showed that intensive, rotational grazing could offset greenhouse gas emission through carbon sequestration that will result to a carbon sink. The researchers noted that grasslands could become highly efficient carbon sequesters that can be maximized using management practices for livestock grazing.

When it comes to agriculture, animal agriculture is the biggest water depleter. It generally takes over 20 times more water to produce a pound of beef compared to rice, grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables. In the United States, it takes almost 1,800 gallons of water to produce a single pound of beef. The majority of the water that it takes to produce meat is used to irrigate the land that is growing their feed.

Livestock production uses around 80% of the world’s agricultural land, but only provides 18% of the calories consumed by humans. Grass-fed beef  requires vast areas of land whether it’s irrigated by rainfall or sprinklers. Even grassland uses large amounts of water.

With livestock, you’re getting nutrients second-hand instead of directly from the source (the plants fed to those animals).

• Cut back on how much meat you eat
• Switch to more sustainably produced beef
• Cut back on diary products 

Water Conservers

Water is a precious resource in the desert - especially after a 27+ year drought and with climate change looming. Our main water source, Colorado River Water is pumped 326 miles to Tucson in Central Arizona Project (CAP) canals. Coal powers those pumps.

Water Conservers are conscious of the water they use and aim to save it.

Some examples of what Water Conservers do:

• Turn off the tap when brushing their teeth or shampooing hair
• Conserve water by using the same water more than once
• Pour dishwater on compost pits or bushes
• Soak recyclables in dirty dishwater
• Put a bucket in the shower to collect water while it is heating up
• Take showers outdoors to water landscaping 
• Use greywater from washing machine to water trees
• Replace lawn with desert landscaping
• Fix leaky toilets
• Replace high-water-use appliances with water-efficient appliances
• Install low-flow toilets
• Use composting toilets

Tree Planters

By planting and maintaining low-water native trees or desert-adapted heritage fruit trees, Tree Planters create a lovely, shady oasis in their own yard that cools their house in the summer and lowers heating costs in the winter. To be sustainable in our desert, they install and maintain rainwater harvesting basins to water trees in right of ways and yards. 

Tree Planters plant trees in parks, community gardens and along neighborhood sidewalks to create cool community gathering places. They plant trees along washes and rivers to restore the flow and create wildlife habitats.  They plant trees to shade bike paths, sidewalks and bus stops to encourage people to use alternate forms of transportation.

Some examples of what Tree Planters do:

• Plant native trees and desert-adapted heritage fruit trees to save water
• Plant trees 10 feet away from foundation of the house and power lines
• Maintain trees with the correct amount of water and prune properly
• Harvest rainwater from their roof or greywater from their washing machine

In addition to cooling our communities, trees sequester carbon to fight climate change and help with air quality by intercepting air-born particles. Mayor Regina Romero is a tree planter too! Check out the Mayor's Million Trees program. Many organizations including Trees for Tucson supply trees and advice on how to care for them. Sustainable Tucson started a committee that encourages tree planting with rainwater harvesting at charitable and faith-based organizations' property!

Water Harvesters

Rainwater Harvesters work on water security in the desert by making the most of our rainfall. Greywater Harvesters supplement that by reusing water from washing machines and condensation from air-conditioners.

Some examples of what Water Harvesters do: 

• Dig the plastic and gravel out of their yards so the water can sink in 
• Install catchment basins and cisterns to keep the rainwater in their yards to irrigate native trees, desert landscaping and gardens
• Reuse greywater from washing machines to water drought-tolerant heritage fruit trees
• Use the condensation from air-conditioners to help water heritage fruit trees
• Organize neighborhood green infrastructure projects
• Join a co-op to install rainwater harvesting features in other people's yards and at schools
• Start a co-op at their church

If we all did rainwater harvesting, there would be enough water for everyone in Tucson without relying on CAP water. Green infrastructure directs street water to drought tolerant trees that shade Tucson and sequesters carbon.

Artists for Sustainability

Artists of every medium including: filmmakers, writers, poets, theater directors, actors, storytellers, musicians, performance artists, etc. use their talents to share their vision and spread the word about sustainable solutions.

• Collaborate with classroom teachers to teach and inspire students
• Promote sustainable ideas with songs, movies, murals, coloring books, quilts and websites
• Share stories (personal or fables) that teach about sustainability and climate solutions
• Make neighborhoods and streets more livable with colorful contributions
• Create sculptures that add whimsy to gardens, edible forests in traffic medians and bike paths
• Decorate pocket parks with bright mosaics and mini libraries that invite neighbors to gather
• Help transform our town into a hub of ecotourism

Outdoor Exercise Enthusiasts

Biking and walking contribute to a healthy lifestyle enjoying our lovely desert - with the knowledge that we aren't contributing to pollution or worsening climate change by driving everyday. Tucson has a world renown bike path.  The Loop now totals 131 miles and connects the Rillito River Park, Santa Cruz River Park, and Pantano River Park with Julian Wash and the Harrison Greenway. The Loop connects parks, trailheads, bus and bike routes, workplaces, restaurants, schools, hotels and motels, shopping areas, and entertainment venues.

Nature and Wildlife Lovers 

With more and more of our wildlife going extinct everyday because of lack of habitat (and climate change threatening to aggravate the situation), many nature and wildlife lovers are transforming their yards into edible forests and habitats for birds and pollinators by planting native plants in mulch covered catchment basins.

River Restoration restores biodiversity by creating lush habitats for wildlife along the river's tree-lined banks. Join a team at Watershed Management Group, the Sonoran Institute, or the Sierra Club.

Pull unwanted "weeds" by hand or eat them to keep from spraying Roundup that kills bees (and has been proven to cause cancer.).We need bees to pollinate our gardens and fruit trees!

I'm gonna throw picking buffel grass in here too. Buffel grass is an invasive species that spreads like wildfire and burns so hot it can wipe out our iconic saguaros. Note: when picking be careful not to spread the seeds. Remove the seeds first and place them in a sealed bag. It's best to pick them before they go to seed. Just after it rains is easiest. 

There are lots of organizations you can get involved in that are working to save nature and wildlife - including the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society. Some organizations working on habitat restoration are Watershed Management Group, Borderlands Restoration Network, and Sustainable Tucson's own Habitat Restoration Committee. The Habitat Restoration Committee’s objective is to promote the use of regenerative landscape management and organic land care to restore Tucson’s natural habitat so native desert plants and wildlife flourish. They are currently in the process of growing a pollination garden. 

Energy Efficient Homeowners 

Energy Efficient Homeowners are mindful of their carbon footprint by reducing the amount of energy they use in their home.

Examples of what Energy Efficient Homeowners do:

• Turn the thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer
• Turn off the lights and unplug appliances when not in use
• Switch to LED light bulbs 
• Replace old appliances with energy-efficient versions (see Solar Energy Adopter too)
• Make sure appliances are in good repair and filters are clean
• Install double-paned windows and increase attic installation
• Plant trees on the north, east and west side of the house to shade it
• Make sun tea or cook in a solar oven instead of using fossil fuel energy to cook

Solar Energy Adopters 

There's one resource we have plenty of in Arizona - Sunshine.

When it's time to replace old appliances, air conditioners and vehicles, Solar Energy Adopters buy energy efficient, electric versions to be powered with rooftop solar.  Some install an electric car charger in their garage or carport.

Wanna work on this issue?  Join Sustainbable Tucson's Energy Transformation Working Group or Community Choice Energy for Tucson and Pima County

Community Choice Energy (CCE) (also called Community Choice Aggregation) is a powerful tool that enables communities to choose their own sources of energy and to rapidly transition to renewables. The group is calling on the City of Tucson and Pima County to incorporate CCE as a key component of their climate action and sustainability plans, and to advocate for CCE at the state level. Please consider showing your support by signing the petition here:

Community Choice Energy for Tucson and Pima County Petition:

 https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/community-choice-energy-for-tucson-and-pima-county

Email energychoice4soaz@gmail.com with questions

Electric Car Aficionados

Our personal vehicles are a major cause of global warming. Collectively, cars and trucks account for nearly one-fifth of all US emissions, emitting around 24 pounds of carbon dioxide and other global-warming gases for every gallon of gas. About five pounds comes from the extraction, production, and delivery of the fuel, while the great bulk of heat-trapping emissions—more than 19 pounds per gallon—comes right out of a car’s tailpipe.

Electric Car Aficionados can charge their car using solar power.

Environmental Advocates

If we all contribute our best efforts, we can have a huge impact on mitigating climate change, decreasing unhealthy pollution, and protecting resources. But some of us need a little more nudging to take positive action. So that's why we have the Environmental Advocates.

Environmental Advocates contact politicians and those in power to encourage them to support laws that protect our planet and curb climate change. That can mean making a phone call, writing your local, state and federal politicians, or meeting with them in person.  Environmental Advocates also provide public input at  city council and board of supervisors meetings. They weigh in on bills in committee at our state legislature by using Request to Speak. You can find calls to action on Desktop Activist Tucson website or Facebook page as well as Sustainable Tucson's Facebook page. 

They can advocate for actions that:

• Protect our water
• Incentivize rainwater and greywater harvesting
• Incentivize energy efficiency features
• Incentivize rooftop solar installation
• Petition for Community Choice Energy
• Encourage more electric car charging stations 
• Demand that the ACC make TEP transition faster to clean energy
• Support the city's Green Infrastructure plan 
• Support complete streets with trees to shade sidewalks and bike paths 
• Protect endangered species and their habitats
• Support the city's organic pesticides policy 
• Promote implementation of Plan Tucson
• Participate in the development of the City's Zero Waste Roadmap

• Share your Priorities on the Mayor's Climate Action and  Adaptation Plan

At this point, we all need to do everything we can to mitigate climate change in order for Tucson to thrive in the future. There is something on this list that anyone can do. Climate Scientist Katherine Hayoe says, "The most important thing you can do to fight climate change: talk about it"

How do you talk to someone who doesn't believe in climate change? Not by rehashing the same data and facts we've been discussing for years, says climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe. The key to having a real discussion is to connect over shared values like family, community and religion -- and to prompt people to realize that they already care about a changing climate. "We can't give in to despair," she says. "We have to go out and look for the hope we need to inspire us to act -- and that hope begins with a conversation, today."

One of the best ways to inspire others to take climate action is by setting a good example. While tending my edible food forest, I share what I am doing with neighbors and explain why. Simple actions like bringing reusable bags to the store can be an example to other shoppers. I am seeing more and more people carrying water bottles on the bus.

With the limited time we have left, we really need to tackle climate change in every possible arena - in our homes, neighborhoods, towns, work places, organizations, as well as every level of government.  By incorporating these climate actions into our daily lives, we can build a fun, rewarding lifestyle and create the paradign shift needed for our community to thrive into the future. 

Need moral support? Join a Sustainability Community

Sustainable Tucson meets the second Tuesday of every month and has an active facebook community.

More information: 

What Are the Solutions to Climate Change?

NPR's Individual actions you can take to address climate change

We are all in this together. Please, share. 

Support Tucson's Green Stormwater Infrastructure Program

I am so excited about the City's Proposed Stormwater Management Program. Installing more Green Stormwater Infrastructure is one of the most impactful actions we can take to make Tucson water independent and secure in the future.  As a citizen advocate, I have attended G.I. planning meetings at the Pima Department of Environmental Quality. I'm so impressed by the incredible the work that the  city and county are doing to implement Green Stormwater infrastructure using guidelines by Watershed Management Group.  To really be sustainable, we need these systems to be built all over town and to be maintained.

The proposed green infrastructure is important for a sustainable future for Tucson.  Please, support the Proposed Stormwater Management Program and Fee by familiarizing yourself with their proposal and providing your feedback in the following survey and showing up at the Mayor and Council Study Session.  

Take this quick survey on the proposed stormwater project here.

UPDATE: 700 people participated in the survey. 80% were positive or extremely positive. There was discussion on extending the survey past the original date - September 4, 2019 (the date of the Mayor and City Council meeting.)

TAKE ACTION 

I encourage you to write your city council member to show your support. 

Find your city council member here:  https://www.tucsonaz.gov/gov/ward-maps

On September 4, 2019.the City of Tucson's Mayor and Council held a study session on a new funding program to support the development and maintenance of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) across the city to reduce flooding, promote shade trees, along with many other benefits.

Catlow Shipek from WMG shared:

Thanks for your support! We had ~20 supporters in the audience which was acknowledged by the Mayor and Council members.

The motion proposed by Councilmember Durham and amended by Councilmember Romero passed unanimously to direct the city manager to implement the fee review process for a $0.13 per CCF volumetric water use (includes public notice and town halls) will include a fee equity review (comparison of larger commercial to residential) and not be applied to qualified low income customers.

We will be sure to keep folks abreast of developments as it will come back to M&C for formal adoption after the public review process. Here's to a more livable and sustainable Tucson!

More information: 

Scaling up Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) - Watershed Management Group

How Pima County is tackling flooding issues that come with Monsoon Storms - 9 on Your Side

Premiere of Music Video Parody: No! (That Isn't Recyclable)

Sustainable Tucson Movie Night and Premiere of Our Music Video Parody!  

At a recent Sustainable Tucson meeting, Sherri Ludlam (Environmental Scientist from the City of Tucson Department of Environmental and General Services) informed us that China would no longer be accepting all of our dirty recycling because of contamination. When Alex Kosmider from Sustainable Tucson's Zero Plastic Waste Team heard about the threat to our recycling program, she decided to educate Tucsonans on the proper way to recycle. She rewrote the lyrics of Meghan Trainor's "No" to include what NOT to recycle. Team Recycle was formed to create a fun music video parody.

Join Sustainable Tucson for a fun-filled "Movie Night" and the premiere of No! (That Isn't Recyclable). Our hosts David Fitzsimmons and the Recycling Fairy Nicole Johnson will lead the Q & A with the filmmakers. After the intermission party we will screen the powerful documentary Trashed with Jeremy Irons. Here's the cool part! It will be shown at The Screening Room - where we shot some of the video! So you can enjoy popcorn and drinks in special compostable glasses!

Recycling was never this fun...

• A demonstration table by Zero Waste Tucson
• A "Book Exchange." Bring a book you don't read anymore and take a book! (We especially love books on sustainability!) 
• Game: Stump our resident recycling expert! Bring a piece of trash to see if it can be recycled.

What: Sustainable Tucson Movie Night
When: Tuesday, August 13, at 6 p.m. (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
Where: The Screening Room, 127 E Congress St, Downtown. (Near the Ronstadt bus station.)
Price: Free (like all of Sustainable Tucson's monthly meetings) But feel free to show appreciation to our host - The Screening Room - by purchasing concessions or a drink at the bar.

Didn't my figs do better last summer?

Heritage fig trees last July. 

I like to fancy myself a sort of  a "citizen scientist." Well, I like to take a lot of pics of the plants in my yard to see how they are faring in our hot, dry summer...

This morning I was scrolling down Google Photos. My heart just sunk as I noticed that our yard looked greener in summers past. For sure our "drought tolerant" heritage fig trees were doing better.

Here is that fig tree now...

Heritage fig in greywater basin. Coming back a little since the rain. (Those are bean sprouts I planted for added nitrogen.)

Why is our little fig struggling so?  Dan claims it's not even as hot this summer. But he did say that last year the monsoon rains had started by now...  It can't be just the lack of water, because our fig trees are watered regularly by greywater from our washing machine... Maybe the rain clouds give some relief from the scorching sun...?

I got to thinking. I wonder if it's because it's not cooling off at night like it used to. One evening it got  up to 92 degrees! It wasn't always like this. Before there was air-conditioning people in Tucson used to sleep outside to cool off in the summer.

Some plants (and us humans) need that cooling down time to recover from the hot day. It is vital for our health.

Typical profile of the Phoenix urban heat island (UHI) using the five predominant land types

This phenomenon where it stays hot at night is known as the "Urban Heat Island Effect." All of the pavement and cement in our city holds the heat longer. Phoenix has a real problem with this. I wasn't planning to blog about that this morning. But I am concerned that some people want to make Tucson more like Phoenix with more highways going through town! Our small town infrastructure is a blessing! It is one of the reasons it's cooler here!

One way to fight the heat island effect is to plant more trees. And the city is working on that. Mayor Rothschild championed the 10,000 Trees Campaign. That's great because trees cool down our streets and neighborhoods AND sequester carbon to fight climate change. We could sure use some of those trees to line the sidewalks so people have a shady place to walk or wait for the bus.

As we plant all those trees, we need to be mindful of how much water the trees take and where we are getting the water for them. We are living in a desert during a drought.  As much as we love to grow fruit trees, they require more water. To be sustainable, we need to plant more drought tolerant heritage fruit trees or native trees - and use our wash-water and rainwater to irrigate them.

For our part, we dug out most of the gravel in our yard. We planted "durable," heritage pomegranate and fig trees in a mulch-filled  greywater basin and edible native trees in the front yard. (The mulch works with the roots of native grasses to hold the moisture longer). We water the fruit trees mostly with greywater from our washing machine and rainwater collected in the basin. In the summer, I might give them a little extra water from our 55 gallon rain barrels.

Last Sunday we had our first summer shower. Yeah! I try to use up all the water in the blue barrels before the next rain, so they are ready to be filled up again.  I try to do it first thing in the morning before it gets hot and the water evaporates.

We still aren't doing everything we can do. We plan to install more gutters on our roof to direct more rainwater into bigger cisterns and use rainwater from the neighbors roof to water a vegetable garden. (It helps to have a good relationship with your neighbors!) 

To stop the Urban Heat Island Effect, it's gonna take a community effort. We're all gonna have to plant more trees (and maybe drive a little less so we can dig up some parking lot pavement). Right now, there is enough rainwater to irrigate them all, if we all do rainwater harvesting. There are rainwater harvesting rebates and a low income grant and loan program - yet less than 1% of us are taking advantage of them. Why is that? What can we do about it?  I would love to hear your ideas and solutions.

Meanwhile, we can start where we are. Take the first steps. Plant a tree. Start a conversation with your neighbors. Share this blog... :)