Teaching Newcomers How to Live Sustainably in the Desert webinar, 7pm Aug. 31

Join Sustainable Tucson's Water Committee for the August meeting when sustainability realtor Alicia Mujica will present: Teaching Newcomers How to Live Sustainably in the Desert.

Monday, August 31th from⋅7:00 – 8:30pm
Join with Google Meet
meet.google.com/ani-wqxn-jat
Join by phone
‪(US) +1 916-905-1996 PIN: ‪879 450 407#

Alicia will share how she is leveraging her skills as a sustainable realtor to educate newcomers to Tucson about acclimating to the desert and adapting to a rewarding desert lifestyle. This includes working with the Water Committee on the Desert Lifestyle Tucson website and helping to develop curriculum for continuing education units (CEUs).

She will also share a recent home purchase in which she represented buyers purchasing a home built in 1959.The experience became an opportunity to rethink traditional approaches to drainage and water management. Lending requirements called for regrading and new rain gutters, but after a tour of the home, Dan was able to identify more sustainable solutions. The way forward included strategic water basin placement and rainwater harvesting, saving the buyers time and money while helping them gain confidence in practices that conserve water and protect their investment. Alicia will be using this example for an article on the new Desert Lifestyle Tucson website.

Alicia: As a Tucson resident for over 20 years, I’m passionate about this community and the unique lifestyle it offers. My love for the Sonoran Desert grows deeper every year, and I never tire of its beauty. My heart soars during monsoon season, when the desert comes alive with the scent of creosote, and again in spring, when the wildflowers bloom. I find that same connection with each hike through Sabino Canyon, Saguaro National Park, or my favorite little neighborhood loop, Linda Vista. If I time it just right after a good rain, I might even catch the Santa Cruz River flowing, which grounds me in so much hope and joy.

I care deeply about Tucson’s history, culture, and preservation, and I want to see our city grow in a way that protects its natural beauty and honors the heritage that makes it so special. We cannot do that without collectively considering what it takes to sustain our environment for future generations, correct past mistakes, and reduce our reliance on unsustainable water and energy resources.

Alicia's Bio I’ve been a licensed real estate agent for over seven years, and my journey into this career started after I sold my first townhouse and purchased a new home. This experience gave me a firsthand understanding of the exciting, yet sometimes overwhelming, process of buying and selling a home. I believe in the power of home ownership as a tool for financial security. For many, owning a home is one of the most impactful investments they’ll ever make, and I feel incredibly fortunate to help clients navigate this important milestone. My goal is to make the process as smooth and rewarding as possible by providing expert guidance, personalized advice, and unwavering support every step of the way. I offer my services and specialize as a sustainable Realtor seeking solutions that will empower a client to decide their path forward.

Also, don't forget to mark your calendars for our September 28th meeting when Catlow Shipek, Senior Program Director with Watershed Management Group, will present his most recent hydrolocal data model. Catlow will demonstrate how Tucsonans can thrive with the water we have available, even with cutbacks in Colorado River Water. The Water Committee meets the last Monday of every month at 7pm. To receive announcements of upcoming meetings, email: Jana@sustainabletucson.org

Peering through the window

Peering through the window.

Awaiting the coveted monsoon. 

Long days of scorching heat.

Storm clouds roll in and roll out.

Or leave only sprinkles.

Droplets sizzle on the hot dry earth.

Teasing desert plants that wilt in the relentless sun.

Thunder in the distance.

Rain in the foothills again. 

A micro-burst takes out a neighborhood tree.

Finally, the pitter patter of rain drops on our roof.

We rush out to watch it sink into our basins.

And refill our tanks.

Is this the promised monsoon?

Where are the daily downpours of years past?

Struggling with the relentless heat. 

I seek solace in my little veggie garden.

Palo Verde branches can't shield the plants.  

Chard lays limp on the ground waiting for water. 

Leaves yellow, tomatoes melt. 

The path burns my bare feet.

Sad feet longing to sink into moist soil.

 Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.

I rush back to relieve them on the cool kitchen tiles.

Chilling in my casa.

Peering through the window.

At the desert habitat we lovingly crafted, plant by plant.

With the help of our little partners who sowed the seeds. 

Starlings, sparrows, finches, thrashers, woodpeckers, doves.

Peck for seeds in the mulch.

Vie for a spot in our bird baths.

A mockingbird torments a red-tailed hawk. 

Until it takes off on majestic wings.  

We gladly share this food forest with feathered friends.

But thrashers break into our veggie garden.

Hop and peck and knock off basil leaves

Poke holes in tomatoes meant for us.

A small price to share our yard with endangered fowl.

Then greedy harvester ants strip every edible leaf from a cherished moringa tree.

But it will grow back, won't it? 

This is the season for tasty purslane and sprawling, spiky goat heads.

In our rain basin transplanted purslane thrives beneath hand-watered pollinators.

Nourished with captured rain. 

Birds and ants snatch the leaves - the tastiest part for us too. 

But hope reigns in the rain.

Leaves grow back, flowers bloom, seeds spread.

Attracting the long awaited and longed for quails. 

One settles in a puddle under a newly watered weed.

 I watch from my window and smile.

A joyful sign of hope in the desert.

More Information: 

Our Yard the Bird Feeder

Bagels & Burrs Builds Community

The main reasons that I've stepped up to be an officer of the Pinecrest Neighborhood Association were to foster community and beautify the neighborhood. So adopting our namesake park fits perfectly with that mission. Pinecrest Park is the heart of our little neighborhood. Neighbors meet daily while watching their children on the playground, walking their dogs, or just relaxing in the shade. There is a real sense of community. 

We have a longstanding tradition of caring for the park. But officially adopting the park means more than just getting a cool sign or installing a Little Free Library. It comes with responsibilities like looking out for the park and listening to the concerns and suggestions of users. The biggest concern (after replacing dying trees) is the condition of our turf. A variety of invasive plants are crowding out the struggling Bermuda grass. The most aggressive being the California burclover.

Notice the tiny leaves and burs

Noni (who rode her horse on the lot back when this was ranch land), shared how the burs get in her little dogs' paws. Unfortunately, lawnmowers only make the problem worse by spreading the seed. I am seriously worried that burclover will take over the park. Adrian, head of maintenance for the Parks Department, recently joined me for a tour of the park. He admitted that Parks would use herbicides on it (which defeats the purpose of protecting the dogs if you ask me) and that there was no money for reseeding. He mentioned that patrons of Himmel Park made some good progress with goat heads through their removal events and suggested we organize something similar. 

After broaching the idea with the other officers, Bagels & Burrs Family Fun Day was hatched. We would make a fun family event with bagels (thanks Ward 6!), activities, and free books for the kids.

We set up hula hoops, beach balls, bubbles, and a water table by the playground. In the end, 38 neighbors came together to pull burclover. We even had Bur Patrol medals for kids who pulled a certain amount. Families worked as teams! It was a great community building event. Thanks to everyone who came out.  

Also, thanks to Dairy Queen on Alvernon for the ice-cream coupons and Meg from the Garden District for arranging it. 

Try as we might, we hardly made a dent in the burs. If I had to do it again, I would have everyone work in the same area. If we get a big patch, Adrian has agreed to put down seeds there and fence it off to protect the new grass. 

Inspired by the rain Monday, I started working on a patch around the bench where Noni sits with her little dogs. The wet ground makes it easier to pull, so I have been out there every morning from 6am to 7am to take advantage of the wet ground from the sprinklers. I leave when the ants come out.

The bare patch where I removed the burclover

But to really have an impact we need a Bur Patrol to extend that patch to a strip along Torino. 

I'm usually out there at 6am with my bur picking kit. I have one extra picking tool if you ever want to join me. Bring a mat, carpet remnant, or piece of cardboard to sit on. I found that my yoga mat works great. 

If you're not a morning person, you can still help by making your own patch along the section by Torino. Bring a Bur Buddy! Start your own Bur Patrol picking team!  It's much more fun with someone to chat with!

Directions: Make sure you get them by the roots. Look for the bur then follow it down to the root. Sweep your hand under it to grab all the branches. Then pull the whole thing up.

 While you're at it, go ahead and dig up the khaki weed. Those "flowers" turn into nasty burs! 

Patch of khaki weed w/ shiny dark green leaves. The other side has stickers. 

Or you can rake up the dried burs. (I use my fingers.) We need to get those burs up before they spread their seeds all over the park. If you have an electric leaf blower you can try vacuuming up the dry burs. 

See the burs left behind after pulling the weeds?

It's going to take a real community effort to get it out. It's our park! We can do it...together.

Dan getting some burs out by the playground to protect little ones. 

If you want to join Dan or me, you can check to see if we will be there by the night before your visit: info@pinecrest-na.org 

UPDATE: I have gotten up every morning for a month to pick burclover and khaki weed.  Thanks to the other 6 people who have helped - especially Hanna, Cheryl, and Dan! We have made some real headway on Torino and near the playground. Still lots to do - if you would like to help...

Another park action: Some of the pine trees in Pinecrest Park are dying off, but they aren't being replaced.  The city's urban forester is working on a pine tree replacement policy.  Help us be first in the que to get our trees replaced. Report the dying or removed trees on the 311 app and ask for them to be replaced.  

Nurturing the Volunteers in My Garden

This is kind of an embarrassing story. If you've followed my desert gardening exploits, you know I've struggled with squirrels, birds, and other pests going after our veggies. The veggies that survive are usually covered with a bird netting cage.

But I keep persevering, determined to mitigate our desert soil with compost, mulch, cover crops, and rainwater. I enjoy getting out in the shaded garden and hand watering our plants with rainwater collected in nearby cisterns from our generous neighbor's huge roof. Sometimes an inquisitive hummingbird joins me. 

The plants that are really thriving in my little garden are "happy accidents." From the volunteer palo verde that protects the garden from the harsh sun to the mystery plants that sprout in the compost pile or occasionally where I plant something else. That includes two junior fig trees - that may have been planted by one of those silly squirrels or birds. 

It all started with the compost pile. Despite regular watering (with sink water) and turning it to aerate it, I'm embarrassed to say that I have never gotten my compost pile hot enough. Maybe because I cut my kitchen scraps into tiny pieces so they will compost quicker (less than a month rather than six months to a year). But it makes lovely compost nonetheless. It just doesn't kill the seeds... So occasionally I get mystery sprouts. I've decided to embrace the matter. 

The first step was digging a hole along the fence (where the most sun seeps through). Then I mixed that dirt with compost and built a mound.

At the compost pile, I slipped my shovel under the roots of the sprouts and carefully placed them (compost and all) on top of the mound. Then I tucked them into their new bed.  

But the embarrassment doesn't stop there. There were some naughty mice in our pantry that got into bags of beans and grains. So I scattered that mess into another hole. 

I covered them with some compost - that had more sprouts in it. Couldn't wait to see what would pop up! 

 Long story short, we got some bean sprouts (that died out of season), some plant I didn't recognize with cute round leaves, and two tall volunteers (that I thought might be lantanas.)  

On the mound, one of plants grew big round leaves that resembled squash or cantaloupe leaves. (I affectionately called them squash-a-lopes.) It finally flowered and grew a baby sugar pumpkin. It soon became clear (by the yellow flowers) that the tall plants were tomato plants.

In the other hole (to the right) we finally identified those with the round leaves as lentils and the tall ones with pretty blue flowers were chia plants.  Just love my volunteers! But I wasn't the only one... When I witnessed a squirrel eyeing them greedily, I blocked it's access to the garden and installed a little garden fence around some of the plants.

Remember that I mentioned the volunteer figs? 

I love my citizen science...  So I scrolled back through old photos to find out where they had come from.

Long story long, I had planted complimentary plants - chard and carrots in a plot with compost. I covered them to protect them from the critters. I may have planted too many carrots... The bird netting cage discouraged me from thinning them out, so the carrots were tiny and twisted.

But check it out; there's a mystery plant growing in there! 

After thinning them, the mystery plant thrived. Hey, is that a fig tree? (Discovered Dec. 15, 2023) 

And then there were two! These guys are fighters! 

They soon outgrew their cage. So I removed it and installed a fence around them to keep out the critters.

I watched a video that mentioned fig roots like to spread out. So I took out the bricks that were blocking their growth.  

So cool! Now I could see where the roots had grown deeper than the compost and how they had been blocked by the paver. (Note: That's chard I planted from seed under the figs.)

I extended that hole into a basin. Using the technique I applied to the other volunteers, I mixed the garden dirt with compost and built up a berm around it. Then I covered the basin with palm frond mulch to keep the moisture in longer. 

Those are some happy trees! I deep water their basin twice a week and the twin fig trees are thriving!

Here's an update on my volunteer tomatoes and sugar pumpkins twenty days later...

How cool is that!  As long as I keep nurturing them, they keep nurturing me. 

Seeing Desert Native Landscaping as Bird & Pollinator Corridors

See the wildflowers in our basin? 

One of the joys of my day is to listen to the birds frolic as I tend the pollinator plants in our rainwater basin. Sure, I probably should have looked up how much water that spiderworts take before planting them. But what the heck! We have gathered plenty of rain in our slimline cistern and watering them gives me an excuse to be out there every morning. I also planted Arizona curve leaf, yellow and red salvia, and Mexican honeysuckle to add some color until the poppies, native globe mallow, desert senna and brittle bush returned with the recent rain to brighten our basin. 

Dan and I love to watch the birds gathering by the birdbath from our dining room window. We've counted 22 varieties using the eBird app. A neighbor mentioned that there used to be 100 varieties in the nearby Arcadia Wash. But loss of habitat, stray cats, and the use of pesticides has contributed to their decline. We feel it is more important than ever to extend the wildlife corridors like the wash to include desert lots and yards - so the birds can find food and safe shelter.

Currently our yard is a lovely bird habitat and pollinator garden, but it wasn't that long ago that it looked pretty stark. It's funny that people take so much effort to rake up all the fallen leaves and organic matter, when ants will gather it all up or it will break down and provide nutrients to the soil. Looking back at pictures (from different seasons) of our basin full of poppy stem or horse purslane mulch, I am surprised that the critters used it all up - leaving the ground pretty bare. But one of the promises of a native habitat is that different plants are in bloom or dormant at different times of the year. It might be difficult for neighbors who keep their gravel pristine (using poisonous Roundup) to understand that the spiney, dead-looking wolfberry in our basin will leaf out to provide shelter and berries for our beloved birds.

Ever since a neighbor reported the native bunch grasses (that are an integral part of a working rain basin), I have been very mindful about how some people see them. I've made an effort to trim off the seedheads along the property line so they don't spread into the neighbors' yards. Recently, I planted poppy seeds and watered them. Up came a bunch of grass. As the grass went to seed I was tempted to trim off the seedheads, but poppies were popping up between them. As I watched a charm of finches go to town on the seeds, I was grateful that I hadn't removed their food!

The problem is that some people only see "weeds" when something green sprouts in a yard. So I do my best to make it look intentional - keeping weeds off of our path, planting colorful wildflowers, and posting signs (like the ones pictured at the top of the page) that read, "Rainwater Harvesting Basin at Work," and "Plants for Birds." I also pull out any invasive non-native weeds like the wild mustard that would otherwise take over the whole yard. 

Unfortunately, the city encourages people to report grass and "weeds" over 6 inches. The crazy thing is that it is in direct conflict with their policy encouraging Green Stormwater Infrastructure. Best practices include planting native bunch grass to help the water infiltrate and build healthier soil.

When I was threatened with a $2000 dollar fine, I took it as a challenge and contacted the inspector at Environmental Services, his boss, and some like-minded city council members. I educated them about GSI policies and the importance of native plants in the basin. I even conducted a slide presentation for the Commission on Climate, Energy, and Sustainability requesting a letter of support. Which they sent. It's been years, and the neighbor who reported me has kindly stopped spraying Roundup in her front yard. 

So I was so disappointed to hear that Ann, a fellow naturalist, was being fined $10,000 for her "untidy" landscaping. This scientist has created a lush bird habitat with a variety of native plants that extends the bird corridor of Arroyo Chico. The complaint included "dead trees." But the trees were actually just dormant - beloved hackberry and ironwood trees. 

Ann's habitat has a dormant tree, grass & wildflowers. Would pollinators want her to thin it?  

Ann reached out to me for help (as the lead of Sustainable Tucson's Water Committee) and I suggested that she contact the inspector (who happened to be on vacation) and their boss. I made a few recommendations on how to make it appear a bit more "tidy." But the birds love the habitat she created. And the so-called "weeds" are wildflowers that haven't bloomed yet or bunch grass that feeds birds. Why should they suffer because some guy with boring gravel doesn't like it? 

I invited her to attend our water committee meeting on "Rainwater Harvesting and Keeping Cool with Storm to Shade." Storm to Shade is the organization responsible for maintaining Tucson's GSI. Ann shared her story to a sympathetic audience. Watch the meeting here: https://youtu.be/HU0a-7EUr7M

 Last I heard, the issue had been resolved and the inspector educated.

Maybe we all just need to learn to see desert yards with new eyes and understand that native plants look different depending on the season. And when you're tempted to call that little patch of green a "weed" remember that native plants are vital for creating healthy bird and pollinator corridors. Can we do that for the birds, please?

More Information: 

Identify the birds you see or hear with Merlin Bird ID: https://ebird.org/home

Good Weeds vs. Bad Weeds blog

Our Yard the Bird Feeder

Video: We turned weeds into wildflowers by Brad Lancaster

Tucson neighbors transform alley into pollinator garden

 #lovemyrainbasin

Looking Back: A Year of Community Building

While gathering pictures for our annual newsletter, I was reminded of the many blessings we shared this past year. During these challenging times, I've learned that it's more important than ever to embrace the good things in life. For me that includes family, community, and using my talents to share the joys of sustainable living. 

One of our main priorities this year was building community by working with our neighborhood association. This year we enjoyed some nice gatherings and worked on several projects. We adopted Pinecrest Park and used the money from our neighborhood yard sale to install a Little Free Library there.  Local artist (and neighbor) Becca donated her time to paint fun animals on it. The Desert Sky Community School family came out for our ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

One of my favorite gatherings was our "Stories of Pinecrest" breakfast in the park. Inspired by tales I had heard from some long time residents, I ventured out into the neighborhood to gather more. It was a great opportunity to get to know some of our neighbors. And what wonderful stories! Back in the day there was a ranch in the neighborhood. As a child, Noni rode her horse where the park is now. There was even a speakeasy that rumor has it the outlaw John Dillinger visited! Ann shared how she left home at 14 to join the women's baseball team that inspired the movie "A League of Their Own!"  

John told how he played in the wash as a child. He even showed us his leather sling shot. Now he gives back by being a part of the wash cleanup team. 

Which brings me to our neighborhood beautification projects. Dan has led the wash cleanup team that meets the last Sunday of every month. This year we joined in a multi-neighborhood Arcadia Wash cleanup with Avondale and Swan way neighborhoods.  After some campers lent a hand with the cleanups, I made an effort to start a relationship with them.

We found ways to share our love of sustainability too. At our potlucks, neighbors bring their own coffee mugs and tableware to limit trash. When Environmental Services joined us for a presentation about their programs, we invited Stephen Menke from Sustainable Tucson to talk about Zero Waste. 

Stephen talking about the 6 R's of sustainability. I shared the Zero Waste kit too. 

Wow! Looks like we did a lot with the neighborhood this year!  We've found that some of the most impactful work we can do is with our own community. 

I have to admit that sometimes I get discouraged because of the pushback from the current administration. But I've found that taking action really helps, along with building supportive relationships.  That's why I hosted a get-together with a few like-minded ladies (that could fit in our little TV room.) We watched the recording of the play reading of "ReGeneration: The Tucson Story," visited, ate yummy food and toured the rainwater harvesting features in my yard. (Any get-together is an opportunity to share my basin! #lovemyrainbasin )  I plan to host more of these parties in the coming year. 

We always enjoy hanging out with other environmental advocates at Environmental Day at the Capitol and feeling a part of that community. Last year Sustainable Tucson's Water Committee shared the joys of rainwater harvesting and lobbied for better water policies with our state legislators. Wanna join us in February? 

I also found some common interests with new friends in Tombstone when I performed a historical reading of my favorite book, The Forgotten Botanist: Sara Plummer Lemmon's Life of Science & Art (that Mt. Lemmon was named after!) During the introduction I simply dropped in a line about how I loved the native plants in our rainwater harvesting basins. At the campfire that night, people asked me about it. Sometimes it only takes a few words to start the conversation. 

While we fight the good fight for our country and the planet, let's take time in the new year to embrace the good things in life - like building a community, spending time with family and friends and sharing our gifts.  

Wishing ya'll a rewarding New Year! 

Love, Jana and Dan 

Feel free to host your own movie party. You can find the recording of "ReGeneration: The Tucson Story" on Youtube. 

Celebrating new traditions...

https://www.sustainablelivingtucson.com/2022/07/celebrating-new-traditions-that.html

The Best Gift: Rain on Christmas!

After suffering through a scorching hot year without our seasonal monsoon and winter rains, it has been a real delight to have our winter rain return! Our best gift was rain on Christmas Eve that lasted into Christmas Day. 

In addition to filling up our cisterns, the steady gentle rain was perfect for our front yard basins.  

Our jujube basin was full of fallen leaves ready to hold the moisture....  

... and nourish the soil as it breaks down.

Some of the best techniques we've found for our basins are Leave the Leaves and Chop and Drop. 

While waiting for our Christmas Eve festivities to begin, I spent some relaxing time in the garden cutting palm fronds into mulch for our basins. It was nice to use what nature gives us in our own yard. 

I put another layer of palm frond mulch in the greywater basin - where the previous layer was breaking down nicely. 

Jeremy and Lillie with the sign he drew. 

Earlier in the week, we were blessed with lovely weather for our outdoor Christmas sing-along party. Our native plants looked so green from the recent winter rains. 

We directed guests to walk on the gravel path to protect the plants in the basin. But late season purslane was growing in some of the gravel, so I made a sign with the back of a repurposed rocking chair back that read: WALK ON GRAVEL, NOT PURSLANE. 

My sweetie surprised me by lighting it up for the party!

Hmm... Maybe we'll have purslane scramble for Christmas breakfast! 

We celebrated the holiday by enjoying one of our favorite traditions - singing! 

We are so thankful for the Christmas rain that pepped up the native plants in our cherished basins. 

Wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday, too! 

#lovemyrainbasin