Sustainable Living Tucson: August 2021

Saturday, August 28, 2021

Why We Love Our "Weeds"

When we came home after an 11 day vacation we were amazed how all that rainwater had transformed our front yard into a glorious habitat for pollinators and birds as well as a productive edible forest!

The moringa trees in the street side basin were HUGE - even the one that we thought had died in the freeze.

native trees: acacia and desert hackberry

Our native trees - that we didn't water during the excessive heat warning - had not only survived but were full and leafy.

The desert hackberry had lots of berries on it for the first time ever.

The small jujubes in another basin were twice their size and the big one was loaded with fruit, some of it ripe and ready to enjoy!

The whole yard was covered by beautiful horse purslane and native grasses. (I had long since eradicated all the goat heads and other sticker weeds.) I was concerned that some neighbors with gravel covered yards might call it a "jungle" overgrown with weeds. So the next day I was out there pulling the purslane and the poisonous spurge covering our walking trail. I wanted to send a message to the neighbors that we had left those weeds there on purpose. I also uncovered some decorative cactuses and wild flowers. I pulled any weeds that were encroaching on the neighbor's yard or on the sidewalk. We try to be good neighbors.

While I was out there, I saw pollinators flying around (lots of butterflies, a spectacular moth, wasps, and ants.) As I pulled out some yellowing purslane, I discovered a caterpillar on there.

It was loving the purslane. When I was pulling out the spurge, I saw a trail of little ants going after it. I considered leaving it for them. After all...isn't it better to have them go after spurge than my trees?

I inspected the soil under the purslane by the butterfly bush and I found a little caterpillar and the mushrooms! I was pleased to see that the weeds were nourishing the soil!

Just when I finished posting the caterpillar pic, a storm raged in.

This development changed the direction of my story from the frustration I felt when two neighbors sprayed roundup this afternoon. Though I did watch water flow from one of the sprayed areas into the little patch of land where Dan likes to plant a three sisters garden.

And rain from the yard pictured on the left flows all the way down the street to the median where Dan wants to organize a neighborhood garden. The landscaper got the Roundup sprayed just in time to share it with the whole neighborhood. Yeah, yeah...I had to say something.

But I'm excited to transition to a happier ending. Documenting the effects of the raging storm on our catchment basins is a great chance to show how the native grasses and horse purslane help prevent flood damage. Check it out!

See how the native grasses slow down the water to prevent erosion and hold in the water in our street-side basin that is home to our precious moringa trees.

This picture shows how the native grasses slow down the roof water rushing from the downspout before it hits the smallest jujube tree. Then the horse purslane slows down and sinks in the water before it hits the last two trees. Those so called weeds help nourish the soil and attract pollinators to the flowering trees.

Clearing out the horse purslane on the path allows us to see how the water pools in around the path and then how well it sinks in soon after the rain stops. Dan dug the shallow basin so it slows down, spreads out and sinks in the water (a rainwater harvesting principle). The native grasses and purslane help it slow down and sink in too!

So you can see why Dan and I love our "weeds." They help to make our basin work properly. And we think they are beautiful.

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Sustainable Maui?

We just got back from a lovely, regenerative vacation on Maui to attend my niece's wedding. Dan and I enjoyed learning about what Hawaiians were doing to become more sustainable and their efforts to restore the island using traditional methods. We took pictures of the massive Banyan Tree planted in 1873 and read about the history of the island at the Lahaina Courthouse Museum. We were delighted to learn how their traditional food systems worked with nature. On an awe-inspiring tour of the King's Garden and waterfall, we saw how they grew the different foods on terraces that climbed the mountain. But my most cherished moments were the quality time we spent with family members we hadn't seen for some time, especially the heartfelt talks with my little sister and mom that ended in tears and warm hugs.

Since we got back, I have been struggling about whether or not to write this blog. To be honest, I feel guilty. I'm not sure I come across that good in this story. When I heard that most of my family was heading to Maui to attend the wedding, I didn't want to miss out on seeing them. I overlooked my fear of traveling with only a cloth mask to protect me from the dreaded new variant of COVID. (I was somewhat reassured since we had to register proof of vaccination on the Hawaii Safe Travel Pre-clearance app.) But the day after we purchased our tickets to Maui, I saw a post from a Facebook friend musing about why so many of her friends were posting pics of themselves in Hawaii when the Mayor of Maui had issued a statement asking visitors to stay away.

When we got to Maui, we discovered another motive besides COVID. The Mayor was trying to protect the island. A record number of visitors were escaping the confinement of COVID on this island paradise. A quarter of a million every month! The streets were crowded with rental cars. Dan said that it reminded him of LA! During our 10-day stay we became increasingly concerned with the environmental impact on the island.

We had indulged in the privilege that allows those of us who can afford it to have an "experience of a lifetime" at the expense of the sea creatures and reefs. One young man, bobbing in the water next to us, shared what he learned on a his turtle island tour - that you shouldn't disturb or touch the endangered turtles, and then proceeded to grab at a turtle that swam by.

I know. I know. We were keenly aware that our presence negatively impacted the island (from the pollution and CO2 on the long plane ride, our Lyft to and from the airport, and the diesel-powered snorkeling and wedding boats.) Dan and I did what we could to lessen our impact. We chose not to rent a car. We got a senior discount on a pass for the bus and used it. We even rode the bus to the thrift store to get Hawaiian shirts and dresses for ourselves and some family members. On the bus, we went by several sea-bird restoration areas.

On our first day there, we discovered a cool restoration trail where we learned about how the island in the distance, Kaho'olawe, was a sacred place to the Hawaiians, once used for navigation training. The island people developed an innovative and sustainable lifestyle of fishing and farming. But outsiders brought too many sheep and goats that destroyed the soil with over-grazing. Then the U.S. conducted their bomb tests on the island. Signs showed how the Hawaiian people are restoring the preserve by planting native grasses.

Kaho'olawe Educational Walking Trail

We were shocked by the amount of trash along the nature trail. We picked up what we could. But it got us thinking. Where was all the trash going? How much of it ended up going out to sea? We saw recycling bins all over the island and signs asking people to consider reducing their plastic consumption. A sign along the highway read, "Landfill full." We were concerned about adding to the trash on the island. So we carried reusable grocery bags and water bottles, and brewed our own tea (instead of buying the bottled variety.) My sister, bless her heart, was doing her best to recycle - unaware that it wasn't all recyclable in Maui. (They only recycle two kinds of plastic bottles.) Dan helped her out by looking up the website on his phone.

There were also signs warning people of the impact of sunscreen on the reefs. So we wore tee-shirts over our swim suits and I used "reef safe sunscreen." (Dan burned.) During the family snorkeling outing, we saw the impact of all those visitors on the reefs in the Marine Life Conservation Area. These were not the colorful reefs we saw at the aquarium. These reefs were gray and dying. Dan started calling our vacation, "The Environmental Disaster Tour of Maui."

There were several other boats at the Marine Life Conservation Area

Despite efforts to educate the public with signs and displays, the impact of the tourism industry was clear. The side of the island where we were staying is actually a desert. But they have planted tropical trees and flowers to create a paradise for the resorts, using up the island's groundwater (that the farmers on the other side of the island rely on.) Everyday, shiploads of consumer products are unloaded in the harbor. And planes bring more tourists. Rental cars line the shorelines and scenic routes. Perhaps the best thing we can do to heal the island is follow the Mayor's advice, and stay away. Give their restoration efforts a chance. But the island relies on tourism for jobs and its economy.

There is a glimmer of hope. In addition to restoration projects, they are installing some sustainable infrastructure. There are plans for a fleet of electric rental cars and charging stations. Some of the hotels and houses have solar panels and wind turbines line one of the mountains. A solar farm shines in the distance.

A new approach, Regenerative tourism, aspires to leave a place better because of your visit.

In Hawaiian, mālama means to give back. The Mālama Campaign provides visitors with hands-on experiences to steward the Aloha State. In exchange for perks like hotel discounts or free meals, visitors can sign up to plant trees, remove invasive plants, reconstruct ancient fishponds, and deliver food to elders. Additional projects include Hawaiian Paddlesports Maui kayak tours that fund reforestation projects or snorkeling excursions to clean the reef. Visitors can participate in community algae removal, coral restoration, and beach clean-ups. Some volunteer activities existed long before regenerative travel became a hashtag on Instagram, but many have been recently dreamed up by Hawaiians as a way to invite visitors to invest in the future of the islands with the hope that we can all learn to treat the Aloha State more like home.

In addition, hotels like the Cliffs at Princeville promote Mālama programs and educate visitors about sustainability throughout their vast electrification, solar, and waste programs. On Kaua’i, Common Ground’s regenerative farm tour teaches travelers about agroforestry and offers a gorgeous dinner sourced within three miles of the Kilauea property.

The hope is that a more mindful approach to tourism will reboot what has always been a transactional, extractive relationship. Tourism officials imagine that a new visitor will arrive. Someone who selects a hotel owned and operated by Native Hawaiians, a property that sources all products from the island, while capturing carbon and protecting the watershed. That traveler will practice mālama and hopefully bring these skills home.- Sierra, Sept. 6, 2024 (See link to article below.)