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

Digging in the New Year

Our edible forest is coming along nicely. But what ever motivated Dan, hacking and coughing, to shovel out our greywater basin and plant saplings on the first day of the New Year? 

After a devastating year of national crises that left him reeling, perhaps it was time for a little grounding -  digging in for a good year of action.  

Implementing earthworks, like our greywater catchment basin, is always a process. We did several loads of laundry to see just how well the wash water would sink into the ground.  There was still a shallow pool of grey water after two days. (Now I know why it is called greywater. It was literally grey.) As Dan suspected, he needed to increase the surface area so the wash water would infiltrate better. 

Luckily, it was time for another load of whites. While the load was spinning, Dan planted some curry plants in the dirt he had dug out of the basin.

What better way to start the new year than to plant a little hope.

Dan delighted in freeing our little saguaro's tightly wound roots from last year's battered pot and planting it soundly in 2018. 

Does my baby know how to celebrate or what!?