Getting Through Our Long Dry Spell

It's been a weird year. The absence of winter rains combined with record heat has been very rough on our poor plants. How am I supposed to conserve water if I can't harvest rainwater?! In past years I boasted about not using any city water on my landscaping. This year was very humbling. 

Since most of our cisterns have been empty for a while, I was forced to use more city water than I would like to keep my plants alive. I confess that I have even watered our prickly pear when the pads were too emaciated to hold up the flowers.

I've given water to the native chiltepin to perk up the leaves and to the usually resilient rosemary plant that was beginning to yellow. When I saw the signs of leaves finally returning to the hackberry, I gave it some water to help it along. (I try to water them before it gets too hot - or at night - so it doesn't just evaporate.) 

The little bit of rainwater left in one barrel was reserved for my young pollinators and a few garden veggies sheltered by the Palo Verde.

Some native plants faired better in these conditions. I didn't have to water the desert broom, palo verde or mesquite at all. 

Our durable curry was doing so well, I figured that was one place I could cut back on watering. Wrong.  The leaves wilted and yellowed. Lesson learned. I'm back to regular deep watering them with city water.

At least I have greywater, right? Nope. To make matters worse, our washing machine finally died - defying Dan's best efforts to repair it. So, for over a week, we didn't even have greywater for our pomegranate whose leaves were already stunted from the heat. We rushed to the appliance store and bought a new Energy Star washer. We were delighted to get a rebate from the city because it conserves water.... But that meant that it only supplied a gallon or two of greywater for our pomegranate and palm trees. And that water pooled by the entrance of the basin so it didn't even reach the tree.

Then it happened. I used up the last drops of rainwater from our rain barrel.

Now everything was on city water. I just have to keep them alive until monsoon season - in a month?!

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse - a miracle occurred! It rained! 1/2 inch! In June?!

Dan was out in the rain clearing leaves from the gutter so every last drop of water could fill up the cisterns. Then he reshaped the greywater basin so the water reached the tree. My hero!

Our thirsty basin soaked in the rain. The spiderwort grew and bloomed. 

The moringa produced more nutritional leaves. 

The mesquite boasts green pods. Didn't I notice them before? Or were they just waiting for the rain? 

So I'm back to spoiling the pollinators and veggies with rainwater while conserving all the city water I can.

I'm usually more of an advocate for rain basins. But this experience has taught me the importance of having more cisterns to harvest rainwater for the plants in those basins. After hearing my story, a friend shared how she still had rain in her biggest cistern. She urged us to install the cistern sitting in the backyard before the monsoon storms arrive to get us through future dry periods. And so I can plant more pollinators! 

OK. Enough belly-aching. Here's some bunnies taking advantage of the moisture by the spiderwort I watered...

It's all worth it to keep my cooling plants alive until the monsoon rain arrives.  

Looking Back at our Weird AZ Staycation

Looks like a lovely forest scene, right? And it is. But what you can't see in this pic is that the large ravine flows unconcerned to the foundation of the house next-door - our accommodations for the Flagstaff portion of our family vacation. They could use some serious rock dams to stop the flow! And it appears that all of these McMansions were being built as AirBNBs when there is a housing shortage here. Sometimes a little knowledge can be kind of a bummer - especially during a long awaited family vacation.

While in Flagstaff, we visited the historic Riordan Mansion. Unlike the McMansions mentioned above, this mansion was built to last. In addition to having all the modern conveniences of the time (the first to have electricity), they created a comfy living space in American Arts and Crafts style. A large hall filled with every kind of amusement imaginable, connected the two residences (like a duplex) providing a welcoming space for the two sides of the Riordan clan to enjoy time together. Yes, it's good to be rich. But what really impressed me were the stories of how the family took that responsibility even farther by  helping to build the new town.  

Before this story gets weird, I want to say that we so appreciated the time we got to spend with our beloved family that traveled to our state from Wisconsin and Missouri. I will cherish those moments forever. Thanks to my dear sister for including us.

While we were touring the Riordan Mansion with my mom, other family members took off to explore the Grand Canyon or Sedona. Then we headed to Chandler. (The Wisconsin clan wanted to get away from the cold...) The record heat discouraged a kayak trip down the Salt River. Instead the kids spent the day swimming in a pool right beside the man-made lake.

Here's where it gets weird... apparently this is a thing in Chandler. Even my son commented on it. As we drove down the main drive, we passed development after development - each with its own private lake. Have they heard about our water shortage in Arizona? It turns out that Chandler has grandfathered water rights from the time when the area was farm land. So they are using that allotment to water lawns and private golf courses and fill swimming pools and lakes. 

There have been several bills proposed at the Arizona Legislature (including the current SB1611) that allow farmers to sell their land along with grandfathered water rights for development. Sponsors claim that housing requires less water than agriculture. At least farmers can choose to plant low-water crops... If our reps are going to pass this bill, they really need to make sure they include conservation measures to prevent water waste like we saw in Chandler.

*See UPDATE on SB1611 below.

We passed this one farm in Chandler 

Our legislators claim to care about the housing crisis in Arizona. But aren't they really just giving us more McMansions and seasonal water wasters? Not to mention... the housing shortage in the U.S. is about equal to the number of air BNBs. Yep, a little knowledge can dampen a vacation. 

Well, it's good to be back home in Tucson - where, at least, we know how to conserve water. 

If you would like to push back against bad bills that weaken our already lax water regulations, check out Desktop Activist Tucson. 

*UPDATE (June 21, 2025)

SB1611 physical availability exemption credit; groundwater (Shope: Petersen), also known as the ag to urban bill because it promotes development on agricultural lands, was significantly improved and could result in some groundwater savings. For example, the revised bill sets limits on how much water a development can withdraw based on a groundwater threshold and it limits the use of water-thirsty landscaping and decorative features like lakes and waterfalls. We remain concerned about the bill promoting more urban sprawl rather than encouraging more sustainable development and that it significantly increases the replenishment obligation of the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD). The CAGRD was designed to utilize excess Central Arizona Project (CAP) water, but there is no excess CAP water any longer, so what will be used for replenishment? It also reduces the replenishment reserve requirement for the CAGRD. Additionally, there appear to be some potential loopholes in the 36 page long bill. 

Excessive Heat Warning in Effect

I just asked Google the temperature for the umpteenth time. It's 4:47 p.m. Sunday. 110 degrees. There is currently an Excessive Heat Warning in effect! I'm having a moral crisis. The other day someone on Facebook advised that we all deep (slow) water our trees if we want them to survive the extreme heat this weekend. (I re-shared the post.) So I set about deep watering all of my trees - making sure to do it before it got to 80 degrees (the temperature when plants stop evapotranspiration.) I was up until 2 a.m. Friday night!

Today I read all these articles on our water issues and how the level of Lake Mead (where we store our CAP) is getting dangerously low. In Tucson, we are proud of our water conservation efforts. Tucsonans use 20% less than Phoenicians. But today I read, "Tim Steller's opinion: Shocking water news in Arizona, Tucson should lead to more action" 'Last year, 2020, marked the first year this century in which Tucson Water’s residential customers used significantly more water than the year before. We used 7.5% more water per capita in 2020 than in 2019.'  Anyone who has stepped outside knows the reason - it's friggin' hot out there!

While we try to conserve water where we can (carrying out our rinse water to the Mexican Honeysuckle, turning off the tap while brushing our teeth or washing our hair, taking less showers and using our laundry water), we are still a part of the problem! I just deep watered all of my trees and some other plants! I'm really torn! On the one hand, if we lose those trees - we lose all the water that has gone into establishing them. On the other hand - that's a lot of water (especially when you multiply it by every yard in Tucson!)

Fortunately, most of our trees are native, but we do have some so-called "drought tolerant" fruit trees that have been struggling in this heat. Are they really practical? Sure, we have a few rain barrels and a cistern. But how does that help if it doesn't rain? Maybe it's time to make some hard decisions. I've already stopped watering a fig that didn't take off after 3 years. Are our moringas next?

On the bright side, Dan's setting up our new solar oven.

---

Monsoon season dawns with record heat, slight chance of rain in Tucson

Tucson Clean and Beautiful (Trees for Tucson) has a presentation on how to care for trees in Tucson and how much water they need. Check it out! 

http://tucsoncleanandbeautiful.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/TCB-presentation-native-trees-Water-harvesting-AA-4-28-21.pdf

Attack Your Water Bill from All Directions!

by guest blogger Steve Barancik

Can you improve your sustainability? We have! At least when it comes to water.

This is our most recent water bill. As you can see, our water usage has been trending sharply down over the last two years. We're now at about 30% of average residential consumption.

We've managed this drop despite:

• Keeping a garden
• Keeping chickens
• Nurturing a couple fruit trees (while giving the death penalty to a couple others)
• Planting trees and cactus constantly!

It can be done...and you can save money while doing it!

(And remember: lowering your water consumption lowers your sewer bill as well.)

THE STUFF WE'VE DONE

We guttered up part of the roof, where runoff was not being made good use of, and attached the gutters to a tank....

That water now goes toward fruit trees and the garden.

Do we use ollas in that garden?...

Why yes, we do.

We turned off the irrigation to our landscape plants....

You'd be surprised how many of your plants are established and don't need it!

We removed the "weed-control" plastic from both front and back yards....

We used passive water harvesting techniques to:

-redirect (and infiltrate) water where it's needed....

- keep water from jumping the curb and leaving the property....

- and capture water that runs by the property or runs onto the property from neighboring properties!...

We dug a basin and diverted alley runoff to support a mature oak without groundwater....

And by the way, we eat from that oak. So do our chickens!

One key thing we do is make use of our graywater...and here's the thing: We don't HAVE a graywater system; we ARE the system. We capture shower water in buckets....

...and sink water in a dishpan.

(That's Lisa—the other half of "we." She thought of the dishpan as a graywater tool!)

We even catch laundry water in a bucket!...

The tank holds the laundry and spins. The spigot drains the water

Oh, and speaking of buckets...

Why would I go out of my way to get a straight-sided bucket? Well, it certainly makes scooping water out of a flooded street easier! All it takes is a quarter inch rain event for me to be able to fill basins that aren't filling on their own.

I'm a big believer in the water-saving powers of mulch....

I not only try to make use of all the debris and cuttings from plants on my property, but...

I've been known to rescue landfill-bound rakings from neighbors as well!

I even use a technique to irrigate BENEATH my mulch in order to lose less moisture to evaporation.

When it comes to water, I contextualize our use by comparing it with what falls on our 8,257 sq ft lot. At 11.59 in. of rain in a normal year, we have just under 8000 cu. ft. falling on us. Our groundwater use for the last year was only 3300 cu. ft., so I'm pretty happy. I'll be happier still if you're able to put any of these techniques to use yourself!

Another benefit...

This shaded walkway didn’t exist when I moved in six years ago...

Steve is a teacher who thinks his students deserve better than what we're leaving them. You can read more on his facebook page. 

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:
• Bring glass to various city drop off points to be ground into sand. 
• Pack hard to recycle plastic into Hefty orange plastic bags before bringing to the various drop off points to be made into plastic blocks.  

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; use dishwashing soap that doesn't include salt. 
• 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
  
  Join Artists for Sustainability Facebook community here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/961359917355847

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, Borderland Restoration, 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:

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
• 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. 

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... :)

Conserve Tucson's precious water by using it twice

A Tucson friend's outside shower waters the plants in their yard. 

You might have read in the news about the negotiations on the drought contingency plan. When they originally divided the water between the various states and Mexico, they divvied out more water than we have  - and didn't take into account Climate Change or our perpetual development. To exacerbate the problem some farmers still plant thirsty crops, while Rosemont Mine, over development and data centers threaten to deplete Tucson's ground water. We might wanna rethink the Four Cs of Arizona's Economy: copper, climate, cotton & citrus.

The city of Tucson has already reduced residential water usage during the past two decades. In 2010, our residential water usage rates were 94 gallons per capita per day. By 2015, Tucson’s water usage was down to 80 GPCD. As of early 2026, the average Tucson resident uses approximately 72 to 75 gallons of water per day. But we can do better than that. And we really need to.  

If you've followed my blog for a while, you know that I advocate for rainwater harvesting to make Tucson more water secure. On a regular rain year, there is enough water for every person in Tucson. Our outdoor water use accounts for up to 40% of residential water use in the Tucson area. So if more people harvested the rain, that would go a long way in conserving municipal water. 

Many of us are already conserving water by turning off the tap while brushing our teeth or while soaping our hands or scrubbing our hair in the shower.  Now that we've mastered that habit, the next step is to use our residential water twice when we can. 

State Senator Andrea Dalessandro, who sits on the Natural Resources and Energy committee, mentioned at Environmental Day at the Capitol that she puts a bucket in the shower to catch the water while it warms up. Way to walk the talk! Some friends of ours have installed lovely outdoor  showers that water their backyard landscaping. (I wouldn't recommend this in the front yard!) 

Here I am using our clean rinse water in our kitchen garden. 

I dump the dirty dish water in our compost pile to keep it moist.

Especially precious is the coffee ground water that my Tombstone Rosebush (my one sentimental extravagance) and tomatoes plants love. 

I like to use the veggie water from the steamer pan to nourish the soil by the tomato or curry plants.

We were blessed to have an outdoor washing machine. Dan easily rigged up a greywater system to irrigate sturdy, low water use heritage fig and pomegranate trees. (Our native trees are doing fine without any city water.) 

Tucson Water offers a rebate for greywater systems. 

Another easy way to use water twice is to let your yellow mellow by sharing one flush with your partner in the morning.  But Dan's big dream is to have a composting toilet like the one at Watershed Management Group. (I haven't encouraged this because I would never see my husband.) 

For some of you, that might seem a little extreme. An easier method is to use a low water toilet. Tucson Water says that installing a high efficiency toilet is one of the most impactful things you can do to save water. They even offer a rebate to encourage it. 

It's not always easy. But using water a second time is a great way to learn not to take our water for granted.

As our politicians bicker over who is entitled to our allotment of CAP water, it is becoming clear that it isn't a sustainable source. We need to transition to a more local system and start conserving water like we live in the desert. Because we do. 

More information: 

Lower Basin states offer short-term plan as conditions worsen on Colorado River - May 7, 2026

For Information on the social injustices caused by CAP read:

Hopis: Protectors of Earth and Water