Back in Episode 59, I announced that I was a gambler, a garden gambler. I planted a pre-monsoon summer garden. Now it’s time for an update. It’s a combination of gardening successes and failures, along with some much-needed problem solving and no monsoon rainfall – yet. Transcript INTRO: From Tucson, Arizona, welcome to the Water…
The National Weather Service just released its 2026 Arizona Monsoon Outlook. It calls for above average rainfall for the entire state of Arizona, especially northeastern Arizona. El Niño is also becoming a factor, which could lead to an active hurricane season. This episode discusses how the second activity of water harvesting, storing rainwater for later…
This is an episode devoted to an organic superstar – mulch! Organic mulch comes to us as wood chips, bark, and leaves, and it’s derived from carbon-based life forms like trees and shrubs. I’ll talk about the wonderful things that mulch can do for your yard, and explain how you can get mulch. Note: This…
With the Southwest suffering through a long-term drought – and Colorado River cutbacks looming – it’s time to take a hard look at that thief in the yard. I’m talking about those water guzzling lawns, and why it’s time to remove them. Cities like Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Tucson are offering grass removal rebate programs….
After many weeks of saying that I wouldn’t plant my spring/summer garden until monsoon season, I relented. Because there’s nothing that looks sadder than an empty garden. In this episode, I talk about dry season garden setup, what I’m growing, and, of course, where that garden water is coming from. I also discuss the long-term…
There was a time when backyard swimming pools were synonymous with life in urban Arizona. Nowadays, one in six pool owners surveyed say they’d like to get rid of their pools. This statistic comes from PoolRemovalHelp.org, a website that guides pool owners through the removal process. In addition to summarizing the features of this website,…
Ready to take your water conservation efforts to the next level? This episode is for you! It starts with a plug for landscaping with the drought-tolerant native plants that have been surviving and thriving in the Southwest for thousands of years. It then moves into a more extreme measure – dispensing with irrigation systems that…
Here in Tucson, we haven’t had measurable rainfall in more than a month. So, I’m calling it. We’re in the dry season. In this podcast, I’ll be covering the dry season to-do list for water harvesters. My focus will be on the three activities of water harvesting: Redirecting rainwater away from where it isn’t wanted…
On this podcast, I talk a lot about water harvesting equipment. As in, rainwater harvesting cisterns, greywater harvesting systems, etc. And you may be wondering, where does one get this stuff? In this episode, we’re joined by Eli Nielsen, co-founder of The Rain Store, a water harvesting supply store that’s right here in Tucson. Transcript…
Our friends at the National Weather Services’s Climate Prediction Center just released the summer forecast for the American Southwest. Arizona is in the “above normal” category for summer rainfall, and that’s good news. It points to a possible return of El Niño, a weather pattern that is associated with abundant rainfall. This episode describes my…
Springtime in the desert means that the flowers are blooming – for a very short time. Then the flowers fall off their trees and shrubs. This can create a lot of work for humans who’d rather not have all of that litter all over the driveway–and other places. However, that litter can also serve as…
Tucson just played host to a heat wave. As in, triple-digit temperatures. In March. This episode provides practical tips for coping with such an event, whether it’s in March or at other times of the year. You’ll learn how to handle your gardening and your household. Transcript INTRO: From Tucson, Arizona, welcome to the Water…
As water harvesters, we use organic and inorganic mulches in our landscapes. Organic mulches are derived from carbon-based life forms like trees, and you’ll recognize them as bark chips and wood chips. Inorganic mulches? They’re more commonly known as aggregate or crushed rock. Which mulch should you use? And where? In this episode, we’re joined…
At my place, nearly all of my attempts to plant wildflower seeds have failed. The simple truth is, Arizona wildflowers are persnickety about where they wish to set up shop. Being planted here is obviously not to their liking. Then came the brittlebush. Shortly after I moved in, I was told that brittlebush just wouldn’t…
We’ve rolled into the month of March, which marks the start of meteorological spring. So, it’s time to start planning that spring/summer garden. At my place, I’m planning for three raised beds and a vertical planter. I’ll be relying on seeds from Arizona-based Terroir Seeds. They offer the introductory sound effect for this episode, so…
This episode features the iron man of Arizona weather forecasting, Michael Groff. He produces a highly detailed daily weather forecast on YouTube, the Phoenix, Arizona Weather Discussion. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Michael puts these forecasts together and learn about his other online media ventures. Transcript INTRO: From Tucson, Arizona, welcome to the Water…
For this episode, we’re going to be taking a trip. We’re heading north to the Toronto area, where we’re going to visit with Michael Albanese. He is the author of a water harvesting book called The Modern Rain Garden, Scrape, Shape and Plant, now in its second edition. Michael has designed and built dozens of…
I’m back for the second time on The Beet: A Podcast for Plant Lovers! In this episode, I join Jacques to discuss all things water harvesting. From catching rain to shaping your landscape so every drop goes to your crops (not the storm drain), we dig into practical, creative ways to make the most of…
I’m pleased to report that my place is one of the busiest natural habitats in the neighborhood. In this episode, I’ll share how the local bird species utilize my rain-fed landscape for nourishment, socializing, and nesting. Transcript INTRO: From Tucson, Arizona, welcome to the Water Harvesting 101 podcast. My name is Martha Retallick. I’ve been…
As water harvesters, we’re all about creating beauty in our landscapes and gardens. But we’re also dealing with scarcity. It isn’t just the water that’s scarce, we need to handle monetary and time constraints. Transcript INTRO: From Tucson, Arizona, welcome to the Water Harvesting 101 podcast. My name is Martha Retallick. I’ve been a water…
Unlike most of the rest of the United States, Tucson isn’t covered with snow and suffering through sub-freezing temperatures. But yes, it does snow here. (See above photo.) In this episode, I’ll view snowfall from the perspective of a Southwestern water harvester. Transcript INTRO: From Tucson, Arizona, welcome to the Water Harvesting 101 podcast. My…