In the second episode of this two-part series, the focus is on rainwater harvesting cisterns. You’ll learn how rain falling from the sky ends up in a cistern, what happens when a cistern overflows, and methods for getting water out of your cistern and onto your plants. Note: This is the final episode of the…
In this episode, we’ll be looking at rainwater harvesting earthworks. These are human-built features that blend into your landscape, and they facilitate the absorption of rainwater into the earth. Give this one a listen and learn what swales, basins, and berms can do for you. Transcript INTRO: From Tucson, Arizona, welcome to the Water Harvesting…
Does your greywater system seem a bit sluggish? Is it failing to water the plants the way it used to? If you’re experiencing this problem, it’s time to do a little troubleshooting. This episode explains how to troubleshoot your system, and safety tips are included. Transcript INTRO: From Tucson, Arizona, welcome to the Water Harvesting…
We water harvesters don’t just follow the weather, we’re obsessed with it. We’re eagerly awaiting the arrival of those above average rains that we were promised, but many of us have been disappointed by the spotty monsoon rainfall. This episode explains what’s going on, and shines a light on when we can expect El Niño….
Now that we’re halfway through summer, let’s talk about lessons learned. What’s the biggest lesson from summer? It comes directly to you from my front and backyard. And here it is: Live Within Your Means. Today’s episode explains how this concept relates to water harvesting. Transcript INTRO: From Tucson, Arizona, welcome to the Water Harvesting…
This episode is about garden plants – and giving them enough water during the hot summer months. The unfortunate victim in this story: the larger of my two pomegranate trees. I didn’t give it enough water – and most of its fruit cracked. How can the remaining pomegranates be saved? I’m bringing them through the…
It’s monsoon season and that rain is really coming down! How do we capture all of this free water and store it for later use, as we do in Water Harvesting Activity #2? The centerpiece of a rainwater harvesting system is a cistern. I’ve had a cistern at my place for six years. Let’s learn…
At last!The monsoon rainstorms are here! Perfect time for a closer look at Water Harvesting Activity #1, Redirecting Rainwater away from where you don’t want it to where you do. Monsoon season provides a great opportunity for building – and testing – your water harvesting earthworks. These consist of swales, basins, and berms. Transcript INTRO:…
Although rain is forecast for later this week, we also have to get through some record-high temperatures. Perfect time to talk about shade, and how it can help cool our properties. There’s natural shade, which means trees and shrubs, and its cooling effects drive local planting initiatives in Tucson and other cities. Then there’s shade…
It’s early summer, which means that it’s crunch time in Tucson. The crunch comes from the sound of fallen mesquite and ironwood tree pods underfoot. They’re all over town – and maybe in your yard as well. What can we do with these pods? I’ll give you the details in this episode. Transcript INTRO: From…
A day of record rainfall was indeed welcome in Tucson. However, the storm revealed a problem in my landscape. One of my downspouts directed water into my yard, but it didn’t stay there. A few feet away from the downspout, that water flowed into my driveway, then off my property. Once it’s off property, rainwater…
With the summer monsoon season starting on June 15 and running through September 30, it’s time to do the cistern math. If your cistern is below capacity and you’re hoping for rainstorms to come and fill it, how much water will you need? In this episode, I’ll walk you through the calculations. Transcript INTRO: From…
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…