Transition US is committed to enabling action-oriented programs at the national level.  The Home and Garden Challenge is just such an opportunity. Inspired by the the amazing work done in Sonoma County, CA last May where over 600 gardens were planted, we have decided to take it (inter)national this May 14th & 15th.
Organizing a Home [...]

[ Saturday, April 30, 2011; 6:00 pm; ] Location: Urban Tribe Collective
657 West St. Mary’s Rd., Unit C-12 Tucson, AZ 85701
Cost: Free – $10 suggested donation to Diamond Mountain, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
To raise funds for Diamond Mountain University and Retreat Center, Tucson performance artist Christopher Stephen has planned a slate of entertainment to intrigue, awe and educate. Hosted by Urban Tribe Collective, [...]

Gas Prices Got You Down?
Bike Fest 2011 Begins Tomorrow!
Tucson, Arizona (March 10, 2011) – Let the fun begin as Bike Fest 2011 kicks off over 20 different events designed to inspire us to park the car and hop on the bike to experience the many benefits bicycling brings to our community. From March 11th through [...]

[ Saturday, March 26, 2011; 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. ] A wood-fired cob-insulated hot tub is a low-tech, healthful and beautiful thing. Used like a Japanese bath, one scrubs and showers before entering the heated tub, steaming with desert lavender or chaparral, and soaks away one’s cares. If your shower and bath greywater help to irrigate native and heritage trees, which provide food, shade and [...]

The Sierra Club’s new “Go Electric” campaign aims to make a rapid expansion in electric vehicles in the US a reality by advocating for policies that make EVs both affordable and accessible — and by debunking some common misconceptions.
You can read the complete article here.

[ Sunday, March 20, 2011; 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] Time again to invite you all to proclaim local community from the rooftops. One rooftop at least.

Join in on the action on the roof of the Pennington St Parking Garage, 110 E. Pennington St.

What is Common Ground?

What it is… is a CELEBRATION, where every group, organization, congregation, small business, performer, artist, EVERYBODY in the Tucson [...]

[ Sunday, February 20, 2011; 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] Be a part of the premier of Tucson’s Common Ground. Come be a part of the 1st monthly celebration of local community discovering and inventing Itself.

Be a part of a 100% Interactive Exploration in Education, Entertainment, Networking, Creativity, Dialogue, Music, Dance, Collaboration and FUN!

Where?: On top of the Pennington Street Garage (SE Corner of E. [...]

OptumHealth announced Sunday that a free help line was established for people in Tucson , Ariz. , faced with the emotional consequences of the recent shooting. Staffed by experienced master’s-level behavioral health specialists, the free help line offers assistance to callers seeking help in dealing with stress, anxiety and the grieving process. Callers [...]

[ Saturday, January 22, 2011; 9:00 am; ] Ward 6 Council Office, 3202 East 1st Street, Tucson, AZ 85716
Facilitated by Nan Carle

Time Banks take many shapes. They can be used in pursuit of such
wide-ranging goals as social justice, healthy lifestyles, and local
sustainability. At the most basic level, Time Banks involve earning Time
Dollars for hours you spend doing something for someone in your
neighborhood. Then [...]

[ Saturday, October 30, 2010; 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm. ] 2602 E. Grant Road

The Rally will be held locally while Jon Stewart’s Rally to Restore Sanity and
Stephen Colbert’s March to Keep Fear Alive occur in Washington, D.C. Our rally
highlights Tucson organizations that are providing sane solutions to intensifying
global challenges.

A solar-powered sound system will broadcast the tunes of local musicians,
a solar oven demonstration will be cooking [...]

[ Sunday, November 14, 2010; 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] ъглови легла

Taste Film, Talk Food – Film Festival

Presented by: Slow Food Tucson , Food Conspiracy Co-op and The Screening Room

The Screening Room will show 2 Films:
What’s Organic about Organic?
&
Food Fight

The festival will be followed by appetizers and drinks at 47 Scott.

Tickets are $15 (includes one beer or glass of wine [...]

Saturday, October 23rd, 2010- Natural Building and Passive Solar Design – This workshop includes hands on work with straw bales, adobe blocks, mud based plasters, cement based plasters, and cob. We’ll do hands on building of small structures like benches and walls – projects that you can easily do at your own [...]

[ Sunday, October 10, 2010; 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. ] Speedway and Grande

Workshop instructors: Catlow Shipek & Chris Stenken
10/10/10 is set to be a global day of action on climate change in over 180 countries. Events are being planned that demonstrate real solutions, that anybody and everybody can be a part of to the threat of climate change.

In Tucson, Watershed Management group will be installing [...]

[ Saturday, October 16, 2010; 8:00 am to 12:30 pm. ] Tucson is emerging as a regional and national leader in the implementation of green infrastructure strategies. Green infrastructure uses natural processes to provide environmental services. Many local examples use small basins to capture, clean, and infiltrate stormwater from streets and parking lots, while providing passive irrigation to gardens of native plants.

Join Watershed Management Group’s Green [...]

Barbara Rose, a teaching team member of the Sonoran Permaculture Guild has announced a series of intensive workshops about native foods, herbs, and earth crafts on the first and third Saturdays of each month.
More details are available at www.beantreefarm.com.

National Geographic has developed a cute (and informative) water use calculator. Even though it leaves out some of the ways in which we use and save water, you might enjoy giving it a try. Of course, you might want to pass the link on to your friends.
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/water-footprint-calculator/

[ Saturday, October 16, 2010; 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. ] At the HabiStore
3840 S. Palo Verde at Ajo (SW corner of Ajo and Palo Verde)

Learn from the gurus of green, as local experts share tips, info, and ways to go green and save greenbacks at the Green Living Fair in Partnership with AFV Day Odyssey. Discover steps for energy savings, resource conservation, organic gardening, composting, [...]

A recent study suggests that even though more of us are concerned about the environment and the importance of reducing our carbon footprint, most of us are poorly informed about the relative impact of energy saving actions we can take in our homes. Arguably “people seem conditioned to think of energy savings as they [...]

[ Thursday, September 9, 2010; 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. ] La Cocina at Old Town Artisan
201 North Court Tucson, AZ 85701
(near the Tucson Museum of Art downtown)

In the 1990’s, author Paul Ray’s research on changing values and lifestyles concluded that in the U.S. alone, there are over 50 million “Cultural Creatives”—adults participating in the social and consciousness movements, which have emerged since World War II. [...]

ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFITS FOR HOMEOWNERS
Are you interested in improving the energy efficiency
of your home?
Approximately 300 homes located within the City of Tucson will be selected to receive energy efficiency upgrades to reduce the home’s energy use by 15-20%.
Residential energy efficiency retrofit work may include things like substituting compact fluorescent light bulbs for [...]

Tom’s of Maine is asking for the public’s vote to determine five non-profit organizations that will each receive $20,000 through its “50 States for Good” initiative. This year, the “50 States for Good” program drew submissions from every state with a special focus on non-profits that need volunteers to help get important projects started in [...]

All political parties including independents are accountable to the emerging challenges of sustainability. The G.O.P. in Arizona is particularly accountable for the state’s catastrophic condition both now and going forward.
Despite voters’ May approval of Prop 100 to tax ourselves to solve some of the current deficiencies, the G.O.P. and its Tea Party affiliates continue to [...]

Here’s a nice little story about a truly “frugal” family writing a new chapter about living sustainably ( but unfortunately they live in Pasadena.) Perhaps some of you will figure out the secret for doing some of this here in Tucson.
Take a look here.

Transition United States is passing on the word about the great success enjoyed by the first Cyclovia Tucson. You can follow these stories here.

[ Sunday, May 23, 2010; 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm. ] Local chefs cook meals with produce from local gardens at a fundraiser
for Kim Fox’s travels from 4 to 6:30 p.m., Sunday, May 23. $25 to $75.
Mercado San Agustin 100 S. Avenida del Convento. Call 461-1106, or
visit theoriginalhoe.blogspot.com for more information.

Sara Jones of Tucson CSA will make dessert, and Amy Schwemm of Mano Y
Metate will make [...]

[ Saturday, April 24, 2010; 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. ] Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Road.

Citizens for Solar invites everyone to come and join in the fun of the 28th Annual Tucson Solar Potluck and Exhibition. This is the longest continuously running solar potluck in the world. See practical, innovative solar energy in useful action. People will be cooking food in dozens of types [...]

[ Saturday, April 17, 2010 2:00 pm to Saturday, April 24, 2010 2:00 pm. ] Join The Watershed Management Group in celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.  Earth Month events include:

April 10th: Green Streets Block Party, 4pm to 7pm
April 10th: Street Painting Event, 10am to 1pm
April 17th: Samos Neighborhood Green Streets Workshop, 8am to 1pm
April 18th: Green [...]

[ Sunday, March 21, 2010; 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. ] BECOME PART OF THE CHICKEN REVOLUTION!
RAISE CHICKENS IN YOUR BACKYARD

Come to the workshop teaching all aspects of raising chickens for meat and egg production ($20)

rsvp 622-1917 $20

[ Wednesday, March 17, 2010; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] Woods Memorial Library, Large Meeting Room

(West side of 1st Avenue, just south of Prince)

The March meeting of the Sustainable Tucson Working Group on Food & Agriculture will continue our series of programs featuring local leaders in food and agriculture. Bryn Jones, Executive Director of Native Seeds/SEARCH will join us for “A Conversation with Bryn Jones.” [...]

[ Sunday, April 18, 2010; 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. ] Cyclovia will give Tucson folks the chance to enjoy our great weather, see neighbors, friends and people from throughout Tucson, and get a little exercise – all on city streets that will be closed to car traffic and open to walkers, joggers, cyclists, skaters and all other forms of natural movement.

Motor vehicles are detoured from [...]

Dear Community Friends and Partners:

The first print edition of the Green Pueblo Map showcasing our community’s favorite “green” places and spaces will be available later this year.  If you haven’t already done so, we encourage you to “make your mark” on the map by nominating your favorite sustainable sites at www.greenpueblomap.org [...]

[ Saturday, March 27, 2010; 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. ] The 4th Annual Solar Rock Festival will be held on March 27th from noon to 6pm at Himmel Park, south east of Speedway and Tucson Blvd. This Free solar powered festival includes an outstanding lineup of local talent including Spirit Familia, Run Boy Run, Kevin Pakulis, Bruce Phillips, Drama Club, Leila Lopez, the winner of [...]

[ Thursday, February 18, 2010; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] Woods Memorial Library (West side of 1st Ave, south of Prince Rd. )
Large Meeting Room

Note:  If you were planning to join the Sustainable Tucson General Meeting on Monday, February 8, we’ve moved the program to the monthly meeting  of the Food Group on Thursday, February 18 at Woods Library.  This change of [...]

[ Friday, March 19, 2010 to Sunday, March 21, 2010. ] COMPREHENSIVE QUINCHA WORKSHOP (bamboo, mud and straw {cob})
School of Krofting Educational Series

Date: March 19, 20 and 21 2010
Cost: $180 per person ($50 non-refundable deposit to reserve a space)
Instructor: Kyle Young

Location:
School of Krofting
Erda Kroft Farm
Arivaca, Arizona

Online at: http://www.erdkfroft.com

During this 3 day workshop, we will be building a small quincha house. Quincha is an ancient building [...]

This editorial by Nicholas Kristof for the New York Times at first seems to be a plug for living in Costa Rica. In fact, it is filled with numerous links to measures of happiness and well-being, many of which incorporate assessments of sustainability. You can review this article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/opinion/07kristof.html

[ Saturday, April 17, 2010; 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. ] Tucson\’s 16th Annual Earth Day Festival and Parade will be held on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at Reid Park. The theme for the 2010 Festival is “All Species Deserve a Place on Earth!”  All species great and small – insects, plants and animals – the Earth needs them all!

Exhibits related to the environment will include [...]

A palindrome reads the same backwards as forward. This video reads the exact opposite backwards as forward.  Not only does it read the opposite, the [...]

Many Americans Mix Multiple Faiths
The religious beliefs and practices of Americans do not fit neatly into conventional categories. A new poll by the Pew Forum finds that large numbers of Americans engage in multiple religious practices, mixing elements of diverse traditions. Download the new report here.

[ Sunday, December 6, 2009; 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. ] Hello Food Enthusiasts, chicken revolutionist and organic gardeners!
Below are upcoming micro-urban farming workshops at Pachamama’s Garden.
Please call at 622-1917 for more information or to RSVP. All workshops $20.

CHICKEN REVOLUTIONIST WORKSHOP
Sunday – December 6th Noon- 2 pm
Sunday – December 13th Noon – 2 pm
Sunday – January 3rd Noon -2 pm
Sunday – January 24th Noon – 2 [...]

[ Monday, February 8, 2010; 5:45 pm to 8:00 pm. ] The focus of the Sustainable Tucson General Meeting will be Food Sustainability. On February 8, your view of food sustainability in Tucson ’s future may change forever. The Sustainable Tucson Working Group on Food & Agriculture will engage your mind and your tastebuds in thinking about the sources of food in Tucson, Pima County and [...]

[ Saturday, April 10, 2010; 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. ] Tucson-based nonprofit Watershed Management Group and the Rincon Heights Neighborhood Association are hosting a block party and cookout to celebrate and share their successful model program installing \”green infrastructure\” in the neighborhood. Green infrastructure is vegetated infrastructure that uses natural processes to provide services like flood and pollution reduction, traffic calming, wildlife habitat and [...]

Just a heads up that Hertz is the 1st to launch the Flex car program and it’s up and running at the U of A. You do not need to be a student to rent the vehicle. You can rent it for an hour, a few hours or even a day or more. It’s really a great program. [...]

[ Thursday, May 21, 2009; 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. ] Lee Stanley presents:
Thursday, May 21, 7:30 pm

1327 N. 4th Avenue

At 7:30, May 21st I will show a fifteen minute short called : City Repair.
City Repair is the story of a quintessential grassroots startup in
Portland, OR who transform space into place.

After that I will show ‘What a way to Go.,,Life after the end of
Empire, a [...]

[ Wednesday, June 17, 2009 to Sunday, June 21, 2009. ] 13th International IONS Conference
June 17 – 21, 2009
Marriott Star Pass Resort

Join mind-body pioneer Larry Dossey, MD; Bruce Lipton, author of Biology of Belief, and other inspiring, thoughtful, and visionary people to explore insights in science, social innovation, and the world’s wisdom traditions.

Early Registration Discount extended: $369 for members, seniors and students [...]

[ Wednesday, April 22, 2009; ] Sustainability Actions Everyone Can Do

We in Tucson face an unprecedented sustainability crisis including economic meltdown, climate change, resource depletion, and unraveling of the social fabric.——- Every level of our community is important in the effort to mitigate and adapt to these inter-related crises – household, neighborhood, small business, education, social service agencies, government, non-profits, and [...]

[ Saturday, April 25, 2009; ] 27th Annual Tucson Solar Potluck and Exhibition

April 25, 2009

10:00 a.m. until dark

Catalina State Park, Tucson, Arizona

Presented by Citizens for Solar

For information: 940-2565

Citizens for Solar invites everyone to come and join in the fun of the 27th Annual Tucson Solar Potluck and Exhibition.  This is the longest continuously running solar potluck in the world.  See practical, [...]

JANUARY General meeting — Organizing questions:
How can we get past the barriers that keep groups separated?
What needs to happen to create cooperation and inspiration instead of divisiveness and perhaps violence?
How do we shift our thinking to value relationships and peace and quiet over acquiring stuff and consuming stuff?
What can we do to recreate a more [...]

“You can solve all your pollution problems and supply-line needs through a garden.”
Permaculture turns Middle East salt flat into sustaining harvest.

[Longer version: Making of interview before and after]

[ Tuesday, June 24, 2008; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Wednesday, August 13, 2008; 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. ]
Free “Green building” seminars!
Currently two are scheduled:
June 24th, 6:30 PM, at Councilmember Nina Trasoff’s ward 6 office on East First Avenue.

???????? August 13th, 6:30 PM, at Councilmember Rodney Glassman’s ward 2 office on East Speedway.

The seminars are open to anyone, but seating is limited to about 20 people per [...]

Faith communities of the greater Tucson area are coming together to fight global warming. On this coming Earth Day, April 22, 2008, leaders from various faith groups will be offering a workshop for Tucson faith communities to reduce our carbon footprint.
This all-day workshop at St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church (3809 East 3rd Street) will focus [...]