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Sept-Oct, 2023
Volume 4, Issue 5
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Working to improve lives, communities, the environment, and economies throughout Pima County. | | |
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Bringing Veggies to People
The Garden Kitchen is embarking on an exciting new venture as we launch our mobile produce market in Pima County! The program will address three main concerns in the food system: food insecurity for lower-resourced residents, inequity in the availability of fresh, local produce, and support of small local farmers. It was conceived after many conversations with participants about the lack of fresh, local, and affordable produce in the areas that they travel to most often. The Garden Kitchen then ran a series of focus groups to understand more specifically what the needs of different populations were and ran two pilot programs at Tucson House. Through the data collected during pilot programming, it was determined that a mobile market offering choices in produce at an affordable rate was needed and wanted by residents.
For the mobile produce program, The Garden Kitchen will purchase produce at fair market price from local growers at partner organizations such as the International Rescue Committee’s New Roots Program and Tucson Village Farm and will sell it in neighborhoods that lack adequate access to local produce, at a discounted rate. Sites will include various community partners such as libraries, community centers, and affordable housing. The program also aims to fill part of the current service gap for local farmers that are slightly too big for adequate sales through the cooperative of backyard growers but are not ready to sell to larger organizations. The program will be run from our refrigerated van and will also offer an educational component at the market. Future plans include accepting nutrition assistance benefits, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Double Up Food Bucks Arizona, and the Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) as payment so that residents are able to stretch their food dollars further. We are excited to be able to serve as a liaison between growers who are seeking more economic opportunities and residents who want to purchase local high-quality produce.
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New and Improved Pima Extension Web Pages
Director's Note
Our Pima Extension web pages are the primary way that we connect and provide needed information to Pima County citizens. Both Tucson Village Farm and Smartscape launched new pages last year, and over the last several months, many of our other programs improved existing web pages and created new ones. Our Pima EFNEP (Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program) and Family Engagement Program web pages are improved to better help prospective participants understand the scopes and purposes of these programs and to make it clearer how to sign up for classes. The Pima Master Gardener page has been overhauled so that people can quickly find library talks and online Zoom presentations, learn about events such as the very popular twice-yearly plant sales, or ask a plant question through an easy-to-use online form. For those interested in invasive grasses and what they can do to help control the spread of buffelgrass, we have a new Invasive Species page where people can schedule community presentations, demonstrations, or neighborhood home visits. The Pima 4-H webpages have been updated with current 4-H club information and streamlined information to help youth and volunteers connect to the program. In addition, we are excited to launch two new 4-H pages one for the Ranch Education and Agriculture Stewardship program and one for the 4-H Juntos program. Our website offers a wealth of information, including links to past issues of the Round-Up, annual reports, and staff information. Find great new opportunities, events, resources, and more on the Pima County Cooperative Extension Website.
Claire L. Zucker
Director, Pima County Cooperative Extension
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Find Your Spark as a
4-H Volunteer
4-H is the largest youth organization in the United States and Pima County 4-H is home to 30 clubs with more than 700 club members, ages 5-18. Upwards of 140 active volunteers are the indispensable link with youth to make our rich and rewarding program successful. Being a 4-H volunteer is an amazing way to connect with youth, share your expertise, and help grow the next generation of leaders. Urban and rural youth in Pima County participate in a wide range of hands-on projects such as shooting sports, animal husbandry, cooking, leadership, citizenship, and much more! There is room for everyone in 4-H! As our club programs are growing and evolving, we need dedicated hands-on volunteers to contribute to the youth 4-H programs in our region. You can lead or participate in a project, be a project or club coordinator, or start by helping out at events or the County Fair. Whatever your spark is, we can help you find it with 4-H! To become a 4-H volunteer, start completing a Volunteer Application Packet. Once your application is complete, email a signed copy to Madison Ramirez at mramirez519@arizona.edu. Once your application is submitted, you can then follow the steps listed here to complete the certification process to become an authorized adult 4-H volunteer. We look forward to having you join our community here at Pima County 4-H!
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Become a 4-H Healthy Living Ambassador
4-H Tucson Village Farm proudly marks the 10th year of its transformative 4-H Healthy Living Ambassadors (HLA) program, inviting youths aged 12+ to join this exceptional journey. The HLA program began with a vision to empower Tucson's youth, originating with just a handful of passionate young individuals, and the program has grown into a thriving platform for nurturing healthy habits and community service. Offering diverse activities such as stained glass art, culinary medicine, farm apprenticeships, financial literacy, and backpacking meal production, it equips participants with lifelong skills. HLA goes beyond personal development. Annual events like the "Tunes Under the Moon" fundraising concert, the Grand Canyon hike, and the K.A.L.E. Conference provide opportunities for youth to engage in impactful community projects. Parents of previous participants have praised the program, with one stating, "My teen WANTS to go to HLA events. It's her community away from home." Another shared, "This was his 'happy place.' He preferred going to the farm instead of playing video games and even started his own vegetable garden at home!"Ready to embark on this life-changing journey? Sign up now and be part of the 4-H Healthy Living Ambassadors program. Don't miss the chance to grow, learn, and positively impact your life and community– Sign up Here.
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New Rainwater Harvesting Rebates For Passive Systems
Tucson Water has an excellent rainwater harvesting rebate program for its residential customers. First offered in 2012, the program has recently been updated to more fully align with One Water goals including treating all water sources as equally important. Updated goals include:
- Capturing onsite rainwater as a functional water source
- Utilizing rainwater to grow landscape plants and urban canopy to yield more vegetation without increasing potable use and to decrease potable water use
- Aligning 1” rainfall capture with regional stormwater retention requirements
Most significantly, this means that more resources are being offered for passive rainwater harvesting systems such as basins and earthworks. As of July 1, 2023, passive features receive $1.50/gallon of storage, calculated after dimensions are entered (into the online application tool). Water harvesting systems must be sized to capture at least one inch of rainwater from the drainage area to receive the maximum rebate. Systems installed before July 1, 2023, are subject to the old rebate policy. Pima Smartscape offers the required free rainwater harvesting workshop, which must be taken before completing a fully labeled project site plan. Site plans must be submitted and approved by Tucson Water before installation can begin. The application process is explained in the class. Join us in helping to cool our environment while ensuring we have enough high-quality water to meet our community’s needs into the next century!
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Harvest Veggies Make Delicious Treats
Pumpkin season is here! Pima County EFNEP would like to remind you that buying veggies and fruits when they are in season is one of the top ways to save money when buying healthy food. You get to enjoy produce that is freshly harvested at its peak, making it more nutrient dense AND you get to save money too, as prices are usually lower when the harvest is abundant! You can make these delicious cranberry pumpkin muffins with fresh pumpkin and cranberries, but, like we tell our participants, when it comes to good nutrition, all forms of veggies and fruit matter… fresh, frozen, canned… If it makes life easier for you to have frozen and canned produce on hand then please, by all means, do that. We’re rooting for your healthy eating routine to be sustainable! Definitely enjoy these muffins any time of the year using canned pumpkin and frozen cranberries. For more easy, low-cost recipe ideas and information about pumpkins and cranberries check out MyPlate.Gov.
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Parenting and Financial Literacy Work Together
The Family Engagement Program at UA Cooperative Extension in Pima County and Gila County and the Take Charge America Institute at the Norton School of Human Ecology are joining forces to create a new program called Money Talks: Family Edition! This program helps families build practical skills to make financial decisions for their futures using tools that improve the relationships between parents and caregivers and their teens! In this program families learn:
- How each person thinks about money
- What drives everyone’s decisions about money
- The difference between needs and wants
- Their family’s values related to money
- How financial literacy translates into life skills
Money Talks: Family Edition is an eight-session series for parents and their teens (aged 12-18)! The series will begin at the Higher Ground Center at Wakefield Elementary in South Tucson on Thursday, September 21, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and will include dinner and childcare for children who are not participating in the program. This special two-generation class helps you and your teens make decisions as a family and plan for the future. Interested families may Register here or contact Vicki Hadd-Wissler at vhaddwissler@arizona.edu.
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Invasive Grasses Fuel Fires
We've all seen the devastating photos and read about the tragic losses suffered by the Lahaina community on Maui. But what many people may not realize was that much of the fuel for the fires was something that's very familiar in Pima County, Buffelgrass. Decades ago, Maui's landscape was dominated by ranches, as well as pineapple and sugarcane plantations. Grasses like buffelgrass, guinea grass, and molasses grass were brought to Hawaii to feed the cattle and prevent erosion. However, as plantations closed down, the invasive grasses took over. These African grasses love the fire in their natural savannah habitat and grow back with a vengeance after a burn. But in Hawaii or say...Arizona, fire is not something the ecosystem has evolved to deal with. This article in Time Magazine provides further information on the invasive species situation in Maui. Experts have been sounding the alarm on buffelgrass in the Sonoran Desert for many years and the situation in Maui brings the threat into clear focus. To find out what you can do to protect our desert and residential areas please visit Pima Extension’s recently launched Invasive Species Program webpage. Whether it's a presentation for a group, expert guidance on how to treat invasive plants in your neighborhood or a hands-on buffelgrass removal experience in a scenic desert area, we're here to help you take a step in the right direction!
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Welcome Bethany
We are excited to welcome Bethay Faughn to our Pima Extension Master Gardener Program. Bethany grew up in West Virginia and began her career by serving four years of active duty in the Marine Corps and training in communications. After the military, Bethany moved to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona where she majored in Anthropology. Wanting more work experience, she paused her studies and took a job with the Forest Service. Bethany enjoyed her time outdoors but missed interacting with people and thus decided to pursue a more public-facing role. This past Spring, we welcomed her at Pima Extension to work with the Master Gardener program and now she has expanded her role to also assist the Pima Smartscape program. Welcome Bethany!
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Welcome Zeleste!
The Family Engagement Program is pleased to welcome Zeleste Arce as the new Administrative Specialist. Zeleste recently relocated from San Diego. She has worked in a number of industries with a focus on employee relations, training and development, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, budgeting, and finance. Most recently, she worked as a Talent Recruiter at the San Diego Zoo! Zeleste grew up in Tucson and is excited to be back. She loves hanging out at the pool and enjoying time with her family. She said is looking forward to working with all of you! Welcome Zeleste!
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UArizona Pima County Cooperative Extension
Programs and Upcoming Events
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Pima County Cooperative Extension
Website | 2022 Annual Report
Main Office: 4210 N Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719-1109
Green Valley Location: 530 E Whitehouse Canyon Rd
South Tucson, The Garden Kitchen: 2205 S 4th Avenue
Email: pcce@arizona.edu
Our Main Office on Campbell is open M-F 8:30 - 4:30
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All PCCE program subscribers also receive our bi-monthly Round-Up. To be removed from the Round-Up e-list, choose the "Update Profile" link below. Do not choose the "Unsubscribe" link unless you wish to be removed from all PCCE program correspondence
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