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Greener cleaning, great virtual programs, and sustainability news!
Greener Cleaning (and Disinfecting) Options During the Pandemic
Read our November Sustainability Savings Tip [PDF] where we shed some light on the least toxic products available. Learn:
- The difference between cleaning vs. disinfecting.
- EPA's list of 'least hazardous' disinfectants.
- How to dispose of products you no longer use.
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Water - Plant It Wisely is all about how to landscape using easy-care, water-wise plants. It's still a great time to plant and we've got plant selection ideas and more! By choosing low-water-use plants, you help conserve our precious water supply for generations to come. Don't have a yard? We have great container gardening ideas for you, too!
Plant at right: DYK Hesperaloe is also available in yellow?
November Landscape Watering Guidelines & Tips We didn't have to dial back our clocks a few weeks ago, but it is a great reminder that it’s time to cut back on watering. Check out our recommendations for watering frequency.
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Green Home Buyer’s Guide. Are you looking to buy a new home? Check out this guide from the City of Scottsdale. Aesthetics are so important, but it's what's inside that counts!
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Read about Monarch Migration. Monarchs are in the last leg of their migration journey but are still appearing in good numbers in the lower deserts of Arizona and coastal California. Learn more about monarchs in the West in this weekly update from our friends at SW Monarch Study. |
Mark Your Calendar!
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Each Saturday, 8 a.m. to Noon: Located in the beautiful Pioneer Park! Find local farmers, food artisans, amazing food trucks, and local makers. Grab some produce, hand crafted bread or fresh flowers for your home! Ample parking. This week, get delicious hand pressed tortillas filled with unique flavor combinations with Chilte Tacos.
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From Desert Rivers Audubon Monthly Speaker series via Zoom. Kyle Horton, Colorado State University, will present this fascinating discussion about how hundreds of millions, if not billions, of migratory birds pass in and out of broad geographic areas.
Yes, it is legal to use greywater in Arizona. From Watershed Management Group’s "Steward In Place" virtual events, this class is for people ready to learn how to install their own greywater L2L system.
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The EPA encourages every American to contribute by recycling right, not only on every annual America Recycles Day, but all year. It has been a difficult and unstable year for recycling due to increased contamination and recycling processing fees, as well as decreasing commodity values. As you may be aware, these factors along with challenges from COVID-19 caused Mesa to suspend recycling services for a few months. Here are some encouraging updates: |
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Household Hazardous Materials Facility While Mesa will safely dispose of hazardous items, we also look at options to reuse or recycle items brought into our facility.
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November's Take & Make Kit, available from our three Mesa Library branches, is a fall leaf wreath made from recycled book pages. Ask for the kit at the Park & Pick-Up Service at Mesa Library. Age group: Children or the child inside of you.
- While recycling is a great way to keep items out of the landfill, please keep in mind that not everything can be recycled. To reduce waste overall, be a conscious consumer, buy and sell used items, and always reuse items whenever possible.
Don’t miss instructor, Catlow Shipek as he shares how to bring desert soils to life with greywater, stormwater, plant trimmings, and more. Offered by Watershed Management Group’s "Steward In Place" virtual events.
Here are some fun ideas for getting out of the house over the Thanksgiving Holiday:
Desert Arroyo Park, 9320 E McKellips Rd. This beautiful 58-acre parcel of native desert uplands is located at the northeast corner of McKellips and Ellsworth Roads. The park takes full advantage of the site’s natural desert landscape with a passive park focusing on experiencing the native desert.
 Park of the Canals, 1710 N Horne. This hidden gem of 31 acres got its name as it is the location of prehistoric (Hohokam period), historic, and modern canals. There is also a playground and a botanical garden and walk at the site.
Desert Trails Park, 2955 N Recker Rd. Includes a series of biking trails, a pump track, and a kids’ skills track. The trails consist of a ¾-mile perimeter trail for hiking and non-motorized bike use.
Backyard Ecology: Get to know the Birds and Plants around you! With the cooler weather, it is a great time to get out and explore your own neighborhood! This 2-part “Backyard” Ecology series (suitable for grades 4 and beyond, but there are ideas for younger students too) will get you outside and help you identify native birds and plants in your own neighborhood.
Mesa Historical Museum Has Reopened. Located in the Old Lehi School, new exhibits include Women in Aviation and Mesa’s Founding Families. Hours are Tue-Sat 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All visitors will be required to wear facemasks and numbers of visitors will be limited, so call ahead…
Arizona Museum of Natural History and i.d.e.a. Museum Now Reopened Both of our amazing downtown museums are now open with reduced capacity and timed visits. View each locations website for guidelines.
 Carbon Monoxide Awareness Maintaining natural gas appliances is the best way to ensure they are operating efficiently. Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless toxic gas that can be fatal. Initial symptoms are similar to the flu (but without fever) and may include nausea, fatigue, dizziness, or…
East Valley Veterans Parade Will Have a Creative COVID-safe Format This year's East Valley Veterans Parade will have a creative, COVID-safe format - in reverse. Residents from throughout the valley will be encouraged to decorate their automobiles in patriotic themes to express their appreciation for lives of service as they drive through the parade route to view the parade entries.
Maricopa County Fireplace Retrofit and Propane Fire Pit Programs The Maricopa County Air Quality Department offers air pollution reduction financial incentives or grants for implementing clean air technologies. Help clear the air with these vouchers and incentives!
Plant of the Month: Winter Blooms in the Southwest Garden. Living in the desert southwest has many advantages, including being able to have a landscape filled with blooms all winter long…
ASU, Phoenix Work Together to Lower Temperatures, Conserve Water by 'Greening' Urban Spaces New joint research between ASU and the city of Phoenix is taking an in-depth look at the best ways to incorporate more trees, shrubs and grass around the city to curb urban heat and pollution — all while conserving water…
Hitting the CAP Trail! You just might want to add this trail to your list. The Central Arizona Project Canal has been developing a multiuse trail for walking, jogging, equestrian, cycling, roller blading. Note that public motorized uses aren’t allowed.
Drought Status - Arizona Department of Water Resources If you’re not tired of looking at maps, the U.S. Drought Monitor is showing a lot of red and burgundy indicating that we are experiencing extreme and exceptional drought in most areas of the state. Unless you live at Sky Harbor Airport who somehow got almost an inch of rain in August, the rest of us haven't seen significant rain since March!
Nov. 12, 5-6:15 p.m. The Future of Green Building with Anthony Floyd, the long-time Scottsdale Green Building Program Manager will discuss how the green building movement has evolved and will share his perspectives on continued efforts in the green building arena. Presented by the AZ Green Chamber and Green Living Magazine.
Nov. 13, 6:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tree Worker’s Workshop. Presented by the Arizona Community Tree Council, this training includes basics on tree health, pruning, removal, cabling and bracing, safety and climbing techniques. Tumbleweed Rec Center in Chandler.
Nov. 17-20. Global Seed Summit. Phoenix’s Urban Farm U has teamed up with Rocky Mountain Seed Alliance to offer a free, 4-day online event where you can learn tips and strategies for saving seeds for your garden, connect with opportunities to stock up on bulk seeds to start a seed library.
Jan. 11, 2021 spanning 6 weeks. ASU’s The Sustainability Opportunity is an intensive online certificate seminar that combines the power of the consistently top ranked W.P. Carey School of Business with the pioneering first-in-the-nation School of Sustainability. Register by Nov. 12 to save $100.
Anytime. Silicon Mountain is a documentary that explores the cycle of e-waste and what companies in the electronic recycling industry are doing to solve the problem. We live in a culture of use and throw-away and what we do with our outdated electronics directly impacts the world. Watch online.
 Have you seen the Acrocanthosaurus dinosaur busting out of our museum? Don't forget to visit the i.d.e.a. Museum and AZ Museum of Natural History in downtown Mesa. Both museums are now open with reduced capacity and timed tickets.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Find our City of Mesa facility closures and changes to programs/services, general information, and resources during the COVID-19 emergency.
Mesa CARES. The City launched a Mesa CARES initiative in an effort to connect individuals, families, and businesses who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to available resources.
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