Trade Your Water-Thirsty Landscape for a Xeriscape
If you’re tired of all the water, time, and effort and you’ve entertained the idea of converting your grassy outdoors to a colorful Xeriscape, the best time is right now.
Read our August Sustainability Savings Tip [PDF] for all the resources you need including incentives available from Mesa.
Don't miss our workshop next month (listed below), presented by Noelle Johnson, the AZ Plant Lady!
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WORKSHOP! Grass-to-Xeriscape: Saving More Than Water
Sept. 9, 10-11:30 a.m. Dobson Ranch Library
Join us to learn how to transition your yard from grass to a Xeriscape landscape, which provides cooling shade and is easier to maintain. Oh, and did we mention it saves water? City of Mesa staff will outline Mesa’s Grass-to-Xeriscape Landscape Program which now offers up to $1,100 for a qualifying conversion. Then our favorite AZ Plant Lady, Noelle Johnson, will talk about grass removal options and design concepts to consider for the new landscape. All attendees will be entered to win one of two $50 gift cards to a local nursery. Registration is not required. Learn more about the workshop.
Workshop Tip: Once on the Library Calendar page, you can click on the box at the top with the clock to have a reminder sent or click on the box with the calendar to add to your calendar! 😊 Thank you, Mesa Library! 😊
Check out these other great Mesa Library Programs
Resident's Guide to Mesa
The Resident's Guide to Mesa is a series of free classes with useful information to support Mesa residents who want to improve their neighborhoods. Attend classes to better understand city services, connect to other people with common neighborhood concerns, and walk away with new tools and training to make positive changes in your community.
Aug. 22, 6-7:30 p.m. Resident’s Guide to Taking Care of Your Neighborhood
Sept. 19, 6-7:30 p.m. Resident’s Guide to Building Community in Your Neighborhood
Nov. 14, 6-7:30 p.m. Resident's Guide to Community & Civic Engagement
Learn more and register. Also, watch for more details about a special class geared toward HOA's and saving water with water conservation incentives (coming in October).
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Good Food Forum + Expo
Aug. 29, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. This Local First Arizona-sponsored event is a perfect opportunity to engage with local food leaders, policymakers, farmers and ranchers, food entrepreneurs, and purveyors – and experience Arizona’s finest foods and ingredients. There is a great lineup of presenters for the program! The expo will showcase over 80 local vendors from all areas of food systems. Farmers, wholesalers, food artisans, brewers, wineries, and distillers from across Arizona will be sampling their products, discussing the industry, and growing their networks. We're excited that this event is happening in Mesa at the Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center St.
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Mesa Arts Center Kicks Off the 2023-2024 Season with Free Community Celebration
Sept. 8, 6-10 p.m. Festival highlights include live music, live painting demos, connect with nature – meet critters from the Phoenix Zoo, be "In the Clouds" art installation, and more. Free family fun!
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The 2023 Urban Farm Fruit Tree Program - Fruit Tree 'Root' Camp!
Sept. 9, 9 a.m.-Noon. This free, live, online event will provide virtually everything you need to know to successfully grow fruit trees in the low desert! Learn how to triple your fruit yield, grow healthier and disease-resistant trees, keep your fruit trees watered, and grow more kinds of fruit in a small space. Click here to register!
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Mesa Mayor John Giles Appointed to National Electric Vehicle Working Group
Mayor Giles, the only mayor and elected official, is among the 23 members of the Electric Vehicle Working Group, charged with guiding the widespread adoption of electric vehicles across the country...
Reclamation Confirms a Tier 1 Colorado River Shortage for 2024 What is happening with the Colorado River? The wet winter has offered some temporary relief by lifting the elevation...
The City of Mesa Remains in Stage One - Water Watch Mesa will take advantage of this winter's reprieve to continue preparing for a future with less Colorado River water. Planning initiatives include investing in infrastructure, ramping up conservation programs, and exploring water resiliency projects...
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Downtown Mesa's Sirrine House Project
Calling all Urban Farmers!! The City of Mesa is soliciting a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for an urban farmer and community educator at the Sirrine House, located at 160 N. Center Street in Mesa. The City reimagines the Sirrine House as a center for onsite agriculture production and agriculture-oriented community education. The application window closes on September 28, 2023. Learn more about the project and find the link to the RFQ
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Household Hazardous Materials Facility for Items Too Toxic to Trash!
Open Wed-Sat, 7 a.m. to Noon. Many items that are used or found in our homes do not belong in the trash barrel, or recycle barrel, and should not be poured down the drain or into the street. Instead, they can be reused, recycled, or disposed of properly to prevent pollution. City of Mesa residents should bring these hazardous and other accepted items to the HHM Facility for proper disposal. Our convenient drive-thru provides a quick and easy drop-off process. Did you know we also have a Swap Shop? Get the details.
NOTE: Don't forget, the facility does not accept prescription drugs and other medications. However, Mesa offers MedReturn boxes at four Police Stations. Learn more.
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Downtown Community Garden
Mesa Urban Garden is a downtown community garden located at 212 E. 1st Ave. Beds can be leased by the public and there are community beds where fresh food is grown for United Food Bank. The walls are adorned with beautiful murals. Out front, the landscape area has curb cuts that allow the entry of stormwater runoff into planted bioswales – a vegetated catchment area that helps improve the water quality by filtering the water through plant roots and soil. There is a Little Library onsite. Stay tuned for an upcoming educational series thanks to a grant supported by The People's Garden initiative from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service.
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Mesa's Climate Action Plan calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and establishing strategies to increase sustainability in our community. Residents and businesses can become more climate ready with guidance from our six focus areas of Energy, Heat Mitigation, Air Quality, Water Stewardship, Materials Management and Food Systems.
This month, as we break local and worldwide high temperature records, let's talk about heat mitigation.
Why is it getting hotter?
- Greenhouse gases like CO2 and methane trap the sun’s heat.
- Pavement and buildings absorb and retain daytime heat.
How Can You Help?
- Plant trees to provide cooling shade.
- Use permeable pavers for sidewalks and driveways.
- Reduce your carbon footprint by saving energy.
When you participate in our Grass-to-Xeriscape incentive program, you can add an eligible tree or two as part of your project to get an additional $50 to $100. Trees add value by cleaning the air, shading our homes, and cooling our neighborhoods.
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-Learn to Live Green-
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