The complexity of many of our environmental concerns, including the causes of climate change, can get overwhelming – even causing a condition called climate anxiety. What's the best way to fight that stress? Action. When we come together as a community, we can create real change. And the good news? There are countless ways to make a difference.

Making small, earth-friendly choices—like conserving water—is a great start. But real change happens when we take it a step further with civic engagement. That means coming together, taking action, and making our voices heard. Whether it’s volunteering at a food bank, planting trees, joining a neighborhood association, or pushing for policy change, every effort counts. So get involved—because when we work together, we create impact!

Thur., March 6, 5-6:30 p.m. Businesses (or nonprofits) looking for actionable strategies to lower costs while increasing profits, reducing environmental impact, and boosting brand recognition are invited to attend the upcoming business transformation workshop hosted by the City of Mesa in partnership with Local First Arizona.

• Learn how reducing waste can lead to greater savings.
• Explore incentives and funding options for upgrades.
• Strengthen customer loyalty by becoming an environmentally conscious business.
• Receive a personalized sustainability plan and actionable improvement ideas.

One of Mesa's Green Certified businesses will cater the event and attendees will have the chance to win high-value raffle prize baskets designed to help businesses save money. Whether just beginning the journey toward sustainability or looking to enhance existing efforts, this workshop provides valuable insights and resources.

Free, but registration required. Location: The newly renovated Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios, 59 E. 1st St., Floor 2.

Fri, Feb 21, 8-11 am: Get your tree and planting questions answered in person and meet the City of Mesa’s Urban Forest Program Manager and Water Conservation staff. Pick up the new Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert booklet.

SummerWinds Nursery, 3160 S. Country Club Dr. Learn more.

Sat, Feb 22, 8 am to Noon: TexKan Sweetheart, Grightmire's Pride, and Dusky Maiden may sound like contenders for the Kentucky Derby, but they’re not racehorses—they’re delicious tomato varieties grown by the East Valley Garden Club!

Offering over 20 varieties of tomatoes, 10+ varieties of peppers, squash, herbs, and more. Flowers and plant materials from members' gardens will also be available. Cash only! LOCATION: 1105 N Delmar, Mesa. See flyer.

Tue, Feb 25, 6-7:30 pm. Do your friends ask, "What's up?" and you answer, "My water bill"? Maybe it’s time to trade in that tired lawn for a colorful Xeriscape landscape—and you could qualify for up to $1,100 from the City of Mesa!

Join City of Mesa staff for a quick overview of the Grass-to-Xeriscape Landscape Program, followed by an inspiring presentation from everyone’s favorite AZ Plant Lady, Noelle Johnson. She’ll guide you through grass removal and share creative design ideas for transforming your yard into a stunning desert oasis. Details. Don't miss it!

Sat, Mar 1, 8 am to Noon. The SRP Water Conservation Expo brings together members of the community to celebrate water in the Valley and discover ways to conserve at home. This free event includes great discounts on smart irrigation controllers. Get a Rachio 3 or Hunter Controller for $60+tax (retail value is $240 and $385 respectively). New this year is an offer to purchase efficient sprinkler spray heads and nozzles at a discount.

Sign up for classes, including a water harvesting workshop, and find a wide array of exhibitors. Don’t miss the mini plant sale hosted by the Desert Botanical Garden!

Mesa's water conservation staff will be on hand for one-on-one chats about our programs, including our grass-to-xeriscape incentive. At our Water – Use It Wisely booth, you’ll have the chance to meet Noelle Johnson, the AZ Plant Lady—a favorite local blogger and author. She’ll share expert advice on landscape design and gardening. Plus, you can enter to win one of her books: Dry Climate Gardening or The Water-Smart Garden!

LOCATION: PERA Club, 1 E Continental Dr., Tempe. Advance registration for a controller is highly recommended. Learn more!

Sat, March 1, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., I Love Mesa Day returns with a full day of free, family-friendly and outdoor events in Downtown Mesa. If you haven't been to downtown in a while, now’s the perfect time to rediscover its unique charm! Find new favorites in town—from delicious spots like Main Burger and Burritoholics to lively pubs like Pedal Haus Brewery. Explore the brand-new City Hall, complete with a stunning sculpture out front, and step back in time at The Post, a historic venue that once housed Mesa’s first post office. Get details.

Sat, Mar 22, 10 am to Noon: Come to the Monarch Garden at the Red Mountain Library to celebrate the spring equinox. We will have crafts, exhibitors from the Southwest Monarch Study, Desert Botanical Garden, Environmental & Sustainability, and more. Get the details. Take a tour of the Monarch Haven & Reading Sanctuary, walk the labyrinth for outdoor meditation.

The spring equinox is the day when day and night are nearly equal in length because the sun is directly above the equator. It marks the official start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere (officially March 20). From this point on days start getting longer and nights shorter!

Photo: Monarch laying egg on Desert Milkweed by Kirti Mathura

Farm to Mesa Market

Sundays from 9 am to 1 pm. Now located at 104 E. 1st Ave. in downtown Mesa. Find vendors with tasty foods, baked goods, crafts, and produce. Be sure to visit Just Farm, a new urban grower, who is cultivating fresh produce on a 1/5-acre farm in the heart of downtown Mesa.

Learn more.

Ready to make a splash in Mesa? Want a FREE yard makeover and to help your community? ASU, Watershed Management Group, and the City of Mesa are looking for a resident to host a rainwater harvesting project!

The participant must:

• Be willing to transform your front yard into a rainwater harvesting demonstration site.
• Live within the blue areas in the map.
• Have no flood irrigation.
• Host 18-22 learners/participants two Saturdays in your front yard, allowing them to design and install.
• Be available to schedule the install this March/April.

In exchange, a selected participant will receive a rainwater harvesting site design, basic earth moving, and trees for free!

Please email Stephen, Mesa's Urban Forest Program Manager, your name, phone number, and home address, at Stephen.addison@mesaaz.gov to register. ASU will determine if your front yard qualifies and will follow up with additional details.

Can it be RECYCLED?

Did you know that Mesa has a Paint Reuse Program? Many types of paint contain chemicals that are harmful to our environment and cannot be disposed of in regular landfills. Bring your unused latex paint (water-based paint) to our Household Hazardous Materials Facility to be recycled. The latex paint is sorted, mixed by shade (light, medium, and dark), and stored in 5-gallon containers. It is then made available, free of charge, to Mesa residents through the Swap Shop which is located at the facility.

Anytime you're wondering what can be recycled, just ask the Recycle Right Wizard.

City of Mesa Unveils Monument Signage for Asian District, Celebrating Culture and Community As the East Valley Community begins Lunar New Year celebrations, the City of Mesa has unveiled new monument signage...

Communities should determine water-saving landscapes for new developments This week, state senators will consider Senate Bill 1523, which would prohibit municipalities from requiring a minimum number of trees, shrubs, ground cover, and open spaces—including parks—for new subdivisions and other developments. Its sole advantage is to give developers a way to cut their landscaping costs.   

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Certified Arborist Training Course is taking place in Mesa The Arizona Community Tree Council is presenting this 6-class course, taking place from March 6 to April 11, designed to prepare tree-care industry workers...