Green Living Magazine - April 2022

your conscious life

GREEN LIVING April 2022

greenlivingmag.com

Dark Skies

The best spots in Arizona to see the Milky Way Our Beautiful Earth From Above Roots of the Verde Valley Grand Canyon Conservancy Celebrating 90 Years

US $4.99

Green Living AZ 13845 N Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85254

The Selflessness of Water

BY MICHAEL GEYER

Most people would not describe water as being selfless. After all it’s just a compound element or a form of matter… right? It can move in any direction, runs deep or shallow, it can rage and swell, it can be silent or loud, creative or destructive.

However, water is truly one of the greatest blessings to mankind and is also a great example of selflessness. It’s an element that serves almost every living creature on the planet in more ways than one and expects nothing in return. It serves as an eternal touch of love that reaches out to everyone and everything in existence without hesitation or discrimination.

There is a destructive side to water. It can wipe out an entire city with ease. And yet, water is a viable part of nature nurturing new growth exponentially. Studies have shown that water has memory. Imagine the stories it could tell.

The elements of water contain the ingredients that are the recipe for life.

ot

by

os

If you would like to learn more about our systems and how they can help you, please feel free to contact us at www.exwsystems.com or call us at 480-694-4709. Exceptional Water Systems… continuously thriving to provide Healthy Water for Humanity!

ph

Exceptional Water Systems continuously strives to better understand the different characteristics of water every day. We seek to provide that clean, safe and healthy water environment for all that pursue it.

We utilize nature’s most powerful sanitizer and oxidizer on the planet to treat water — ozone. We also utilize a few of nature’s most abundant gasses such as “carbon dioxide” to manage the pH in the water. By utilizing these natural elements, we create an environment that is great for people, animals and vegetation.

La

rr y

Ca

rn e

s, R

ef e

c ti o n W a te rs

Utilizing natural elements to balance water.

We are committed to making water pure.

Experience a Chemical-Free Swimming Environment Visit EXWSYSTEMS.COM to learn more!

Call today at 480-694-4709 451 E Juanita Ave. Suite 20 Mesa, AZ 85204

T HE F U T U R E OF AR IZONA’S W ILDLIFE IS IN YOU R HAN DS. The Arizona Game & Fish Department

And we do it all without any Arizona general

provides critical on-the-ground conservation

tax funds. Our funding sources are limited,

work to ensure wildlife is around for this

and your donation helps us conserve and

and future generations.

protect these species.

BECOME A CONSERVATION MEMBER TODAY. JOIN OUR MISSION: AZWILDLIFEHERO.COM/MEMBER

WH E N YO U GIVE , YO U AL SO RECE IVE .

SET OF 5 WILDLIFE NOTECARDS

SUBSCRIPTION TO W I L D + L I F E E - N E WS L E T T E R

A R I Z O N A W I L D L I F E V I E WS SUBSCRIPTION* * Ch a m p i o n M e m b e r s h i p o n l y

@azgfd

FUR, FINS AND

FEATHERS PROTECTING ARIZONA’S DIVERSE WILDLIFE

A

rizona’s wildlife is often portrayed as a few iconic species - a howling coyote or a rattlesnake ready to strike. But Arizona is actually the most biologically diverse inland state and is home to over 800 species of wildlife. Train your eyes on the sky and you might see a soaring kestrel, red-tailed hawk or bald eagle.

Arizona anglers can spot the distinctive speckled beauty of Gila and Apache trout in streams, while species from pronghorns to prairie dogs make their home in Arizona’s open spaces.

Thanks to the efforts of Arizona Game and Fish and its partnership with the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management committee, the number of breeding pairs of bald eagles in Arizona has grown from just 11 in 1978 to an estimated 69 pairs in 2018. Those breeding pairs produced a record high number of 70 eaglets who successfully took flight from their nests. Arizona Game and Fish continues to protect the eagles’ habitats and monitor this once endangered species.

One hundred years ago, Arizona Game and Fish opened its first fish hatchery. Today, six hatcheries raise about 3 million fish annually, which are released into Arizona lakes and streams. Hatcheries provide fish for the growing demand from fishing enthusiasts, but also play a major role in wildlife conservation. Maintaining healthy levels of fish populations is an essential part of keeping many Arizona ecosystems balanced.

If you’ve ever felt the thrill of seeing bighorn sheep perched on a rocky slope, you can thank Arizona Game and Fish for its efforts to protect this majestic species. When Arizona’s highways began to interfere with the bighorn sheep population, Arizona Game and Fish partnered with ADOT and other agencies to construct wildlife overpasses to keep both animals and motorists safe.

These are just a few of the programs that Arizona Game and Fish operates to conserve and protect over 800 species of fur, fins and feathers in Arizona. Support from wildlife enthusiasts is vital to the success of these dedicated conservation efforts.

Conserving and protecting the many varieties of wildlife in Arizona is no easy task, but the Arizona Game and Fish Department uses the best available science to manage populations for sustainability. Through innovative programs and dedicated research, the wildlife biologists at Arizona Game and Fish monitor wildlife populations and take action to ensure that Arizona’s diverse ecosystems remain intact.

While Arizona Game and Fish generates revenue from hunting and fishing licenses and receives a small excise tax on ammunition, it does not receive any general fund tax dollars. Donations from the public play a key role in supporting its on-the-ground wildlife conservation work.

It’s easy to play a role in maintaining Arizona’s wildlife, whether on land, in water or in flight, for future generations. Visit AZWildlifeHero.com to learn more.

CONTENTS

April 2022 GOOD

14 16

Sustainable Swaps

Six changes you can make today

Local Initiative Support Corporation Building healthier communities

20 Deep Roots 22 Bushveld Series

Classroom for conservationists Art from the South African Bush

HEALTH & WELLNESS

24 Reset Your Mindset Urban parks in the desert

STYLE

26 Patagonia

The real price of a jacket

SAVOR

40 Recipes

Superfood Caesar Salad Recipe

60

TRAVEL

42 Celebrating 90 years 46 Verde Grown Grand Canyon Conservancy Home grown in Camp Verde

DESIGN

at 50 Uncovered Dyck Cliff Dwelling

FEATURES

30 Dark Sky 33 9Fiber 36

Bella Gaia

Our beautiful Earth

Arizona’s Starry Nights

Innovation for a cleaner world

About the cover: "The Milky Wave" located at Coyote Buttes North was photographed by Bill Belvin, a Sedona based fine arts photographer specializing in creating richly detailed images of the American Southwest wilderness. He loves capturing the patterns and symmetry present in sandstone. Visit: www.thewave.info

4

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

Ancient Indigenous family life in the Verde Valley

54 Space and Capital

Art of Carolina Aranibar-Fernandez

TECHNOLOGY

58 Technology Industry

Powering Arizona’s sustainable future

IN EVERY ISSUE

6 6 8 10 12 60 62

Editor’s Note Contributors On the Web What's Hot Cool Outrageous Stuff She's Green-He's Green Green Scenes

6900 EAST CAMELBACK ROAD SUITE400 SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA 85251 P 602 604 2001 F 480 874 7084 www.candelariadesign.com

EDITOR'S

Note

Contributors Happy Earth Month!

April 22 is recognized as Earth Day. Instead of a one-day celebration, we should acknowledge our planet year-round. “Invest in Our Planet” is this year’s theme.

Several years ago I had the privilege of watching “Bella Gaia,” an interactive production that means “Beautiful Earth.” It involved music, dance and an immersive film experience. As I watched the production, I sat in awe seeing our beautiful planet from a unique perspective. The film incorporated NASA footage from the International Space Station, as it orbits the Earth at an altitude of 254 miles away traveling at 17,500 mph. Viewers got a birds-eye view of the Mediterranean Sea’s currents, weather patterns across the globe, solar energy output and Greenland ice flow. It also showed — in real time — air traffic, oil consumption by country, urban population, the Amazon’s active fires, CO2 emissions, ship traffic, hurricanes and so much more.

One astronaut aboard the International Space Station shared that on the first day of his round-the-globe adventure, they all focused on their own countries. After two or three days, on their own continent. By the fifth day, their perspective had shifted and they only saw one planet. Each of the astronauts aboard the space station had a shift — a psychological change in awareness. This commonly happens to astronauts when they experience what Earth looks like suspended in space for the first time.

Anna Dorl, writer Anna Dorl is a journalist and writer based in Hampton Roads, Virginia. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog Stella.

“Bella Gaia” changed my perspective on how I viewed our planet. We think about Earth as “something out there,” however, it is a living biosphere. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat — we wouldn’t be able to survive without any of these.

Edgar Mitchell, another astronaut aboard a space shuttle mission said, “My view of our planet was a glimpse of divinity.”

This month, Green Living celebrates the divinity and beauty of our planet, by orbiting the Earth with NASA, visiting one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World — the Grand Canyon — and recognizing our Dark Sky Communities.

Our Arizona photographers, Elaine and Bill Belvin, John Gafford and Wade Thorson share their beautiful photographs of the night sky, Milky Way and scenic places within the Grand Canyon and Vermilion Cliffs. We applaud our stewards of the environment, Adin Alai with 9Fiber, the farmers and winemakers of the Verde Valley and Cannon Winkler for his global conservationism and original art of the wild. I would like to acknowledge Ken Zoll, executive director of the Verde Valley Archaeology Center for his perseverance in establishing a center and preserving our native history.

And most of all, a special thanks to our Publisher, Dorie Morales, for having the vision to create a magazine that inspires, educates and encourages us all to be better stewards of our “Bella Gaia.”

In Celebration of Our Planet —

Carol

Carol Kahn Managing Editor

6

GR E E N L I V I N G

|

greenlivingmag.com

Steven Zylstra, writer Steven G. Zylstra serves as president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council and SciTech Institute, roles he assumed in 2007. He is responsible for strategy, operations, finance and policy development.

Zylstra is a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising social and economic standards in Arizona and was named “Leader of the Year, Technology,” by the Arizona Capitol Times, “Most Admired Leader” by the Phoenix Business Journal and recently participated in the year-long Greater Phoenix Leadership Workforce Academy, coordinated by the Center for the Future of Arizona and the Aspen Institute.

your conscious life

GREEN LIVING greenlivingmag.com

PUBLISHER MANAGING EDITOR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS ART DIRECTION & DESIGN DESIGN & EDITORIAL ASSISTANT COPY EDITOR

Dorie Morales Carol Kahn Alexandra DiPeri Sly Panda Design Maja Peirce Corinna Houston

CONTRIBUTORS Adriana Bachmann David M. Brown Jennifer Burkhart John Burkhart Anna Dorl Zac Dunn

Alena Jutilla Marena Sampson Mary Stanger Cannon Winkler Steven G. Zylstra

ADVERTISING SALES Julie Baum - julie.b@greenlivingmag.com Sabine Engelbrecht - sabine.e@greenlivingmag.com Dorie Morales - sales@greenlivingmag.com

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! CONTACT US AT:

Subscriptions: hello@greenlivingmag.com Advertising: sales@greenlivingmag.com Editorial: editor@greenlivingmag.com

480.840.1589 • www.greenlivingmag.com 13845 N Scottsdale Rd, Ste. 201, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 Please recycle this magazine Green Living magazine is a monthly publication by Traditional Media Group, LLC. Periodical rate postage paid at Scottsdale, AZ. Publisher assumes no responsibility for contributed manuscripts, editorial content, claims, reviews, photographs, artwork or advertisements. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the company or official policies. Entire contents © 2020 Traditional Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of content in any manner without permission by the publisher is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed in signed columns and articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Submissions will not be returned unless arranged to do so in writing. One print subscription is $25 per year or digital subscription is $12 per year. Canadian orders please add $13 per year for shipping and handling. International orders add $22 per year for shipping and handling. Bulk and/or corporate rates available. No representation is made as to the accuracy hereof and is printed subject to errors and omissions. Green Living magazine is printed on recycled paper.

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN LI V I NG

7

ON THE

Web

This month on greenlivingmag.com and social media. /greenlivingmagaz

@greenlivingaz

@greenlivingaz

@greenlivingmag

GOOD

STYLE

Abstract Art Honors Earth

Five Sustainable Brands for Your Wardrobe

Mira Lehr, sometimes referred to as the real-life Marvelous Mrs. Maisel of the art world, is a nationally acclaimed ecofeminist artist. Her practice encompasses painting, design, sculpture and video installation. She creates abstract works inspired by the natural world.

Finding brands that check off all your sustainability requirements is difficult. These local brands find clothing that is sustainable and fair trade. The stories of the artisan who made the garment adds a personal touch.

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

​​ Artist Miguel Angel Godoy painted pillars at the Mesa Urban Garden.

Each pillar has letters of a single word.

The colors represent nature, including bluebells, cosmos and nasturtiums.

Green Living celebrated International Women’s Day by highlighting an incredible female environmentalist, Kimberlé Crenshaw, who analyzed how different aspects of a person's social and political identities combine to create different ways of discrimination and privilege.

Angela Johnson, Co-Founder of @fabrictempe spoke with Publisher, Dorie Morales about FABRIC and what they do with remnant fabric, gave a tour of FABRIC and talked about Eco Fashion week. To learn more go to www.fabricincubator.com and Green Living's Eco Extravaganza event, visit www.greenlivingmag.com/earthday-2022

8

GR E E N L I V I N G

|

greenlivingmag.com

BRING WELLNESS INTO THE DESIGN Livable Luxury that Enriches Your Healthy Lifestyle

Discover what a WELL Designed™ home looks like for you visit SesshuDesign.com or call 480.275.2968

Tanya Shively, ASID

Owner & Principal Designer

WELL Designed™ Interiors that Reflect Your Unique Style

WHAT'S

Hot

Earth Day Documentary: The Revolution Generation

Down to Earth Celebrates California's Wine Sustainability 80% of California wine (255 million cases) is made in 178 certified sustainable wineries.

The Revolution Generation is an exploration of the worldchanging activism and potential of the largest youth generation in history. The film shows young leaders working to revolutionize systems that have failed their generation. It paints a powerful and hopeful picture of how today’s youth can solve global political and environmental crises. By producers Josh and Rebecca Tickell, The Revolution Generation is in theaters, on Amazon and Apple TV April 22.

Down to Earth is a celebration of the wine community’s commitment to protecting and enhancing the land, regions and wine industry for future generations.

All month long, wineries and regional associations across California will highlight their sustainable farming, winemaking and business practices through a variety of events, from wine tastings to vineyard hikes to behind-thescenes sustainability tours.

Spend the Night in a Tree House Behind the Scenes at Target

For anyone who’s ever wanted a luxury retreat in Montana, the Green O offers unparalleled natural beauty on a densely timbered hillside. Each haus offers privacy for two — a sanctuary among the trees.

Target’s first net-zero energy store — their most sustainable facility yet. The entrance of Target’s Vista, California, store looks like any other Target store. But underneath that iconic exterior is a complex system of electrical, plumbing, solar and more that makes it one of a kind. On its own, the store will generate more renewable energy than needed each year to power its operations — a powerful example of their Target Forward strategy in action.

Elevated 23 feet in the air, the Tree Haus offers two stories of living space. Ascend a spiral staircase to your master bedroom suite. Floor-to-ceiling windows give you the perfect vantage for admiring the forest. Two separate decks provide foliage-level views of the surrounding wilderness. In total, the Tree Haus offers 1,030 square feet of indoor living space. Though it feels like you’re floating in the clouds.

10

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

B U FFALOCO LLEC TI O N .CO M

EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE IN LUXURY, COMFORT & DESIGN Let us enrich your lifestyle by creating timeless custom furniture, home decor, and original western art of the highest quality for your home.

SPECIALIZING IN CUSTOM ORDERS • WORLDWIDE SHIPPING • MADE IN THE USA

7044 E. FIFTH AVENUE, SCOTTSDALE, AZ | 480.946.3903

COOL

STUFF Outrageous

Celebrate the Outdoors 1

Market Globe Solar Lanterns This eco-friendly solar lantern combines sophisticated style and leading-edge lighting functionality.

Featuring a hand-punched, diamond motif and a globe design made of durable, weather-resistant material, it adds year-round flair to your outdoor space.

At dusk, built-in sensors activate the lantern’s LEDs, casting captivating light patterns. Handmade from super durable, custom-painted Tyvek® in Bronze, Copper or Ink with a punched pattern. Available at Pottery Barn. Visit www.potterybarn.com.

2 Sustainable Outdoor Furniture Three friends decided to combine their skills to create a company that reflected their shared values of craftsmanship, sustainability and connection.

While designing Neighbor’s outdoor furniture, it was essential that they found durable, weather-resistant materials that didn’t sacrifice beauty or feel. While there was a world of potential materials to choose from, finding something that wouldn’t harm the environment was their priority. Visit their showroom at 515 E Grant Street, Phoenix, AZ. For more information, visit www.hineighbor.com.

1

2

12

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

3 Cosanti Bronze Bell Cosanti Originals bronze windbells are individually handcrafted by skilled artisans in the same timehonored tradition introduced by architect and artist Paolo Soleri in the early 1960s. Featuring vibrant colors, organic textures and design motifs that vary from piece to piece and artisan to artisan, each one is a true “original.” Cosanti Originals bronze windbells are made in a variety of sizes, complement both indoor and outdoor spaces and come in a glossy, iridescent burnished finish as well as a matte verdigris patina. Visit www.cosanti.com.

3

4 The Fly-Thru Window Invite the birds in your neighborhood to stay awhile with this stylish teardrop feeder. Constructed with durable copper and a fly-thru hole, birds can easily perch while they enjoy a snack. The clear design also allows you to see when it’s time to refill the seeds, which can easily be replenished by opening the side panel. Setting up bird feeders is an easy way to support local pollinators and interact with nature.

These birds will return the favor and provide some natural insect control for your garden. Available for $129 at www.potterybarn.com.

5 Embracing the Landscape The Rock Star Gallery brings earth, water, fire and light together creating living art to grace your most treasured spaces. Owner, Ryan Steffens creates one-of-a-kind stone infinity fountains for gardens, homes and public spaces. Their innovative stone décor is in synchronicity with nature’s beauty.

Their designs are 100% handcrafted off the beaten path in the heart of New Mexico using rare, highquality stones to enhance landscapes and interiors.

Pictured is the Sunrise Onyx Infinity Fountain. For information, visit www.therockstargallery.com.

4

5

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN LI V I NG

13

GOOD

Swaps

Six Realistic, Sustainable Swaps You Can Make Today

BY ADRIANA BACHMANN

I

If you’re new to zero waste and sustainability, it’s easy to get wooed by the idealized version of sustainable living you may see online. The meticulously organized refrigerators filled with plastic-free groceries; the shelves with matching mason jars; the houseplants; the wicker. And not a single piece of plastic in sight.

Let me introduce you to the “picture-perfect” zero waster, who never forgets their canvas bags and always remembers to ask for no straw.

Sights like these encourage us to throw away all of our “bad” products in order to start fresh with the items we see on these curated Instagram feeds. We go out and buy all of the “zero waste essentials,” spending an inordinate amount of money on products we don’t really need or already have at home… but in plastic. A lot of zero waste and sustainability advice found online is focused on buying new products rather than using what we already have, and for a lot of us that isn’t realistic.

When making the choice to live more sustainably, it’s important to take into account many different factors: affordability, accessibility, convenience and environmental impact. Not all of us have access to the same products or services, which might make us feel that what we’re doing isn’t good enough. This feeling of inadequacy often leads to someone giving up on sustainable living, which is not what we want.

14

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

The following are six realistic sustainable swaps you can incorporate into your life today to reduce your individual impact on the planet.

Collect your food scraps in a kitchen compost bin. Instead of scraping your food waste into the trash, scoop it into a repurposed container or countertop compost bin instead. This will reduce your food waste significantly, as well as prevent methane emissions from the landfill. Even if you don’t have a backyard to do your own composting, using a kitchen bin is a good way to collect your scraps to drop off at your local compost collection site.

Take public transport or carpool to reduce carbon emissions. We all know that transportation makes up most of our personal carbon footprints. A good way to reduce those emissions is by driving less. When

you live in a place with significant urban sprawl, however, walking or biking isn’t always an option. If this is the case, take the bus or carpool with a friend.

Check out the thrift store before buying new. Buying used items before buying new will always be the most sustainable option, and it will also save you money. Thrifting is a great way to reuse items that would have otherwise gone to the landfill, and it prevents further resources from being extracted from the planet to make an item that already exists. Check out your local thrift and vintage stores for items like clothing, furniture, kitchenware, electronics, books and more. If you can’t find what you’re looking for at a thrift store, check online platforms like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Poshmark. There are so many options right at your fingertips.

You’re invited to attend our biggest fundraising event of the year!

An evening of fun and fundraising!

Buy local or imperfect foods before going to a conventional grocery store. When you shop at a conventional grocery store, it’s a pretty safe bet that the food you’re buying traveled a LONG way to get there. In order to reduce the carbon footprint of your food, do your best to shop local from a farmers market or CSA program, or opt into a food delivery program that reduces food waste by selling and repurposing “imperfect foods.” If you don’t have the option to buy local foods, you can still reduce carbon emissions at a conventional grocery store by purchasing foods that are in season and plastic-free. Remember that everyone’s accessibility is different, and that’s okay.

Use old Tupperware containers or upcycle jars for bulk shopping and food storage. Yes, matching mason jars make for a dazzling photo — but why spend money on something new when you could use what you already have instead? Dig out those old Tupperware containers and upcycle some jars to use for bulk shopping and food storage.

Choose refillable products, like household cleaning solutions and laundry detergent.

Visit your local bulk store to find products like all-purpose cleaner, dish soap and laundry detergent that you can refill at home. If you don’t have access to a dedicated bulk store, you can still cut down on disposable plastic waste by purchasing these same products in bulk at a conventional store or by opting into an online refillable program like Loop.

These sustainable swaps are a great place to start, but remember to adopt the ones you can and leave the rest.

Sustainable living looks different for everyone, and there is no shame in doing your best.

Friday, April 22, 2022 6pm - 10pm

Hosted by Emmy® Award Winner Carey Peña and AZ Family Meteorologist Ian Schwartz

habitatcaz.org/events

habitatcaz.org

half-page ad Green Living April 2022.indd APRIL 1

2022

|

GREEN L I V I NG3/23/22 159:33 AM

GOOD

Community

Closing the Gap LISC Builds Healthier Communities

Photos courtesy LISC

BY MARY STANGER

T

“To help forge resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America.”

That is the overarching mission of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a business aimed at supporting underserved communities through local and national efforts.

The “cornerstone” of LISC has always been affordable housing, and this continues to be a major focus for the leadership within the company.

Founded in 1979 by the Ford Foundation, LISC has grown to include 38 local offices and a rural program that includes more than 2,200 counties across 45 states. The organization has provided $1.3 billion in grants and invested a total of $24 billion into affordable housing, healthy neighborhoods and economic development over the past 43 years.

Terry Benelli is the executive director for the Phoenix LISC office and joined LISC in 2014. She was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Los Angeles branch.

LISC supports job growth in underserved communities by helping equip local businesses with the resources they need to grow, and they strive to help get funding into the places that need it most.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING With housing prices skyrocketing in Arizona and an influx of out-of-state homebuyers flocking to Arizona, it is becoming more difficult for Arizonans to find affordable housing.

16

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

“We’re working with nonprofits to build their capacity so that they can serve more people,” Benelli said in a podcast by heararizona.org. “So really if someone’s looking for support to purchase a home, our closest nonprofit partners are Trellis and Newtown CDC.” LISC works with nonprofits like Trellis and Newtown CDC to help provide support for affordable housing through grants and funding. Loans are offered to community development corporations, nonprofit and for-profit affordable housing developers, as well as local and state

Join Our Eco-Conscious Community Join the Green Living newsletter and receive a free ebook of recipes from our archive.

Let Us Help Jump-Start Your Natural Healing Abilities ASK ABOUT OPTIONS FOR IMMUNE SYSTEM BOOSTING

greenlivingmag.com/newsletter

Call us for a 15-Minute exploratory call to diagnose if we can help you

480-240-2600 M. Grout MD, MD(H)

10210 N 92nd St, Suite 104 • Scottsdale, AZ 85258 www.arizonaadvancedmedicine.com

COVID-19 Testing Available

PROGRESS, NOT PERFECTION CAN

CHANGE YOUR LIFE Located inside Be More Clean

10 Years Expertise | Blood Sugar Management Home Detoxification | Holistic Nutrition Living Foods Chef | Chronic Illness Cures

480.270.4566 2334 N Scottsdale Rd Suite #111 Scottsdale AZ 85257

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN LI V I NG

17

housing authorities. To date, the company has provided $2.7 billion in loans for housing projects and aided the development of 436,320 affordable homes and apartments.

“LISC aims to support communities that face systemic challenges because they have historically been overlooked and disinvested,” Frieda Pollack, Phoenix LISC director of communications & operation, says. “We work with placebased organizations who are trusted in their communities and help them build their capacity to address the need for affordable housing, small business support, anti-gentrification and anti-displacement efforts, family financial stability and other elements of a healthy community.”

Public Health, Catholic Charities and the ASU School of Sustainability to address the needs of those in the downtown Mesa community by creating a “Resilience Hub.” According to Pollack, this Resilience Hub would provide emergency services during heat waves and/or power outages.

It will also aid members in the community to advocate for themselves by developing neighborhood cooling strategies.

‘RESILIENCE HUB’ LISC is also focused on helping those in “heat-vulnerable” communities. According to a 2020 report, there were more than 300 heat-associated deaths in Maricopa County alone, of which 53% were among the homeless.

With the support of an EPA Environmental Justice Small Grant, LISC will leverage resources already available for additional street tree shade and sitting areas for those who rely on public transportation.

LISC is collaborating with the Maricopa Department of

“Providing this safety net during heat emergencies is necessary, however equally important is community capacity building for long-term strategies to address neighborhood inequities and balance the tension between resulting gentrification and displacement of long-term residents,” Pollack says.

With the help of the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) and 2021 Financial Assistance (FA) Awards, LISC is utilizing $3.4 million to expand their efforts supporting healthy food, charter school financing and affordable housing in underserved communities.

“We know that community development moves at the speed of trust,” Pollack adds. “And we don’t believe we have all the answers. It’s through partnerships with community members, neighborhood-based organizations and funders that we’re able to have an impact.”

For more information, visit lisc.org.

18

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

Eco-Curious?

Green Living offers a print magazine, digital magazine, and a website for all the latest ecofriendly news. Join the community today.

Join the Eco-Conscious Community Sign up for our newsletter and get our Green Guide for Boosting Your Immunity

For Free!

Subscribe Today!

greenlivingmag.com/subscribe

Sign up at

greenlivingmag.com/newsletter

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN LI V I NG

19

GOOD

Conservation

Deep Roots

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the Center for Native and Urban Wildlife Are Creating Living Classrooms to Inspire a New Generation of Conservationists

L

BY ZAC DUNN

Long before their lands were neighbored to the west and south by the cities that make up Metro Phoenix, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community was two tribes: The Onk Akimel O’odham (Pima) and the Xalychidom Piipaash (Maricopa).

They lived, as they still do, with a deep spiritual connection to their land. The tribal elders saw it as their responsibility to preserve that land for generations to come, and in that way, environmentalism has always been a core belief of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRP-MIC).

Of the 52,600 acres that make up their sovereign land, 19,000 are held as a natural preserve. That space includes a riparian corridor that members of the SRP-MIC use for recreation as well as traditional cultural and spiritual practices, with several oft-used areas that offer easy access to beautiful landscapes and the shallow waters of the Salt and Verde Rivers.

Over the last nine years, heavy summer rains and mountain runoff threatened the accessibility of one of the most used spaces within this corridor. Waters slowly carved a tributary that cut through the flood plain, and eventually eroded a deep arroyo through its main access point. Over 100 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet deep, the erosion not only

20

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

created a dangerous hazard for those who wanted to reach this cherished spot, but also threatened to destabilize the valuable ecosystem that exists there.

Gina Mason is a senior environmental engineer in the SRP-MIC’s Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Division, though she points out she is actually a biologist, having earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology and master’s degree in Environmental Management. As one of the Environmental Programs’ supervisors for the Tribe, she helped SRP-MIC apply for and receive a $100,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to mitigate the erosion and revegetate the area. Mason then turned to longtime friends and trusted partners at the Center for Native and Urban Wildlife for assistance.

The Center for Native and Urban Wildlife (CNUW) is a part of the Biology department at Scottsdale Community College (SCC), which holds the honor of being the only non-tribal twoyear public higher education institution in the nation whose

campus is located on tribal lands. That has helped foster a unique symbiotic relationship between their two communities.

Mason, a former teacher, says, “Coming into this job that allowed me to care for the environment and still teach was a perfect meshing. Doing environmental outreach and education has been something that we've put at the forefront forever, and it aligns so well with what [CNUW] does.”

SRP-MIC land is rife with opportunities for students from SCC to gain firsthand experiences with the ecosystems they have learned about in classrooms. CNUW’s Executive Director, Dr. John Weser, and his team have participated in many events and activities on tribal lands, sometimes bringing along native plants and animals they house at CNUW to expose SRP-MIC youth to the possibilities of careers in biology and conservation.

Over the last 16 years, Mason, Weser and their colleagues have incorporated their environmental work into ongoing education of the next generation.

“We work well together because of our shared values: Promoting science, promoting education and science through doing,” Weser said.

Once awarded the EPA grant, Mason invited Weser to walk the eroded area, and together they worked through how to revegetate and restore it. The redesign started with the topography of the eroded landscape with boulders and liners to better direct future floodwaters. The SRP-MIC Cultural Resources Department offered ideas for culturally significant native plants that could be added. Meanwhile, CNUW grew over 200 mesquite trees in their greenhouse (all from local seeds collected in the Salt River basin), some using a tall-pot technique that promotes the growth of strong, deep roots that, when transplanted, would stabilize the soil and help prevent further erosion. Mesquite bosques are highly endangered communities in the American southwest, and Weser explains that they support an enormous amount of biodiversity. CNUW also provided approximately 100 other native plants for the project, including species of wolfberry, chiltepin, palo verde and ironwood.

The revegetation site became a living classroom. Students from both SCC and SRP-MIC helped plant the native trees, tag them and take initial measurements as part of a long-term study on the efficacy of the tall-pot technique, of which there is little data in published literature. They continue to monitor the trees, and Tribal members are encouraged to participate by photographing the area to help track the changes over time.

In conversations with Mason and Weser, they are profusely complimentary of the other. “Gina has always had that strong educational ethic, to promote science and to promote collaboration,” Weser said.

“John is so instrumental in a lot of these projects that we work on. I’d say we’ve probably received over 10,000 plants that [CNUW] has grown for us. It’s been huge,” Mason said.

CNUW is continuing that tradition as they grow more mesquites that will be given out as a part of the Tribe’s 2022 Earth Day event, using the opportunity to teach and encourage people to plant them at home and in community spaces. CNUW and its students have participated in SRP-MIC’s Earth Day event for years, bringing some of their desert animals to the festivities to create learning opportunities for children and parents alike, and to encourage careers in the sciences.

“The more you learn about nature, the more willing you are to protect it,” Weser stated.

The collaboration between SRP-MIC and CNUW has exposed countless students to new environments and new opportunities, both in classrooms and in nature. The combined passion of the people who run these organizations has planted the seeds for the next generation of scientists, engineers and activists to flourish. And like the deep spreading roots of the mesquite tree, the bonds between these neighbors have made their shared home all the stronger for it.

Let us design the perfect trip to help reduce your carbon footprint.

Book a trip and mention Green Living magazine get a free travel guide.

480-788-6832

greentravelqueen@gmail.com

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN LI V I NG

21

GOOD

Art

The Bushveld Series Art from the South African Bush

BY CANNON WINKLER

T

The Bushveld is a unique wooded savanna habitat in southern Africa. It is a mosaic of twisting trees, dense brush and open grassland that stretches from South Africa into Botswana and Zimbabwe. Covering an area larger than Utah, it is home to iconic wildlife such as African elephant, lion, hippopotamus, and is one of the last strongholds of the critically endangered black rhinoceros.

As a place that has fostered early humanity for hundreds of thousands of years, it is familiar in a way that is difficult to express. Many of the wild fruits are safe for us to eat (and quite delicious). Plants that are not edible often have astounding medicinal properties. The chewed-up bark of a marula tree relieves the discomfort of an insect sting faster than any medication I have known in the modern world. The weather is generally warm and comfortable, punctuated by seasons of powerful and exhilarating rain storms.

What is it like in the Bushveld? Two years ago, I remember lying in my tent. A humid breeze carried the botanical scents of grass and Trembletop, a lacey nocturnal flower.

A few elephants had moved into camp under the cover of darkness and were feeding on the raisin bushes mere feet from where I lay. The elephant’s trumpet is unmistakable, but the bulk of their communication is actually done in low purring rumbles that resonate in your chest like a bass guitar. Surrounded by the deep vibration of elephant conversation, the bubbling call of reed frogs, and the sweet

22

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

smell of white flowers, I dreamt of creating art that captured some spirit of this experience.

January 2022 marked the completion of just such an endeavor. The Bushveld Series is a collection of 12 large paintings made from wildlife footprints from the South African bushveld. The idea behind this artwork is to raise funding and awareness for conservation efforts in Africa, and to help connect people to this iconic ecosystem. The series tells a story of what you might experience on a safari in the bushveld. Each piece represents an encounter or realization you may have as you journey through the bush remembering what it means to be wild.

Why is it important to connect with wilderness? We tend to forget that we, too, are a part of nature, dependent on the actions of thousands of species directly and indirectly every single day. Understandably, most of us live in humandominated environments which makes it easy to overlook the intricate relationships between other species that

support our existence. That is why I use live animal tracks in my paintings. To share something real and organic. To help people bring a piece of the wild into their lives. Because I believe a sense of connection is essential if we are to care for the well-being of our wildernesses in the future.

One of the biggest threats to the survival of African ecosystems is habitat loss. It is estimated that there are roughly 20,000 lions left in the wild today. Shockingly, this is less than half the student population at my alma mater, the University of Arizona. And this is not an issue of breeding, it is an issue of space. As our populations grow and we become more industrialized, we are leaving no safe space for wildlife to coexist. That is why investing in the protection of nature reserves is vital for the future of species, like the lion and the entire ecosystem. Fortunately, there are some exceptional organizations addressing these challenges.

Since its conception, The Bushveld Series has raised over $30,000 for the conservation nonprofit, African Parks. This organization manages 19 nature reserves across 11 countries in Africa. They take a holistic approach to conservation, working in partnership with local communities and governments to rehabilitate and manage protected areas across the continent. These lasting commitments to safeguard wild landscapes will be absolutely essential as human populations continue to grow and develop. Up to 60% of the proceeds from each painting sale in The Bushveld Series is donated to African Parks to support this vital work.

Now that the Bushveld Series is complete, I look to highlight other unique ecosystems in my art. This summer, I’m embarking on a tracking expedition to the jungles of Central Africa to collect footprints from animals like the Western lowland gorilla, forest elephants, chimpanzee and many more endemic species of the Congo Basin. These tracks will be used in my next painting collection, The Congo Series, which will continue to support African Parks’ work to protect this rich and biodiverse habitat. It is my goal to shed light on the threatened species within this remote and mysterious region to expose what we risk losing through our collective lack of awareness. However, the message of my work is not one of fear, but one of hope.

What happens to our wild places in the next few decades will be our shared legacy. It will show us how we value life that is different from our own and determine what we leave for future generations (both human and otherwise). I believe the gap between apathy and action can be bridged by a sense of connection. A connection to places we never go and animals we rarely meet. An understanding that we are forever a part of this biological world.This is how we foster respect and appreciation for all walks of life and how we prioritize places where life simply remains… wild.

To learn more, visit www.walksoflifeart.com.

To support Africa Parks directly, visit www.africanparks.org.

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L I V I NG

23

HEALTH &

Wellness

Reset Your Mindset in the Desert

BY MARENA SAMPSON

H

Heading along Highway 51 toward downtown Phoenix, the traffic seems neverending. As a society, it feels as though we are becoming increasingly cut off from the natural world. As our cities grow larger, the drive times get longer and it becomes harder to escape our concrete jungles.

Many cities in the United States were built with urban expansion in mind, but did not consider the importance of natural spaces for the health and prosperity of a city.

However, the metropolitan Phoenix area has managed to avoid this fate. Within its urban city boundaries, two of the largest urban parks, McDowell Sonoran Preserve and South Mountain Park, protect over 46,000 acres of Sonoran Desert.

There is nothing quite like seeing a saguaro cactus with its many arms stretched up to the sky. Given their abundance in Arizona, it can be easy to forget that these majestic cacti live only in the Sonoran Desert and are found nowhere else in the world. In fact, of the four major deserts in North America, the Sonoran Desert is the most biologically diverse.

The landscape includes canyons, rivers and picturesque mountains that are home to over 60 mammals, 100 reptiles, 2,000 native plants and 350 bird species. This urban park system is an important part of both protecting and connecting with native landscapes as well as providing an opportunity to get outdoors.

Beyond their ecological significance, the parks can also provide us with a multitude of restorative benefits. Just taking time to walk through one of Arizona’s urban parks can help reduce stress and improve our mental health.

Research has shown that as the size of urban parks in a city increases, so does the well-being of the people living there.

Exposure to natural areas can also leave us feeling friendlier, livelier and less bored. Experiencing the mental benefits of nature firsthand reminds us why the late E.O. Wilson’s idea that people are explicitly linked to nature, also known as

24

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

biophilia, still is a critical part of understanding humannature connections.

Not only does the nature-related reduction in stress provide us with mental relief, but it can also have profound effects on our physical well-being. The feeling of relaxation that comes with spending time in nature is associated with reduced heart rate and blood pressure. One study found that patients who stayed in a hospital room with a window overlooking a natural area required fewer painkillers and had significantly shorter stays at the hospital than patients who merely had a view of a building wall. More directly, urban parks provide one of the best opportunities for physical activity.

Our urban parks provide us with a place to psychologically and physically better ourselves and are also an important part of the fabric of a community. These natural spaces can be conduits for social interaction and community cohesion.

There, we can meet our neighbors and grow more attached to our city, our environment and our fellow residents. This is especially important in cities like Phoenix, where many have originated from other parts of the country. Outdoor recreation is an excellent way to meet people, and joining hiking or biking groups can help us feel better, be healthier and make new friends.

Many of the parks, such as the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, are free year-round and offer a wide variety of ways to recreate, including hiking, mountain biking and horseback trails. The next time you are feeling stressed or anxious, try adventuring out into nature.

Be You. Be BOLD.

boldswim.com @boldswim

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L I V I NG

25

STYLE

Impact

Patagonia

What’s the real price of a jacket?

BY DAVID M. BROWN

Y

Yvon Chouinard (born 1938), entrepreneur, mountain climber and founder of eco-forward clothing brand, Patagonia, wrote: “Everything we personally own that’s made, sold, shipped, stored, cleaned and ultimately thrown away does some environmental harm every step of the way, harm that we’re either directly responsible for or is done on our behalf.”

The son of a French-Canadian handyman, Chouinard moved with his family from Maine to Southern California when he was 9-years-old and soon realized his passion for rock climbing. Among numerous experiences, he participated in the “Golden Age of Yosemite Climbing,” ascended Cerro Fitzroy in Patagonia, Chile, as well as peaks in the European Alps and Pakistan. Later, he published “Climbing Ice,” in 1978, which inspired the sport of ice climbing.

In 1957, he began making pitons and founded Chouinard Equipment, Ltd., a rock-climbing accessories manufacturer.

But around 1970 he realized that the hard steel was damaging the famous rock faces and began to focus his life and business on environmental concerns.

“As climbing progressed, we slowly started incorporating apparel into what we sold,” a representative at Patagonia said, noting that Chouinard sold the climbing equipment side of the business to employees who renamed it Black Diamond and moved the company to Salt Lake City, Utah. Remembering his Chilean experience, Chouinard founded Patagonia and continued manufacturing apparel.

Chouinard did not start with an environmental commitment, but as the company grew, he and the employees made changes that would impact the way they made their products, the materials they used and the grassroots environmental groups they support.

In 1986, Chouinard began “tithing” the larger of one percent of sales or 10 percent of profits to preserve and restore the natural environment. For his green achievements, the Sierra Club gave him its John Muir Award.

In 1995, the company started making its most popular fleece from recycled soda bottles,

26

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

and the following year, realizing that cotton farming had significant ecological effects, began using 100% organic cotton. Patagonia says that they currently have the world’s first certified regenerative organic cotton apparel line. They also offer a wide variety of technical apparel items that are made with recycled materials and without the use of PFC chemical finishes.

CORPORATE PROGRAMS THAT ARE GREEN AND FAIR Patagonia has achieved much and plans its future with equal intensity.

Globally, the clothing and footwear industries are responsible for approximately 10 percent of greenhouse gases; annually, the textile industry releases 1.2-plus billion tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere. Adding to this is the environmental impact of cleaning garments and the disposal, most often in landfills.

Patagonia stated that they are already at 100% renewable energy for their owned and operated stores, offices and distribution centers, but the real challenge comes from materials manufacturing, which accounts for 95% of their emissions. “We take responsibility for all of it and are determined to work with our partners and vendors to conserve water, remove toxins and reduce emissions when and wherever possible.”

In 1996, Patagonia switched to using only organically grown cotton in all products made from virgin cotton and are continuing to increase the use of preferred materials — from 43% across the product line in 2016 to 88% in 2022.

Regenerative organic cotton incorporates farming methods designed to rehabilitate soil, respect

animal welfare and improve the lives of farmers. And the company also uses hemp; recycled polyester and recycled nylon for its preferred materials. Organic cotton derives from non-GMO plants grown without the use of synthetic agricultural chemicals, such as fertilizers or pesticides, aside from those allowed by the certified organic labeling.

Patagonia examines its seed-to-shelf supply chain to reduce environmental footprint as well as improve the lives of the workers in the farms, mills and factories in 64 countries.

The company has been making Fair Trade Certified™ clothing since 2014, working with Fair Trade USA. To date, Patagonia’s program has impacted more than 64,000 workers in 10 countries. The company pays a premium for every sold item with Fair Trade certification. The money goes directly to the farm, factory and mill workers who

In addition, Patagonia guarantees that it will repair, replace and recycle all of its products throughout its lifespan. Called “Worn Wear,” the program encourages customers to purchase used rather than new garments and to return old gear they are not using for company credit toward new items. He notes that buying used extends a garment’s life by about two years; this cuts its combined carbon, waste and water footprint by 82%.

In “Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman,” Chouinard wrote: “Reusing something instead of immediately discarding it, when done for the right reasons, can be an act of love which expresses our own dignity.”

WEARING THE MANTLE FOR CLIMATE The company’s climate goals are ambitious.

For one, by 2025, the company will eliminate virgin petroleum fiber in its products and use preferred materials such as organic cotton and recycled polyester. For example, the company says that, since fall 2019, its Better Sweater® jackets have helped keep 14.6 million pounds of CO₂ out of the atmosphere when compared to virgin counterparts.

That’s equal to planting 109,000 trees. And, its Nano Puff® jacket, which in 2020 was changed to use 100% post-consumer recycled polyester insulation, cut materials and manufacturing emissions by nearly half.

Also by 2025, company packaging will be 100% reusable, home compostable, renewable or easily recyclable. The company has The Ventura shop employees at the 'Tin Shed' in 1966. Tom, Doreen, Tony, Dennis, Terry, removed plastic from hang tags Yvon, Merl and Davey. Photo courtesty Patagonia Archives and packaging and uses algae ink. In addition, they use QR produce the products; they vote to use the premiums for code technology to reduce the amount of paper by 100,000 projects such as healthcare programs or child-care centers, pounds annually. A QR code can be captured faster and can to buy products or take a cash bonus. store more information than a traditional barcode.

This program also promotes worker health and safety, social and environmental compliance and encourages dialogue between workers and management. Patagonia continues to ensure the workers are earning livable wages.

The company has also co-founded or joined coalitions to change the industry, including the Fair Labor Association, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and B Lab. Customers can participate in environmental responsibility.

The company teaches people to take care of the things they already have, using as little energy as possible and reminding them why the jacket they already have from Patagonia is the best one for the planet.

By 2030, Patagonia plans to be totally net zero. To that end, it’s also funding energy audits, which it hopes will lead to impact-reduction projects at its most important suppliers.

They say that when they’ve gotten a product and its supply chain to the lowest emissions possible, then they’ll invest in natural climate solutions to reach net zero.

The Ventura, Calif.-based company sells its products at 34 stores nationwide — men’s, women’s, children’s, underwear to outerwear­— and employs approximately 3,ooo, with about 2,000 in the U.S. In Arizona, the company has wholesale partners but does not own Patagonia-branded stores.

For more about Patagonia, visit www.patagonia.com.

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L I V I NG

27

your conscious life

GREEN LI V ING

Earth Day Extravaganza expo APRIL 23

2022 10am to 3pm

F A B R I C 132 EAST 6TH STREET TEMPE, AZ

tickets are available at:

www.greenlivingmag.com/earth-day-2022

28

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

Earth Day Schedule Green Expo - 10am to 3pm Visit interactive vendor booths to learn about eco-conscious products and organizations, while also enjoying chef demonstrations, music, learning about electric vehicles, and more.

Earth Day Happy Hour - 4pm to 6pm Mix & mingle with eco-conscious people, organizations, and sustainable businesses while enjoying complimentary wine & cocktails, spirit-free cocktails, and snacks. Take this opportunity to build strong connections and expand your green knowledge.

Eco Fashion Show - 8pm to 10pm As the day comes to a close, the night has just begun. Our partners, FABRIC & Tempe Fashion Week, are hosting a fashion show featuring local designers. Stick around to enjoy the sparkle that sustainability has to offer in the fashion world.

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L IV I NG

29

30

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

BELLA GAIA Our Beautiful Earth

BY CAROL KAHN

T

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) calls Earth “The Blue Marble.” This pale blue dot is just one rocky planet within one solar system, in one galaxy, among billions. To us, it’s home.

As NASA explores space, they study our planet and its expansive ecosystem: the vegetation, the air, the water, the ice. Their data is used to improve the way we grow food and how we manage the land we cultivate. NASA has over 20 satellites measuring the height of oceans and inland waters, clouds and precipitation, carbon dioxide and much more. For decades, the data they have collected has tracked how all these earth systems interact. From above, they see the connection: Cities transitioning while our farmlands are deconstructing.

Tributaries feed into rivers which flow into the sea. Winds move clouds around the planet. Beyond these observations, NASA's ability to model and anticipate how the planet is changing helps communities around the world prepare.

Earth's climate has changed and is still changing. By looking at our planet from space, a team of scientists look at Earth as a beautiful oasis in the universe. A planet full of towering mountains, frozen landscapes, painted deserts; a planet teeming with life.

One big ecosystem we’re all a part of. Even the destructive elements — hurricanes, volcanoes, wildfires, melting ice, rising temperatures — have a direct impact on our environment, our future and our lives.

NASA's investment in space is conducted by scientists living in space on the International

Space Station exploring our solar system. Each day they collect data from a fleet of Earth-observing satellites that orbit the planet 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The data they collect is used to better understand the planet's interconnected systems and improve life on Earth. They have used their unique vantage point of space to monitor the health of crops, predict droughts and floods and help engineers and planners mitigate the effect of sea level rise, map changes in land, track wildfires, chart hurricanes and diagnose air quality. More than just observing these phenomena, NASA provides near real-time data to first responders and decision makers to provide help with its cutting-edge technologies.

BELLA GAIA - AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE In “Bella Gaia, A Poetic Vision of Earth From Space,” Founder and Director, Kenji Williams, explains that “Bella Gaia” shows how humans and nature are connected and how art and science are connected.

It’s an exploration of the relationship between human civilization and our ecosystem through time and space.

“It starts with the name itself; Bella Gaia means “Beautiful interconnected Earth.” Also, ‘Gaia’ is originally the Greek Goddess of the Earth, or ‘the

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN LI V I NG

31

to our countries. The third or fourth day, we were pointing to our continents. By the fifth day, we were aware of only one Earth.”

Earth personified,’ Williams said. “NASA scientist James Lovelock coined the term Gaia to describe the Earth as a living organism. It is human nature to relate to something that is more personal or tangible. Bella Gaia does exactly this – it is an experiential tool used to personify and make tangible, the living Earth.”

In July of 2020, a blog post on the “Bella Gaia” website showcased a graphic that denotes the changes in European air travel from April 18, 2019, compared to April 16, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The live imagery clearly shows the reduction of flight patterns when travel was banned throughout much of the world. “It can be overwhelming to see this macro-visual, doubting that one can change the trajectory of the planet’s future. But it’s quite the opposite. Every day you get to choose the ‘before’ or ‘after’ [as seen in the photo of air traffic]. You decide to purchase produce from a grocery store or a local farmer.

You decide to drive to work or bike. It’s ultimately consumers who have the steering wheel. The global pandemic has forced all of us to sit back and finally give Mother Earth the stage. The virus, in some ways, was Mother Nature showing us tangible proof of our capacity to change the future. We can see it with our own eyes; there’s no question anymore.”

“Bella Gaia” is an unprecedented NASA-powered immersive experience, inspired by astronauts who spoke of the life-changing power of seeing Earth from space. “Bella Gaia’s” creation was inspired by a story by Mike Fincke, an American Space Shuttle astronaut, who spoke of the profound transformation of perspective he had when he first looked out the window of the Space Station and saw our home planet. “Arbitrary political boundaries melted away and the living bubble of life on Earth was dazzling, an outpost of life unlike any other planet we know of so far,” Williams said.

Through its production, “Bella Gaia” has managed to simulate the space flight experience according to many astronauts who have been to space. “NASA invited the integration of scientific data visualizations from their top Earth scientists and funded a four-year Earth science education program to extend “Bella Gaia” in workshop curriculum at science centers across the U.S.,” Williams said. “This program involved extensive surveys over four years, and revealed the transformative power of “Bella Gaia,” showing 95% of audiences reporting a greater understanding of Earth systems after just one show, and more than doubling the number of people (31% to 64%) saying it was ‘very important to learn about the Earth and its importance to our lives, families and community’ after one experience. This personalization of abstract biospheric systems is crucial and has converted climate skeptics in one show, and five astronauts have affirmed the realism of “Bella Gaia’s” simulation of space flight.”

One of the most substantial quotes came during a 1985 space shuttle mission, where Saudi Arabian Astronaut Sultan bin Salman Al Saud stated, “The first day or so, we all pointed

32

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

“I really wanted to create an experience that transformed people,” Williams said. “There needs to be a new emphasis and value in emotional connections to very abstract things, like climate change. I asked Astronaut Mike Fincke what changed when he went into space. He said that he had a lifechanging transformation when he looked out the window and saw Earth. When he came back, he had a much greater appreciation of our planet.”

The visuals provided during “Bella Gaia” are from NASA. It’s real-time satellite data. Williams said that he took that data and simulated it on a 3D globe. “It’s like seeing an MRI of the planet. It’s breath-taking and shocking at the same time.

But the overall message is uplifting and inspiring,” he said.

It’s necessary for us to understand that Earth is a multifaceted, yet cohesive working organism and therefore, there is something to lose. It’s imperative, and our duty, to preserve and be stewards of our home.

For more information about “Bella Gaia” or NASA, visit www.bellagaia.com or www.nasa.gov.

Arizona’s Starry Nights I

BY CAROL KAHN

If you happen to live in a Dark-Sky Community, you are one of the lucky few. The few who get to witness our vast galaxy filled with billions of stars, observe planets that are light-years away, watch a meteor streak across the night sky and then, in all its magnificent glory, gaze at the brilliance of the Milky Way when it appears in the darkness.

The Milky Way over Courthouse Butte. Photo by John Gafford

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L I V I NG

33

Imagine that only two out of 10 people on Earth can see the Milky Way. That means that 99% of the population within the U.S. and Europe cannot see this spiral galaxy because of where they live: Under light polluted skies.

In an average year in the U.S. alone, outdoor lighting uses about 120 terawatt-hours of energy, mostly to illuminate streets and parking lots. That’s enough energy to meet New York City’s total electricity needs for two years. Wasting energy has huge economic and environmental consequences.

FLAGSTAFF The city of Flagstaff holds the distinct honor of being designated by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) as the world's first Dark-Sky Community in 2001. Home to Lowell Observatory and the U.S. Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station, it has long been a leader in outdoor lighting policy, enacting the world’s first outdoor lighting ordinance in 1958.

SEDONA & THE VILLAGE OF OAK CREEK The IDA designated Sedona as the World’s Eighth International Dark-Sky Community on August 4, 2014, and the second city in Arizona.

Five miles away from Sedona, the Village of Oak Creek obtained their certification in 2016 making them the third city in Arizona and the 14th in the world to be certified.

The Milky Way over Two Guns ghost town. Photo by William Belvin

The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) estimates that at least 30% of all outdoor lighting in the U.S. is wasted, mostly by lights that aren’t shielded. That adds up to $3.3 billion and the release of 21 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. To offset all that carbon dioxide, 875 million trees would have to be planted annually.

As of January 2022, there are 195 International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) in the world which include cities, towns and national parks among a few other designated places. An International Dark-Sky Community is a town, city, or municipality that has shown exceptional dedication to the preservation of the night sky through the implementation and enforcement of a quality outdoor lighting ordinance, dark sky education and citizen support. There are 36 communities to date.

In fact, Arizona has 19 Dark-Sky Communities, places and parks, two of which are national parks (Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest), making the state one of the largest Dark Sky sites in the nation.

34

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

a major metropolitan area.

FOUNTAIN HILLS In January of 2018, Fountain Hills was awarded the rare distinction of being a designated IDSC by the IDA. It is one of only two International Dark-Sky Communities located near

CAMP VERDE Camp Verde is the fifth Dark Sky Community in Arizona, and the 20th designated Dark Sky Community in the world made official on June 8, 2018.

COTTONWOOD The city of Cottonwood has become the newest addition to the International Dark-Sky Places Program, as an International Dark-Sky Community. It has been Cottonwood’s mission to obtain this designation since 2016.

Working with the community, the city of Cottonwood has become the 23rd designated Dark-Sky Community in the world. The state of Arizona now accounts for six Dark Sky Communities, with four of the six communities located in the Verde Valley: Sedona, the Village of Oak Creek, Camp Verde and Cottonwood.

The Southern Alcove at Night. This alcove, carved by wind, opens in the right direction to capture the Milky Way. It is located in the South Coyote Buttes area of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. Photo by Elaine Belvin

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK Over six million people visit the Grand Canyon National Park annually. Historically, the high rate of visitation left a legacy of over 5,000 light fixtures in the park. In 2016, the park was awarded Provisional International Dark Sky Park status, and the National Park Service and the Grand Canyon Association embarked on a multi-year effort to bring all those fixtures into compliance with IDA requirements.

In June 2019, Grand Canyon National Park completed this project and was awarded full status in time for the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the national park.

The IDA designates IDSPs following a rigorous application process requiring applicants to demonstrate robust community support for dark sky protection and document designation-specific program requirements.

Applications are reviewed periodically by an IDA standing committee composed of dark sky experts and previously successful program applicants. Regular status updates after designation ensure that IDSPs continue their commitment to dark sky preservation.

Upon certification, IDA works with certified places to promote their work through media relations, member communications and social media. An International Dark-Sky Place designation helps enhance the visibility of designated locations and foster increased tourism and local economic activity.

Here are some guidelines that are required to comply with a dark sky certification: • Installing quality outdoor lighting could cut energy use by 60-70%, save billions of dollars and cut carbon emissions.

• Outdoor lighting should be fully shielded and should direct light down where it's needed, not into the sky.

• Fully shielded fixtures can provide the same level of illumination on the ground as unshielded ones, but with less energy and cost.

• Unnecessary indoor lighting — particularly in empty office buildings at night — should be turned off.

New lighting technologies can help conserve energy • LEDs and compact fluorescents (CFLs) can help reduce energy use and protect the environment, but only warmwhite bulbs should be used.

• Dimmers, motion sensors and timers can help to reduce average illumination levels and save even more energy.

International Dark Sky Week is celebrated April 22- May 1.

Visit www.darksky.org to learn more about Dark Sky Communities.

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L IV I NG

35

9Fiber: The Invisible Industry Innovation for a Cleaner World

BY CAROL KAHN

9

9Fiber is working towards reducing the dependency on petroleum-based products and exploiting virgin forests by providing hemp-based, organic materials for end products.

It’s hard to explain or visualize how an end product of discarded hemp is recycled.

Over 300 million people in the U.S. interact with products made with virgin forest wood pulp and petroleum-based additives multiple times a day. These additives are used in many processes, including stabilizers, thickeners and filler.

Most people are entirely unaware of the additives in their products and have little idea as to why they are needed.

Currently, U.S. labels do not require products to list all ingredients or additives in volume. ​ or some, it’s not a big problem. But for the hundreds F of millions of people who want to know what they’re eating, wearing or sitting on, 9Fiber is adding a layer of transparency to the U.S. market that doesn’t currently exist.

What’s more difficult to understand is why these additives are even necessary. This may be hard to digest, but the fact of the matter is that we are consuming additives such as thickeners found in ice cream or whipped toppings or preservatives that absorb moisture in shredded cheese.

However, this invisible industry is worth explaining.

There has been a great deal of interest in hemp as a renewable source of fiber. But conventional processing uses toxic chemicals and results in a lot of waste. What if hemp could

36

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

be sustainably processed, using the entire plant and reducing waste materials post-processing — AND could help save trees? Sound too good to be true? 9Fiber doesn't think so!

Why is hemp such an important product?

According to 9Fiber, hemp is one of the strongest and most durable of all natural textile fibers. Products made from hemp have been shown to outlast other products by many years. Hemp is extremely strong and holds its shape incredibly well, stretching less than any other natural fiber.

As a fabric, hemp provides all the warmth and softness of a natural textile but with a superior durability found in a few other materials. Textiles made from hemp are extremely versatile and can be used for countless types of apparel, accessories and shoes, ranging from retail to boutique quality.

Hemp’s long bast fibers are ideal for pulping into highquality pulp. Because of their tensile strength, hemp fibers are an excellent material for high-end specialized paper products such as tea bags, currency paper and specialty filters.

Hemp fibers can also be blended with other pulp fibers such as wheat straw or flax or even recycled wood to increase paper performance, strength and recyclability.

By manufacturing plastics from renewable, non-toxic, biodegradable hemp, cellulose industries not only reduce their carbon footprint but also help ease the burden on our nation's landfills — many of which are operating at or near full capacity.

Green Living magazine spoke with Adin Alai, the CEO and founder of 9Fiber, Inc., a U.S.-based agro-tech company that uses proprietary technology to eliminate toxic chemicals and inefficiencies in the hemp industry. Through innovations in cellulose and fiber derivative processing, 9Fiber technology drives circular economies through waste diversion in nine industries: Auto, plastics, paper, composite, semiconductor, non-wovens, medical absorbents, construction and textile industries. ​ lai serves on Recycle Colorado’s Cannabis Sustainability A Council, is a member of the Marijuana Industry Group in Colorado and Maryland’s Industrial Hemp Coalition. He was a critical component in passage of SB18-187 in Colorado. Alai is nationally recognized as a leading voice in the industrial hemp sector at economic development forums, the Future Harvest symposium at University of Maryland, the Social Enterprise Conference at the Harvard Business School and state recycling summits.

GL: Explain what 9Fiber is about.

AA: We are a material converter company. We are agro-tech based.

We base our conversion process on an eco-friendly, patented chemistry that essentially takes the low-value components of the hemp stalk, which is the fiber and the woody core, which is called the herd. And we decontaminate them, and degum them and prepare them for applications in products across nine market sectors. 9Fiber is a doorway, to unlock the potential of what industrial hemp can do in these nine major markets that we we want to play in. Some of these markets are viable and are here now, some of them are in research and development. Our goal is to really reintroduce this material as a sustainable material to replace unsustainable stuff, especially replacing timber wherever possible, in order to create more of that sustainable economy. But not just greenwashing, like a real sustainable economy that's U.S.-based.

GL: How did you get involved in the hemp industry?

AA: My brother invented the foundation of our chemistry.

We started to evolve out of curiosity, and we started to solve a waste problem. He was an independent grower in the cannabis world, in California and in Colorado. And cannabis is cultivated on a weekly basis, whereas hemp is usually annually, or in some climates, bi-annually. So, every

week, you've got a mountain of trash that you're dealing with — stock, stems, leaves, so on and so forth. And back in those days, in 2014, everybody would just throw it on the back of the U-Haul and drive out in the middle of the night and dump it in the forest someplace or just burn it. It was like the wild, wild west with that material. He was sick and tired of doing that because it gets to be expensive and arduous.

And so, he fell in love with hemp … Hemp has been around forever, and nobody has ever created a textile-grade fiber or fiber of any kind from a marijuana plant. [He decided to] go try and do that.

We now have three patents issued in the U.S. covering all stages of the separation and cleaning and decontaminating process. We started experimenting with hemp versus cannabis. And very shortly thereafter, it became obvious that Colorado was experiencing a landfill crisis because of this marijuana waste, the way the laws are written in every state in the country except for Colorado and Maryland. But in every state in the country, for every pound of marijuana waste you generate, you must mix it 50/50 with either paper, trash, garbage, glass or whatnot, and haul it off to a landfill.

So every pound of marijuana waste you create you create two pounds of landfill. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that that's not sustainable in a booming industry. Urban landfills aren't designed to handle green matter.

GL: Let’s talk about cellulose that is found in many things, especially food — what is it exactly?

AA: Totally sounds bizarre. But cellulose is a food filler.

The average person has no idea that it’s in everything — packaged foods, breads, doughnuts, cakes, mayonnaise, salad dressings, your kids paint, it's in the plastic around your TV, in the lining of your couch, in your carpet, it's there in your air filter.

I began to learn about all the things that cellulose and timber are in that we don't even know about. We started to build our mission and vision based off those directives. How can we introduce a sustainable material so that our material interacts with the average person nine times a day?

GL: Tell me about the project you are working on with Fashion For Good.

AA: We are in a global agro-waste grant project, a research project with Fashion for Good, a phenomenal organization that targets the fashion industry to help them eliminate waste and create new technologies and new methodologies in order be more sustainable. And this global agro-

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L IV I NG

37

waste project is great, because there are only six innovators. We’re the only U.S. company working with recycled hemp. The other innovators overseas are working with different aspects of hemp, or banana or something else but we're the only ones really working with U.S.-based product that's grown here. It makes us somewhat unique. Adidas, Bestseller and Vivobarefoot are the industrial brands behind this research project.

Birla Cellulose is going to take our material, mix it with cotton, do some testing, and from all that, they present the different blends to the apparel brand, the footwear brands, and then they get to decide who gets to go to phase three and engage in a relationship with them. It’s very exciting.

GL: What are you finding in the industry as far as alternatives to cotton?

AA: Everybody's looking for sustainable alternatives to cotton, because cotton is an incredibly energyintensive product. And it has a high amount of pesticide use and herbicide use and water use, and you know, these things inherently are not so great.

And the water use just is not sustainable. People are looking for alternative things, and it's amazing what is getting kicked out these days. And there's different startup companies all over the place that are working on bananas and different types of strange fruits and vegetables you and I have never even heard of and trying to make fiber and fabric out of it. Ultimately, fashion is fickle, and it will come down to whether the consumer is going to accept it or not, what the price point is, and that's one of hemp’s biggest challenges that it's not at scale with cotton, doesn't have the subsidies as cotton, it doesn't have the infrastructure, the supply chain, any of the testing. There's an entire big black hole of stuff that needs to happen for hemp to be anywhere near the scale of cotton.

GL: How has all of this changed you?

AA: I've taken the red pill — a “Matrix” reference. I can't unsee what is going on anymore; I can't unsee what's in a product anymore; I can't unsee how I could potentially introduce a material that could make it better or see it, envision it in a way that it could be more sustainable, healthier, different in one way, shape or form. And that's how it's changed me. I have a six-year-old and a nephew the same age, and I think about the planet I'm going to leave him. A lot of people are just concerned about money, and what they're going to leave inheritance-wise to their kids.

I'm more interested in making an environmental impact, so that my kid isn't trying to figure things out in a hot, dry, dusty planet. It energizes me to keep fighting this fight.

38

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

PLANNING A REMODEL? Don’t Demolish

A DIFFERENT KIND OF SOLAR COMPANY

DECONSTRUCT

Tired of solar ads and doorstep conversations that seem too good to be true?

We’ve built a successful 16-year business on the pillars of quality, transparency, and education.

Avoid the pressure and get the facts.

Free Estimate • 480-637-2271

• Reduce Waste • Save $1,000s • Support Your Community

"Use Sun Valley Solar Solutions. They live up at all the promises they make – a bit rare in this day and age where many companies are quick for the sale and then you wonder where the rest of team is." – Terril M.

480-269-8601 • StardustBuilding.org

Protect your home from power outages.

Be prepared for power outages and save money with the Generac PWRcell, an integrated solar + battery storage system.

Generac, the #1 Provider of Backup Power Systems!

Buyer’s Guide POWER YOUR HOME. SAVE MONEY. PREPARE FOR POWER OUTAGES.

Request a FREE copy of the PWRcell Buyer’s Guide!

PWRcellGuide.com/ GreenLiving (888) 664-3607 WWW.PWRCELLOFFER.COM

(888) 664-3607

LEARN MORE TODAY!

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L I V I NG

39

SAVOR

Recipes

Superfood Caesar Salad

by EAT RECIPE AND PHOTO COURTESY OF STACEY WEBER | EATBYSTACEYWEBER.COM MAKES ENOUGH FOR 4 SALADS

Superfood Sprinkle ¼ cup crispy quinoa ¼ cup hemp seeds 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast 2 Tbsp chia seeds ¼ cup chopped pepitas Salad Mix 1 head romaine 2 cups kale 2 cups spinach 1 stalk celery ½ cup pickled red onions (see below) 12 red grapes ½ cup capers Vegan Caesar Dressing ½ oz lemon juice Dash Worcestershire (be sure it's vegan!)

2 tsp salt + pepper seasoning blend 1 oz Vegenaise Directions Preheat oven to 325°. Wash all produce. De-stem kale, roughly chop all greens and cut celery in thin bias cuts. Make quinoa according to package instructions. Once quinoa is cooked, spread thinly on a sheet tray and toast in the oven at 325° degrees for five minutes. Stir and cook five additional minutes until golden and crispy. Mix dressing ingredients in blender or with whisk. Toss all ingredients with dressing, top with superfood sprinkle.

Pickled Red Onions 2 red onions julienned 2 Tbsp pickling spice 2 bay leaves 1½ Tbsp salt 1 Tbsp sugar 2 cups white vinegar 2 cups water Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Once boiling, pour over onions and let soak for at least 24 hours.

40

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

The air you breathe is as important as the food you eat. Ask me about...

A home that improves your health—related to:

ASTHMA | HYPERTENSION | ALLERGIES 623.332.4116

ali@alialasaday.com www.PhoenixGreenHomeConcepts.com

photo credit: RE/MAX Fine Properties

A Healthy Home

Ali Al-Asady

REALTOR® Instructor, Green SA542527000

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN LI V I NG

41

TRAVEL

Conservation

The Grand Canyon

Photos by Wade Thorson

Conserving the Cultural Wonder

W

BY ANNA DORL

When you think of Arizona, what comes to mind? For most people, there’s a hint in its nickname: The Grand Canyon State. Whether you’re a local or just visiting, there’s no denying the influence of this iconic Southwestern landmark.

With a lasting legacy that spans across centuries of history, the preservation of Grand Canyon National Park is mainly supported through the work of the Grand Canyon Conservancy, the park’s official nonprofit partner.

“Our mission is to inspire generations of park champions to support the natural cultural wonder of the Grand Canyon,” said Mindy Reisenberg, CDMP, the director of marketing and communications of the Conservancy. She described the Grand Canyon Conservancy as the official philanthropic nonprofit collaborative partner of Grand Canyon National Park.

Since 1932, the Grand Canyon Conservancy has protected this beloved National Park, and in 2022, the Conservancy is celebrating 90 years of operation and dedication. The Conservancy reaches millions of visitors a year through various initiatives, outreaches and opportunities, including Grand Canyon National Park’s various gift shops.

“If [visitors] want to support our work within the park, we run stores at the Canyon. If you shop in our retail stores, the proceeds we receive from that go back into Grand Canyon

42

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

National Park,” Reisenberg said. This is a great opportunity for the park’s millions of visitors each year to help pay it forward for future generations.

“We support Grand Canyon National Park in every way that the government has not,” Reisenberg said. She explained that each national park is allocated a certain amount of money annually by the federal government, based on size.

“The Grand Canyon probably is on the top end of that, but that is generally [allocated to] infrastructure … [such as] roads and repairs. Pretty much everything else that happens at the park is funded by the members of the Grand Canyon Conservancy,” Reisenberg said. This would include initiatives such as trail restoration, education programming, protective measures for local flora and fauna, historic building preservation and preventative search and rescue.

The Grand Canyon Conservancy’s current priority is the redevelopment of the Desert View Intertribal Cultural Heritage Site. The Conservancy is working closely with Grand Canyon National Park to breathe new life into the area, located on the east end of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

“It’s going to be a site that is kind of led by the 11 tribes that are traditionally associated with Grand Canyon National Park,” Reisenberg said. This would include the Havasupai Tribe (Arizona), the Hopi Tribe (Arizona), the Hualapai Tribe (Arizona), the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians (Arizona), the Las Vegas Band of Paiute Indians (Nevada), the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians (Nevada), the Navajo Nation (Arizona), the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, the San Juan Southern Paiute (Arizona), the Pueblo of Zuni (New Mexico) and the Yavapai-Apache Nation (Arizona).

Through this project, the Conservancy and Grand Canyon

National Park seek to “address the historic inequities that were faced by Native Americans during the creation of the national parks,” Reisenberg said. “[The tribes] were forced out of their land, forcibly removed from their land by the National Park System, to create [Grand Canyon] National Park.”

Alongside the Grand Canyon Conservancy and Grand Canyon National Park is an intertribal working group, with representatives from each tribe to “bring back muted voices to Grand Canyon and to create some new pathways for cultural economic opportunities for the tribes at Grand Canyon.”

Trail maintenance, another aspect of Grand Canyon National Park that Grand Canyon Conservancy covers, requires ongoing upkeep. This is due to the park’s popularity and the quick and dramatic weather changes typical of the Arizona desert. “You could start out in snow and be down with sunshine and warmth in the

bottom [of the Canyon],” Reisenberg said. Thankfully, the Conservancy supplies funding to ensure that the park’s trails remain accessible for all.

the bottom of the Grand Canyon to our oceans to our own backyards, this [documentary] questions what it means to be good stewards of our shared home.”

Grand Canyon National Park has faced several ecological threats throughout the years. Dark sky preservation continues to be a focus of the Conservancy’s attention.

As a result of their combined efforts in 2019, the Grand Canyon Conservancy was officially named an International Dark Sky Park.

Welcoming about five-million visitors a year, the individual impact of your footprint at Grand Canyon National Park matters more than you might think. Reisenberg offered some tips to help visitors do their part to help conserve the Grand Canyon and other natural sites:

“We have some of the most pristine dark skies on the planet,” Reisenberg said. “You can see the Milky Way at night.” She attributes this to the eventual lessening of light pollution on the Grand Canyon’s rim, which makes the stars much easier for the naked eye to see.

A recent documentary by QMedia for the Azulita Project, “Evidence of Us,” centers around the degradation of the Grand Canyon over time from various sources. The Azulita Project, a Flagstaff-based organization, aims to fight plastic pollution however possible. The film “reveals the long shadow of pollution, overconsumption and waste cast by plastic use,” according to the Azulita Project’s website. “From

44

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

• Be respectful of the Canyon itself — we want to keep this as pristine as possible.

• Be mindful of nature, animals and the severity of weather changes. In order to preserve what they are, you need to keep your distance because they can hurt you.

• Be respectful of how difficult the Canyon can be. Read up before you hike — (the National Park Service’s online guide “Hike Smart” is a great resource).

If you’re interested in more information about the Grand Canyon Conservancy, or if you’d like to become a member, visit www.grandcanyon.org.

You are welcome here!

www.visitcottonwoodaz.org

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L IV I NG

45

TRAVEL

Arizona

Verde Grown Campaign Celebrates Agricultural Roots of the Verde Valley

T

The Verde Valley has been rich in agricultural history for thousands of years.

The earliest farmers were the Hohokam people, the same culture that once thrived in Phoenix’s Salt River Valley. The Hohokam developed extensive networks of irrigation canals that transformed the bottomlands of both valleys into rich agricultural areas. These canals serve as a powerful reminder of the Hohokam and their relationship to the land.

followed in the tradition of the Verde Valley’s earliest agriculturalists — they dug irrigation canals and began applying water to bottomland. By the turn of the 20th century, settlers maintained 68 irrigation canals tapping into the Verde River and its tributaries — Beaver Creek, West Clear Creek, Oak Creek and Sycamore Creek — that watered nearly 8,000 acres of pasture, fields and orchards.

The Sinagua people entered the region around A.D. 800 and continued to use irrigation canals, but they also mastered the art of dry-farming beans, maize, Photos courtesy Verde Grown squash and other crops.

They flourished along the Verde and its tributaries and are responsible for the construction of Tuzigoot and Montezuma Castle, landmarks that still grace the Verde Valley today.

The collapse of the Sinagua culture around A.D. 1400 opened the region up for new settlers. The Yavapai and then the Apache peoples arrived. Hunter-gatherers for the most part, the two cultures nevertheless continued a tradition of using the river’s vast floodplain to plant corn and other crops.

In February 1865, a group of non-native farmers from the mining camps near Prescott arrived at the confluence of West Clear Creek and the Verde River. These farmers

46

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

Today, that agricultural legacy remains, although much of the water that formerly irrigated farms now waters turf and trees in the lush neighborhoods that wind through Camp Verde’s green belt. The 40 remaining irrigation ditches still water around 6,000 acres of greenspace, including production orchards, farms and gardens. The Valley’s famous sweet corn and luscious tomatoes are known statewide, and its farmers market and numerous roadside stands bring visitors to town all summer long.

Verde Grown is the brand that Verde Valley farmers, ranchers, food producers and food advocates have chosen to tell their 2000-year-old story of resilience. Verde Grown represents and celebrates food producers from the hardworking communities in the Verde Valley that remain connected to their roots in agriculture and stewardship of the land and river. Proudly, they continue to nurture the fruits, vegetables, cattle, pecans,

follow us on instagram

outdoor patio

| dog friendly | free wifi

348 S Main St #18 Camp Verde, AZ 86322 (928) 567-6450

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L IV I NG

47

wine, beer, wool and other crops that have been cultivated in the heart of Arizona for generations.

Verde Grown producers strengthen the resiliency and economic vitality of the Verde Valley and those who continue to thrive off the land and the river that has sustained the region for thousands of years. Growers and producers have partnered with Local First Arizona to launch its brand with an intent to link food connoisseurs to farmers, ranchers, food producers and restaurants in the Verde Valley, which includes the cities and towns of Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Cornville and other nearby communities.

“Creating the Verde Grown brand has been a dream for the last eight years and is intended to accomplish very important things. First, bring awareness of the wide variety and high quality of agricultural products produced in the Verde Valley. The second is to bring awareness to consumers and producers alike of the value in protecting flows in our rivers and streams, the lifeblood of our rich agricultural history,” Steve Ayers, Town of Camp Verde Economic Development Director said.

“The Verde Valley’s rich natural ecosystem has made it into an agricultural hub for centuries and a wine and food destination today — touted by locals and visitors alike,” says Samantha Zah, Local First Arizona Rural Food and Sustainability Manager. “Through Verde Grown, we want to ensure the local food community is supported year-round, increasing exposure to the regional marketplace, growing sustainably and building resilience for generations to come,” she added.

The Verde Grown brand is the fulfillment of a year-long project enacted in cooperation between the Camp Verde, local growers and Local First Arizona to highlight the area’s agriculture, with the help of a grant of $35,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“We are currently engaging all of the farmers markets and all of the vendors within each of the farmers markets,” Ayers said. He hopes to also extend the brand to some of the roadside stands in the area, and to eventually give over responsibility to the producers themselves.

Verde Grown producers include over 41 businesses, including Hauser & Hauser Farms, Clear Creek Vineyard & Winery, Fasteen Farms, Harmony Acres Ranch, Heart Wood Cellars, Southwest Wine Center, Tres Brisas Beef, My Girlfriend’s Garden, Verde Valley Farmers Market, Windmill Park Farmers Market, Salt Mine Wine, Wild Heart Farm, Yavapai College Horticulture Program, Main Street Cafe, The Hoppy Goat Farm and Willow Rose Farms to name a few.

Currently, the Verde Valley has several events throughout the year that center around agritourism, the recent Pecan & Wine Festival in March and the Corn Festival that is scheduled for July.

Ayers says that by doing more events, people get to visit the area, learn about its agricultural history and eat great farmfresh foods. “My hope is that in the next three to five years, it can grow into something more … maybe even establishing a local co-op for farmers.”

Visit www.goodfoodfinderaz.com/verdevalley to learn more.

48

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

Farmer to Chef Cooperative

picnic & bbq Chef’s / Restaurant

1. Chris Bianco, James Beard Award Winner, “Tratto – Pizzeria Bianco” 2. Adam Allison - Chef/Owner at The Handle Bar Diner - Winner Of The Food Network TV Show Chopped 3. Micah Wyzlic, “Phoenix City Grille” 4. Tom Baumbach, “Tom and Lin” Catering 5. Jeff Krause, “Crepe Bar” TV Episode Chopped, Food Network Vegas Chef Prize Fight 6. Brett Vibber, “Wild” TV Food Network, Big Restaurant Bet 7. Jason Allen, “Fairmont Scottsdale Princess” 8. Subash, Mr. Momo 9. Saul Velazquez, “Sante’” MEET & GREET YOUR FAVORITE

Farmers 1. Blue Sky, David and Sara Vose 2. Pinnacle Farms, Janna Anderson 3. Crooked Sky Farms, Frank Martin Get Tickets: 4. Agritopia, Kelly Saxer, Farmer 5. Heartquist Hollow Ranch, Scott and Christie Heartquist 6. Six Day Farms, Michael & Jennifer Connelly 7. Maya’s Farm, Maya Dailey Saturday, May 14th, 2022, 4-8PM

PICNIC!

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L IV I NG

49

DESIGN

Archeology

Uncovered at Dyck Cliff Dwelling Ancient Indigenous Family Life in the Verde Valley of Arizona

BY CAROL KAHN

S

Sedona and the Verde Valley are rich in ancient history of the Indigenous people.

Conflicting stories of the actual names of the tribes have become a discussion amongst curators, archeologists and the tribes themselves. The Hopi people prefer the term, “Hisatsinom,” meaning “ancient people,” to describe their ancestors who lived within the Sedona and Verde Valley areas.

Archeologists have used the term “Sinagua” — coined in 1939 by archaeologist Harold S. Colton, founder of the Museum of Northern Arizona, from the Spanish word “sin” meaning “without” and “agua” meaning “water,” referring to the name originally given by Spanish explorers to the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, the “Sierra Sin Agua.”

Colton has described the Verde Valley as “an archaeologist’s paradise” because of the presence of numerous archaeological sites located along the Verde River and its tributaries.

On March 18 and 19, the Verde Valley Archaeology Center (VVAC) celebrated its official grand opening.

Executive Director Ken Zoll spearheaded the entire project from its inception; the vision for the VVAC was more than 10 years in the making. But finally, through perseverance, it has come to fruition. Unbeknownst to him and his wife, Nancy, the new building on Finnie Flat Road in Camp Verde was named in their honor.

The VVAC will contain artifacts depicting the ancient Verde Valley family life that has been revealed through the Paul Dyck Collection. It’s one of the largest collections, totaling 50,000 artifacts that were found on Dyck’s ranch located in Rimrock. Dyck, an artist, purchased the 312acre ranch in 1938. However, it wasn’t until 1962, that the

50

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

dwellings were excavated, and artifacts were recovered by Dr. Charles Rozaire, assistant curator at the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles. Rozaire was an experienced archaeologist with a Ph.D. in Anthropology from UCLA. One would think that the artifacts belonged to Dyck because he owned the property. However, Zoll corrected that assumption by saying, “See, there’s where you start off with the fallacy right there, ‘owned by Paul Dyck.’ That was a Hopi ancestral family site prior to Dyck owning it. As far as the Hopi are concerned, their spirits are still there. So, they still occupy that site,” Zoll stated. “Therefore, there’s no such thing as ownership of something like that. And the big thing right now in archaeology is when you give talks, you usually start with what’s called a ‘land acknowledgment statement.’ And although I’ll say, ‘this is from the Paul Dyck dwelling, but recognize that he was simply a caretaker for the people who lived there and a protector of their site, and this has been used to further our understanding and knowledge of their ancestors.’ And so, you acknowledge all of this. It’s very offensive [to the Hopi] if you don’t do that.”

From 1962 to 1972, the excavation took place under Rozaire’s guidance. Even though the excavations were completed in 1972, a detailed report was never written until the Verde Valley Archaeology Center received the collection from

the Paul Dyck Foundation in 2015. As a result, a 701-page report was published in 2020, documenting 420 figures and 100 tables of data, accounting for 50,000 pieces of artifacts.

A condensed version of the data was the focus of a book, “Ancient Verde Valley Family Life, The Sinagua at the Dyck Cliff Dwelling.”

With the acquisition of the Paul Dyck Collection, several exhibit rooms at VVAC have been allocated to tell the rare story of the family life of the ancient people. Among the different rooms throughout the center, the stories, artifacts, art and history will be told through a variety of exhibits.

HISATSINOM PAINTING

Within the center, a room dedicated to the Hisatsinom (Sinagua), contains a floor-to-ceiling painting depicting the story of how four clans or family groups of the tribes emerged from within the Grand Canyon and their subsequent departure. The mural was created by Hopi artist Filmer Keyanyama who stated: “My lineage is descended from the Hopi Tribe of the Southwest. Much of my work depicts and chronicles the Hopi way of life, what I feel and know is very important and sacred to me. We Hopi are of the few Native American people that cling to our old way of life and its ceremonies. As a child growing up on Hopi, I too learned through our initiations the ceremonies that our ancestors passed on to us. The usage of symbols and what I call, Katsina colors, is crucial to my work. My influences come from what I know of Hopi history and what are my own interpretations of Hopi history fueled by my own personal feelings. I am constantly striving to learn and

develop new techniques and ideas to use in my paintings, digital art, sculpture and much more. Some of my other works have to do with my personal experiences of growing up between American culture and my Native culture. I focus on trying to depict the spirituality of what Hopi means to me, The People of Peace. My goal is to educate non-Hopi on who we are, and to continue to grow spiritually and professionally as an artist.”

POTTERY Several pieces of pottery [Ollas] are on display dating back to A.D. 700-1425. Ollas (oy-yah) is a Spanish word meaning “large pot.” The ancient Sinagua of the Verde Valley used these large vessels primarily for the storage of corn, beans and water. Many of these large pots have been found in caves and buried in pueblos. “But these at VVAC are basically community water vessels, for the most part, sometimes they were storage vessels, but they are big pots, and the Hopi did not move them when they would migrate, they’re just too big to carry,” Zoll said. “So, when they would move to another place, they would just make some more. And that’s why we have a lot of them in the ruins.”

PAUL DYCK PERMANENT GALLERY Included in this gallery is an easel that Dyck used in 1940 for painting as well as a few original paints and paintbrushes. Other items include boots, a vest and a rifle scabbard made by the sister of a Sioux Indian chief. A few of Dyck’s paintings will also be on display in the room. Paul Dyck was an iconic American painter who embodied a trailblazing spirit.

Through his art, he captured the essence of the American West. Dyck has an affinity for the natural environment and a kindred connection to Native Americans. He devoted much of his life ensuring the continuity of Native American culture, peoples and communities. Dyck lived with several Plains Indian tribes and was the adopted son of the Sioux warrior, One Elk and was also the adopted son of the Blackfeet artist, Lone Wolf.

ROTATING ART GALLERY The rotating art gallery currently features a retrospective from the Paul Dyck’s work. VVAC has been collecting paintings from the Tucson Museum of Art, Phoenix Museum of Art and the Scottsdale Museum of the West, all of which will be on loan for a year. These include: “Tipi Horses,” Collection of the Tucson Museum of Art and “River of Life,” Collection of the Paul Dyck Foundation Research Institution of American Indian Culture. Several private collectors from Sedona and Scottsdale loaned their paintings for the exhibit as well.

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L I V I NG

51

and had been untouched for 800 years.

It’s considered the most complete picture of a family’s life at that time, from the 11th to the 13th century.

Botanical seeds discovered in the dwelling will be displayed, along with other artifacts such as textiles, pottery, arrows and gourd rattles.

YAVAPAI-APACHE NATION This room contains a diorama of wickiup — huts consisting of an oval frame covered with brushwood or grass and used by the Native Americans as a shelter. In addition, there are a few artifacts on loan from the Yavapai-Apache Nation — a maquette of the monument, “Exodus,” is on display. The 10-foot monument sits in front of the Yavapai Apache Nation’s cultural center located near the Cliff Castle Casino in Camp Verde. The sculpture depicts the “Trail of Tears,” where the Native Americans were forced out of their land and had to relocate 180 miles away.

PAUL DYCK ARTIFACT COLLECTION Three rooms at VVAC are dedicated to the Paul Dyck Collection of artifacts that were found in the cliff dwelling

COMMUNITIES ALONG BEAVER CREEK The Verde Valley is rich in ancestral discoveries. The Dyck Cliff Dwelling was more than likely connected to other community sites along Beaver Creek.

According to a new publication about “Ancient Verde Valley Family Life,” “These communities probably had communal ceremonial facilities, such as community rooms or plazas or kin groups that have maintained their own ceremonial structures.” It is recorded that the inhabitants at the Dyck dwelling may have contributed to ceremonies that took place in some of the large pueblos in the area, where a multitude of ballcourts were found at Watter’s Ranch in Lake Montezuma and Sacred Mountain. More than 200 ballcourts have been found in Arizona. Shortly after A.D. 600, the Verde Valley attracted the “Hohokam,” who planted crops in the bottom lands and built their houses on the adjacent terraces so that they could overlook their fields. The ballcourts are an ovalshaped courts which bear a close similarity to the ballcourts of Mexico. Archeologists believe that there is some connection to the tribe’s ceremonial rites. Seven ballcourts have been located within 7.5 miles of the Dyck Cliff Dwelling, with the closest one about 2.5 miles upstream on Beaver Creek.

The most interesting stories are those about the ancestral history Zoll discovered during his tenure at VVAC including solar calendars, cliff dwellings, pit houses, sacred sites and a possible ancient birthing center. The continuous revelations of solar calendars in the area and around the southwest, depicting the winter and spring solstices, as well as rock art, is what Zoll has been noted for. “People often ask, ‘How did you get into this?’ And I’ll say, during my career, I was a Chief Information Officer. I very simply went from the high-tech of the 21st century, to the high-tech of the 11th century,” Zoll said. “A lot of times, I’ve given these talks, and I’ll have people almost always — at least one, if not more, will come up to me afterwards saying, ‘I had no idea these people [Indigenous people] were that smart.’ That is really gratifying to me, that I’m showing that they’re real people. That’s why I love those three exhibits [Paul Dyck Cliff Dwelling artifacts] that we’re doing at VVAC on Domestic Life, Diet and Subsistence and Textiles. It’s showing how a family lived here. And they’re not that much different than us.”

The Verde Valley Archeology Center is located at 460 W. Finnie Flat Road, Camp Verde, Arizona.

Visit www.verdevalleyarchaeology.org for more information.

52

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

Boost Your Immunity • Probiotic • Fermented • Detox • Energize • Supports Gut Distress • Reduce Sugar Cravings To order or find out more, go to PickUpTheBeet.com

Use the code Green Living at checkout to receive 15% off your order.

Virginia G. Piper Cancer Care Network

OUR TEAM IS HERE TO CARE FOR YOU. From cancer to hematology, we’re with you every step of the way.

Locations across the Valley Groundbreaking therapies Support services Personalized care Learn more at HonorHealth.com/cancer

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L IV I NG

53

DESIGN

Art

Photo by Katherin Ann Franklin

Space & Capital

Telling the Story of Extraction and Displacement Through Art

BY ALENA JUTILLA

W

We all have core memories from childhood, that first little flash of something concrete in a sea of blur. For Carolina Aranibar-Fernández, her first memory takes place drawing and painting in an artist’s studio when she was not even eight years old. The subject: a colorful chicken with eggs. When she recalls this vivid memory, she looks back with pure enjoyment. The chicken was truly magical to her. Little did she know, this mystical painting would be the first of many art pieces throughout her life.

54

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

Born and raised in La Paz, Bolivia, Aranibar-Fernández is a true visionary who sees the world through the lens of someone that transcends singular labels. She is an artist, but she is also a historian, a storyteller, a teacher, a cartographer, a researcher, an economist, a geologist. Her multimedia art reflects how she looks at the world, and from this writer’s perspective, the world would be a much better place if more people saw it the way she does.

As an artist, Aranibar-Fernández does not limit herself to one medium.

Much of her practice is self-taught or learned through observation. Some of her installations are heavily anchored in video and audio. Other times, she prefers to weave her stories into textiles, fabrics, embroidery or stitching. She has also made her own prints and worked with ceramics.

Aranibar-Fernández’s home country is a paramount inspiration to her for several reasons. Bolivia itself is an extremely diverse country, the space and climate changing from north to south, east to west. It is also a vital artery for natural resource extraction. Minerals, oil and natural gas

Photo by Katherin Ann Franklin

are pulled from the ground and sent far away overseas for refinement and purchase.

Through her art, Aranibar-Fernández manifests her fascination with space and place. She is an artist-in-residence at LISC Phoenix, a nonprofit focused on building equitable communities. They call her work “creative placemaking.”

Armed with her gift of storytelling, Aranibar-Fernández’s work with LISC will focus on co-creating with grassroots organizations from around Arizona. These organizations will be able to share their creation, aspiration and legacy through a medium of expression they prefer, in both digital and physical form. The ultimate goal is to use these stories to not only preserve the past, but inspire action in the future.

“I’m constantly learning, and curiosity has been my inspiration — having had the opportunity to live and travel in different spaces, learning how commodities move across the ocean,” Aranibar-Fernández says.

Following her curious nature, roughly 50% of her practice is research. She takes the time to learn why economies exist in certain places. All these economies require natural resources, labor and displacement of people, seriously affecting livelihoods and the environment, both near and far. Space, extraction, movement, migration — this cycle inspires her every day.

“I think a lot of my work references climate change. I'm interested in the ways that we as humans have decided that the land is in service to us,” she says.

She is fascinated by the way that humans have collectively decided we have the right to exploit natural resources and people, taking something boundless and unilaterally as a species and claiming it as our own. We take the land as property, we sell, we trade, we extract.

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L I V I NG

55

Aranibar-Fernández explores these dualities of life in her art.

Connection and disconnection.

Construction and destruction.

Consumerism and waste. “We are no longer thoughtful about how we’re using resources.”

She thinks we need to reassess what “sustainability” truly means.

It goes beyond greenwashing initiatives — even eco-friendly trends still promote consumerism.

Real change will come from changing the way we consume, and bottom line, consuming less.

Photo courtesy ASU Art Museum

“The more we extract resources, the more harm we’re doing to the land. It’s a reflection of what we’re doing to ourselves.

We’re made of minerals and all the elements. I’m really interested in that connection and disconnection,” she says.

The Earth has many layers of history, many layers of minerals, yet we act as if we are entitled to it. This entitlement to exploit does more than just harm the environment, it harms us, too.

Aranibar-Fernández believes we have lost our connection to the land, that we have forgotten we are also part of it. The irony of it all? Without the land, we are nothing. Yet we continue the cycle.

Photo courtesy ASU Art Museum

“Climate change has been an issue for so many decades now, but I feel because we’re so focused on the economy and how that runs, we have to wait for climate catastrophe to do something,” she says.

“We need to be more thoughtful… it's not about replacing things, but being more conscious about the things we’re doing and the number of things we’re using. It’s about how we’ve reached a point where we can't go back. People are just becoming aware of it. How can we create longevity with care and thoughtfulness?”

When asked if she believes art can change the world, AranibarFernández says, “Artists have the ability to create stories that connect with people, and this can create change.” She believes art has the amazing ability to reach people regardless of language, age or culture. Art is sensory and emotional, so it can always communicate something to someone, wherever they are from. While it might be the primary vehicle to change laws or policies, it can inspire and motivate with a greater reach than other forms of communication or expression. That is the power art holds.

Aranibar-Fernández’s work has been exhibited in Bolivia, New York, Qatar, Nepal, Arizona and more.

She received her B.F.A. from the Kansas City Art Institute and her M.F.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has received multiple prestigious artistic fellowships and residencies. With many exciting exhibits upcoming this year, this talented visionary is sure to continue making waves.

To learn more about her work or to see upcoming exhibits, visit www.carolinaaranibar-fernandez.com.

56

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

Save the Date FEBRUARY– MARCH 2022

Join the fastest growing sustainable lifestyle publication in Arizona!

We are looking for experienced newspaper, magazine, and digital media Advertising Sales Representatives.

Presenting

We are seeking candidates who have demonstrated skills in the following areas: Gold

Platinum

• Direct, in-person, B2B sales, especially in the advertising field • The ideal candidate will have two to five years of sales experience

Silver

• The Ad Rep will report directly to the Publisher

Bronze

Copper idloom | AZ529 Titanium Midwestern University

Foundational Partners

Responsibilities include the following: direct, inperson B2B sales of advertising for print, website, and e-Marketing formats in addition to sponsorships for eco events and summit events, through a relationship-based approach, being articulate and professional in both communication and appearance.

To apply, visit

www.greenlivingmag.com/careers Outstanding Farm to Table Food Experience Event Catering - Customized Meals School Programs - Private Chef

602-625-5828

Attention to detail, flavor and service with the environment in mind.

Witnessingnature.net

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L IV I NG

57

TECHNOLOGY

Power

Technology Is Powering Arizona’s Sustainable Future

BY STEVEN G. ZYLSTRA, PRESIDENT & CEO, ARIZONA TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL AND SCITECH INSTITUTE

A

Photos courtesy of AZTech

As president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council and SciTech Institute, I’m pleased to have the opportunity to begin writing a monthly column for Green Living magazine to provide a perspective on the intersection between Arizona’s technology community and its environment. In my inaugural contribution, I’m highlighting the topic of clean energy and two important sectors where Arizona can lead the nation in green technology: electric vehicles and solar.

In the electric vehicle sector, the pro-technology, proadvanced manufacturing stance of Arizona’s state government has done a great job of facilitating the creation of carbonfree, zero-emissions vehicles locally. This has led to major investments by innovators Nikola Corporation and Lucid Motors, both of which have opened manufacturing facilities in Arizona. Being near the automotive supply chain in Mexico was another important factor for both companies choosing our state. Their success will significantly help Arizona and the world become far more green and sustainable.

Nikola is a hydrogen-powered, electric-vehicle manufacturer developing a variety of zeroemission hybrid and electric trucks to help solve the pollution problem. The company opened its new headquarters

58

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

and research and development facilities in Phoenix in 2019, and piqued wide interest nationally with its initial public offering on Nasdaq. Nikola is also nearing completion of a multi-product manufacturing facility in Coolidge, representing a capital investment of approximately $600 million. The company said it aims to produce 2,500 trucks this year and turn out 20,000 trucks a year by 2023. As a leading innovator, Nikola has the potential to completely change the electric-vehicle industry with revolutionary battery advancements and is expected to bring thousands of jobs to Arizona’s technology sector.

Temporarily bumping its rivals Tesla and Rivian out of the headlines, Lucid Motors also received a lot of national attention with the introduction of a state-of-the-art luxury

electric sedan built in a manufacturing facility in Casa Grande. In February 2021, the company agreed to become publicly traded through a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company with a $24 billion valuation, making it the largest deal yet between this type of “blank-check” company and an electric-vehicle startup. Lucid Motors is projecting it will create approximately 4,800 direct and indirect jobs in Arizona by 2029, which is a safe bet, given the Lucid Air electric sedan was recently awarded the 2022 MotorTrend Car of the Year.

For electric vehicles to gain in popularity, we cannot underestimate the importance of the infrastructure needed to power it. Thankfully, the introduction of the federal bipartisan infrastructure bill includes $7.5 billion earmarked for electric vehicle charging stations across the nation that will further incentivize the use of these zero-emission vehicles.

Another industry that is critical to Arizona’s clean energy future is solar. For a long time, Arizona was a leading manufacturer of solar panels and other infrastructure necessary for both consumer and commercial solar energy.

Unfortunately, a rebate aimed at incentivizing solar energy usage in our state expired and the manufacturers left. With more than 296 days of sun a year in Arizona, it is critical that we take back this lead and reinvest in solar manufacturing.

Fortunately, the solar industry is starting to see a resurgence, especially in southern Arizona, and is having a larger

economic and environmental impact every year. The region is globally recognized as an ideal location for solar-energy development, including manufacturing, talent and solarpower generation. According to the Climate Action Hub, Tucson is experiencing a “solar blitz,” more than doubling the installed solar on city facilities over the last few years. Today, nearly 25% of the city of Tucson facilities are solar-powered.

The rest of Arizona must follow in Tucson’s footsteps and work to incentivize solar development. We have the land and the infrastructure necessary to make that dream a reality and become the leader in solar innovation once again.

Arizona is known for its unique and beautiful desert landscape, but we’re also known for our low river flows and high temperatures in the summer. Investing in clean energy and sustainable technology is incredibly important to reducing the impact global warming is having on our environment. It will also significantly boost our economy.

The council, along with our private sector partners and economic development organizations, are leading the charge to advocate for legislation that will incentivize investment in clean energy and cut the red tape on research and development and testing for critical innovation like electric vehicles, solar and more. This will continue to be an important part of our mission moving forward. Let’s work together to keep our state clean, beautiful and prosperous.

Nikola Tre: Fuel-Cell Electric Daycab Semi-truck coverts hydrogen into electric power by combining it with oxygen.

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L IV I NG

59

She’s GREEN He’s GREEN

BY JENNIFER & JOHN BURKHART

As Earth Day approaches, it's a great reminder to thank the Earth for all it provides us and find ways to give back. You could start a new tradition of planting something every April or make a vow to change one thing permanently that benefits our planet. A few ideas include growing a garden, starting a recycling program in your community, unsubscribing to catalogs, switching from plastic water bottles to a reusable one, or shopping secondhand stores and websites for “new” clothes. If you want to make a simple switch today, we have a few ideas that will help you on your eco-friendly journey.

E-Cloth

Galaxy Green

World Market

Window Cleaning Cloths

Bamboo Paper Towels

Cotton Eco Sponges

He Said: We've been writing these reviews for about a decade, and I'll tell ya, the best part by far is finding an ecoproduct that does the job better than the mainstream chemical competitor. Just a little bit of clean water and some elbow grease and our windows were spotless and streak-free. I will never buy another bottle of that blue crud again.

He Said: I love how renewable these are. If you've ever had bamboo on your property, you know just how fast it can grow and propagate (most of the time into the neighbor’s yard). They made these towels just as absorbent and durable as the wood pulp ones but manufactured from a resource that grows in half the time. These are single-use for the most part, which is good, but I still like the reusable bamboo paper towels better.

He Said: These are cotton pouches filled with coir. Coir is the fibrous material that grows between a coconut and its green skin and yes, I had to google that.

Coconut coir is mostly used as a grow medium and is prone to growing mold, so definitely hang this one to dry after use or you're going to have the dreaded sponge-funk.

She Said: I was shocked at how well these cloths worked! I lightly scrubbed our windows and mirrors with the damp (just water!) waffle-weave cloth, followed with the dry cloth and BAM — sparkling clean. Amazing! Talk about eco-friendly — you'll never need to buy a plastic bottle of window cleaner again.

Sold! Take my money.

She Said: I feel like paper towels are a necessity in the house for the icky and dirty messes, but it's easy to use too many, too often. Sustainable bamboo towels to the rescue! These were a bit thin, so I had to use a full sheet to get good absorption and cleaning power. Overall, still a better choice than towels from trees.

She Said: I really wanted to like these.

First, they look like cute mini pillows for Barbies, and they're soft organic cotton that you can throw in the wash. Great!

What's not so great is that the filling is rather stiff and flat, making it hard to flex to the contours of the dishes, and it was tough to get a good lather. Sadly, these made dishwashing harder, and no one has time for that!

Lunchskins Compostable, Unbleached Paper Sandwich Bags He Said: Lunchskins?! Oh boy, I'm going to try hard to not make fun of that name ... let’s see how I do.

You've probably held a bag just like these if you ever bought a pastry from Starbucks. Thin, smooth paper that feels flimsy but is surprisingly durable. These would work perfect if you needed to pack lunches for your lollipop guild before meeting a newcomer to Munchkinland ... nope couldn't resist.

She Said: A great idea to reduce plastic consumption. These are no-zip bags, but they do a great job holding fruit or dry snacks, and even crayons, craft supplies or gifts (just thinking outside the box ... or bag). Just don't use them to store food that's greasy, watery or anything that may get stale in half a day. I love that they are backyard compostable/recyclable and unbleached with cute prints to boot!

60

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L I V I NG

61

GREEN

Scenes

Earth Day Events Throughout Arizona

CENTRAL ARIZONA April 23 Earth Day Extravaganza Expo Green Living hosts Earth Day Extravaganza to educate, empower and inspire business owners and loyal readers about protecting our planet. This year’s extravaganza will feature vendor booths showcasing eco-friendly products, chef demonstrations, music, electric vehicles and more. This event is focused on protecting our environment and the precious planet we all share with a focus on climate change and the importance of connecting with nature. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit www.greenlivingmag.com/earth-day-2022/

April 22 Peace, Love and Community - An Earth Day Art Exhibition Join Community 43 in celebrating Earth Day at their free Art Exhibit. Show your support and see over 50 masterpieces centered around Earth Day. The exhibit will feature local work inspired by up-cycled materials, nature and concepts like kindness and unity. 15% of all proceeds go to Community 43, a nonprofit that builds mental wellness through community and purpose. 85% of proceeds go to the artist (most are Community 43 members). To RSVP and for more information, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/peace-love-and-community-an-earthday-art-exhibition-tickets-297323170607

April 30 Taste of the Garden Fundraiser Project Roots, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization with a community garden located in South Phoenix where locals can assist in planting, growing and harvesting foods to eat in their own homes.

They are hosting their first fundraiser. The culinary experience will feature esteemed Phoenix-area chefs from Local First Arizona and foods grown and harvested by Project Roots AZ volunteers. For more information, visit www.projectrootsaz.org/events

62

GREEN LIVING

|

greenlivingmag.com

NORTHERN ARIZONA

SOUTHERN ARIZONA

April 2

April 9

Sedona Vortifest Music Festival and Experience For a truly one-of-a-kind music festival experience featuring music, craft food and beverage, over 40 artisan vendors, kids' zone and more, check out the Sedona Vortifest Music Festival. Listen to incredible artists such as Mr. Mudd, Mr. Gold, Sci-Fi Country and more! For more information, visit www.visitsedona.com/eventscalendar/sedona-vortifest-music-festival-experience

April 15 Earth Day Celebration Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra is conducting a unique concert and discussion focused on the importance of everyone’s role in protecting the precious planet we all share, with a specific focus on two related emergencies: Public health and climate change. The program will feature Claude Debussy’s enchanting impressionist work, La Mer, along with international performing artist Mark Kosower playing Bloch’s powerful Hebraic Rhapsody.

April 21 Celebrate Earth Day in Sedona Verde Valley The Yavapai-Apache Nation and the Town of Camp Verde present the first ever co-hosted Earth Day nature walk and sister tree planting, followed by Native American dancers, a magic show, an eco-fashion show, arts and crafts, games and more! For more information, visit www.sedonaverdevalley.org/celebrate-earthday-sedona-verde-valley

Family Nature Photography Join The Stewart L. Udall Parks in Focus program and Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation for a Saturday morning of fun, exploration and nature photography! This fun adventure is geared toward families with kids ages 6 to 18.

This program will include basic photography lessons, time to explore Agua Caliente Park with a Pima County naturalist, and the opportunity to receive your digital photos by email after the event. No experience necessary and cameras are provided for use during the program. To register and for more information, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/family-nature-photography-aguacaliente-park-registration-252711355467

April 10 Take Care One-Day Spring Retreat Come move, cook, eat, reflect and share at the Tucson Village Farm One-Day Spring Retreat! You will set intentions for the season to come and prepare your heart and body with simple techniques to find more ease and empowerment to continue nourishing and taking care of yourself regularly. Enjoy slowflow yoga, a wholesome cooking class, reflection and sharing, ayurvedic tips and more. For tickets and more information, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/one-day-spring-retreattickets-298306331267

April 23 Friends of the Verde River Presents Free Family Day Friends of the Verde River is hosting a Free Family Day during the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival. Free Family Day is on Saturday, April 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood. Join our nature walks to participate in the 2022 Verde Valley Community BioBlitz by recording the creatures and plants on your mobile device to create valuable data that helps the habitat restoration experts make decisions about how to keep the Verde River system healthy and flowing for generations to come.

To learn more, visit www.VerdeRiver.org/family-day

April 24 Red Rock State Park Earth Day Celebration Join Red Rock State Park for the return of their annual Earth Day Celebration! Featuring live reptile and raptor presentations courtesy of Sonoran Reptiles and the Runnin’ W Wildlife Center, as well as nature hikes, booths, games, kids crafts, a food truck and much more. Learn how you can take action to reduce the impacts of climate change and come experience some of the plants, animals and beautiful landscapes that your actions will help preserve. For more information, visit www.azstateparks. com/red-rock/events/sedona-arizona-earth-day-celebration

April 30 Agave Fiesta This annual signature event showcases all things agave. Enjoy live music, delicious food, agave spirit tastings, agave art, presentations from industry experts, and other goods produced or inspired by the agave plant. Price includes four agave spirit tastes, two beers, three cocktails and paired food from the Cup Café culinary team. For tickets and more information, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/agave-fiesta-tickets-266305395607

APRIL 2022

|

GREEN L I V I NG

63

Your family, your way

Marriage and domestic partnerships bring many changes to your life – and your finances. In addition, LGBTQ couples and families may have different priorities and challenges that require careful planning. Whether your family includes one or two parents with kids, individuals or a couple, or grandparents wanting to provide for and assist future generations, you’ll want to review your state’s laws and how to best plan for your needs.

Mark Morales First Vice President - Investment Officer 20551 N. Pima Rd. #200 Scottsdale , AZ 85255 Direct: (480) 419-2016 mark.morales@wellsfargoadvisors.com https://home.wellsfargoadvisors.com/mark.morales

Plan your perfect event, conference, or business meeting at Avondale’s Visitor and Conference Center. Be treated to beautiful views of the Estrella Mountains and enjoy the site’s many sustainability features. Conveniently located near 500+ hotel rooms, several delicious dining options, and a variety of sports and entertainment venues.

Polestar — Scottsdale

No compromises Because our future is 100% electric Scan to book a test drive