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PRODID:-//Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters - ECPv6.17.3//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Phoenix
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:MST
DTSTART:20230101T000000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260816T053000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260816T090000
DTSTAMP:20260814T193412Z
CREATED:20260814T193401Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260814T193412Z
UID:1453-1786858200-1786870800@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Sunday morning volunteer stewarding/work parties in Dunbar/Spring neighborhood
DESCRIPTION:WHEN: Meet 5:30am. Finish by 9am \nWHERE: We meet at 813 N. 9th Ave to gather tools\, then we walk to that morning’s work site(s) \n\n\n\nWork can vary from pruning to weeding to seeding to creating water-harvesting earthworks to planting native plants to picking up garbage. Varies from week to week. \n\n\n\nFocus is to work and get things done. This is hands-on work. We’ll teach you techniques if you don’t know them. Then you can teach others as you gain knowledge and experience. \n\n\n\nBring water. \n\n\n\nNOTE: Sunday\, August 16\, we will plant native trees along the public right-of-way on the west side of Stone Ave between University Blvd and 4th Street. I have gotten City approval to do this work since all but one of the non-native oak trees they planted in this section have died\, yet the drip irrigation system continues to water the now bare dirt where the dead oak trees once were. The native trees we plant will be far hardier than the non-native oak trees\, while producing food and shelter for people and wildlife.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/sunday-morning-volunteer-stewarding-work-parties-in-dunbar-spring-neighborhood-5/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260809T053000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260809T090000
DTSTAMP:20260730T233436Z
CREATED:20260730T233436Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260730T233436Z
UID:1439-1786253400-1786266000@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Sunday morning volunteer stewarding/work parties in Dunbar/Spring neighborhood
DESCRIPTION:WHEN: Meet 5:30am. Finish by 9am\nWHERE: We meet at 813 N. 9th Ave to gather tools\, then we walk to that morning’s work site(s) \nWork can vary from pruning to weeding to seeding to creating water-harvesting earthworks to planting native plants to picking up garbage. Varies from week to week. \nFocus is to work and get things done. This is hands-on work. We’ll teach you techniques if you don’t know them. Then you can teach others as you gain knowledge and experience. \nBring water. \nNOTE: Sunday\, August 2\, we will meet at 6am on south side of Catalina Park in the West University neighborhood to enhance the street-side stormwater-harvesting basins there that are currently not harvesting water due to clogged inlets.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/sunday-morning-volunteer-stewarding-work-parties-in-dunbar-spring-neighborhood-4/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260802T060000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260802T090000
DTSTAMP:20260722T231415Z
CREATED:20260722T231415Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260722T231415Z
UID:1437-1785650400-1785661200@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Stewarding party enhancing rain gardens on south side of Catalina Park in West University neighborhood\, Tucson\, AZ
DESCRIPTION:WHERE: South side of Catalina Park in West University Neighborhood\, Tucson\, Arizona \nWHEN: 6am – 9am\, Sunday\, August 2\, 2026 \nWe will focus on getting the rain gardens on the south-side of the park working again.\nCurrently the stormwater inlets are clogged with invasive non-native vegetation and sediment\, so the basins are NOT currently harvesting stormwater. \nSo\, Brad Lancaster of the Dunbar Spring Neighborhood Foresters will supervise volunteers in doing the following work: \n• Remove invasive non-native vegetation and sediment clogging the basins’ stormwater inlets and basins themselves.\n• Remove unnecessary rock at bottom of basins that are accumulating sediment and making weeding and other maintenance more difficult.\n• Prune basin vegetation to maintain required public path and street access.\n• Seed with desired Tucson Basin native vegetation seed mix \nWe will make piles of removed material beside the basins (but out of street and walkway) for Parks crews to remove after the stewarding work party. \nBring water and tools if you have them. Though we will have tools on hand for those that do not have tools. \n  \nThese are Tier 3 City of Tucson Storm2Shade assets maintained by the West University community. Thus we have approval from Storm2Shade to do this work\, and are coordinating with them and the City of Tucson Parks Department.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/stewarding-party-enhancing-rain-gardens-on-south-side-of-catalina-park-in-west-university-neighborhood-tucson-az/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260727
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260728
DTSTAMP:20251126T143120Z
CREATED:20251126T143120Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251126T143120Z
UID:1224-1785110400-1785196799@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Brush and bulky pick up in Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood\, Tucson\, AZ – get your pruning done ahead of time
DESCRIPTION:Brush and bulky pick up in the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood is on July 27\, 2026\,\nso be sure to place any prunings you want hauled away\, on the street curb before then. \nIf you set your prunings out about three weeks before brush and bulky pick up\, most leaves will dry up and fall off prunings before brush and bulky pick up\, so those leaves and their fertility stay in the neighborhood as a beneficial water-conserving/soil-building mulch. \nPruned twigs and stems cut into 5-inch or shorter sections also make a great mulch.\nDon’t use longer sections for mulch\, because they act more like pack rat habitat and fire fuel than mulch.\nShorter pieces maximize soil-mulch contact and increase the rate of beneficial decomposition into humus.\nPlace the mulch in your basin bottoms where more water will collect\, which will also increase the beneficial decomposition. \nPrunings set along street curb should be no longer than 5-feet in length to ensure they will be picked up by brush & bulky.\nMake your pruning piles neat\, and keep them clear of public walkways so they do not block access. \n• See our Events page for our hands-on pruning and tree care workshop (preceeding brush & bulky pick up)\, where you will learn how to prune in a way that enhances the health of trees\, rather than make them worse. \n• Be sure to prune to keep all public pathways in the public rights-of-ways clear to a minimum 5-foot width and 7-foot height of clearance required by the city to enhance access for all. \n• This is also a great opportunity to remove dead wood / fire fuel from trees. \n• For more on pruning & mulching see here \nSee here for more info on Brush and Bulky\, and pick up schedule for other neighborhoods
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/brush-and-bulky-pick-up-in-dunbar-spring-neighborhood-tucson-az-get-your-pruning-done-ahead-of-time-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260726T053000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260726T090000
DTSTAMP:20260722T230313Z
CREATED:20260722T230313Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260722T230313Z
UID:1435-1785043800-1785056400@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Sunday morning volunteer stewarding/work parties in Dunbar/Spring neighborhood
DESCRIPTION:WHEN: Meet 5:30am. Finish by 9am\nWHERE: We meet at 813 N. 9th Ave to gather tools\, then we walk to that morning’s work site(s) \nWork can vary from pruning to weeding to seeding to creating water-harvesting earthworks to planting native plants to picking up garbage. Varies from week to week. \nFocus is to work and get things done. This is hands-on work. We’ll teach you techniques if you don’t know them. Then you can teach others as you gain knowledge and experience. \nBring water. \nNOTE: Sunday\, August 2\, we will meet at 6am on south side of Catalina Park in the West University neighborhood to enhance the street-side stormwater-harvesting basins there that are currently not harvesting water due to clogged inlets.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/sunday-morning-volunteer-stewarding-work-parties-in-dunbar-spring-neighborhood-3/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260712T053000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260712T090000
DTSTAMP:20260707T235142Z
CREATED:20260707T235142Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260707T235142Z
UID:1407-1783834200-1783846800@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Sunday morning volunteer stewarding/work parties in Dunbar/Spring neighborhood
DESCRIPTION:WHEN: Meet 5:30am. Finish by 9am\nWHERE: We meet at 813 N. 9th Ave to gather tools\, then we walk to that morning’s work site(s) \nWork can vary from pruning to weeding to seeding to creating water-harvesting earthworks to planting native plants to picking up garbage. Varies from week to week. \nFocus is to work and get things done. This is hands-on work. We’ll teach you techniques if you don’t know them. Then you can teach others as you gain knowledge and experience. \nBring water.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/sunday-morning-volunteer-stewarding-work-parties-in-dunbar-spring-neighborhood-2/
LOCATION:Dunbar Spring neighborhood\, Tucson\, AZ\, 85705\, United States
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260710T060000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260710T090000
DTSTAMP:20260707T234920Z
CREATED:20260707T234920Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260707T234920Z
UID:1405-1783663200-1783674000@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Stewarding/work party at Catalina Park in West University neighborhood\, Tucson\, Arizona
DESCRIPTION:WHEN: 6am\, Friday\, July 10\, 2026. We will finish by 9am\, likely sooner. \nWHERE: Rain gardens on the North side of Catalina Park\, 941 N. 4th Avenue\, Tucson\, Arizona \nBrad Lancaster will teach and supervise at this hands-on stewarding/work party in the rain gardens in the public rights-of-way on the periphery of the park. \nThis is in coordination with the City of Tucson Parks and Recreation Department and the West University Neighborhood Foresters. \nWe will cover plant identification to better identify desired native plants and undesired non-native invasive plants. We will then remove non-native invasive plants\, and seed with more desired natives. \nWe will also cover proper pruning techniques that enhance\, rather than worsen plant health\, while maintaining clear access for pedestrians on public sidewalks/pathways. \nWe’ll also pick up litter. \nParks and recreation staff will remove the prunings. \nThis will be preparation for another stewarding/work party on Sunday\, August 2 when we will clear stormwater inlets at\, and invasive non-native plants from\, the street-side stormwater harvesting basins on the SOUTH side of the park. \nBring water\, pruning tools\, shovels\, and gloves if you have them.\nIf not\, we’ll have extra tools on hand for you to use.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/stewarding-work-party-at-catalina-park-in-west-university-neighborhood-tucson-arizona/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260705T053000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260705T090000
DTSTAMP:20260703T003321Z
CREATED:20260703T003321Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260703T003321Z
UID:1399-1783229400-1783242000@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Sunday morning volunteer stewarding/work parties in Dunbar/Spring neighborhood
DESCRIPTION:WHEN: Meet 5:30am. Finish by 9am\nWHERE: We meet at 813 N. 9th Ave to gather tools\, then we walk to that morning’s work site(s) \nWork can vary from pruning to weeding to seeding to creating water-harvesting earthworks to planting native plants to picking up garbage. Varies from week to week. \nFocus is to work and get things done. This is hands-on work. We’ll teach you techniques if you don’t know them. Then you can teach others as you gain knowledge and experience.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/sunday-morning-volunteer-stewarding-work-parties-in-dunbar-spring-neighborhood/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260411T063000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260411T100000
DTSTAMP:20260405T031717Z
CREATED:20260405T031429Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260405T031717Z
UID:1303-1775889000-1775901600@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:7th annual community planting of new street-side\, water-harvesting basins PART 2 in the public rights-of-ways of the West University neighborhood – Tucson\, AZ
DESCRIPTION:WHEN: 6:30am – 10am\, Saturday\, April 11\, 2026 \nWHERE: 437 E. 1st Street\,\nWhen we finish planting the two basins at that site we’ll plant the last basin at 502 E. 2nd Street \n\n\nCome help us plant three new street-side\, water-harvesting\, eddy basins  — installations in the public commons\, planted and stewarded by the participating public.\nWe plant the rain before we plant the plants! \nThis planting of rain\, trees\, understory\, & wildflowers is occurring in the West University neighborhood (which is within the same watershed as the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood – so we are all part of the same larger and interconnected waterhood)\,\nbut the planting event is open to anyone from any neighborhood\, and is a great opportunity to see how such an event\, or other Neighborhood Forester endeavors\, could be organized elsewhere. \nNOTE: there may be a film crew documenting the planting \n\n  \nWe’ll start with a brief planting demonstration led by Brad Lancaster then plant. The demonstration will show you how to plant the rain to maximize its potential\, how to plant food-bearing native trees by seed and/or with nursery stock to maximize passive summer shading/cooling\, and how to recycle/plant prunings and leaves as fertility-building\, carbon-sequestering\, pollutant-filtering\, water-harvesting mulch.\nEnd time of ten is approximate (with a good showing of folks we’ll likely finish up early as we did at the last planting). \nCost: FREE—plus your planting help \nCome join us in planting native shade trees\, understory vegetation\, wildflowers\, and seed within or beside water-harvesting earthworks in the public rights-of-way. The idea is to plant native food-producing\, flood-controlling\, wildlife-habitat-producing\, beautiful\, air- and water-filtering\, living air conditioners.\nStreet trees that shade up to 75% of the street’s surface can also cool summer neighborhood temperatures by up to 20ºF. \nThis enhances the walkability and bikeability of our neighborhoods\, which improves health and drops crime. When we harvest street runoff to irrigate the street trees\, we reduce water consumption as we reduce downstream flooding we naturally bioremediate/filter pollutants\, and help indirectly and directly recharge our groundwater. Thus far this annual event has resulted in over 1\,800 trees being planted in our neighborhood/waterhood\, thousands of understory plants\, and contributed to annually harvesting over one and a quarter million gallons of stormwater that used to go to the stormdrain—let’s keep going! \nThanks to Little John Excavating for doing the basin excavation\, Churchman Sand & Gravel for catalina granite rock\, Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters for the mesquite branches\, and Dryland Design for doing the excellent rockwork and logwork. \n  \nWhat to bring: Work clothes\, sun hat\, gloves\, and water as we’ll be working outdoors. A pointed shovel\, pruning tools\, and/or hard rake would also be great (and we’ll have some extra tools on hand for those lacking them).
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/7th-annual-community-planting-of-new-street-side-water-harvesting-basins-part-2-in-the-public-rights-of-ways-of-the-west-university-neighborhood-tucson-az/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/West-University-planting-PART-2.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260328T060000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260328T100000
DTSTAMP:20260326T215420Z
CREATED:20260320T235855Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260326T215420Z
UID:1241-1774677600-1774692000@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:7th annual community planting of new street-side\, water-harvesting basins in the public rights-of-ways of the West University neighborhood – Tucson\, AZ
DESCRIPTION:WHEN: 6am – 10am\, Saturday\, March 28\, 2026 \nWHERE: 848 N. 3rd Avenue\,\nDepending on how many folks show up\, and how quick we plant\, we may also continue to plant basins at 1007 N. 3rd Ave – (you’ll see us on 1st Street just west of 3rd Ave). \n\n\nCome help us plant seven new street-side\, water-harvesting\, eddy basins  — installations in the public commons\, planted and stewarded by the participating public.\nWe plant the rain before we plant the plants! \nThis planting of rain\, trees\, understory\, & wildflowers is occurring in the West University neighborhood (which is within the same watershed as the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood – so we are all part of the same larger and interconnected waterhood)\,\nbut the planting event is open to anyone from any neighborhood\, and is a great opportunity to see how such an event\, or other Neighborhood Forester endeavors\, could be organized elsewhere. \nNOTE: there will be a film crew documenting the planting \n\n  \nWe’ll start with a brief planting demonstration led by Brad Lancaster then plant. The demonstration will show you how to plant the rain to maximize its potential\, how to plant food-bearing native trees by seed and/or with nursery stock to maximize passive summer shading/cooling\, and how to recycle/plant prunings and leaves as fertility-building\, carbon-sequestering\, pollutant-filtering\, water-harvesting mulch.\nEnd time of ten is approximate (with a good showing of folks we’ll likely finish up early). \nCost: FREE—plus your planting help \nCome join us in planting native shade trees\, understory vegetation\, wildflowers\, and seed within or beside water-harvesting earthworks in the public rights-of-way. The idea is to plant native food-producing\, flood-controlling\, wildlife-habitat-producing\, beautiful\, air- and water-filtering\, living air conditioners.\nStreet trees that shade up to 75% of the street’s surface can also cool summer neighborhood temperatures by up to 20ºF. \nThis enhances the walkability and bikeability of our neighborhoods\, which improves health and drops crime. When we harvest street runoff to irrigate the street trees\, we reduce water consumption as we reduce downstream flooding we naturally bioremediate/filter pollutants\, and help indirectly and directly recharge our groundwater. Thus far this annual event has resulted in over 1\,800 trees being planted in our neighborhood/waterhood\, thousands of understory plants\, and contributed to annually harvesting over one and a quarter million gallons of stormwater that used to go to the stormdrain—let’s keep going! \nThanks to Little John Excavating for doing the basin excavation\, Churchman Sand & Gravel for catalina granite rock\, Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters for the mesquite branches\, and Dryland Design for doing the excellent rockwork and logwork. \n  \nWhat to bring: Work clothes\, sun hat\, gloves\, and water as we’ll be working outdoors. A pointed shovel\, pruning tools\, and/or hard rake would also be great (and we’ll have some extra tools on hand for those lacking them). \n\n  \nNEXT PLANTING\nThree additional street-side basins on 1st Street are being completed now. Once done we’ll schedule a community planting for them – so check back for date and details. \n  \nFor info and photos from past plantings see here \n  \nFor more info on our Annual Neighborhood Rain\, Tree\, & Food Forest Planting see here \n\n\n  \nFor more info & photos on the plants we plant see here \n  \n\n\nFor more info on these and many other water harvesting strategies\, check out the full-color\, revised editions of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond available at deep discount direct from the author Brad Lancaster.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/7th-annual-community-planting-of-new-street-side-water-harvesting-basins-in-the-public-rights-of-ways-of-the-west-university-neighborhood-tucson-az/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/West-University-planting.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260321T060000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260321T080000
DTSTAMP:20260321T000406Z
CREATED:20260320T232351Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260321T000406Z
UID:1236-1774072800-1774080000@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:30th annual community planting of new street-side\, water-harvesting basins in the public rights-of-ways of the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood – Tucson\, AZ
DESCRIPTION:WHEN: 6am – 8am\, Saturday\, March 21\, 2026 \nWHERE: We will gather plants and tools at 6am at 813 N. 9th Avenue\,\nthen go around the corner to plant at 722 and 730 N. Perry Ave in the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood.\nOnce we are done with those plantings we will move a block or so away to 40 W. University Blvd.\nWe should be done by 8am before it gets hot. \n\n\nCome help us plant seven new street-side\, water-harvesting\, eddy basins  — installations in the public commons\, planted and stewarded by the participating public.\nWe plant the rain before we plant the plants! \nThis planting of rain\, trees\, understory\, & wildflowers is occurring in the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood\, but the planting event is open to anyone from any neighborhood\, and is a great opportunity to see how such an event\, or other Neighborhood Forester endeavors\, could be organized elsewhere. \nNOTE: there will be a film crew documenting the planting \n\n  \nWe’ll start with a brief planting demonstration led by Brad Lancaster then plant. The demonstration will show you how to plant the rain to maximize its potential\, how to plant food-bearing native trees by seed and/or with nursery stock to maximize passive summer shading/cooling\, and how to recycle/plant prunings and leaves as fertility-building\, carbon-sequestering\, pollutant-filtering\, water-harvesting mulch.\nEnd time of ten is approximate (with a good showing of folks we’ll likely finish up early). \nCost: FREE—plus your planting help \n  \nCome join us in planting native shade trees\, understory vegetation\, wildflowers\, and seed within or beside water-harvesting earthworks in the public rights-of-way. The idea is to plant native food-producing\, flood-controlling\, wildlife-habitat-producing\, beautiful\, air- and water-filtering\, living air conditioners.\nStreet trees that shade up to 75% of the street’s surface can also cool summer neighborhood temperatures by up to 20ºF. \nThis enhances the walkability and bikeability of our neighborhoods\, which improves health and drops crime. When we harvest street runoff to irrigate the street trees\, we reduce water consumption as we reduce downstream flooding we naturally bioremediate/filter pollutants\, and help indirectly and directly recharge our groundwater. Thus far this annual event has resulted in over 1\,800 trees being planted in our neighborhood/waterhood\, thousands of understory plants\, and contributed to annually harvesting over one million gallons of stormwater that used to go to the stormdrain—let’s keep going! \nThanks to Little John Excavating for doing the basin excavation\, Churchman Sand & Gravel for catalina granite rock\, neighbor Keith for the donation of urbanite\, Neighborhood Foresters for the mesquite branches\, and Dryland Design for doing the excellent rockwork and logwork. \n  \nWhat to bring: Work clothes\, sun hat\, gloves\, and water as we’ll be working outdoors. A pointed shovel\, pruning tools\, and/or hard rake would also be great (and we’ll have some extra tools on hand for those lacking them). \n\nALSO COME TO OUR next planting event in the West University neighborhood – with whom we share the same watershed\, thus we are all the same waterhood – in one week.\nSee here for details\n \n  \nFor info and photos from past plantings see here \n  \nFor more info on our Annual Neighborhood Rain\, Tree\, & Food Forest Planting see here \n  \nFor more info on these and many other water harvesting strategies\, check out the full-color\, revised editions of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond available at deep discount direct from the author Brad Lancaster.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/community-planting-of-new-street-side-water-harvesting-basins-in-the-public-rights-of-ways-of-dunbar-spring-neighborhoods-tucson-az/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-Dunbar-Planting-1.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260307T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20260307T170000
DTSTAMP:20260224T160236Z
CREATED:20260221T221909Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260224T160236Z
UID:1229-1772895600-1772902800@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Native edible & medicinal plant walk & talk with bioregional herbalist & author John Slattery
DESCRIPTION:Come learn of the many uses of Sonoran Desert native plants you can plant\, grow\, and collaborate with where you live\, work\, and play. \nBioregional herbalist\, John Slattery\, author of Southwest Foraging and Southwest Medicinal Plants will lead this informative plant walk & talk in the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood rain-irrigated native food forest that neighbors have been planting and tending for over 30 years. John will share botany\, ethnobotany\, and his own experiences. \nJohn Slattery \nWHEN: 3pm to 5pm \, Saturday\, March 7\, 2026 \nWHERE: Meet at SE corner of 9th Avenue and University Blvd beneath the large blue palo verde tree beside the community bulletin board. \nCOST: $5 per person. Must pay/register in advance. No-shows cannot be refunded.\nLimited number of spaces. First paid\, first served. \n\n\n$5.00 \nBuy now \n\n\n  \nYou’ll learn how to identify many native plants along with what parts are edible\, medicinal\, or have other uses such as the superior habitat and fodder they provide for our native pollinators and other wildlife. \nThese native plants are easy to grow as they are the best adapted to our local climate\, soils\, and wildlife\, and they enhance the health and vitality of our community. \n  \nWe will meet and begin at the SE corner of 9th Avenue and University Blvd under the big blue palo verde tree next to the community bulletin board & neighborhood forest trailhead. \nWear a sun hat and bring a bottle of water.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/native-edible-medicinal-plant-walk-talk-with-bioregional-herbalist-author-john-slattery/
LOCATION:SE corner of 9th Ave & University Blvd\, Dunbar/Spring neighborhood\, Tucson\, Arizona\, SE corner of 9th Avenue and University Blvd\, Tucson\, AZ\, 85705\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Chi-eating-mesquite-pods-by-mesquite-watermarked.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260126
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260127
DTSTAMP:20251126T142938Z
CREATED:20251126T142921Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251126T142938Z
UID:1223-1769385600-1769471999@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Brush and bulky pick up in Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood\, Tucson\, AZ – get your pruning done ahead of time
DESCRIPTION:Brush and bulky pick up in the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood is on January 26\, 2026\,\nso be sure to place any prunings you want hauled away\, on the street curb before then. \nIf you set your prunings out about three weeks before brush and bulky pick up\, most leaves will dry up and fall off prunings before brush and bulky pick up\, so those leaves and their fertility stay in the neighborhood as a beneficial water-conserving/soil-building mulch. \nPruned twigs and stems cut into 5-inch or shorter sections also make a great mulch.\nDon’t use longer sections for mulch\, because they act more like pack rat habitat and fire fuel than mulch.\nShorter pieces maximize soil-mulch contact and increase the rate of beneficial decomposition into humus.\nPlace the mulch in your basin bottoms where more water will collect\, which will also increase the beneficial decomposition. \nPrunings set along street curb should be no longer than 5-feet in length to ensure they will be picked up by brush & bulky.\nMake your pruning piles neat\, and keep them clear of public walkways so they do not block access. \n• See our Events page for our hands-on pruning and tree care workshop (preceeding brush & bulky pick up)\, where you will learn how to prune in a way that enhances the health of trees\, rather than make them worse. \n• Be sure to prune to keep all public pathways in the public rights-of-ways clear to a minimum 5-foot width and 7-foot height of clearance required by the city to enhance access for all. \n• This is also a great opportunity to remove dead wood / fire fuel from trees. \n• For more on pruning & mulching see here \nSee here for more info on Brush and Bulky\, and pick up schedule for other neighborhoods
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/brush-and-bulky-pick-up-in-dunbar-spring-neighborhood-tucson-az-get-your-pruning-done-ahead-of-time/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20251109T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20251109T110000
DTSTAMP:20250612T225335Z
CREATED:20250612T225335Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250612T225335Z
UID:1188-1762678800-1762686000@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Guided water-harvesting home & neighborhood block tour
DESCRIPTION:For all the info & to get tickets go here
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/guided-water-harvesting-home-neighborhood-block-tour-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20251026T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20251026T150000
DTSTAMP:20250617T194612Z
CREATED:20250617T194612Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250617T194612Z
UID:1190-1761469200-1761490800@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Cyclovia in Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood and other neighborhoods to the north of us
DESCRIPTION:The Living Streets Alliance is organizing Cyclovia Sunday\, October 26\, 2025 from 9am to 3pm\, and it is coming to the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood in the southern part of the route. \nThis is a wonderful event where streets along the route are closed off to cars\, but fully open to all human-powered transportation (walking\, bicycling\, scootering\, skating\, skateboarding\, wheeling\, etc.). \nWant to help the Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters show folks at the event how we\, and they\, can enhance the public commons with rain-irrigated native food forestry? \nContact Brad at NeighborhoodForesters.org so you can be part of the planning.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/cyclovia-in-dunbar-spring-neighborhood-and-other-neighborhoods-to-the-north-of-us/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20251019T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20251019T100000
DTSTAMP:20250612T225150Z
CREATED:20250612T225015Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250612T225150Z
UID:1187-1760860800-1760868000@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Guided water-harvesting home & neighborhood block tour
DESCRIPTION:For all the info & to get tickets go here.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/guided-water-harvesting-home-neighborhood-block-tour/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251008
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251009
DTSTAMP:20260414T002225Z
CREATED:20250210T152408Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260414T002225Z
UID:1048-1759881600-1759967999@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Deadline to sign up for installation of rain gardens and plantings with the 30th Annual Dunbar/Spring (& 7th Annual West University) Neighborhood Rain\, Tree\, & Native Food Forest Planting – Tucson\, AZ
DESCRIPTION:Deadline for placing an order:\nOctober 8\,  2025\nFor placing an order in 2026\, follow the same steps below ASAP\nFirst step:\nSign up on the Neighborhood Foresters Contact page here\n \nSecond step:\nFill out\, sign\, & return this maintenance/stewarding agreement to NeighborhoodForesters@gmail.com. \nThird step:\nIf you want to qualify for Tucson Water’s rainwater harvesting rebate or the low-income water harvesting grants and loans (as of July 1\, 2023) you are required to take an eligible free workshop BEFORE installation of your system. \n  \nImplementation is planned for winter\, exact dates in late 2025 or early 2026 will be announced once we have the permits. \nSince 1996 this program has coordinated neighborhood & community volunteers to plant over 1\,700 trees in the public rights-of-ways of the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood\, along with thousands of understory plants. These plantings are freely irrigated by rain and stormwater passively harvested within water-harvesting earthworks. All these neighborhood earthworks combined annually harvest over 1 million gallons of stormwater\, that previously wastefully drained away. \nIn 2020 through 2025 we even expanded into the adjoining neighborhood of West University – we plan to do the same in 2026. \nWe could also expand into another adjoining neighborhood if we get a resident from that neighborhood to step up and collaborate with us. \nThese plantings save you and our community water and money; grow shade\, cooling\, and comfort; help recharge our local groundwater; reduce flooding; sequester carbon; provide wildlife habitat; improve soil fertility; grow food\, fiber\, fodder\, and beauty; build community; and enhance quality of life for everyone. \nLet’s keep it going and expanding – invest in\, and help steward\, the pocket of the community forest adjoining your home\, business\, school\, or organization now! \n  \nFirst – we plant the rain!\nWATER-HARVESTING-BASIN-CREATION SERVICE:\nOnce again\, we are working with licensed contractors (John Litzel of Little John Excavating and Jeff Rhody of Dryland Design) to: \n• Mark all underground utilities pre-excavation and design.\n• Dig street-side basin(s) [average size is 5 to 8 feet long x 5 feet wide x 1 foot deep] with a backhoe\n• Remove excavated soil with backhoe and dump truck\n• Deliver and hand-set local Catalina granite rock to stabilize the basin banks and planting terraces. (Those wanting to learn how to set rock and work with\, and learn from\, the contractor may have this opportunity – contact Brad if this interests you).\n• Drill core holes in the street curb to direct street runoff into the street-side basin for a lifetime of free stormwater irrigation and flood control\n• Apply organic-matter mulch to basins derived from composted goat pen bedding and manure from neighborhood goats that eat neighborhood prunings\n• Handle the permitting\n• Plant selection\, pick up\, design\, & placement within the ideal rain garden planting zone.\n• Organize community planting with volunteers. \nCosts\nAverage cost of average basin (8′ long x 5′ wide x 1′ deep) without rebate is $2\,000 – $3\,000 per basin with curb coring.\nThough if you have room\, it is often better to go with larger basins (or more basins) to capture still more water. \nA $100 discount is applied if you participate in all the Neighborhood Foresters’ rain-irrigated native food forest community plantings the year your basins are installed.\nA $100 fee is charged if you do not participate in the community planting of your community basins.\nA major focus of our program is getting neighbors helping neighbors in the planting\, as it builds community\, makes friends\, & spreads info on the program as you literally set roots in your community. \nCosts increase as size of basin increases\nor if we hit a lot of caliche hardpan\, especially when we need to remove the caliche and then bring in fill dirt to replace the hardpan.\nWe don’t know the true conditions of your site’s subsoil until we excavate. \nThe Tucson Water rainwater-harvesting rebate covers $1 per gallon of street-side basin(s) capacity  up to a total rebate of $2\,000. \nLow-income grants and loans also available \nNew revision has increased the rebate\nIn the past\, the City Rainwater Harvesting $2\,000 rebate was limited to $500 for passive water-harvesting systems (systems without tanks)\, but the Dunbar Spring Neighborhood Foresters program now qualifies for the full $2\,000 rebate for passive systems! \nTo get the rebate\nTucson Water customers applying for a rainwater harvesting or gray water harvesting rebate will be required to take a free 3-hour workshop before installation of their system.\n(Starting January 2024\, you must have taken a workshop no farther back than July 2023\, or you will need to re-take the workshop before you submit your rebate pre-approval).\nThe Neighborhood Foresters will generate a water-harvesting plan for pre-approval\, you can then submit with your rebate application.\n \nAmazing deal\nEven without the rebate\, this program is an amazing deal\, but with the rebate it is even more amazing! The average basin can capture over 4\,500 gallons of stormwater per year (assuming average annual rainfall of 11 inches). Trees and other plantings planted with such basins grow to be healthier and  larger\, and have faster growth rates than those without such basins. And the basins bottoms and planting terrace can be seeded or planted with beautiful native understory plantings. See here for ideas of understory plantings and their ideal planting location. \nThis basin creation price is lower than market rates because we are able to get a bulk deal by pooling many installations and permits into one—it pays to collaborate as a community! We coordinate the design services\, underground utility markings\, permitting\, inspection\, and contracting so you don’t have to! \nExcavation is done by a backhoe and operator\, excavated soil is removed from site (unless homeowner wants to use it elsewhere on property)\, and includes rock\, professional rockwork\, curb coring\, and mulch. The basins have high capacity – resulting in far more free irrigation stormwater\, groundwater recharge potential\, and more flood control. \nYou can see an example of Dryland Design’s rockwork at street side basins in front of 224 W. 2nd Street\, 236 W. University Blvd. and the northeast corner of 10th Ave and 2nd Street.\, along with photos below. \nAlternate materials to using rock to stabilize basin banks include:\n• mesquite logs – see example in public right-of-way just west of chicane on SW corner of 10th Ave and University Blvd\n• urbanite – pieces of old sidewalk – see example on north side of Whistlestop at 127 W. 5th Street; or in front of 40 W. University Blvd.\n• No stabilization of basin banks – just gradually sloped soil.\nThis is the least expensive option where the location allows for it. \nPLANT ORDER AND DELIVERY:\nNative trees (5-gallon size) cost $39 each.\n3-gallon-size plants cost $31 each.\nUnderstory plants (1-gallon size) cost $14 each.\nNative wildflower & restoration seed is $10.\nOrganic-matter mulch is $20-$40 per basin (larger basins require more mulch).\nWe select\, purchase\, deliver\, and place the plants for you; then coordinate and supervise crews of volunteers (including adjoining property owner/residents) to plant.\nTrees\, understory plants\, and native wildflower & restoration seed are all planted at the same time. This makes irrigating them all (to get them established) much easier as you are already irrigating\, and quickly establishes a living sponge of beautiful\, sheltering\, wildlife-supporting\, vegetation including edible and medicinal species.\nThe mulch is applied after planting to enhance plant and soil health while increasing water infiltration and decreasing water loss to evaporation. \nYou are expected to participate in the planting along with other community volunteers – deepen your roots and get to know your plants and neighbors. \n  \nEXISTING WATER-HARVESTING BASIN EXPANSION SERVICE:\nThe basin creation service can also be used to enlarge or enhance existing (but perhaps undersized) basins.\nPrice depends upon how much the basin is enlarged or enhanced. \nWATER-HARVESTING CURB-CORING SERVICE:\nA minimum 2-inch of solid curb must remain above curb core. Where higher curbs allow\, we do 6-inch or 5-inch diameter curb cores – these cost more than smaller cores\, but are worth it as they allow for more water flow. Average cost per average 4-inch diameter core hole drilled is $85. A fantastic deal\, because once done you get free stormwater for life – as long as you keep the core inlet clear of debris. \nALL TREE\, BASIN\, AND CURB-CORING ORDERS MUST BE IN BY:\nOctober 8\, 2025.  \n  \nTO SUBMIT YOUR ORDER:\n• Email Brad at NeighborhoodForesters@gmail.com to get on the list\, send him your Maintenance/Stewarding Agreement filled out and signed for every address ordering trees. \n• Make sure you meet the requirements go get the help of the Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters program in the section below. \nIf you want to participate in the rebate program\, sign up for the free three-hour water harvesting class (you must take the class before we do the work). \nBrad will then schedule a time to meet with you on site to plan the scope of work and plant selection. \n  \n  \nRequirements to get the Rain and Tree Planting help of Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters program: \n1. Invasive weeds must be removed from all areas you want to plant rainwater and trees BEFORE the rain and trees are planted. \n2. Must have a continuous pedestrian path minimum 5-feet wide\, cleared to a height of 7 feet\, and having an approved path surface in the public right-of-way adjoining your property.\nIf you don’t already have this\, we can create it for you with the help of our contractors. \n\nApproved pathway materials that maintain public access and walkability: \n• Compacted native soil. Free and already on site! \n• Screened organic material (woodchip) mulch no larger than 1/2-inch in particle size.\n(Do not apply mulch thicker than a 1-inch depth. Thicker depths bog down small wheels of babycarriages and wheelchairs).\nOne local mulch supplier is Tank’s Green Stuff. \n• Compacted or stabilized ¼ to 3/8-inch minus decomposed granite (DG).\nThere are natural polymers that can be mixed in with the decomposed granite to better hold it together and stabilize it. DG is available from local landscape material suppliers. (Gary Wittwer\, past Landscape Architect\, City of Tucson Transportation Department told me this can be installed to be American Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible \n• Pavers/brick\, which can be installed within the grade/slope tolerances of the ADA \n• Maintained concrete sidewalks (ADA-accessible) \nNon-approved\, non-accepted path materials that inhibit public access and walkability:\n• Loose rock or gravel\n• Decomposed granite larger than 3/8-inch in particle size\n• Course organic material (woodchip) mulch larger than 1-inch in size; or organic mulch thicker than 1-inch depth. \nNOTE: If you would like trees for planting on private property\,\n• Choose the native trees and understory plants you want by filling out and handing in (with payment) our order form. \nAlternatively\, you can also visit https://tucsoncleanandbeautiful.org/trees-for-tucson/ or call (520) 791-3109. Native and fruit trees are available (ideally you set up a greywater-harvesting system for these fruit trees first\, as they will require more water than native trees as well as regular watering in the hot and dry seasons). Note that the City of Tucson has a greywater-harvesting rebate covering up to half the cost of a greywater system with a rebate cap of $1\,000. \n\n\n\nDunbar Spring (and West University) Neighborhood\nRain Planting and Curb Coring Service flyer 2024 \nLittle John Excavating digging high-volume basin. Dump truck will haul away excavated soil. Photo: Brad Lancaster\n  \n\n  \n\nBeautiful rock work\, by Dryland Design\, stabilizing basin banks and planting terraces. Local surface rock – Catalina granite – is used. Photo: Brad Lancaster\n\n\n\nContractor drilling 4-inch diameter core hole through street curb so street runoff will enter and fill the basin.\nReproduced with permission from “Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond\, Volume 2\, 2nd Edition” by Brad Lancaster\nCurb core complete.\nReproduced with permission from Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond\, Volume 2\, 2nd Edition by Brad Lancaster\nComplete street-side rain garden harvesting street runoff for free irrigation. This is less than one year after installation. Photo: Brad Lancaster\nSee here for our 2024 installations and plantings
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/deadline-to-sign-up-for-installation-of-rain-gardens-and-plantings-with-the-30th-annual-dunbar-spring-7th-annual-west-university-neighborhood-rain-tree-native-food-forest-planting-tu/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-12-07-at-8.20.32-PM.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250901
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250902
DTSTAMP:20250523T195112Z
CREATED:20250523T193038Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250523T195112Z
UID:1123-1756684800-1756771199@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Brush and bulky pick up in West University Neighborhood\, Tucson\, AZ - get your pruning done ahead of time
DESCRIPTION:Brush and bulky pick up in West University neighborhood is on September 1\, 2025\,\nso be sure to place any prunings you want hauled away\, on the street curb before then. \nIf you set your prunings out about three weeks before brush and bulky pick up\, most leaves will dry up and fall off prunings before brush and bulky pick up\, so those leaves and their fertility stay in the neighborhood as a beneficial water-conserving/soil-building mulch. \nPruned twigs and stems cut into 5-inch or shorter sections also make a great mulch.\nDon’t use longer sections for mulch\, because they act more like pack rat habitat and fire fuel than mulch.\nShorter pieces maximize soil-mulch contact and increase the rate of beneficial decomposition into humus.\nPlace the mulch in your basin bottoms where more water will collect\, which will also increase the beneficial decomposition. \nPrunings set along street curb should be no longer than 5-feet in length to ensure they will be picked up by brush & bulky.\nMake your pruning piles neat\, and keep them clear of public walkways so they do not block access. \n• See our Events page for our hands-on pruning and tree care workshop (preceeding brush & bulky pick up)\, where you will learn how to prune in a way that enhances the health of trees\, rather than make them worse. \n• Be sure to prune to keep all public pathways in the public rights-of-ways clear to a minimum 5-foot width and 7-foot height of clearance required by the city to enhance access for all. \n• This is also a great opportunity to remove dead wood / fire fuel from trees. \n• For more on pruning & mulching see here \nSee here for more info on Brush and Bulky\, and pick up schedule for other neighborhoods
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/brush-and-bulky-pick-up-in-west-university-neighborhood-tucson-az-get-your-pruning-done-ahead-of-time/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250721
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250722
DTSTAMP:20250523T194949Z
CREATED:20250523T192224Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250523T194949Z
UID:1122-1753056000-1753142399@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Brush and bulky pick up in Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood\, Tucson\, AZ - get your pruning done ahead of time
DESCRIPTION:Brush and bulky pick up in the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood is on July 21\, 2025\,\nso be sure to place any prunings you want hauled away\, on the street curb before then. \nIf you set your prunings out about three weeks before brush and bulky pick up\, most leaves will dry up and fall off prunings before brush and bulky pick up\, so those leaves and their fertility stay in the neighborhood as a beneficial water-conserving/soil-building mulch. \nPruned twigs and stems cut into 5-inch or shorter sections also make a great mulch.\nDon’t use longer sections for mulch\, because they act more like pack rat habitat and fire fuel than mulch.\nShorter pieces maximize soil-mulch contact and increase the rate of beneficial decomposition into humus.\nPlace the mulch in your basin bottoms where more water will collect\, which will also increase the beneficial decomposition. \nPrunings set along street curb should be no longer than 5-feet in length to ensure they will be picked up by brush & bulky.\nMake your pruning piles neat\, and keep them clear of public walkways so they do not block access. \n• See our Events page for our hands-on pruning and tree care workshop (preceeding brush & bulky pick up)\, where you will learn how to prune in a way that enhances the health of trees\, rather than make them worse. \n• Be sure to prune to keep all public pathways in the public rights-of-ways clear to a minimum 5-foot width and 7-foot height of clearance required by the city to enhance access for all. \n• This is also a great opportunity to remove dead wood / fire fuel from trees. \n• For more on pruning & mulching see here \nSee here for more info on Brush and Bulky\, and pick up schedule for other neighborhoods
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/brush-and-bulky-pick-up-in-dunbar-spring-neighborhood-get-your-pruning-done-ahead-of-time/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20250717T193000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20250717T203000
DTSTAMP:20250626T215418Z
CREATED:20250617T004255Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T215418Z
UID:1189-1752780600-1752784200@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Neighborhood Bat Walk and Talk
DESCRIPTION:Time & Date: 7:20pm\, Thursday\, July 17th\, 2025 \nWhere: SE corner of 9th Avenue and University Blvd by the community bulletin board\, Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood\, Tucson\, AZ \nKathy Gerst\, Conservation Research Coordinator\, with Bat Conservation International (batcon.org) will lead the walk and talk as we identify what species of bats are out and about at dusk in our neighborhood\, and how we can collaborate to enhance their lives as they enhance ours. \nIf you have an echometer touch — bring it along! \nWe had to reschedule this event from June 26 to July 17 due to our guide Kathy Gerst\, having a family issue she had to prioritize. \n 
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/neighborhood-bat-walk-and-talk/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20250628T060000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20250628T090000
DTSTAMP:20250601T005400Z
CREATED:20250531T231303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250601T005400Z
UID:1127-1751090400-1751101200@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Hands-on tree and understory plant care\, pruning & mulching workshop Saturday\, June 28\, 2025 - Tucson\, AZ
DESCRIPTION:Starts at 6am\nWe start early to beat the heat.\nStay as long as you can or want.\nWe plan to be wrapped up with the supervised pruning in the neighborhood by 9am \n\n\nCost: $5 suggested donation\, though no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. \nWhere: We’ll start in the public right-of-way beside the old Dunbar Garden space (NW corner of 11th Ave and University Blvd). Tucson\, Arizona\, then move to other nearby parts of the neighborhood. \nOpen to all. Learn how you can organize similar Neighborhood Forester efforts in your neighborhood. \nAfter demonstration we will move to various parts of the neighborhood to get supervised hands-on experience as we help prune native food-bearing trees and shrubs in our neighborhood’s public rights-of-way. \nThis is an incredible learning opportunity as every six months we revisit and rework areas pruned so we see the effect of our good work and mistakes\, thereby enabling us to improve and evolve with the expert guidance from certified arborist Aleck MacKinnon. \nProfessionals can get continued education credits for the workshop from Aleck. \nInstructors:\ncertified arborist Aleck MacKinnon of the Pedaling Arborist\, assisted by Brad Lancaster of the Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters. \nBring pruning tools if you have them. We’ll provide for those that don’t. \nAlso bring water and snacks\, and dress (sun hat\, gloves\, etc.) to be working outdoors in the sun. \n  \nPlease prune to maintain access to our neighborhood forests and their public paths\nAll public rights-of-ways adjoining properties must maintain a continuous clear walkway area a minimum 5 feet wide and 7 feet tall to make our neighborhood walkways and forests accessible for all. \nPublic path with obstacles pre-pruning\nPublic path cleared post-pruning\nSee our Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Walkability Study here. \n \n\nPrune out/remove dead wood from your trees to reduce fire risk\nYou’ll learn best practices for this in the workshop. \n  \nReuse your prunings & their fertility\n\nCutting up prunings to 6-inch or shorter pieces to use as a soil-sheltering\, water-conserving\, fertility-building mulch within a water-harvesting basin.\nReproduced with permission from “Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond\, Volume 2\, 2nd Edition” by Brad Lancaster\n\nAfter mulching and water harvesting. Sponge-like\, fertile soil.\nReproduced with permission from “Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond\, Volume 2\, 2nd Edition” by Brad Lancaster\nTake advantage of Brush & Bulky pick up\nWe are scheduling this workshop BEFORE Brush & Bulky pick up\, so folks will have plenty of time to apply their learning to do any needed pruning at their homes / blocks\, and be able to put the prunings beside the street curb for free pick up by the Brush & Bulky program. \nBrush & Bulky pick up in the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood is July 21 \nBrush & Bulky in the West University neighborhood is September 1 \nFor Brush & Bulky pick up in other neighborhoods see here. \n  \nOrganized by the Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters\n  \n \nSign up to receive announcements of other Dunbar Spring Neighborhood Foresters events here
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/hands-on-tree-and-understory-plant-care-pruning-mulching-workshop-saturday-june-21-2025/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Pruning-workshop-watermarked.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20250510T060000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20250510T100000
DTSTAMP:20250504T132732Z
CREATED:20250503T221444Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250504T132732Z
UID:1117-1746856800-1746871200@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Community planting of new street-side\, water-harvesting basins in the public commons of West University neighborhood & Catalina Park – Tucson\, AZ
DESCRIPTION:WHEN: 6am – 10am\, Saturday\, May 10\, 2025 \nWHERE: We start 6am on the northwest corner of Catalina Park (5th Avenue and 1st Street)\nthen head to 3rd Ave and 2nd Street\,\nand finally 3rd Ave and 1st Street. \n\n\nCome help us plant six large new street-side\, water-harvesting\, eddy basins — installations in the public commons\, planted and stewarded by the participating public. \nThis planting of rain\, trees\, understory\, & wildflowers is occurring in the West University neighborhood\, but the planting event is open to anyone from any neighborhood\, and is a great opportunity to see how such an event\, or other Neighborhood Forester endeavors\, could be organized elsewhere. \nThe stormwater eddy basins (each having over 5\,000-gallon annual capacity) are being wrapped up now – so now we can plant.\nGot to plant the rain before we plant the plants!\nThis way we create a neighborhood rain-irrigated native food forest that rehydrates our community and hydrology\, rather than one that dehydrates it by pumping and extracting from our dwindling groundwater. \n\nWe begin with a 6:00 am to beat the heat with a planting demonstration led by Brad Lancaster and community planting\, then we’ll keep going to the next basin. The demonstration will show you how to plant the rain to maximize its potential\, how to plant food-bearing native trees and understory plants by seed and/or with nursery stock to maximize passive summer shading/cooling\, and how to recycle/plant prunings and leaves as fertility-building\, carbon-sequestering\, pollutant-filtering\, water-harvesting mulch.\nEnd time of ten is approximate (with a good showing of folks we’ll likely finish up early). \nCost: FREE—plus your planting help \nMeeting spot:\nSoutheast corner of 1st Street and 5th Avenue\nin the West University neighborhood \n  \nCome join us in planting native shade trees\, understory vegetation\, wildflowers\, and seed within or beside water-harvesting earthworks in the public rights-of-way. The idea is to plant native food-producing\, flood-controlling\, wildlife-habitat-producing\, beautiful\, air- and water-filtering\, living air conditioners.\nStreet trees that shade up to 75% of the street’s surface can also cool summer neighborhood temperatures by up to 20ºF. \nThis enhances the walkability and bikeability of our neighborhoods\, which improves health and drops crime. When we harvest street runoff to irrigate the street trees\, we reduce water consumption as we reduce downstream flooding we naturally bioremediate/filter pollutants\, and help indirectly and directly recharge our groundwater. Thus far this annual event has resulted in over 1\,700 trees being planted in our neighborhood/waterhood\, thousands of understory plants\, and contributed to annually harvesting over one million gallons of stormwater that used to go to the stormdrain—let’s keep going! \nThanks to Little John Excavating for doing the basin excavation\, Churchman Sand & Gravel for the catalina granite rock\, and Dryland Design for doing addition excavation plus the excellent rock work. \n  \nWhat to bring: Work clothes\, sun hat\, gloves\, and water as we’ll be working outdoors. A pointed shovel\, pruning tools\, and/or hard rake would also be great (and we’ll have some extra tools on hand for those lacking them). \n\n  \nFor info and photos from past plantings see here \n  \nFor more info on our Annual Neighborhood Rain\, Tree\, & Food Forest Planting see here \n  \nFor more info on these and many other water harvesting strategies\, check out the full-color\, revised editions of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond available at deep discount direct from the author Brad Lancaster.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/community-planting-of-new-street-side-water-harvesting-basins-in-the-public-commons-of-west-university-neighborhood-catalina-park-tucson-az/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WUNA-planting.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20250427T070000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20250427T100000
DTSTAMP:20250424T224213Z
CREATED:20250424T223853Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250424T224213Z
UID:1116-1745737200-1745748000@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Community planting of new street-side\, water-harvesting basins in the public rights-of-ways of Dunbar/Spring & West University neighborhoods – Tucson\, AZ
DESCRIPTION:WHEN: 7am – 10am\, Sunday\, April 27\, 2025 \nWHERE: We start 7am on the south (2nd Street) side of 902 N. 10th Avenue in the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood.\nThen around 8am we plan to plant a basin on the west (2nd Ave) side of 612 E. 2nd Street in the West University neighborhood. \n\n\nCome help us plant two large new street-side\, water-harvesting\, eddy basins — installations in the public commons\, planted and stewarded by the participating public. \nThis planting of rain\, trees\, understory\, & wildflowers is occurring in the Dunbar/Spring & West University neighborhoods\, but the planting event is open to anyone from any neighborhood\, and is a great opportunity to see how such an event\, or other Neighborhood Forester endeavors\, could be organized elsewhere. \n  \n\nDate: Sunday\, April 27\, 2025.\nThe stormwater eddy basins (each having over 4\,500-gallon annual capacity) are being wrapped up now – so now we can plant. Got to plant the rain before we plant the plants! \nTime: 7:00 am for a planting demonstration led by Brad Lancaster and community planting\, then we’ll keep going to the next basin. The demonstration will show you how to plant the rain to maximize its potential\, how to plant food-bearing native trees by seed and/or with nursery stock to maximize passive summer shading/cooling\, and how to recycle/plant prunings and leaves as fertility-building\, carbon-sequestering\, pollutant-filtering\, water-harvesting mulch.\nEnd time of ten is approximate (with a good showing of folks we’ll likely finish up early). \nCost: FREE—plus your planting help \nMeeting spot:\nSouth side of 902 N. 10th Avenue\nin the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood\nThen with that site planted we will move to the west side of\n612 E. 2nd Street in the West University neighborhood\n\n \nCome join us in planting native shade trees\, understory vegetation\, wildflowers\, and seed within or beside water-harvesting earthworks in the public rights-of-way. The idea is to plant native food-producing\, flood-controlling\, wildlife-habitat-producing\, beautiful\, air- and water-filtering\, living air conditioners.\nStreet trees that shade up to 75% of the street’s surface can also cool summer neighborhood temperatures by up to 20ºF. \nThis enhances the walkability and bikeability of our neighborhoods\, which improves health and drops crime. When we harvest street runoff to irrigate the street trees\, we reduce water consumption as we reduce downstream flooding we naturally bioremediate/filter pollutants\, and help indirectly and directly recharge our groundwater. Thus far this annual event has resulted in over 1\,700 trees being planted in our neighborhood/waterhood\, thousands of understory plants\, and contributed to annually harvesting over one million gallons of stormwater that used to go to the stormdrain—let’s keep going! \nThanks to Little John Excavating for doing the basin excavation\, Churchman Sand & Gravel for the catalina granite rock\, and Dryland Design for doing the excellent rockwork. \n  \nWhat to bring: Work clothes\, sun hat\, gloves\, and water as we’ll be working outdoors. A pointed shovel\, pruning tools\, and/or hard rake would also be great (and we’ll have some extra tools on hand for those lacking them). \n\nALSO COME TO OUR next planting event in the West University neighborhood in one to two weeks.\nDetails coming soon \n \nFor info and photos from past plantings see here \n  \nFor more info on our Annual Neighborhood Rain\, Tree\, & Food Forest Planting see here \n  \nFor more info on these and many other water harvesting strategies\, check out the full-color\, revised editions of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond available at deep discount direct from the author Brad Lancaster.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/community-planting-of-new-street-side-water-harvesting-basins-in-the-public-rights-of-ways-of-dunbar-spring-west-university-neighborhoods-tucson-az/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Sunday-planting.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20250419T070000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20250419T100000
DTSTAMP:20250417T013250Z
CREATED:20250416T180200Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250417T013250Z
UID:1057-1745046000-1745056800@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Community planting of new street-side\, water-harvesting basins in the public right-of-way of Dunbar/Spring neighborhood – Tucson\, AZ
DESCRIPTION:WHEN: 7am – 10am\, Saturday\, April 19\, 2025 \nWHERE: 224 W. 2nd Street\, Tucson\, AZ \n\n\nCome help us plant six new street-side\, water-harvesting\, eddy basins along 2nd Street (and University Blvd) — an installation in the public commons\, planted and stewarded by the participating public. \nThis planting of rain\, trees\, understory\, & wildflowers is occurring in the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood\, but the planting event is open to anyone from any neighborhood\, and is a great opportunity to see how such an event\, or other Neighborhood Forester endeavors\, could be organized elsewhere. \n  \n\nDate: Saturday\, April 19\, 2025.\nThe stormwater eddy basins (each having over 4\,500-gallon annual capacity) are being wrapped up now – so now we can plant. Got to plant the rain before we plant the plants! \nTime: 7:00 am for a planting demonstration led by Brad Lancaster\, then keep going to various parts of the neighborhood. The demonstration will show you how to plant the rain to maximize its potential\, how to plant food-bearing native trees by seed and/or with nursery stock to maximize passive summer shading/cooling\, and how to recycle/plant prunings and leaves as fertility-building\, carbon-sequestering\, pollutant-filtering\, water-harvesting mulch.\nEnd time of ten is approximate (with a good showing of folks we’ll likely finish up early). \nCost: FREE—plus your planting help \nMeeting spot:\n224 W. 2nd Street\nFive of the six basins are within a half block of one another on 2nd Street. The one on University Blvd is at 40 W. University Blvd—we’ll do that one last\n\n \nCome join us in planting native shade trees\, understory vegetation\, wildflowers\, and seed within or beside water-harvesting earthworks in the public rights-of-way. The idea is to plant native food-producing\, flood-controlling\, wildlife-habitat-producing\, beautiful\, air- and water-filtering\, living air conditioners. Street trees that shade up to 75% of the street’s surface can also cool summer neighborhood temperatures by up to 20ºF. \nThis enhances the walkability and bikeability of our neighborhoods\, which improves health and drops crime. When we harvest street runoff to irrigate the street trees\, we reduce water consumption as we reduce downstream flooding we naturally bioremediate/filter pollutants\, and help indirectly and directly recharge our groundwater. Thus far this annual event has resulted in over 1\,700 trees being planted in our neighborhood/waterhood\, thousands of understory plants\, and contributed to annually harvesting over one million gallons of stormwater that used to go to the stormdrain—let’s keep going! \nThanks to Little John Excavating for doing the basin excavation\, Churchman Sand & Gravel for the catalina granite rock\, and Dryland Design for doing the excellent rockwork. \n  \nWhat to bring: Work clothes\, sun hat\, gloves\, and water as we’ll be working outdoors. A pointed shovel\, pruning tools\, and/or hard rake would also be great (and we’ll have some extra tools on hand for those lacking them). \n\nALSO COME TO OUR next planting event in the West University neighborhood in one to two weeks.\nDetails coming soon \n \nFor info and photos from past plantings see here \n  \nFor more info on our Annual Neighborhood Rain\, Tree\, & Food Forest Planting see here \n  \nFor more info on these and many other water harvesting strategies\, check out the full-color\, revised editions of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond available at deep discount direct from the author Brad Lancaster.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/community-planting-of-new-street-side-water-harvesting-basins-in-the-public-right-of-way-of-dunbar-spring-neighborhood-tucson-az/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/29th-annual-Dunbar-Spring-planting.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20250216T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20250216T120000
DTSTAMP:20250211T011700Z
CREATED:20250210T161608Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250211T011700Z
UID:1049-1739696400-1739707200@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Community planting of new street-side\, water-harvesting basins in the public right-of-way of West University neighborhood - Tucson\, AZ
DESCRIPTION:Come help us plant six new street-side\, water-harvesting\, eddy basins at the SW corner of 1st Street and 5th Avenue— an installation in the public commons\, planted and stewarded by the participating public. \nThis planting of rain\, trees\, understory\, & wildflowers is occurring in the West University neighborhood\, but the planting event is open to anyone from any neighborhood\, and is a great opportunity to see how such an event\, or other Neighborhood Forester endeavors\, could be organized elsewhere. \n  \n\nDate: Sunday\, February 16\, 2025.\nThe stormwater eddy basins (each having over 4\,500-gallon annual capacity) were just completed – so now we can plant. Got to plant the rain before we plant the plants! \nTime: 9:00 am for a planting demonstration\, then keep going to various parts of the neighborhood. The demonstration will show you how to plant the rain to maximize its potential\, how to plant food-bearing native trees by seed and/or with nursery stock to maximize passive summer shading/cooling\, and how to recycle/plant prunings and leaves as fertility-building\, carbon-sequestering\, pollutant-filtering\, water-harvesting mulch.\nEnd time of noon is approximate (with a good showing of folks we’ll likely finish up early). \nCost: FREE—plus your planting help \nMeeting spot:\nSW corner of 1st Street and 5th Avenue (945 N. 5th Ave) \nAll six basins are next to one another on 1st Street between 5th Ave and N Arizona Avenue.\n\n \nCome join us in planting native shade trees\, understory vegetation\, wildflowers\, and seed within or beside water-harvesting earthworks in the public rights-of-way. The idea is to plant native food-producing\, flood-controlling\, wildlife-habitat-producing\, beautiful\, air- and water-filtering\, living air conditioners. Street trees that shade up to 75% of the street’s surface can also cool summer neighborhood temperatures by up to 20ºF. \nThis enhances the walkability and bikeability of our neighborhoods\, which improves health and drops crime. When we harvest street runoff to irrigate the street trees\, we reduce water consumption as we reduce downstream flooding we naturally bioremediate/filter pollutants\, and help indirectly and directly recharge our groundwater. Thus far this annual event has resulted in over 1\,700 trees being planted in our neighborhood/waterhood\, thousands of understory plants\, and contributed to annually harvesting over one million gallons of stormwater that used to go to the stormdrain—let’s keep going! \nThanks to Little John Excavating for doing the basin excavation\, Churchman Sand & Gravel for the catalina granite rock\, and Dryland Design for doing the excellent rockwork. \n  \nWhat to bring: Work clothes\, sun hat\, gloves\, and water as we’ll be working outdoors. A pointed shovel\, pruning tools\, and/or hard rake would also be great (and we’ll have some extra tools on hand for those lacking them). \n\nALSO COME TO OUR SATURDAY PLANTING EVENT in the Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood. Details here. \nFor info and photos from past plantings see here \n  \nFor more info on our Annual Neighborhood Rain\, Tree\, & Food Forest Planting see here \n  \n  \nWe will have two more such plantings either late February or March once we finish more street-side basins—check back to our Events page for when we post the dates and times. \n  \n  \nFor more info on these and many other water harvesting strategies\, check out the full-color\, revised editions of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond available at deep discount direct from the author Brad Lancaster.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/community-planting-of-new-street-side-water-harvesting-basins-in-the-public-right-of-way-of-west-university-neighborhood-tucson-az/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/WUNA-planting-low-res.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20250215T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20250215T120000
DTSTAMP:20250210T210429Z
CREATED:20250210T155132Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250210T210429Z
UID:1045-1739610000-1739620800@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Community planting of new in-street\, water-harvesting\, traffic-calming chicanes in Dunbar/Spring neighborhood - Tucson\, AZ
DESCRIPTION:Come help us plant four new water-harvesting\, traffic-calming chicanes or curb extensions at the intersection of two bicycle boulevards at 9th Avenue and University Blvd — an installation in the public commons\, planted and stewarded by the participating public. \nIts also a great opportunity to see how such an event\, or other Neighborhood Forester endeavors\, could be organized elsewhere—such as your neighborhood. \n  \nDate: Saturday\, February 15\, 2025.\nThe chicane basins (each having over 5\,000-gallon annual capacity) were just completed – so now we can plant. Got to plant the rain before we plant the plants! \nTime: 9:00 am for a planting demonstration\, then we all plant\, seed\, and mulch together. The demonstration will show you how to plant the rain to maximize its potential\, how to plant food-bearing native trees by seed and/or with nursery stock to maximize passive summer shading/cooling\, and how to recycle/plant prunings and leaves as fertility-building\, carbon-sequestering\, pollutant-filtering\, water-harvesting mulch.\nEnd time of noon is approximate (with a good showing of folks we’ll likely finish up early). \nCost: FREE—plus your planting help \nMeeting spot:\nSW corner of 9th Ave and University Blvd by the community bulletin board\nOnce we finish planting there\, we’ll move to the other three chicanes around the intersection. \n  \nCome join us in planting native shade trees\, understory vegetation\, wildflowers\, and seed within or beside water-harvesting earthworks in the public rights-of-way. The idea is to plant native food-producing\, flood-controlling\, wildlife-habitat-producing\, beautiful\, air- and water-filtering\, living air conditioners. Street trees that shade up to 75% of the street’s surface can also cool summer neighborhood temperatures by up to 20ºF. \nThis enhances the walkability and bikeability of our neighborhoods\, which improves health for all and drops crime. When we harvest street runoff to irrigate the street trees\, we reduce water consumption as we reduce downstream flooding\, we naturally bioremediate/filter pollutants\, and help indirectly and directly recharge our groundwater. \nThis effort builds on the 2010 installation and planting of water-harvesting\, traffic-calming strategies in the neighborhood that were funded by a Pima County Neighborhood Reinvestment grant\, plus a nearly 30-year Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters program of planting rain and native food forests in street-side street-runoff-harvesting eddy basins. \nBrad Lancaster and the Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters got the neighbor\, neighborhood\, and city approvals\, applied for—and got funding through—the Inflation Reduction Act Grant Program—via the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management\, and did the design and project coordination; Logan Byers did the autoCAD drawings; Tucson Bird Alliance (formerly Tucson Audubon) is our fiscal agent; KE&G Construction\, Inc. did the concrete curb and asphalt work; Dryland Design did the basin excavation and rock work; Churchman Sand & Gravel provided the catalina granite rock and boulders; Desert Survivors and Spadefoot native plant nurseries provided the plants; the project; while the planting will be done by the amazing volunteers who show up (supervised by Brad Lancaster). \n  \nWhat to bring: Work clothes\, sun hat\, gloves\, and water as we’ll be working outdoors. A pointed shovel\, pruning tools\, and/or hard rake would also be great (and we’ll have some extra tools on hand for those lacking them). \n  \nAfter-planting baby goat social\nWe have baby goats a 100-foot walk from the planting site.\nSo for those who are interested\, once we are done with the planting\, you can play with our baby goats. They are very social and love to be held. \n\nALSO COME TO OUR SUNDAY PLANTING EVENT in the West University Neighborhood. Details here. \nFor more info on these and many other water harvesting strategies\, check out the full-color\, revised editions of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond available at deep discount direct from the author Brad Lancaster.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/community-planting-of-new-water-harvesting-traffic-calming-chicanes-in-dunbar-spring-neighborhood-tucson-az/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/chicane-planting-low-res.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20250118T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20250118T120000
DTSTAMP:20250114T040701Z
CREATED:20250113T223652Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250114T040701Z
UID:1038-1737190800-1737201600@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Pruning 2.0: Hands-on tree care\, overhead tree pruning\, & overhead utility line safety workshop
DESCRIPTION:Starts at 9am\nDone by noon \n\n\nCost: $5 \nWhere:\nWe’ll start on the NE corner of 9th Avenue and University Blvd.\nDunbar/Spring Neighborhood\, Tucson\, Arizona 85705. \nAs we work we may shift our location\, but we will always be in the public right-of-way on the side of the street along either 9th Ave or University Blvd\, within one block of the intersection of 9th Avenue and University Blvd. \nOpen to all (whatever neighborhood you live in).\n Learn how you can organize similar Neighborhood Forester efforts in your neighborhood. \n\n\nThis workshop will cover foundational pruning\, tree care\, and mulching; though focuses on pruning overhead with pole saws\, pole loppers\, and other hand tools. It also offers guidance in avoiding tree conflicts (and potential fire threats) with overhead power lines. \nAll work will be done while standing on the ground. \nAfter demonstration we will move to adjoining parts of the neighborhood to get supervised hands-on experience as we help prune native food-bearing trees and shrubs in our neighborhood’s public rights-of-way. \nParticipating in this workshop is required to be able to access the pole saw and pole lopper tools from the Dunbar Spring Neighborhood Foresters tool library. \nProfessional-grade pole lopper\, extension pole\, and pole saw available for Level 2 and up Neighborhood Foresters to check out. Pole tools and regular hand loppers on left are available for all to use at our workshops and Work & Learn stewarding parties.\nProfessionals can get continued education credits for the workshop from instructor Aleck. \nInstructors: certified arborist Aleck MacKinnon of the Pedaling Arborist\, assisted by Brad Lancaster of the Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters. \nBring pruning tools if you have them. We’ll provide for those that don’t. \nAlso bring water and snacks\, and dress (sun hat\, gloves\, etc.) to be working outdoors in the sun. \n  \nOptions for prunings:\n• Reuse as a soil- and fertility-building mulch\nafter cutting up the prunings into 4-inch or shorter pieces \n• Feed desired prunings to neighborhood goats \n• Brush & Bulky will take your prunings away for free\nif they are 5 feet or shorter in length\nScheduled 2025 brush & bulky pick ups in the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood are:\nJanuary 20\, 2025\nJuly 21\, 2025 \nFor brush & bulky pick up dates in other Tucson neighborhoods see here \n  \n\nPlease prune to maintain access to our neighborhood forests and their public paths\nAll public rights-of-ways adjoining properties must maintain a continuous clear walkway area a minimum 5 feet wide and 7 feet tall to make our neighborhood walkways and forests accessible for all. \nPublic path with obstacles pre-pruning\nPublic path cleared post-pruning\nSee our Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Walkability Study here.\n\n  \nRecycle your prunings & their fertility \n\nCutting up prunings to 6-inch or shorter pieces to use as a soil-sheltering\, water-conserving\, fertility-building mulch within a water-harvesting basin.\nYou do NOT want longer pieces or branches pilled up hat will create a rodent nest or fuel for a brush fire.\nYou want to maximize the contact of the cut-up prunings with the soil for an effective water-conserving mulch.\nThe water harvested within the basins helps speed up the beneficial break down of the prunings into sponge-like\, fertile soil.\nReproduced with permission from “Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond\, Volume 2\, 2nd Edition” by Brad Lancaster\n\nAfter mulching and water harvesting. Sponge-like\, fertile soil.\nReproduced with permission from “Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond\, Volume 2\, 2nd Edition” by Brad Lancaster \nSign up to receive announcements of other Dunbar Spring Neighborhood Foresters events here
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/pruning-2-0-hands-on-tree-care-overhead-tree-pruning-overhead-utility-line-safety-workshop/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/overhead-pruning-1-2022-IMG_0302.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20241114T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20241114T203000
DTSTAMP:20241109T171147Z
CREATED:20241109T145528Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241109T171147Z
UID:1035-1731610800-1731616200@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Brad Lancaster presentation at Arizona Native Plants Society – Tucson chapter (in person and virtual)
DESCRIPTION:WHERE: ENR2 building\, 1064 E. Lowell Street\, room 215\, on University of Arizona campus\, Tucson\, Arizona.\nA video of the presentation will also be offered at a later time through the Arizona Native Plant Society website. \nBrad will give a version of the following presentation at the meeting: \nRe-hydrating and Re-enlivening Our Communities with Rain-watered Neighborhood Food Forestry \nThis presentation is about neighborhood forestry efforts empowering citizens\, and contractors\, to effectively plant the rain and native food-bearing vegetation to grow vibrant and resilient abundance where they live\, work\, and play. Then train them up and support them with the education\, guidance\, collaborations\, and policy that enable them to better steward the plantings for decades to come. Dramatic results include cooler neighborhoods\, healthier eating\, a revitalization of indigenous cuisine\, deeper connections with people and place\, reduced flooding\, skill building\, greater soil fertility\, and more beauty and joy. The strategies and practices are accessible to all and most are free or cost no more than the price of a shovel.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/brad-lancaster-presentation-at-arizona-native-plants-society-tucson-chapter-in-person-and-virtual/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20241108
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20241109
DTSTAMP:20240626T235316Z
CREATED:20240404T003302Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240626T235316Z
UID:978-1731024000-1731110399@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Deadline to sign up for installation of rain gardens and plantings with the 29th Annual Dunbar/Spring (& 6th Annual West University) Neighborhood Rain\, Tree\, & Native Food Forest Planting – Tucson\, AZ
DESCRIPTION:Deadline for placing an order:\nNovember 8\,  2024\nFirst step:\nSign up on the Neighborhood Foresters Contact page here\n \nSecond step:\nFill out\, sign\, & return this maintenance/stewarding agreement to NeighborhoodForesters@gmail.com. \nThird step:\nIf you want to qualify for Tucson Water’s rainwater harvesting rebate or the low-income water harvesting grants and loans (as of July 1\, 2023) you are required to take an eligible free workshop BEFORE installation of your system. \n  \nImplementation is planned for winter\, exact dates in early 2024 will be announced once we have the permits. \nSince 1996 this program has coordinated neighborhood & community volunteers to plant over 1\,700 trees in the public rights-of-ways of the Dunbar/Spring neighborhood\, along with thousands of understory plants. These plantings are freely irrigated by rain and stormwater passively harvested within water-harvesting earthworks. All these neighborhood earthworks combined annually harvest over 1 million gallons of stormwater\, that previously wastefully drained away. \nIn 2020 through 2024 we even expanded into the adjoining neighborhood of West University – we plan to do the same in 2025. \nWe could also expand into another adjoining neighborhood if we get a resident from that neighborhood to step up and collaborate with us. \nThese plantings save you and our community water and money; grow shade\, cooling\, and comfort; help recharge our local groundwater; reduce flooding; sequester carbon; provide wildlife habitat; improve soil fertility; grow food\, fiber\, fodder\, and beauty; build community; and enhance quality of life for everyone. \nLet’s keep it going and expanding – invest in\, and help steward\, the pocket of the community forest adjoining your home\, business\, school\, or organization now! \n  \nFirst – we plant the rain!\nWATER-HARVESTING-BASIN-CREATION SERVICE:\nOnce again\, we are working with licensed contractors (John Litzel of Little John Excavating and Jeff Rhody of Dryland Design) to: \n• Dig street-side basin(s) [average size is 5 to 8 feet long x 5 feet wide x 1 foot deep] with a backhoe\n• Remove excavated soil with backhoe and dump truck\n• Deliver and hand-set local Catalina granite rock to stabilize the basin banks and planting terraces. (Those wanting to learn how to set rock and work with\, and learn from\, the contractor may have this opportunity – contact Brad if this interests you).\n• Drill core holes in the street curb to direct street runoff into the street-side basin for a lifetime of free stormwater irrigation and flood control\n• Apply organic-matter mulch to basins derived from composted goat pen bedding and manure from neighborhood goats that eat neighborhood prunings\n• Handle the permitting\n• Plant selection\, design\, & placement within the ideal rain garden planting zone. \nCosts\nAverage price (after City Rainwater Harvesting Rebate) is expected to be $1 dollar per gallon of basin capacity. For our average basin this is $650 to $900 per basin.\nActual average cost without rebate is $1\,300 – $1\,800 per basin with curb coring\, but the rebate covers half the cost. \nLow-income grants and loans also available \nNew revision has increased the rebate\nIn the past\, the City Rainwater Harvesting $2\,000 rebate was limited to $500 for passive water-harvesting systems (systems without tanks)\, but the Dunbar Spring Neighborhood Foresters program now qualifies for the full $2\,000 rebate for passive systems! \nTo get the rebate\nTucson Water customers applying for a rainwater harvesting or gray water harvesting rebate will be required to take a free 3-hour workshop before installation of their system.\n(Starting January 2024\, you must have taken a workshop no farther back than July 2023\, or you will need to re-take the workshop before you submit your rebate pre-approval).\nThe Neighborhood Foresters will generate a water-harvesting plan for pre-approval\, you can then submit with your rebate application.\n \nAmazing deal\nEven without the rebate\, this program is an amazing deal\, but with the rebate it is even more amazing! The average basin can capture over 4\,500 gallons of stormwater per year (assuming average annual rainfall of 11 inches). Trees and other plantings planted with such basins grow to be healthier and  larger\, and have faster growth rates than those without such basins. And the basins bottoms and planting terrace can be seeded or planted with beautiful native understory plantings. See here for ideas of understory plantings and their ideal planting location. \nThis basin creation price is lower than market rates because we are able to get a bulk deal by pooling many installations and permits into one—it pays to collaborate as a community! We coordinate the design services\, underground utility markings\, permitting\, inspection\, and contracting so you don’t have to! \nExcavation is done by a backhoe and operator\, excavated soil is removed from site (unless homeowner wants to use it elsewhere on property)\, and includes rock\, professional rockwork\, curb coring\, and mulch. The basins have high capacity – resulting in far more free irrigation stormwater\, groundwater recharge potential\, and more flood control. \nYou can see an example of Dryland Design’s rockwork at street side basins in front of 236 W. University Blvd. and the northeast corner of 10th Ave and 2nd Street.\, along with photos below. \nPLANT ORDER AND DELIVERY:\nNative trees (5-gallon size) cost $38 each.\nUnderstory plants (1-gallon size) cost $13 each.\nNative wildflower & restoration seed is $10.\nOrganic-matter mulch is $10 per basin.\nWe select\, purchase\, deliver\, and place the plants for you; then coordinate and supervise crews of volunteers (including adjoining property owner/residents) to plant.\nTrees\, understory plants\, and native wildflower & restoration seed are all planted at the same time. This makes irrigating them all (to get them established) much easier as you are already irrigating\, and quickly establishes a living sponge of beautiful\, sheltering\, wildlife-supporting\, vegetation including edible and medicinal species.\nThe mulch is applied after planting to enhance plant and soil health while increasing water infiltration and decreasing water loss to evaporation. \nYou are expected to participate in the planting along with other community volunteers – deepen your roots and get to know your plants and neighbors. \n  \nEXISTING WATER-HARVESTING BASIN EXPANSION SERVICE:\nThe basin creation service can also be used to enlarge or enhance existing (but perhaps undersized) basins.\nPrice depends upon how much the basin is enlarged or enhanced. \nWATER-HARVESTING CURB-CORING SERVICE:\nAverage cost per 4-inch diameter core hole drilled is $80. A fantastic deal\, because once done you get free stormwater for life – as long as you keep the core inlet clear of debris. \nALL TREE\, BASIN\, AND CURB-CORING ORDERS MUST BE IN BY:\nNovember 8\, 2024.  \n  \nTO SUBMIT YOUR ORDER:\n• Email Brad at NeighborhoodForesters@gmail.com to get on the list\, send him your Maintenance/Stewarding Agreement filled out and signed for every address ordering trees. \n• Make sure you meet the requirements go get the help of the Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters program in the section below. \nIf you want to participate in the rebate program\, sign up for the free three-hour water harvesting class (you must take the class before we do the work). \nBrad will then schedule a time to meet with you on site to plan the scope of work and plant selection. \n  \n  \nRequirements to get the Rain and Tree Planting help of Dunbar/Spring Neighborhood Foresters program: \n1. Invasive weeds must be removed from all areas you want to plant rainwater and trees BEFORE the rain and trees are planted. \n2. Must have a continuous pedestrian path minimum 5-feet wide\, cleared to a height of 7 feet\, and having an approved path surface in the public right-of-way adjoining your property.\nIf you don’t already have this\, we can create it for you with the help of our contractors. \n\nApproved pathway materials that maintain public access and walkability: \n• Compacted native soil. Free and already on site! \n• Screened organic material (woodchip) mulch no larger than 1/2-inch in particle size.\n(Do not apply mulch thicker than a 1-inch depth. Thicker depths bog down small wheels of babycarriages and wheelchairs).\nOne local mulch supplier is Tank’s Green Stuff. \n• Compacted or stabilized ¼ to 3/8-inch minus decomposed granite (DG).\nThere are natural polymers that can be mixed in with the decomposed granite to better hold it together and stabilize it. DG is available from local landscape material suppliers. (Gary Wittwer\, past Landscape Architect\, City of Tucson Transportation Department told me this can be installed to be American Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible \n• Pavers/brick\, which can be installed within the grade/slope tolerances of the ADA \n• Maintained concrete sidewalks (ADA-accessible) \nNon-approved\, non-accepted path materials that inhibit public access and walkability:\n• Loose rock or gravel\n• Decomposed granite larger than 3/8-inch in particle size\n• Course organic material (woodchip) mulch larger than 1-inch in size; or organic mulch thicker than 1-inch depth. \nNOTE: If you would like trees for planting on private property\,\n• Choose the native trees and understory plants you want by filling out and handing in (with payment) our order form. \nAlternatively\, you can also visit https://tucsoncleanandbeautiful.org/trees-for-tucson/ or call (520) 791-3109. Native and fruit trees are available (ideally you set up a greywater-harvesting system for these fruit trees first\, as they will require more water than native trees as well as regular watering in the hot and dry seasons). Note that the City of Tucson has a greywater-harvesting rebate covering up to half the cost of a greywater system with a rebate cap of $1\,000. \n\n\n\nDunbar Spring (and West University) Neighborhood\nRain Planting and Curb Coring Service flyer 2024 \nLittle John Excavating digging high-volume basin. Dump truck will haul away excavated soil. Photo: Brad Lancaster\n  \n\n  \n\nBeautiful rock work\, by Dryland Design\, stabilizing basin banks and planting terraces. Local surface rock – Catalina granite – is used. Photo: Brad Lancaster\n\n\n\nContractor drilling 4-inch diameter core hole through street curb so street runoff will enter and fill the basin.\nReproduced with permission from “Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond\, Volume 2\, 2nd Edition” by Brad Lancaster\nCurb core complete.\nReproduced with permission from Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond\, Volume 2\, 2nd Edition by Brad Lancaster\nComplete street-side rain garden harvesting street runoff for free irrigation. This is less than one year after installation. Photo: Brad Lancaster\nSee here for our 2023 installations and plantings
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/deadline-to-sign-up-for-installation-of-rain-gardens-and-plantings-with-the-29th-annual-dunbar-spring-6th-annual-west-university-neighborhood-rain-tree-native-food-forest-planting-tu/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/alt-8.40-curb-core-reduced-and-watermarked.jpeg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Phoenix:20241012T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Phoenix:20241012T100000
DTSTAMP:20241010T211938Z
CREATED:20241010T010405Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241010T211938Z
UID:1034-1728720000-1728727200@dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org
SUMMARY:Traffic circle and chicane stewarding party at 11th Avenue and 1st Street
DESCRIPTION:Join your neighbors as we weed\, prune\, and clean up the water-harvesting traffic circle and chicanes at 11th Avenue and 1st Street. \n• You’ll learn plant identification (what’s a weed\, what’s a desired plant\, and what its many benefits and uses are). \n• You’ll learn best pruning practices. \n• We’ll plant native wildflower seed\, so it can bloom with winter rains. \n• Best of all you get to meet and collaborate with more of your neighbors as we work together to enhance the health of our community forests and each other. \nBe prepared to be outside. Wear sun hat\, bring gloves\, and pruning/weeding tools. If you do not have tools or gloves come anyway as we have extras to share. \nOpen to everyone\, no matter what neighborhood you live in.
URL:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/event/traffic-circle-and-chicane-stewarding-party-at-11th-avenue-and-1st-street/
LOCATION:Dunbar Spring neighborhood\, Tucson\, AZ\, 85705\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Before-and-after-traffic-circle-stewarding-2022.jpeg
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