Have you ever wondered what it takes to install a water harvesting system for your landscape? Is it a do-it-yourself project, or would you be better off hiring someone? How much water can you save?
And just how practical is a home solar system, and is it really worth the cost?
On Saturday, Oct. 25, you can put these questions to the people who’ve actually taken the plunge during Watershed Management Group’s fourth annual Homescape Harvest Tour.
There’s no end to people’s creativity. Last year, I hopped on my bike and rode all over Tucson with a map, stopping at the homes that interested me most.
I gained a ton of ideas about cisterns, ground contouring and landscaping methods — even chicken coops were in residence at several homes. I also got to check out an extensive home aquaponics set-up, in which fish and plants are grown in a symbiotic system.
People are also reading…
This year, you’ll find:
- A 100% solar home with organic gardens.
- A home with a hummingbird and butterfly sanctuary in the backyard.
- A 2,400 gallon aquaponics system, plus a chicken coop.
- An outdoor shower with solar hot water and a composting toilet at WMG’s Living Lab & Learning Center on North Dodge Boulevard. (Actually, it seems that outdoor showers are pretty popular this year.)
- A street-side stormwater harvesting project at the Tucson Association of Realtors’ office on North Tucson Boulevard.
And much more. So sign up online, grab your map and choose the sites that you find most intriguing. (Each stop is described in the brochure.)
Tickets are $15 and are available at watershedmg.org/home-tour-2014
Better still, you can save $5 if you bike, carpool or take public transportation. BICAS is leading two rides starting at 10 a.m., if you need some company. (Suggested donation is an extra $5.)
The tour is self-paced, and you can visit the homes and businesses in any order. Look for WMG’s signs posted at each stop. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The brochure indicates whether stops include solar features, water harvesting or gardens. And don’t miss the Food Conspiracy Co-op’s new urban micro-farm.
Note: Tucson Water has a rebate program if you install a residential rainwater harvesting or gray water system. Find more info at water.tucsonaz.gov/water/rebate
