The news is getting out! Thanks in some part to NPR, the Arizona Public Radio, station KNAU and the
Sustainable Communities Program at Northern Arizona University. They are publishing stories now regularly every week on sustainability and
permaculture!! I see a glass half full folks! These are just 2 of the pieces I saw in their news last week. I can hear you all cheering already!
And just a small side note.... I am taking a small break next week from planting to harvest lots of peas! Yeehaw!!!
Earth Notes:
Chicken Coop/Compost Rebate Program
KNAU News Talk - Arizona Public Radio | By
Rose Houk
Published April 20, 2022 at 4:00 AM MST
If you’re one of those people who longs to have
chickens in your backyard and fresh eggs in the
skillet, Flagstaff is offering a little scratch as an incentive.
The city’s Sustainability Office has just launched a chicken coop and composter rebate program. Purchase of a prefab chicken coop, a composting system, or both, will earn up to a one hundred dollar rebate.
The coops can be stationary or movable, but need to be fenced and offer adequate
shelter for the birds. Coops can be anything from small basic accommodations to larger, more elaborate condo-style affairs, in all price ranges.
The idea is that the coops and the composters work together--with the natural fertilizer produced from the
chickens mixed into a composting bin, to yield rich soil amendments for gardens. The setup reduces food waste too, and that means less going into the landfill.
The program is modeled after a similar one in Austin, Texas. Flagstaff is trying it out as a pilot, on a first-come, first-serve basis to individuals, households, schools, and educational nonprofits.
Anyone interested must first complete a Backyard Animal Keeping Permit, which regulates the number of hens based on property size; space and location of the coop; healthful, humane conditions; and other requirements.
The Sustainability Office will also offer educational workshops and demonstrations at the upcoming Earth Day celebration and into the summer.
For more information and to apply, go to www.flagstaff.az.gov/cccr.
Earth Notes: Food Forests
Published May 4, 2022 at 4:00 AM MST
What makes up a forest? Most people might say “trees,” but
the answer could be “treats” as well. That’s the magic of “food forests,” which have begun to grow in popularity in Europe and the United States, including on the Colorado Plateau.
Food forests have
roots in tropical and subtropical Indigenous cultures. They consist of complex multi-layered plantings, dominated by food-producing plants such as apricot
trees or hazelnut bushes. They can also include
medicinal plants and species that fix nitrogen or attract pollinators.
Food forests are often small, backyard- or community garden-sized affairs. In urban settings like Phoenix or Albuquerque, the shade provided by leafy plants can combat the brutal heat. The many different plant species attract diverse insects and birds, while the dense planting structure and rich soils sequester
carbon.
Then of course, there’s the fresh fruit, nuts, and vegetables produced by these elaborate forests. Best of all they can be fed with little to no drinking
water, by harvesting rainwater or repurposing grey water.
The benefits of food forests aren’t just ecological. Tending a forest gets people outside and builds community. Literally harvesting the fruits of your labor creates a unique connection to nature. Some Indigenous organizations, like the Hopi Tutskwa
Permaculture Institute, are using them to pass on traditional farming practices to future generations. Advocates hope that food forests will become a cultural
staple across the U.S., so that ecosystems and communities everywhere can benefit from these vegetation powerhouses.
This Earth Note was written by Ellie Stevenson and produced by KNAU and the Sustainable Communities Program at Northern Arizona University.
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