JAVA March 2018

some of the Valley Permaculture Alliance’s old programs discontinue, they
transferred them to other organizations. The seed library was given to the Mollen
Foundation, which is currently using it to help with the planting of a community
garden at Garfield Elementary School. The Phoenix Tour De Coops, a tour of
Phoenix backyard chicken coops, was handed over to Your Farm Foods.
The Utility Shade Tree Program is TM’s most impactful program in terms of
increasing tree canopy. It allows homeowners who complete a free workshop
to select two trees to plant on their property. To help teach the class, TM
brings in certified arborists and master gardeners who explain where to plant
specific trees and how to care for them and answer any other tree-related
questions participants have.
“This is something that permaculture teaches – when you plant trees
strategically, you can reduce the amount of energy you use,” Corral said. “If
you have a deciduous tree, it’s great to plant on the south side. These trees will
actually reduce the need to use air conditioning. Many people don’t realize that
air conditioners put additional heat into the environment. While you’re trying
to cool down your house, you’re actually making it hotter for everyone else.”
Participants in the workshop create maps of their properties and have experts
advise on where to plant specific trees, which helps in deciding what trees to
select. Corral said that the trees TM distributes though this program are desertadapted
varieties such as mesquite, palo verde, desert willow and willow acacia.
Williamson explained that many of the participants are new homeowners who
have recently relocated to the Valley and are unfamiliar with the intensity of the
local environment.
“We created the ‘ask an arborist’ website forum and Facebook group where
you can ask any question about trees,” Williamson said. “We have two
volunteer certified arborists who answer the questions. We want to make sure that
the people who are getting these trees are able to have follow-up support so the
trees succeed.”
On March 10 at 10 a.m., TM will host its fourth annual Tour des Trees, where
professional arborists lead a tour that explores eight unique trees on ASU’s Tempe
campus. The event is free to attend and funded by the Arizona Department of
Forestry and Fire Management.
“At each station there will be a really interesting tree to discuss,” Williamson said.
“People can look at trees they don’t see every day and, with the more common
trees, there will be arborists on hand to talk about them.”
Another upcoming TM event focuses on the mesquite tree – a class and harvest
demonstration to take place on May 30 at the Rio Salado Audubon Center. Ariel
Stone, volunteer coordinator for TM, explained that the class will cover how to
determine which pods are edible (emphasizing that you should never harvest them
from the ground), how to harvest and process them properly, and the uses and
benefits of mesquite flour.
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