August 4, 2011
Photo: AZPM
Rainwater harvesting expert Brad Lancaster joins the studio.
Tucson native Brad Lancaster, an author, teacher, and consultant, has traveled the world in hopes of finding the best ways to conserve water, and bringing these back to his hometown.
"I wanted to be part of the solution," he tells Arizona Illustrated. "So I started looking for those solutions, and found them in sustainable farms in southern Africa and elsewhere around the world, and tried to see how I could bring that back to Tucson."
Lancaster has since made water conservation his life's work. He has designed berms and other pathways that re-direct the water flowing down his neighborhood's streets after rainfall to plant life, growing trees that, in turn, create shade and cool down the neighborhood.
But Lancaster says that many of the things he does on a large scale can also be done at home. Re-directing rainfall from the street into your landscape is just one of the ways Lancaster says all Arizonans can conserve water on their properties.
"Plant the rain before you plant plants," says Lancaster, who also suggests choosing native plants that are better adapted to the local climate, and selecting food-producing plants to get even more out of your yard.
Great interview! To get a copy of the Eat Mesquite! cookbook, go to www.DesertHarvesters.org and click on the cookbook cover image. You can order through the website or look for the list of local retailers who carry the cookbook.
Plant the rain first!
Thanks for caring for our precious water ways!
Can you say Nobel Peace Prize!
The world thanks you!
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See Brad Lancaster's books "Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond" and website www.HarvestingRainwater.com for great, easy to use info on water harvesting.