Garden and Country Extension Webinar Series

May 6, 2021

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Featured Speaker: Michael Chamberland, Assistant Agent, University of Arizona Maricopa County Cooperative Extension. Michael serves as the Assistant Agent for Urban Horticulture with the University of Arizona Maricopa County Cooperative Extension. He works with Urban Horticulture, which includes overseeing the Maricopa County Master Gardener Program and plant problem diagnostic work, especially for the commercial horticulture industry. Agent Chamberland has considerable experience with curation and management of living collections at botanical gardens, including the Desert Botanical Garden, Tucson Botanical Gardens, and the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington DC. His prior work with University herbaria has engaged Michael with many aspects of native and introduced plants in Arizona.

Webinar Overview: Stinknet, also known as globe chamomile (Oncosiphon pilulifer), is a relatively new weed in Arizona that has quickly spread. The first herbarium collection for Arizona was made in 1997, and by 2019 the plant had risen to public attention due to its conspicuous presence. It is spreading along the I-10 corridor, becoming well established in Maricopa, Pinal and Pima Counties. The movement of people and vehicles through seed-laden stinknet infested areas has potential to dislodge seeds and may be a significant factor in its spread. Stinknet is a nonnative cool-season annual member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae). It may degrade rangeland as it crowds out other desirable cool-season plants. Stinknet is reported to be unpalatable to livestock, and shows little sign of damage by herbivory. It has been implicated in cases of respiratory distress, and there have been reports of contact dermatitis from skin exposure. Stinknet forms thick drifts of plants that are a particular problem for wildfire in Sonoran Desert vegetation. It dries and dies as Arizona enters its hot dry early summer, which is also wildfire season. It can then can catch and spread fire from an initial ignition source and carry flames from shrub to shrub and tree to tree. Combatting stinknet, especially larger infestations, and those in wildland situations, will require a long-term integrated weed management plan. Early detection of spot infestations and rapid response to pull and bag weeds before a seed reserve can build is key to preventing the spread of stinknet into new areas like Gila County.

April 30, 2021

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Webinar Overview: The Natural Resource Extension Education Foundation (NREEF) is a 501(c)3charitable foundation, founded in 2019. NREEF supports natural resources educational events, initiatives, and efforts conducted by the Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals and other Cooperative Extension organizations. Why? Because natural resources Extension professionals are in the forefront, helping communities address working lands conservation, climate change, invasive species, sustainability, water quality and many other issues. There’s a fundamental need to support these professionals, helping them to develop advanced skills and supporting local programs, ones difficult to fund through traditional means. Join us to ensure a strong bright future for natural resources Extension education and to support your values regarding conservation and environmental resources management.

Presenters: The Board of Directors at the Natural Resources Extension Education Foundation, featuring President Sanford S. Smith, Ph.D., Teaching Professor of Forest Resources and Extension Specialist, Pennsylvania State University.

April 29, 2021

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Featured Speaker: Anne Mottek is principal of Mottek Consulting. Ms. Mottek’s educational background is in both forestry (BS) and sociology with a research emphasis (MA). Her work focuses on social science research and its application in a wide range of environmentally based resource management issues. Ms. Mottek is actively engaged in several collaborative organizations like the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) Stakeholder Group, Greater Flagstaff Forests Partnership (GFFP), Flagstaff Watershed Protection Project (FWPP), Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network (FAC Net), and Arizona Fire Adapted Communities (AZFAC). Ms. Mottek was the main contributor to the Socioeconomic Monitoring Plan for 4FRI’s first and second analysis areas that was included in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), and secured funding for and completed the first 4FRI monitoring project that included both social and economic monitoring components.

Webinar Overview: The purpose of this USDA AFRI-NIFA funded “Managing for Climate Change: Climate Master Outreach and Extension, Focus Group Study” is to increase climate change literacy and to determine best practices and methods in supporting both climate adaptation and mitigation activities for diverse groups and communities. The long-term goal of the program is to support communities and build their capacity to independently plan, initiate, and carry out programs that address climate-centered issues. The expected outcomes include designing an innovative strategy and approach that will address regional needs for developing a Cooperative Extension climate outreach program that involve volunteers as “Climate Masters.” The University of Arizona research team conducted two focus groups in disparate communities to better determine if a climate smart outreach program would be an effective way to communicate to diverse groups of Extension audiences about these issues. Ms. Mottek will discuss the methodology, results, outcomes and recommendations derived in this study. A “User’s Guide” was developed to assist Cooperative Extension educators and others to design a community-based Climate Master program. The recommendations within the User’s Guide encapsulate the program’s design, content, recruitment strategy, delivery, impacts, and sustainability strategies for developing a novel Climate Master program.

April 22, 2021

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Featured Speaker: Ashley Hullinger is a 2020 Flinn-Brown Fellow and Research Analyst at the WRRC. She manages the Water RAPIDS Program (Water Research and Planning Innovations for Dryland Systems), which extends through several counties in Arizona. Much of Ashley’s work revolves around developing accessible tools and approaches to understand complex water resources situations and promote sustainable water management throughout Arizona, especially in rural watersheds. As part of the Cooperative Extension, she works directly with communities looking at issues that span beyond physical water resources to consider the people and history that have contributed to current conditions. Ashley holds a M.S. in Urban Planning, with a concentration in Water Resources, from the University of Arizona and B.A. degrees in History and Geography from the University of Kansas.

Webinar Overview: Since 2017, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) have collaborated with community partners to establish a watershed partnership in the Globe-Miami area, also known as Cobre Valley, in central Arizona. Through a stakeholder-driven needs assessment of the region, the creation of a watershed partnership was identified as a constructive step toward uniting environmental stewardship, community health, and economic benefits under a single umbrella. The WRRC and Gila County Cooperative Extension will assist the CVWP in creating the structure for the new watershed partnership with the goal of enabling a network of local community members to implement their vision for environmental stewardship while increasing the livability and economic opportunities in the region. This presentation will highlight key ingredients for success to generate interest, achieve consensus, and engage diverse stakeholder groups in the establishment of a watershed partnership.

Spring Gardening Classes: February 11 - April 15, 2021

Extension Agent Chris Jones teamed up with the Payson Community Garden in Northern Gila County to feature their 2021 spring gardening classes on the UA Country and Garden Extension webinar series. Speakers included Payson Community Gardeners, sharing their experiences gardener-to-gardener. You are invited to view the recordings here to learn the Payson Community Gardeners' success and how to adapt their know-how to your garden. Classes included the benefits of soil building, ways to have healthy plants throughout the garden season, how to keep bugs and disease away, and harvesting at the right time. The Q&As at the end of each webinar provide a valuable resources as the presenters answered participant questions.

Recorded webinars are posted at the UA Cooperative Extension YouTube Channel and at the Payson Community Garden website.

February 2, 2021

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Featured Speaker: Jan Groth is the Master Gardener Instructor and Coordinator for Cochise County Cooperative Extension at UArizona Sierra Vista. She is known as one of the most passionate plant lovers in her area. Jan is also the curator for the Discovery Gardens at UA Sierra Vista, which is Cochise County's first educational botanical demonstration garden which opened to the public in October, 2017.

Webinar Overview: Winter is the perfect time to prune a tree in Arizona: The tree is dormant so sap flow is minimal and the tree can safely respond to pruning cuts before bud break in the spring. Jan Groth will demonstrate best practices for pruning a young ornamental shade tree. She will discuss how to: make a proper pruning cut; select which branches to cut; remove larger branches; which tools to use, safety concerns and more. This webinar is perfect for first timers, new residents and anyone who wants to be confident they are planting the right way. Be sure to stick around for the Q&A!

January 28, 2021

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Featured Speaker: Charles M. Beck, B.S., Community Planning and Development, University of California at Davis. Charles has worked as a municipal, county, regional, and Environmental Transportation Agency planner. He presented on a Global Infrastructure Initiative, Ecoregion Transportation Corridor Placemaking, and Climate Change Adaptation and Transformation at national and international conferences. His projects include infrastructure climate adaptation, Ecoregion placemaking, solar-hydrogen energy and the development of the For-Benefit Synthesis Three organization. As a multiple agency planning practitioner, he managed over 200 projects that involved daily communications with planners, designers, engineers, scientists, multiple land use agencies, developers, public officials the public and stakeholders. He has also worked in the U.S. Navy as a meteorology and oceanography technician, aerospace for the Space Shuttle, construction, prospecting, and archaeology. He has written the book “Space Mission Earth – Concept Development upon which this presentation is based.

Webinar Overview: We all live in a planetary civilization. Everyone contributes to the Planet Earth Civilization. We are all the builders through our thoughts and actions. The construct of a planet civilization elevates us all to a common ground. A program is introduced with the intent to establish Planet Earth Equitable Social – Environmental Stewardship. The program structure is based upon For Benefit, Open Access to Knowledge and Open Source platforms. The program and book titled Space Mission Earth for all intents and purposes are structured as an operational space program. Their mission is to develop the planet’s civilization as if it were a new planet through equitable social and environmental stewardship implementation actions. Principles and tools are presented to work within a common ground for the balance of the Environment, Nature and Humanity within the planet. The project and the synthesis concept are presented for further development as proof of concept through planet wide input.

January 14, 2021

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Featured Speaker: Dr. Jerlyn Sponseller brings a wealth of animal knowledge and experience as a private practice veterinarian and a former veterinary school instructor who now works in the veterinary pharmaceutical industry. She has 15 years of clinical veterinary experience in Indiana, Tennessee, England, and Massachusetts, including starting her own small animal hospital. Dr. Sponseller has taught numerous veterinary courses, and she is the co-author of four peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Sponseller earned her DVM from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, achieved her MPH from the University of Tennessee, then completed her PhD in Biomedical Sciences at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. She is also a licensed member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS). Dr. Sponseller is interested in zoonotic diseases, those that affect both animals and people. She hopes to aid in zoonotic disease prevention through public health education and vaccination to enhance both animal and human health.

Webinar Overview: Are you curious about rabies? Need to review the rabies laws in Arizona? Wondering who is at risk? This talk will answer commonly-asked questions and dispel rabies myths. The questions below will be addressed, and attendees should feel free to bring their own questions for discussion. • What is rabies? • How serious is rabies? Can rabies be treated? • How do animals get rabies? How do people get rabies? • When should you worry? • Who should be vaccinated? • How common is rabies in Arizona? Join us for a lively discussion!

December 17, 2020

Webinar Overview: Restoration treatment projects in northern Arizona can reduce wildfire risk and restore forest health. But markets for biomass wood fiber from restoration activities in Arizona are highly limited, and finding utilization outlets for the by-products of forest restoration activities are increasingly important. With economically efficient transportation options and strong stable partners, Arizona could supply wood fiber to Asian markets in an economically efficient and sustainable manner. This study evaluated business potential for exporting wood fiber from Arizona to renewable energy markets in South Korea by performing a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis. The South Korean renewable energy market is immature but expanding and showing potential for future growth. The market size, government policy support and potential make shipping Arizona wood fiber to South Korea an attractive option. Per ton wood chip prices in South Korea can be double the price in the U.S. Industry analysts project consumption of six million metric tons of biomass in 2021. Our study shows that logistical hurdles exist with current business infrastructure in northern Arizona. Additionally, the instability of the market and insecurity of South Korean policy are risks that may require mitigation before significant investment in this market.

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December 10, 2020

Webinar Overview: Suzan Miller-Hoover from the Payson Community Garden in Arizona discusses how to winterize the garden. Keep your garden alive during the winter. Feeding your gardens’ microbes and worms over the winter will enhance your chances of having an even better harvest next summer. Let’s discuss the essential steps to winterizing your garden, preparing it for the growing season ahead.

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December 3, 2020

Webinar Overview: Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, bats and numerous other insect species are vital to the functioning of natural and agricultural ecosystems. It is estimated that managed and wild pollinators help pollinate over 75% of both our flowering plants and cultivated crops. Freeport-McMoRan Incorporated (FMI) maintains a commitment to conserving these critical pollinators through the company’s corporate Pollinator Conservation Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to increase habitat for pollinators, while providing learners of all ages with opportunities to engage in STEM education. FMI Senior Biodiversity Scientist, Ann George discusses the elements required to create a successful pollinator habitat. She will also explore several case studies of how Freeport has leveraged its conservation efforts with partners to promote pollinator-focused education and outreach activities, such as Earth Day celebrations, pollinator workshops and hands-on planting events in the field.

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November 19, 2020

Ashley Hall, Rangeland and Animal Science Area Assistant Extension Agent at University of Arizona Cooperative Extension discusses Yellow Bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum), a non-native invasive species that negatively affects rangeland habitat in both economic and ecological ways. Yellow Bluestem is a perennial grass introduced to the United States from Europe and Asia in the early 1900s as a way to control erosion and as a forage species. In the past several years, this species has become an emerging invasive in Arizona. Yellow Bluestem has been shown to alter soil function and biota, suppressing the growth of native vegetation. It out-competes native species because it can grow much taller than most native grasses, and creates a sod thick formation by reproducing through underground stems.  While this species was introduced in some parts of the U.S. to provide additional forage for grazing species, Yellow Bluestem is less palatable than natives and is not preferred by cattle, equine, or wildlife. Eradication of this species may require intense management efforts if a new population is not eliminated quickly.

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November 5, 2020

Dr. Mary Lata, Fire Ecologist, USDA Forest Service, Tonto National Forest, discusses her fire ecology report and the impacts and implications the Woodbury Fire has for local land management. The Woodbury Fire (~129,000 acres) was the 5th largest fire in Arizona history as of 2019. The absence of fire in its fire adapted ecosystems allowed live and dead woody fuel to increase and the fuels to become more contiguous. 2019 was an unfortunate one for fire in this area because the invasive grasses in the desert converted hundreds of thousands of acres of Sonoran Desert vegetation that rarely burns into a carpet of highly flammable grasses and shrubs that burned fast and hot. Many of the undesirable fire effects that did occur, did so not because of decisions made in the last few months, or even years, but because of the culmination of human impacts over the last century or so. The Tonto National Forest will need to make some difficult decisions on how to manage the Sonoran Desert in years such as this one when the desert is functionally a grass/shrub system in which fire is frequent rather than a desert ecosystem in which fire is rare. Key management options include: Selective grazing; Selective low severity/low intensity prescribed fire; and Creating and maintaining fire breaks in strategic locations.

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October 29, 2020

Carl Melford, Gila County Emergency Manager, discusses the role of Emergency Management. Throughout the past 5 years, Gila County has been faced with record breaking wildfire activity. Learn how Gila County Emergency Management works with their Public Safety partners to overcome the challenges that come with Wildfire season. Acquire skills about planning tools such as the Gila County Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP) and how you can help to protect your home and community from the ever evolving threat of wildfire, and the post-fire flooding events that follow.

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October 22, 2020

Kenny Keith, Gila County Landfill and Recycling Manager, discusses a composting pilot project that seeks to fulfill two main goals: to extend the life of the Gila County Landfill at Russell Gulch, in Globe, AZ; and to create an environmentally safe and useful compost. Waste paper, cardboard, tree branches, limbs and brush are mixed with processed sludge from community wastewater to make the compost. The finished compost is tested for coliforms, metals and hazardous waste to assure it is safe and considered Class A quality. Project partners include the Arizona Department of Transportation, Town of Miami and the Gila County Board of Supervisors, as led by District 2 Supervisor Tim R. Humphrey.

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October 15, 2020

Victoria Hermosilla, Cobre Valley Watershed Partnership Coordinator discusses the watershed action plan for Cobre Vally in Arizona: The communities of the Cobre Valley (Globe-Miami, AZ and nearby incorporated areas), share many of the same challenges surrounding water resources: reliable sources of potable water, groundwater contamination, aging water infrastructure, a push for environmental considerations, and trying to not be overlooked in the Arizona General Adjudication. The formation of the watershed partnership seeks to bring together multiple stakeholders from a wide variety of backgrounds to contribute to a Watershed Action Plan with a clear vision, well-defined goals, viable projects, and robust support from the communities in the Cobre Valley. There are already projects being put together by other community engagement groups and committees such as the Pinal Creek Trails Group’s effort to create a demonstration trail on reclaimed mining property, and a master recreation plan for the region. The partnership seeks to be a central hub for ideas and organization in the greater community. The Watershed Action Plan is being developed as the primary document where all information about the region’s background, current conditions, and projects are coalesced for the community and in support of existing government policies. This presentation is to not only share the partnership’s progress, engage the community with ideas and vision.

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October 8, 2020

Webinar Overview: Fall is the perfect time to plant a tree Arizona: There is time for the roots to get established before winter sets and then the tree can acclimatize over the winter and be ready to grow and spread its roots in spring. Jan Groth will demonstrate best management practices for planting a containerized tree. She will discuss what to look for when buying a containerized plant, how to prepare the hole for planting, how to handle the plant when taking it out of the container and putting it into the ground, and direction for mulch and fertilizer. This webinar is perfect for first timers, new residents and anyone who wants to be confident they are planting the right way.

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October 1, 2020

Webinar Overview: Arizona' Forest Health Specialist Aly McAlexander presents a general overview of the bark beetles found in Arizona. We discuss both native and nonnative bark beetles found in Arizona; as well as go over the signs and symptoms associated with these beetles. By the end of the presentation, attendees will be able to more accurately identify bark beetle infestations and determine which beetle is the culprit. We will also review management options and discuss the new Healthy Forests Cost Share Program the Department of Forestry and Fire Management is offering to private landowners.

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September 17, 2020

Webinar Overview: The newly adopted Fire Adapted Community Town Code addresses the vegetation on all properties within town limits, including land owned by the town. The adoption of the town code shows how serious Payson takes the dangers of wildfire and how the Town Council and Mayor are committed to address this threat to the Town’s safety. Payson's Fuel Manager Kevin McCully discusses what the code entails and how residents can participate.

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Webinar Overview: Horticulturist and avid organic gardener Kim Stone will explain and demonstrate his techniques for small scale vegetable gardening during the cooler months of the year at 3500’ elevation. A cool season garden is more productive, easier to grow, and requires far less water than a summer garden. He will discuss soil mixes, raised beds, plant and seed selection, fertilization, irrigation, and protecting plants from cold and varmints.

Webinar Overview: Many homes in Gila County and rural areas use a septic tank. In the first part of the webinar Jake Garrett, PE, provides a brief history of use of septic tanks in Gila County and Arizona, and the environmental importance of septic tanks. Starting at 23:24 minutes, the discussion shifts to practical use and care of a septic tank followed by a useful question and answer session with the audience. You will learn how to care for your septic tank: if you keep your tank happy, you will be happy too!

Webinar Overview: Millions of hectares in western North America have been negatively impacted by cheatgrass invasion. Post-wildfire restoration generally involves spreading limited resources over extensive areas, and this approach often fails to meet restoration objectives. We investigated an alternative approach that may be able to weaken cheatgrass-fire feedbacks, protect remnant and restored sites, and reduce further invasion by focusing restoration resources in small, spatially strategic locations. We tested multiple methods for creating native greenstrips (fuelbreaks made of native plants), subjected experimental greenstrips to targeted grazing treatments, and monitored seedling densities over two years. At a highly invaded Great Basin site, we found that planting and grazing treatments had strong effects on seedling densities. Plots planted with a doubled seed rate had 50% more seedlings than those planted with an average seed rate. Ungrazed plots had 40% and 90% more seedlings than spring- and fall-grazed plots, respectively. However, results were primarily driven by one planted species (Elymus trachycaulus) which was both highly successful and susceptible to grazing. At a minimally invaded Colorado Plateau site, planted seedling densities were much lower (1-2 per m2) and planting techniques had weaker effects, though seed rate was still an important driver of results. At this site, targeted spring grazing tended to enhance seeded species densities and reduce cheatgrass biomass. Early results suggest that high rate native grass seedings and short-duration spring grazing should be further evaluated as potential tools for addressing cheatgrass invasion, though results may strongly depend on ecosystem context.

August 20, 2020

Webinar Overview: In 2015, Terry Gorton and Rick Vesci purchased the Hunt Family farm in Pine, Arizona. They began the restoration of the old farmhouse as true as they could to pioneers John and Annie Belle (including the Lavender Kitchen where we use Annie Belles old kitchen to teach heritage food techniques and food preservation classes along with our culinary Lavender classes). With historic water rights, they asked, “What won’t Elk eat?” They came to the realization that lavender was the answer. Terry and Rick didn’t know much about lavender back then but, now, they are in love with Lavender or as Olivia calls it, “Lovender” and the Elk pretty much stay away. The lavender grows higher every season.  They enjoy getting to meet clients like you: our fellow “Lovender” friends enjoying this beautiful mountain valley that Rosetta first called home more than a century ago.

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August 13, 2020

Webinar Overview: Jan Groth picks up where Bill Cook, UA horticulture program coordinator from Greenlee County, presented about the basics of container gardening ... container types, soils, watering, fertilizing, etc.. In "Container Gardening, Too!" Jan covers plants for containers, maintenance, galvanized trough gardening hints, special additions to your container gardens, and more. Container gardening is a blast and has endless possibilities! Jan Groth is the Master Gardener Instructor and Coordinator for Cochise County Cooperative Extension at UArizona Sierra Vista. She is known as one of the most passionate plant lovers in her area. Jan is also the curator for the Discovery Gardens at UA Sierra Vista, which is Cochise County's first educational botanical demonstration garden which opened to the public in October, 2017. In case you missed Bill's presentation, you can watch the recording here.

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August 6, 2020

Webinar Overview: Dr. Elise Gornish is a Cooperative Extension Specialist in Ecological Restoration at the University of Arizona. Her research largely focuses on identifying strategies for successful restoration in arid land systems and integration of restoration approaches into weed management. In this presentation, Dr Gornish discusses strategies associated with ecological restoration to remove existing weeds and resist invasion from weeds in the future.

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July 30, 2020

Webinar Overview: Carol Ekarius is CEO of Coalitions & Collaboratives (COCO), a nonprofit that supports place-based groups working in the natural resource realm, and in the emergency response realm to natural disasters. She will discuss some of the first-steps toward recovery, such as anticipating flood conditions and debris flows, working collaboratively on response by forming a recovery committee, figuring out how to pay for it, and thinking about long-term recovery. Carol has extensive experience around wildland fire recovery, working with federal agencies, state agencies, local governments, and community members on fires across the West over the last 20 years. COCO sponsored the first national conference on post-fire recovery in 2019, After the Flames. COCO hosts a post-fire resource page as listed below.

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July 23, 2020

Webinar Overview: Container gardening enables you to grow plants where they otherwise wouldn’t. Containers can sit on stairs, hang, be moved as the season progresses, come indoors for the winter or can be handicap accessible. The only limit is your ingenuity and imagination. Bill will discuss container requirements, along with the pro’s and con’s of the many container materials. He will describe potting soil characteristics, such as container material, size, location and intended purpose. This presentation also includes: 1) Different options to mix your own soil and how to produce a better soil at a better cost; 2) Watering: How much, how often and how to manage water quality issues, such as hard water; and 3) Fertilizers and long term soil maintenance.

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July 16, 2020

Webinar Overview: This is a presentation to help gardeners recognize beneficial and non-beneficial insects and bugs in the garden. Suzan Miller-Hoover will discuss organic ways to deter and eliminate the bad bugs and to encourage beneficial ones. Lots of pictures of bugs! Suzan has been gardening for many years in her backyard. She joined the Payson Community Garden three years ago and learned how much she didn't know. As a staff member of the garden, she is happy to share what she has learned.

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Photo credit: Anita Barker

July 09, 2020

Webinar Overview: Compost tea is one of those often misused, misunderstood terms that gardeners throw around from time to time. The old method of making it has limited benefits and may end up harming your plants more than helping. So it’s time to learn what ACTIVELY AERATED COMPOST TEA is all about. In my presentation you will learn about what equipment to use, how to make it yourself for very little money, how to “brew” compost tea, what to do with it once you have it and what it does for your plants. Do your plants a favor and give them a shot of the beneficial microbes that deliver first class plants in your garden.

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June 25, 2020

Webinar Overview: Solar energy systems can help Arizona individuals, families, and businesses achieve energy conservation goals beyond the adoption of energy-efficient appliances and LED bulbs. This presentation describes solar photovoltaic (PV) system components and their use in different types of solar PV systems. The benefits and limitations of each system will be discussed, as well as steps to determine how to size a stand-alone solar PV system.

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June 18, 2020

Webinar Overview: Hazardous fuels are a major problem on wildlands throughout the West. Foresters traditionally pile and burn material from fuels reduction projects, but air quality restrictions and longer fire seasons have made open pile burning much more difficult over the past 30 years. Biochar kilns are an innovative approach to hazardous fuel reduction. Containing fuel inside a metal box can allow burning under restricted smoke dispersal conditions. It also allows burning in relatively close proximity to heavy fuels, structures, and within Stream Management Zones. Burning in containers minimizes soil damage, and soil conditions can improve by using the biochar produced on-site. This is an accessible and durable approach to carbon sequestration.

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June 11, 2020

Webinar Overview: Biochar is the same as charcoal, made from the incomplete combustion of wood or other biomass products. Biochar made from green waste can be good for the climate and environment. Since burning wood does not add fossil carbon to the atmosphere, making and using biochar is considered a carbon-negative process. Adding biochar to soil can store carbon for many generations and help lower CO2 gas emissions. Biochar can initially add salts and raise pH in semi-arid soils and is not ideally suited to most Southwest soils. Nonetheless, adding biochar to semi-desert soils can make plants more drought resistant, reduce plant nutrient losses, and when mixed with compost can improve soil structure.

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June 4, 2020

Webinar Overview: This year is predicted to be another potentially active fire season in certain parts of the state, such as Gila County, with conditions very similar to what Arizona saw last year. Two wet winters produced dense stands of red brome (Bromus madritensis spp. rubens) in some areas. This exotic annual grass helped fuel the Woodbury fire in June 2019 in Tonto Basin. It became widespread in the Cobre Valley area too this year. Join plant ecologist Cindy Salo to learn more about this invasive grass: where it is from, how it got to Arizona, how it behaves in the Sonoran Desert, and how we might best live with it.

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May 28, 2020

Webinar Overview: The Ready, Set, Go! Program provides information for residents and property owners on how they can successfully be prepared in the event of a wildland fire. Kevin McCully will discuss our area’s threat for wildland fire and describe more about the wildland urban interface (WUI), an area which is not only limited to forest vegetation. Fire season is an increasing threat and a year-round reality. As a seasonal resident or property owner, it is important to educate yourself and prepare. The Ready, Set, Go! Program gives you simple, easy-to-follow tips to increase your safety and that of your family.

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May 21, 2020

Webinar Overview: A healthy, living soil is essential for sustainable agriculture. Making compost at home is an important step toward that goal. The raw materials for compost are locally available, and the finished product is better than chemical fertilizers which contain little or none of the nutrients (beyond nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) that plants require. Composting basics are easily mastered by any backyard gardener.

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