The City of Tempe Sustainability and Resilience Division, as part of the Rain to Roots initiative, is partnering with Watershed Management Group on an impactful series of workshops to help community members create their ideal desert landscape while making the most of rainwater and graywater.

These nature-based solutions can mitigate heat in our community, encourage a healthy urban landscape, and reduce potable water use in the landscape.

The classes are free to attend and a la carte, and will be held at several different facilities around Tempe:

• Passive and Active Rainwater Harvesting

Saturday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. – Noon, EnVision Center, 1310 E Apache Blvd

Learn how to save water while creating a rainwater-sustained native landscape! We’ll cover best practices for passive rainwater harvesting (basins) and active rainwater harvesting (cisterns).

• Building Healthy Desert Soils

Saturday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. – noon, Escalante Center, 2150 E. Orange St.

By integrating typical waste streams such as greywater, stormwater, plant trimmings, and compost, you can bring desert soil to life. By the end of this class, you will have the skills necessary to promote a productive urban landscape.

• Rain Garden Care

Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. – noon, YMCA, 7070 S. Rural Rd.

Learn about selecting low-water-use native plants that build wildlife habitat, shade your home, and create an appealing landscape for your yard.

• Introduction to Greywater

Saturday, Jan. 16, 2027, 10 a.m. – noon, Elias-Rodriguez House, 927 E. Eighth St.

Your washing machine, shower, bathroom sink, and bathtub can be a consistent source of greywater irrigation for high-water-use plants in your landscape. Learn how to tap into these resources to help support your landscape and hydro-local living.

• Sustainable Desert Living for Renters

Saturday, Feb. 20, 2027, 10 a.m. – noon, Elias-Rodriguez House, 927 E. Eighth St.

Join us for a renter-specific workshop that will introduce you to simple, practical ways to live more sustainably, no matter where you live. Through hands-on demos and honest conversations, we’ll re-frame sustainable living as something accessible to everyone.

• Cultivating Native Edible Landscapes

Saturday, March 27, 2027, 10 a.m. – noon, EnVision Center, 1310 E Apache Blvd.

Participants will explore what “native edible” means from ecological, regional, and cultural perspectives, gaining insight into how these plants have been traditionally used and their role in supporting healthy ecosystems. We will review a variety of native edible species, discussing their identifying features, ideal growing conditions, and sustainable harvesting practices.

Registration is required for all participants.