There’s a heck of a lot of sunshine in Tucson! So much so that the city gets around 350 days of sunshine every year.
Soon, Tucson Village Farm will be powered by the big ball of fire thanks to an awarded grant from the University of Arizona Campus Sustainability Fund. Solar power is on the way for the urban farm.
“Sustainability is the foundation of our operations at Tucson Village Farm,” the team shared. “We grow pesticide-free produce using integrated farming techniques and are committed to land stewardship to ensure long-term soil health and water-use efficiency. Our Angel Charity for Children Culinary Education Center functions as the heartbeat of the farm, but it consumes a substantial amount of electricity annually.”
One of Tucson Village Farm’s missions is to teach youth about the benefits of preparing and eating fresh, local produce while promoting healthy lifestyle choices.
This new solar installation will serve as a “tangible demonstration of sustainability practices, educating our community on the importance of renewable energy.”
“With this new funding, we will harness the sun’s energy to power our kitchen complex, cutting down our electricity costs substantially and reducing CO2 emissions by 90,348 pounds annually,” the Tucson Village Farm shared.
Stay tuned for more updates on the farm’s solar journey and how it contributes to a healthier, more sustainable community.
“Our dream is that Tucson Village Farm will become a programmatic model for the future through its diversified farm practices, focus on community-based health and disease prevention, and commitment to green energy, low water use, and environmental stewardship.”
Tucson Village Farm is located at 2201 E. Roger Rd. For more information, call (520) 621-1006 or visit tucsonvillagefarm.org.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
