Passive Rainwater Harvesting Workshop
March 28, 2026
8am – 5pm
YOU’RE INVITED!
BRING YOUR SHOVEL, GLOVES, AND A NOTEBOOK
PPWR is hosting its first educational program of 2026 – an all-day hands-on passive rainwater harvesting workshop on March 28that a neighbor’s property in Cochise.
WHAT:
Join your neighbors for a hands-on workshop where we will learn about and install passive rainwater harvesting features. We will begin with an assessment of the site, noting important parameters such as: uphill vs. downhill, path of summer vs. winter sun, problem puddling areas, foundation height, location of driveways, walkways, and overhead and underground utilities. From this we will create a site plan for where vegetation would be beneficial, and decide upon which types of plants are best. We will then don gloves and grab shovels and will move the earth for our host. In other words, we will create berms and basins that will capture water and hold it in the soil.
WHEN:
March 28, 2026 from 8 am – 5 pm
NUMBER & TYPE OF PARTICIPANTS:
To provide a meaningful experience for all participants, the workshop is limited to the first 30 people to register. This includes both those who will be participating in the construction of the features (active participants) and those who will only be observing the activities (passive participants). Each participant is required to bring his/her own water container along with their own PP&E (hat, gloves, safety shoes, etc.). Water dispensers will be available for refilling these containers.
WORKSHOP LEADER:
Sonya Norman is the Public Programs Coordinator for the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Her true passion is greening and cooling cities through rainwater harvesting. Twenty years ago, she began running tours with Brad Lancaster, then branched off to implement water-catchment features in her neighborhood, working with the City of Tucson on the first permitted neighborhood-scale curb cuts. She has developed a small neighborhood park, planted over 100 street-side trees and runs tours and workshops on the topic. Sonya is a native of Tucson and graduated from the U of A with a B.S. in Geosciences.
COST:
The workshop is FREE to attend.
MEAL:
Plans are being made to provide a light lunch for all attending. More information and details will be forthcoming.
INTERESTED OR HAVE QUESTIONS?:
E-mail with any questions or register below:
Registration Form
(Deadline March 14, 2026)
Workshop Sponsored By
People for the Playa Water Resources 