In the April 2008 issue of Tucson’s Green Magazine, Barbara and Dan (and their sites) are featured in an article on Permaculture. They describe how Permaculture is about observing and duplicating nature’s patterns, so we can design and build places that take care of people and take care of the environment.

From the article…  ‘ A fine local example (of Permaculture) is Dan Dorsey’s place in central Tucson. Known today as the Mesquite Tree Permaculture Site, a decade ago his yard was devoid of practically everything except packed down dirt.

“It was a totally barren site, hardly a blade of grass growing”, he said. “In fact, this used to be the neighborhood parking lot.” Today Dorsey’s lot is a thriving site in the middle of Tucson that bears fruit, attracts wildlife, and used naturally collected water.’

‘Barbara Rose, sitting on a rock filled cage that slows overland water flow at her own site, stresses another important point in Permaculture: “Get a buddy, find even one person in your neighborhood (already) doing Permaculture”. She added that resources to learn from are also widely available on line, in books, and through Permaculture teachers in the Tucson area.’