Posted By Visit Mesa Team
April 15, 2019

Making a dent in the desert

Name: Tempest Interactive Media
Price range: $

Impact travel is rising in popularity and there is no better way to celebrate sustainability than on Earth Day! Check out what you can do to make a 'dent in the desert' this year!

Earth Day is April 22nd and it's never too late to get involved! Did you know that more and more travelers are finding purpose in their journeys and seeking out new ways to leave a lasting impact in the destination they are visiting? Impact traveling has become the new trend with visitors consciously being more selective on where they shop, eat and now travel. Not only does voluntourism feel good for the soul, but it's also a way to spread the message of need in the world and invite others to join the effort. Here are a few ideas of what you can do to make a dent in the dessert next time you visit City Limitless!

Join a cleanup

Natural Restorations

With a mission to remove the trash, graffiti and anything else destructive to the environment, Natural Restoration brings the community together to restore our beloved desert. Cleanups are hosted throughout the year at a variety of locations. Their events have been extremely successful and the community was able to remove over 253 tons of trash & more than 3,520 square feet of graffiti from natural areas. Natural Restoration is also celebrating it's fourth year this Earth Day!

*Special Event: Earth Day Clean Up at Phon D Sutton Recreation Area, in Tonto National Forest
April 22 from 9am-Noon, Event Info

Keep Nature Wild

Keep Nature Wild hosts cleanups throughout the southwest along with selling outdoor inspired goods. Anyone who would like to dedicate their time to help the desert is welcome. Volunteers can also become a "wild keeper" in their local area by picking up trash and recording their progress! Their goal is to remove 1,000,000 lbs. of trash by 2023!

Shop local, eat fresh

True Garden Urban Farm

Go green at True Garden. The future of growth is here with a vision to drastically reduce the region’s agricultural water consumption while making local, living produce available year-round! True Garden uses 95% less water and 90% less space than a traditional garden and contains no harmful chemical, pesticides or herbicides. Shop for fresh produce at the True Garden Market, open Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Have you heard about Plogging?

Join the trend and go on a 'plogging' adventure! Plogging is a combination of jogging and picking up litter around the area. In Mesa, visitors can participate in guided plogging tours that provide them with a beautiful scenic tour and the sense of impact in our beloved desert! Sarah Williams takes volunteers out for morning adventures along the Lower Salt River and into neighboring hills to plog. What's better than getting your daily exercise while helping the environment!