Dr. Ramirez is looking to train and work with citizen scientists to assist with project design, data collection, and communication efforts. Together, using gardens irrigated by harvested rainwater, we will monitor the quality of harvested water, soil, and plant quality while learning more about our environmental health. The goals of this project include understanding the fate and transport of potential pollutants in harvested water and how these possible pollutants might impact soil, plant and human health, and to evaluate the learning and action-based outcomes of a citizen science and community-engaged approach to research.

Gila County UA Extension Agent, Chris Jones, encourages the community to learn more about how to participate in this project. "As more of us grow our own food for healthy eating, let’s assure our safety as well as learn to use rainwater to conserve our precious groundwater resource. Please come to learn more about this project and how you can participate.”