Martha Retallick's Monthly Newsletter | September 15, 2026

Falling Forward

I don't usually start the Latest Newsletter with the Water Harvesting 101 Podcast, but here's my major announcement:

After a great deal of thought, I have decided to sunset the audio-only version of this podcast.

Because water harvesting is a highly visual topic, I have moved it to YouTube.

In honor of the podcast's audio-only roots, I am creating YouTube videos that you can listen to.

Here are the first four, and let's begin with a brief introductory video:

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Starting with my second video, I'm answering specific water harvesting questions...

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Still want to listen to those 75 audio-only podcast episodes?

Not to worry, they aren't going away. Click the button and you'll find them all:

I'd like to thank everyone who has supported version 1.0 of the Water Harvesting 101 Podcast.

I'm working making version 2.0 even better!

$150.00 Water Harvesting 101 Consultations Got water harvesting questions? Get answers in a one-hour consultation! Get started!

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Storms and Birds

Summer 2026 has been a stormy one in Tucson.

In addition to providing photo ops, our ferocious storms have left plenty of water for my garden. Here are the summer all-stars:

Our summer storms also tested the resilience of our neighborhood birds.

High winds blew nearly all of the carefully woven goldfinch nests out of my largest ironwood trees.

I found one of them on the driveway. Not wanting to throw it away, I kicked it into the bushes.

Birds, if you need that nest, it's there for the taking. Come and get it.

Then the airlift started.

I noticed goldfinches landing beneath those bushes.

Over the course of several days, they disassembled that nest and flew the twigs up to the ironwood. Here's the result:

Elsewhere in my yard, the vermilion flycatchers are back. Although this lady hasn't found her special someone, she's making her presence known...

$150.00 Water Harvesting 101 Consultations Got water harvesting questions? Get answers in a one-hour consultation! Get started!

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​Kirkus Reviews calls City Nature “A beguiling ramble full of captivatingDIY information and arresting visuals of flora and fauna.” ​ Order the Book

$29.95 Water Harvesting 101 eBook Whether you’re a DIY-er from start to finish, or you’re going to hire everything out, here’s your guide Get it now!

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Prefer to listen and learn? Water Harvesting 101 is also available as an audiobook.

$9.95 Getting Started with Water Harvesting eBook Your illustrated jump-start guide to active and passive water harvesting. Get it now!

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