998: Water Harvesting Beyond the Basics with Don Titmus
A Rosie on the House Radio Show Replay.
In This Show:
In this episode we explore the concept of wicking bed gardens, hosted by Romey Romero & Farmer Greg, our guest is Don Titmus where we find that Water harvesting is about far more than capturing rain, it is a foundation for resilient landscapes, healthier soils, and regenerative living. Greg Peterson welcomes longtime permaculture educator Don Titmus to share the evolution of his Mesa, Arizona property, beeOasis, and the lessons he’s learned from decades of designing landscapes that work with nature instead of against it. Together they explore permaculture principles, rainwater harvesting, biodiversity, and how small design choices can create thriving ecosystems in urban environments.
Key Topics
- Water harvesting and passive rainwater collection
- Permaculture design principles
- Don Titmus
- Greg Peterson
- beeOasis (Mesa, Arizona)
- Urban Farm
- Phoenix Permaculture Guild
- Permaculture Design Course (PDC)
- Pollinator habitat creation
- Composting systems
- Top-bar beekeeping
- Biodiversity in urban landscapes
- Landscape design for resilience
- Long-term ecological thinking
Key Questions
How did beeOasis get its name?
Don explains that after attending a top-bar beekeeping class, he realized his property naturally provided everything bees need—water, flowers, trees, pollen, nectar, and shelter—making it a true oasis for pollinators.
Why did Don stop keeping bees?
Although his landscape was ideal for bees, the hive’s location near his compost system made routine compost maintenance difficult because the bees aggressively defended their territory. He ultimately donated the hives while continuing to maintain the property as pollinator habitat.
How did Greg and Don first connect?
The two met shortly after Don completed his first Permaculture Design Course in the early 2000s during an event at Greg’s Urban Farm. Their shared passion for regenerative design led to years of collaboration through the Phoenix Permaculture Guild.
What role did the Phoenix Permaculture Guild play?
The guild became a hub for education, demonstrations, public tours, and community outreach, helping spread knowledge about rainwater harvesting, graywater systems, and sustainable landscape design.
Why is naming a property important?
Greg encouraged people to name their properties as a way to establish identity, purpose, and connection to the land. Don shares how this simple suggestion helped shape the identity of beeOasis.
What makes a landscape resilient?
A resilient landscape integrates water harvesting, healthy soils, diverse plantings, pollinator habitat, and thoughtful design that works with natural systems instead of relying on constant inputs.
Episode Highlights
- Greg introduces longtime permaculture educator Don Titmus and their decades-long friendship through the Arizona permaculture community.
- Don shares the story behind creating and naming beeOasis.
- The conversation explores how pollinator-friendly landscapes support both wildlife and resilient gardens.
- Don recounts his experience as a beekeeper and why he ultimately chose to remove the hives while preserving bee habitat.
- Greg reflects on the early years of the Phoenix Permaculture Guild and its influence on water harvesting education.
- The discussion highlights how permaculture principles can transform ordinary urban properties into thriving ecosystems.
- Listeners hear practical examples of designing landscapes that capture water naturally and build long-term resilience.
Calls to Action & Resources
- Learn more about Urban Farm — https://UrbanFarm.org
- Explore permaculture education and courses — https://UrbanFarm.org
- Visit beeOasis during public tours — Check local announcements for tour opportunities.
- Community — Connect with local permaculture organizations and water harvesting groups to learn hands-on techniques.
Come join us for the next broadcast or listen to a replay through our podcast episodes. Either way you will expand your knowledge about growing food in the local desert and gain new perspectives on your local food system.
Broadcast every fourth Saturday on:
KTAR NEWS Phoenix 8-11 am KNST Tucson 10-11am
Country 93.5 Flagstaff 8-11am KGVY Green Valley 8-11am
What is the Rosie On the House Radio Show? – Rosie on the House is a father and son weekly radio show on home-improvement advice that is found on several key Arizona radio stations. It is a trusted source of home-improvement advice and know-how. Rosie and Romey Romero consider that an honor and a responsibility, a feeling that Greg shares.
On the fourth Saturday of each month, Farmer Greg will talk about all aspects of gardening and urban farming in the Arizona climates…
Gardening Tips * Chickens * Composting
Smart Watering Tips * Fruit Trees * Seed Saving
Sonoran Desert Weather * Permaculture Tidbits
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