Water-saving ideas from rural Thailand inspired the Tucson Rain Jar Project. “Thai jars” were traditionally constructed by filling a large bag with dirt, wrapping it with chicken wire, and covering the outside with a thin layer of cement. After the cement dried, the dirt and bag were removed.

We learned from and modified these techniques to come up with a rainwater cistern that can be built from scratch here in our desert backyard.

The Tucson Rain Jar Project showcases a model of rooftop water collection that is cost effective, environmentally friendly, artful and aesthetically pleasing, while -- perhaps most important -- building community between friends and neighbors.