♪♪ COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, PRESIDENT TRUMP BACKS OFF FROM TELLING IRAN THAT QUOTE, ITS WHOLE CIVILIZATION WILL DIE THIS EVENING FROM MILITARY ATTACKS AND AN UPDATE ON THE ARTEMIS II LUNAR MISSION AND A LOCAL URBAN FARM GETS A NEW GARDEN EDUCATION CENTER.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> ARIZONA HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE ARIZONA PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION.

>> Ted: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON, I'M TED SIMONS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP SET A DEADLINE FOR RIGHT ABOUT NOW FOR IRAN TO REOPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ OR FACE WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID WOULD BE THE LOSS OF THE IRAN CIVILIZATION DUE TO ATTACKS ON THE MILITARY STRUCTURES.

AN HOUR AND A HALF FROM WHEN THIS IS GOING, HE DECIDED TO STOP FOR TWO WEEKS.

WE'RE TAPING TONIGHT'S SHOW AT 4 P.M.

THIS AFTERNOON.

AGAIN, THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO GO INTO EFFECT ABOUT AN HOUR FROM NOW, AN HOUR AND A HALF, AND HOLY SMOKES, EVELYN, WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE?

>> WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THE PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT GAVE OUR PRESIDENT A WAY OUT AND ESSENTIALLY SAID PUBLICLY, PLEASE TAKE THIS CEASE-FIRE DEAL WHEREBY THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT DESTROY IRAN AS THE PRESIDENT HAS BASICALLY THREATENED, AND IN EXCHANGE, THE IRANIANS ARE SUPPOSED TO OPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND THEN THERE'LL BE TWO WEEKS TO NEGOTIATE A FINAL AGREEMENT.

>> Ted: OKAY, THE PRESIDENT IN HIS-- THERE WAS A LONG STATEMENT HERE, HE SAID THAT THIS WAS A DOUBLE-SIDED CEASE-FIRE, CEASE-FIRE IN CAPITAL LETTERS.

DO WE KNOW IF, IN FACT, IRAN HAS DECIDED TO STOP THROWING BOMBS AT SOME OF ITS NEIGHBORS BECAUSE OF THIS AGREEMENT?

>> WE DON'T KNOW.

THE LATEST REPORTING DOESN'T HAVE A STATEMENT FROM IRAN YET SO I THINK THAT'S AN OPEN QUESTION.

AS YOU KNOW, TED, OUR PRESIDENT HAS SAID BEFORE WE'RE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE IRANIANS LEADERSHIP AND THEN THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT NEGOTIATING WITH THEM.

BUT IT'S A GOOD SIGN THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED BY THE PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT.

>> INDEED, IT'S A GOOD SIGN, BUT IT'S-- EVERY BRIDGE IN IRAN WILL BE DECIMATED, POWER PLANTS OUT OF BUSINESS, BURNING, EXPLODED NEVER TO BE USED AGAIN, IT WILL TAKE THEM 100 YEARS TO REBUILD.

WAS HE ACTUALLY GOING TO ORDER THIS?

AND WAS THE U.S.

MILITARY ACTUALLY GOING TO GO THROUGH WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THESE MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT ON HIS TRUTH SOCIAL ARE REALLY DISTURBING, TED, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WHETHER-- I MEAN, THEY RAISE ALL KINDS OF QUESTIONS.

IF PRESIDENT TRUMP MEANS IT, THEN THESE ARE WAR CRIMES, HE WOULD ELIMINATE, HE WOULD COMMIT GENOCIDE, ORDER HIS MILITARY TO COMMIT GENOCIDE?

THAT'S SHOCKING.

IF HE ISN'T SERIOUS, THAT'S ALSO DISTURBING BECAUSE YOU SHOULDN'T MAKE THREATS LIKE THIS AND YOU KNOW, IF RAISE-- IT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT PEOPLE'S SANITY AND WE'VE ASKED PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WHETHER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BECOME UNHINGED, AND THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE MILITARY WOULD OBEY SUCH ORDERS, I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD AND OF COURSE, AS YOU IN, DEMOCRATS ON THE HILL AND KONG HAVE CONGRESS HAVE SAID, REMEMBER, MILITARY OFFICERS YOU HAVE AN OATH TO NOT CONDUCT UNLAWFUL OPERATIONS.

>> Ted: IF WAR CRIMES WERE TO BE COMMITTED AND LET'S SAY IN TWO WEEKS GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN, AND WAR CRIMES ARE COMMITTED, WHAT CONSTITUTES A WAR CRIME?

WHAT ARE THE REPERCUSSIONS OF WAR CRIMES ON A NATION?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ARGUMENTS THAT LAWYERS CAN MAKE TO TAKE OUT SOMETHING LIKE AN ELECTRIC PLANT IF LET'S SAY IT'S PROVIDING ELECTRICITY TO A MILITARY BASE AND ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY TO A MILITARY BASE WOULD HAVE TO BE THE ARGUMENT, RIGHT?

BUT BY AND LARGE, WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS THREATENING, VERBALLY, ESSENTIALLY WAS BOMBING CIVILIANS AND THAT'S UNLAWFUL UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW EVEN IF HE WERE TO PARDON HIMSELF IN THE UNITED STATES, HE AND ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE EXECUTING SUCH ORDERS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THEY COULDING BROUGHT BEFORE THE HAIG.

SO, IT IS A SERIOUS LEGAL, YOU KNOW, CRIME TO TARGET CIVILIANS.

LAWS OF WAR PROHIBIT THAT.

WE PROHIBITED THAT AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT CIVILIANS COULD BECOME TARGETS AGAIN AS THEY HAD BEEN SO HORRENDOUSLY DURING WORLD WAR II.

>> Ted: YOU MENTIONED EUROPEAN LEADERS AND ALLIES WONDERING WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON THERE AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

EMMANUEL MACRON SAYS IT'S NOT REALISTIC TO OPEN THE STRAIT BY FORCE.

AND ESPECIALLY N.A.T.O., I WANT TO GET TO N.A.T.O.

IN A SECOND.

THEY'RE SAYING BY FORCE, THIS IS SIMPLY NOT GOING TO BE A TENABLE SITUATION OVER THE LONG HAUL, DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> YES, I MEAN, IF YOU WERE TO TRY TO OPEN THE STRAITS FOR ALL SHIPMENTS TO GO THROUGH BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THE IRANIANS ARE LETTING THE SHIPMENTS GO THROUGH THAT THEY WANT TO GO THROUGH.

IF WE WERE TO FORCEFULLY OPEN IT, IT WOULD COST MILITARY LIVES AND SECONDLY WE'D HAVE TO MAINTAIN A MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE STRAITS.

YOU HAVE TO NEGOTIATE THIS.

THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING FOR THE IRANIANS AND UNFORTUNATELY WE DIDN'T GET THIS IN THIS WAR AND HE WAS LED TO BELIEVE THAT HE WOULD COMPLETELY ELIMINATE IRAN'S MISSILE AND DRONE CAPABILITY.

YES, WE HAVE DEGRADED IT, BUT WE HAVEN'T ACHIEVED OUR OBJECTIVES.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S LIFE.

AND IT'S NOT TO DOUBLE DOWN.

>> Ted: AND WHERE DOES N.A.T.O.

STAND IN THIS.

THE PRESIDENT CALLED IT A PAPER TIGER AND IS ABSOLUTELY CONSIDERING LEAVING N.A.T.O.

>> THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT N.A.T.O.

IS A COLLECTIVE ALLIANCE.

SO IF THE UNITED STATES IS ATTACKED AS WE WERE ON 9/11, THEN THE N.A.T.O.

ALLIES WOULD COME TO OUR DEFENSE AS THEY DID BACK THEN.

IN THIS CASE WE ATTACKED IRAN WITH ISRAEL SO THERE'S NOTHING FOR N.A.T.O.

TO DO.

IT WOULD BE A COALITION OF THE WILLING MADE UP OF N.A.T.O.

MEMBERS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN CONVINCED TO JOIN US, BUT THEY WEREN'T ASKED AND NOW THEY DON'T WANT TO JOIN US, BUT N.A.T.O.

ITSELF AS AN ALLIANCE HAS NO OBLIGATION TO STEP INTO THIS CONFLICT.

>> Ted: AND WE HAD THE PRESIDENT GOING AFTER SOUTH KOREA AND AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN, SAYING THAT THEY'RE NOT HELPING US.

THEY SHOULD BE HELPING US, THEY'RE NOT HELPING US.

AGAIN, AS FAR AS FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND WORLD AFFAIRS ARE CONCERNED, IT'S HARD TO MAKE SENSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT THERE, EVELYN.

>> WELL, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ASIA.

IN THE PHILIPPINES, THEY'RE TELLING PEOPLE TO STAY AT HOME BECAUSE THEY'RE SO DEPENDENT ON OIL FROM THE GULF, THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.

THEY'RE TELLING PEOPLE TO WORK FROM HOME AND ALSO TELLING AIRLINES THAT IF THEY'RE FLYING INTO THE PHILIPPINES THEY BETTER BRING ENOUGH JET FUEL TO TAKE OFF AGAIN.

SO, THEY'RE RATIONING OIL, SERIOUSLY IN ASIA.

JAPAN, OF COURSE, WE KNOW IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST OIL DEPENDENTS FROM THE GULF AREA SO, YOU KNOW, AND IRAN SPECIFICALLY AS WELL.

SO, THESE COUNTRIES ARE EXPERIENCING A LOT OF ECONOMIC STRESS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THIS WAR THAT WE STARTED.

>> Ted: AND INDEED, IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH IRAN IS ATTEMPTING AND IN SOME WAYS SUCCEEDING IN HOLDING THE GLOBAL ECONOMY HOSTAGE.

I MEAN, WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I DO AGREE WITH THAT AND THE OTHER THING IS FRANKLY, I THINK THAT OUR PRESIDENT IS PLAYING INTO THEIR HANDS BY REACTING THE WAY THAT HE HAS.

BY BEING SO CLEARLY EMOTIONAL.

HE'S DEMONSTRATING THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN UNDER HIS SKIN, THAT FRANKLY, HE'S MAKING THE UNITED STATES LOOK WEAK.

I THINK WE SHOULD BE CALM AND WE SHOULD NEGOTIATE AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY OUT OF THIS ENTIRE SITUATION RIGHT NOW.

>> Ted: AND I KNOW MCCAIN INSTITUTE, OBVIOUSLY, THINKS WELL OF N.A.T.O.

AND THINKS THAT THERE IS A PLACE FOR N.A.T.O., A VERY STRONG PLACE.

THERE CERTAINLY HAS BEEN AND THERE WOULD CONTINUE TO BE, BUT DO YOU SEE A FUTURE OF N.A.T.O.

WITHOUT THE UNITED STATES?

I MEAN, THE WORST MOMENT N.A.T.O.

HAS FACED FROM A FORMER AMBASSADOR TO N.A.T.O., AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO N.A.T.O.

SAID THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST CONDITION HE'S SEEN.

>> LOOK, IT'S A BAD TIME FOR N.A.T.O.

IF YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS THREATENED OTHER N.A.T.O.

ALLIES WITH INVASION, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE GREENLAND SITUATION, WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS HE WANTS TO SEIZE GREENLAND FROM DENMARK.

WE HAVE NEVER BEEN IN SUCH A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE EUROPEANS, THIS CAUSED THEM TO HANG TOGETHER EVEN MORE CLOSELY, SO, THE TRANSATLANTIC-- OR THE EUROPEAN PART OF N.A.T.O.

IS STRONGER THAN EVER, BUT, OF COURSE, IT CALLS INTO QUESTION WHETHER N.A.T.O.

WOULD REMAIN TOGETHER TO FIGHT RUSSIA IF IT HAD TO.

>> Ted: AND BRIEFLY, THE LAST POINT HERE, WE SHOULD REMEMBER THERE WAS A THREAT OF LITERALLY GENOCIDE HERE.

THAT HAS BEEN ABATED AT LEAST FOR TWO WEEKS, BUT IT'S GOOD NEWS AND IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN TONIGHT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT, TED.

IT'S GOOD NEWS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ESCALATE THIS WAR FURTHER AND CERTAINLY NOT DECIMATE THE CIVILIAN POPULATION OF IRAN AND MAKE ENEMIES OUT OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE SYMPATHETIC TO US IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS.

>> Ted: DR.

EVELYN FARKAS FROM THE MCCAIN INSTITUTE.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>> ARTEMIS II IS NASA'S FIRST LUNAR MISSION WITH A CREW IN HALF A CENTURY.

THEY TRAVELED THE FARTHEST DISTANCE FROM EARTH HABITATED BY HUMANS.

AND JOINING US IS LAURIE LESHIN, ASU'S PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR FOR SPACE STUDIES.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> WHAT AN EXCITING WEEK.

>> Ted: NO KIDDING.

GIVE US AN UPDATE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH ARTEMIS AND WHAT IT ALL MEANS?

>> IT'S BEEN A WHIRLWIND SINCE WE LAUNCHED ON APRIL 1ST AND RACED TO THE MOON AND YESTERDAY WAS RIVETING, EVERY MINUTE OF THE SEVEN-HOUR FLY-BY, INCLUDING THAT LOSS OF SIGNAL FOR 40 MINUTES AS THEY WENT BEHIND THE MOON CAME OUT THE OTHER SIDE, SAW THE ECLIPSE.

IT WAS LIKE THE COOL SPACE STUFF COMPRESSED INTO ONE DAY AND NOW THEY'RE HEADED HOME AND WILL LAND ON FRIDAY.

>> Ted: SINCE 1972, OR WHAT TOOK SO LONG OR WHAT HAPPENED?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

IT'S A COMBINATION OF IT'S VERY TECHNICALLY CHALLENGING TO LEAVE LOW EARTH ORBIT AND I THINK IT WAS ALSO OUR STRATEGY WAS TO DEVELOP SORT OF EARTH ECONOMIC SPEAK IN LOW EARTH ORBIT AND STAY THERE WITH THE SPACE SHUTTLE AND THE SPACE STATION AND NOW WE REALIZED WE'VE REALLY MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A MULTI-PLANET SPECIES BY SENDING HUMANS BACK TO THE MOON AND SENDING THEM TO STAY.

SO WE'RE ON IT NOW.

>> Ted: WE THOUGHT IT WOULD TAKE NOT NEARLY THIS LONG TO BE GOING TO MARS OR ALL SORTS OF PLACES.

>> YEAH, IT'S BEGUN R FUN TO GO BACK AND READY OLD JPL, AR OLD NASA REPORTS, WE'LL BE ON MARS BY 1979.

>> Ted: YOU WERE A DIRECTOR THERE AND OVERSAW A LOT OF STUFF.

>> INCLUDING THE DEEP SPACE NETWORK, WHICH IS BROADCASTING BACK TO EARTH NOW AND ALL THE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES TODAY CAME DOWN THROUGH OUR DEEP SPACE NETWORK ANTENNAS.

ALL DEEP SPACE COMMUNICATION GOES THROUGH THOSE AND WE'RE PROUD AT JPL TO BE SUPPORTING ARTEMIS THIS WAY.

>> Ted: AND THE PHOTOS ARE SO STUNNING.

>> LOOK AT THAT.

>> Ted: FOR GOODNESS SAKES.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?

>> IT'S AMAZING AND YOU KNOW THAT, I THINK THEY'RE CALLING IT EARTH SET RIGHT THERE, NOT EARTH RISE, BUT IT'S ICONIC AND TO THIS DAY WE GET GOOSEBUMPS AND THIS IS OUR EQUIVALENT AND ARTEMIS BEHIND THE MOON AND REEMERGING AND INSPIRING.

>> Ted: YOU'RE BACK IN ARIZONA.

I SAY BACK IN ARIZONA BECAUSE YOU GREW UP IN TEMPE.

>> I AM, I AM AN ARIZONA GIRL AND GREW UP ON THE ASU CAMPUS AND EXCITED TO BE BACK.

>> Ted: TALK ABOUT ARIZONA AND SPACE AND EXPLORATION.

WHAT DOES THE STATE STAND?

IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE HITTING PRETTY HEAVY HERE.

ARE WE HITTING HEAVY ENOUGH?

>> RIGHT, I MEAN, LOOK, ON ONE HAND, WE'RE AWESOME, RIGHT?

YOU LOOK AT THE THREE MAIN UNIVERSITIES, ALL OF US HAVE A GREAT PRESENCE IN SPACE.

APOLLO ASTRONAUTS WERE TRAINED HERE AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE ASTRONAUTS ON ARTEMIS HAD GEOLOGY TRAINING FROM ASU FACULTY.

THE LEAD SCIENTISTS, YESTERDAY WE HEARD HER ON THE CAP COM GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE ASTRONAUTS, SHE'S AN ASU ALUM, THE LEAD IN ARTEMIS II WE'RE ALL OVER THIS PROGRAM AND ALSO, WE HAVE THE BIG -- THE RTX'S AND THE BOEINGS, THEY ALL HAVE A PRESENCE HERE IN ARIZONA AND INCREASINGLY COMMERCIAL SPACE DOES AS WELL.

WE COULD BE DOING MORE.

YOU LOOK AT TEXAS THEY'RE SPENDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS TO ATTRACT COMPANIES THERE, AND THE STATE IS DOING THAT.

OUR STATE COULD BE WITH THE ECONOMIC AUTHORITY, BUT WE COULD BE ATTRACTING PEOPLE HERE, A LAUNCH SITE IN YUMA, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Ted: YOU TALK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNOVATION.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> HUGE OPPORTUNITIES IN SPACE, THE WHOLE WAY WE'RE GOING ABOUT IT, THE WAY WE'RE INTERACTING WITH PRIVATE COMPANIES AND WE'RE GOING TO START BUYING TICKETS TO THE MOON AS A SERVICE PRETTY SOON, LESS GOVERNMENT-OWNED ROCKETS, MORE PRIVATE COMPANIES DRIVING OUR FUTURE IN SPACE.

THAT'S INCREDIBLY EXCITING.

THERE'S A LOT OF PRIVATE CAPITAL GOING INTO SPACE AND ALL OF THAT IS DRIVING INNOVATION AND AT ASU, WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT IT'S DRIVING EXPANSION INTO SPACE.

>> Ted: I'M GOING TO ASK YOU EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING AT ASU AS A UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR FOR SPACE FUTURES?

>> UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR FOR SPACE FUTURES, TITLE, I LOVE IT.

AND I'M HELPING TO LOOK ACROSS THE SPACE ENDEAVORS AND HELP ASU DEVELOP NEW INITIATIVES THERE.

I'M FORMER COLLEGE PRESIDENT SO I'M INTERESTED IN TRANSFORMATION OF HIGHER ED AS WELL AND THE FUTURE OF ENTERPRISE IN THIS COUNTRY AND A CHALLENGE UNDER THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

WE ALL NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS COMING NEXT AND HOW WE CONTINUE TO DRIVE LEADERSHIP FOR ARIZONA, FOR OUR COUNTRY, AROUND THE WORLD.

>> Ted: AND LAST QUESTION HERE, I READ THAT, AS A 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL THERE IN TEMPE.

>> YES.

>> Ted: A 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL YOU SAW AN IMAGE OF MARS FROM THE ROVER AND WHAT DID THAT DO TO YOU?

>> SO I WAS 10 YEARS OLD STANDING IN MY MOTHER'S KITCHEN.

IN TIME MAGAZINE I SAW THE FIRST PICTURES OF THE SURFACE OF MARS, VIKING LANDER AND WE'LL CELEBRATE 50 YEARS, YOU CAN TELL HOW OLD I AM.

I WANTED TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH THOSE ROCKS BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE HOME, LOOKED A BIT LIKE THE DESERTS OF ARIZONA AND ANIMATED ME IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT STUCK WITH ME AND NOW I'M THRILLED TO SAY I GET TO WORK ON SPACE EVERY DAY.

>> Ted: THIS ARTEMIS COULD ACCELERATE THINGS, TRUE?

>> YES, ACCELERATE HUMANITY IN SPACE AND KIDS EXCITED ABOUT OUR FUTURE IN SPACE AP HOPEFULLY THEY ALL START BUILDING ROBOTS AND PARTICIPATING IN SPACE CHALLENGES AND WE COULD HAVE A WHOLE NEW GENERATION, ARTEMIS GENERATION.

>> Ted: DR.

LAURIE LESHIN ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY.

YOU LIKE THAT TITLE.

>> I DO.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

♪♪ >> LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA RECENTLY OPENED A GARDEN EDUCATION CENTER AT THE HEART AND SOILS PEOPLE'S GARDEN IN A SOUTH PHOENIX NEIGHBORHOOD WITH ACCESS TO FRESH AFFORDABLE FOOD.

AND KIMBER LANNING, GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: YOU BET.

THE HEART AND SOILS PEOPLE'S GARDEN.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> THE HEART AND SOIL GARDEN WE HAVE VOLUNTEER DAYS, A GROUP OF MAYBE 15 WOMEN THAT ARE GROWING FOOD CURRENTLY AND WHAT WE DID, WE JUST ACQUIRED A NEW RESIDENTIAL LOT THAT'S THROUGH THE LAST 50 YEARS WAS USED AS A PARKING LOT AND WE CLEARED IT AWAY AND EXPANDED THE GARDEN AND NOW WE HAVE A WHOLE OPPORTUNITY FOR BEGINNING FARMERS TO HAVE PLOTS OF LAND WHERE THEY CAN LEARN TO GROW FOOD ORGANICALLY, PLANTING IN SEASON, TO FEED THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES OR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>> Ted: YEAH.

SO TALK ABOUT HOW THIS STARTED, THE PLANNING FOR THIS?

HOW MUCH WAS THE CITY INVOLVED AND WHERE DID THE LAND COME FROM?

>> SO THE INITIAL LOT WAS DONATED TO US BY ONE OF THE ORIGINAL LOCAL FIRST MEMBERS, HOWARD AND PAT FLEISCHMAN, THEY OWNED THE TIRE SHOP ACROSS THE STREET.

WE'RE AT FIRST STREET AND DURANGO AND THEY HAD A DIRT LOT THAT THEY TURNED INTO A GARDEN AND WHEN THEY RETIRED AND SOLD THE BUSINESS, THEY THOUGHT WHO IS GOING TO TAKE THIS LOT.

THEY CALLED ME UP, HEY, WE KNOW YOU'RE DOING A LOT OF WORK IN FOOD.

WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN TAKING OVER THE GARDEN?

I SAID ABSOLUTELY.

AND THEN WE HAD THE BOB AND RENEE PARSONS FOUNDATION CAME OUT TO SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING THERE AND THEY'VE INVESTED IN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAMS FOR A REALLY LONG TIME AND THEY'VE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS TO US.

AND THEY DECIDED THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HAD THERE WAS NICE, BUT SMALL AND THEY HELPED US ACQUIRE THE LAND NEXT DOOR SO WE COULD EXPAND AND ACTUALLY BEGIN TO INCUBATE BEGINNING FARMERS.

>> Ted: THAT'S THE GARDEN EDUCATION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE WERE ABLE TO PUT A SMALL CLASSROOM ON THE SPACE AND A RESTROOM WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.

WE HAD TO RUN ELECTRICITY AND PLUMBING EVERYTHING TO THIS LOT AND IT'S A REALLY BIG INVESTMENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE'RE GETTING A GREAT RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY.

>> Ted: TALK ABOUT THAT RESPONSE.

HOW ARE THE NEIGHBORS HANDLING THERE?

>> FANTASTIC.

YOU KNOW, IT IS A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO WALK AT LEAST TWO AND A HALF MILES TO GET TO ANY FRESH FOOD, SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO COME OVER AND BEGIN GROWING FOOD.

THEY'RE ENGAGED AND A WIDE VARIETY OF PEOPLE, IT'S A GREAT TIME TO GROW YOUR OWN FOOD WITH GROCERY BILLS AS HIGH AS THEY ARE.

>> Ted: YOU TALKED ABOUT INCUBATOR KITCHENS.

IS THAT INVOLVED WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> YEAH, WE AT LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA WE ARE SOLVING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES AROUND FOOD SECURITY.

SO WE HAVE FOUR INCUBATOR KITCHENS AROUND THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS SO IT GIVES AFFORDABILITY TO COMMUNITIES TO NOT ONLY LEARN HOW TO START A FOOD BUSINESS, BUT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO CLASSES AND TO LEARN HOW TO PREPARE MEALS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND NOT ONLY COMBATTING DIABETES OR WE HAVE KIDS COOKING CLASSES AND WE HAVE CHOICE FOOD PANTRY AND PEOPLE CAN SHOP IN A DIGNIFIED MANNER AND PICK UP FREE FOOD.

WE SET IT UP LIKE A GROCERY STORE SO IT'S NOT JUST GRABBING A BOX OF FOOD.

>> Ted: AND IT'S HANDS-ON AGRICULTURAL TRAINING, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE HAVE AN AG BUSINESS FOOT BOOT CAMP WE LAUNCHED AND THAT DEPARTMENT ENABLES US TO WORK DIRECTLY, WE HAD A SEVEN-MODULE COURSE THAT'S NOT ONLY HELPING PEOPLE TO LEARN HOW TO GROW, BUT LEARNING HOW TO EARN A LIVING, TAKE YOUR PRODUCE TO THE FARMER'S MARKET, GROW, GET TO A BIGGER PLOT OF LAND AND SELL THAT EVEN INTO A RESTAURANT, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO, HERE IN ARIZONA WE REALLY NEED TO WORK HARD AT BEGINNING FARMING.

THE AVERAGE AGE OF A FARMER IN ARIZONA IS 61 YEARS OLD RIGHT NOW.

>> Ted: WHOA.

>> AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO GROW OUR FOOD HERE.

>> Ted: AGAIN, CROP PLANTING, COMPOSTING, SOIL HEALTH, YOU LEARN THAT STUFF.

>> YOU LEARN IT AND MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT ARIZONA IS DEAD LAST FOR COMPOSTING AND FOOD WASTE.

REALLY, FOOD SITS IN THE LANDFILL AND CAUSES A LOT OF THE DECOMPOSITION OF FOOD CAUSES AN INCREASE IN CARBON DIOXIDE AND IT'S REALLY NOT GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE TEACH THEM OUT TO COMPOST AND THAT'S WHAT WE TEACH IN OUR AG BOOT CAMP.

>> Ted: FOOD ACCESS, SUSTAINABILITY, AND THAT'S THE GOAL.

ARE YOU SEEING THE RESULTS?

>> WE ARE.

WE HAVE KIDS, WE HAVE A JUNIOR GARDNER PROGRAM, A TON OF KIDS THAT LEARN WHERE THEIR FOOD IS GROWING FROM.

IT'S FUN TO HELP THEM HARVEST SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN PUT INTO SOMETHING THEY WANT TO EAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, MANY OF THEM MIGHT GROW THE INGREDIENTS FOR A PIZZA AND TO BE ABLE TO HARVEST IT AND MAKE A PIZZA MAKES THAT PIZZA MORE ENJOYABLE.

>> Ted: SURE, IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE IT'S BECOME A COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACE?

>> OH, YEAH, PLENTY OF EVENTS.

WE HAVE PARTNERS DOWN THERE, THE ABC MOBILE GARDEN CENTER THAT HAS A WIDE VARIETY OF EVENTS, FAMILIES COME OUT AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND A GROUP THAT'S CALLED THE SINGLE FATHER'S NETWORK THAT BRING KIDS DOWN THERE TO GROW FOOD.

>> Ted: IS THERE A PLACE TO FIND OUT MORE ONLINE.

>> YES, VISIT US AT LOCAL FIRST AZ.COM OR SUBSCRIBE TO OUR GOOD FOOD NEWS.

>> Ted: GREAT WORK, KIMBER.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE STORY.

KIMBER LANNING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, WE APPRECIATE THE TIME.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW, I'M TED SIMONS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ I LIKE TO THINK AT ARIZONA HORIZON WE'RE UNIQUE IN THE WAY THAT WE PRESENT INFORMATION, PUBLIC POLICY, SOMETIMES NEWS, THESE SORTS OF THINGS BECAUSE