TUCSON, Ariz. — With its vegetable garden, rainwater cisterns and dedication to teaching kids how to cuddle with Mother Earth, Civano Community School in southeast Tucson fits right into a neighborhood designed to be more at ease than at odds with the planet.

The Civano neighborhood was created with goals to reduce water and energy usage and the amount of waste going into landfills. The school, a charter school sponsored by the Vail School District, just seemed to be a natural extension of these goals.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Toque de Pasion is a diamond in the rough of Tucson retail. The unassuming shop, open since late 2006, displays a sign reading "South American Boutique." It specializes in fair trade goods and clothing lines made out of organic materials.

Walking into Toque de Pasion is a little different than a traditional boutique experience. Yes, it has its merchandise lined up ready to sell, but somehow the vibe is just different.