Mesa couple's garden exchange stands help community grow through Arizona heat

DePhane and Paul Weaver operate Garden Exchange Stands, a nonprofit that has evolved over ten years from a neighborhood book-sharing initiative into a seed library and plant-lending resource operating on a 'take one, leave one' principle. The stands now serve Mesa residents navigating desert gardening challenges, with increased activity during summer months as gardeners prepare for cooler seasons.

Arizona's intense summer heat makes year-round gardening difficult; summer growing requires substantial effort and planning, including shade canopies, heavy mulch, and deep watering.