Ecological Practices

Non-Toxic Cleaning Chemicals - Sunglow Ranch uses cleaners made without petroleum or harsh chemicals. They clean as thoroughly and cost-effectively as conventional cleaners.

Styrofoam Removal - Sunglow Ranch is reducing its usage of Styrofoam products wherever possible. Styrofoam is not biodegradable, breaks apart into pieces that wildlife can choke on, and persists indefinitely on land and in waterways.

Recycling – we recycle our plastics and donate all wine bottles and magazines to an innovative builder who incorporates these materials in his work.

Composting – Our on-site composter allows us to recycle all of our organic scraps.

Linens – Like most hotels, we have asked our guests to help us save water by letting us know when they would like towels and linens changed.

Loose Rock Structures – Over the last few years we've built loose rock dams to slow flood water and stop soil erosion in our drainages during the monsoon season. We now have several hundred of these structures on Sunglow’s 400 acres. By allowing runoff water time to be absorbed by the ground, we've helped to create additional habitat for wildlife.

Food – We've made an effort to be more conscious about our food purchases. We accommodate all diets and allergy sensitive guests. We are consciously aware of the seafood we purchase, trying to purchase only ‘green list’ catches and wild-caught. Our beef is grass-fed, and hormone-free. Our chickens are free-range and our eggs are laid by cage-free hens. We purchase as many vegetables as possible from local organic farms. And we 're lucky to have some fantastic organic orchards not far from the ranch. This is where we get our apples, pears and peaches (when in season).

Water Catchments – We have rainwater catchments on each of our residential buildings. Rain in this part of Arizona is episodic, coming largely during the late summer monsoons. Reservoiring enables us maintain our flora well into the dry, winter months.  Each catchment holds approximately 150 gallons.

Cold Frame – Our climate enables us to grow herbs and greens for our kitchen in a cold frame. It sits outside our kitchen door, making it handy to pick greens fresh for the table.

Greenhouse – Our greenhouse enables us to maintain our geraniums and other flowering plants through the winter – they come back beautifully in the spring. It also enables us to maintain a limited supply of fresh-cut flowers for our dining room through the winter.