Sunflowers. Biofuel. Downtown. Awesome.
Valley of the Sunflowers activated a 2-acre, vacant lot in downtown Phoenix and turned it into a beautiful field of sunflowers. The sunflowers were harvested by high school science students who will press the seeds for oil and create biodiesel fuel for their hybrid solar/biofuel vehicle project.
Growing Season 1 = Fall 2011
Growing Season 2 = Spring 2012
Valley of the Sunflowers was inspired by an artist and initiated by key community partnerships with the Phoenix Union Bioscience High School, Intel & Roosevelt Row.
Intel Foundation & Intel Corporation provided funding for the first two seasons of this project. Generous donation by Hensel Phelps Construction Company, ASU School of Sustainability, Sycamore Farms & Matt Moore, UofA, DPR Construction, ASU Desert Initiative, Sunstate Equipment Rental, City of Phoenix, APS, AP Photography and many many volunteers continue to make this project possible.
1. Create a transformative educational experience for local students.
2. Reduce urban blight by temporarily activating & beautifying vacant land.
3. Provide a biofuel source for the Bioscience HS’s hybrid vehicle.
4. Serve as an innovative catalyst for sustainable energy in Phoenix.
5. Bring excitement and inspiration to downtown.
