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Desert Plant Workshops
Some might call them primitive skills—we call them timeless technologies which every citizen of the desert should know. Throughout the seasons we schedule outdoor hands-on workshops to share knowledge of the desert shared with us by Native elders. We guide you in sustainable harvesting of desert foods and traditional medicines, then through culinary alchemy, into the joy and good health they provide.
Other workshops include traditional basketry techniques using native plants.
Our events are sponsored by several different organizations. For details, please see below.
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Ongoing Native Foods Events:
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(SE corner Campbell Avenue and River Road, Tucson, 8-noon in warm weather, 9-1 in winter)
Look for the heirloom beans, Native baskets, and traditional Native wooden utensils at the Flor de Mayo booth, just inside the gate near Acacia Restaurant. See you Sundays with a colorful array of desert heirlooms--genetic diversity before your eyes, and lots of good nutrition info, gardening info, and great recipe ideas! In Tucson, corner of River Rd and Campbell Ave.
See www.farmersmarkettucson.com.
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Watch for new gardening and ethnobotanical workshops thru Native Seeds/SEARCH at www.nativeseeds.org and thru Baja Arizona Sustainable Agriculture at www.bajaAZ.org. |
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Upcoming events:
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Saturday / February 27 / 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Member: $48 / General Public: $58
Native people of our Sonoran Desert region understood the amazing attributes of fiber plants and have made good use of them for at least a millennium for cordage, basketry, sandals and shelter. This workshop in primitive desert fiber crafts will closely study some Native fiber implements, and even a few artifacts. Then we will try our hand at using living plants to begin a basket. Instructed by Martha Burges. Limit 15.
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(currently 1-2 spaces available)
Click here for more info. |
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Martha Ames Burgess of Flor de Mayo will present a demonstration in the herb garden:
Hydrosols--Distilling the Essence of Desert Aromas. Other conference topics include: Pelvic Decongestants; Cardiovascular Blood Markers; Top Ten Aromatic Herbs; Herb Walks; Friday Field Studies at White Tank Mts and Cave Creek. Keynote speaker: Rosita Arvigo of Belize. CE credits. Information 800-252-0688 or www.botanicalmedicine.org
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Desert Botanical Garden, Papago Park, Phoenix.
Wednesday / April 14 / 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. OR
Thursday / April 15 / 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Member: $60 / General Public: $72
Cholla Buds: The Caviar of the Desert
Join us for an adventure to harvest the buds of the often maligned but nuritionally rich cholla cactus. Using traditional harvesting methods, participants will be taught how to carefully remove spines and cook cholla buds, while learning about their ecology, anatomy, ethnobotany, nutritional and medicinal qualities. This is the ultimate experience in eating local; you will leave with new recipe ideas to surprise friends and family. Instructed by Martha Burgess. Limit 15.
Check out educational programs at www.dbg.org/naturalhistory or call 480-481-2066. |
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Friday or Saturday, April 16 or 17, 2010
7:30a.m-10:30a.m. Fee: $35
Fee covers guidance in traditional ways of gathering and preparation, plus many new recipes nutritional info to take home. Contact info@flordemayoarts.com for more details. To register online, select date below and click the "Register" button.
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Saturday / May 8 / 1 - 4 p.m.
Member: $48 / General Public: $58
Here is an opportunity to try the latest techniques in solar cooking, with tricks to use either at home for zero-carbon-footprint living, or on camping trips, even those where campfires are prohibited. Solar ovens keep the heat out of the house and still let you enjoy cooking, including baking, roasting, making stews and casseroles, and even drying vegetables from your garden. Instructed by Martha Burgess. Limit 20.
Visit www.dbg.org or call 480-481-2066.
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Watch for further announcements
Flor de Mayo's Martha Burgess will be making a hands-on presentation on edible and medicinal cacti and succulents of the Sonoran Desert. Check www.tucsoncactus.org for registration information as it becomes available.
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