Every gardener knows that the secret to healthy plants is a strong root system. That's what makes Mission Garden in Tucson so special. The roots here are incredibly deep, over 4,000 years.
The Mission Garden is a living museum that preserves the fascinating agricultural history of the Tucson dynasty. But there is nothing stifling or suffocating about this museum.
It is green and rough, full of butterflies and hummingbirds and flowers, full of life. The branches are laden with fruit and the trellis is covered with vines. Hundreds of small fish swim in the irrigation ditch. Earthy scents and sweet autumn sunshine permeate the room. The sound of people digging and digging in the bare areas can be heard as they prepare to plant new seeds. Each season brings with it fresh dishes.
© Kendall Kroesen / Special to Republic Sorghum and corn are grown at the Mission Garden in Tucson.Start the day smart. Get all the news you need in your inbox every morning.
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What is Mission Park in Tucson?
The 4-acre property sits behind the cairn at the base of Sentinel Peak and is overgrown with historic fruit trees, heirlooms and native edible plants. This is the food that has fueled Tucson communities for generations. It is also hoped that in the future, under a changing climate, it can point the way to food sustainability.
Operated by the nonprofit Friends of Tucson Hometown, the Spanish Colonial walled garden has been growing since 2012. It stands on the site of the original Mission San Agustin Garden, planted by Spanish missionaries near the banks of the Santa Cruz River. to plant .
The first implant in 2012. The friends planted 120 trees they bought from Kino Heritage Fruit Trees, varieties that can be traced back to Jesuit missionaries like Father Eusebio Francisco Kino and later the Franciscans in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
Today, the Mission Garden includes nearly a dozen different plots representing the various groups and cultures that have cultivated the Tucson Basin over the centuries. These include the Mexican Garden, the Pre-European Contact Odham Garden, the Post-European Contact Odham Garden, the Regional Garden, the Chinese Garden, the African American Garden, and many others.
said Kendall Crossen, community outreach coordinator.
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What is there to see and do in Mission Garden?
The Mission Garden is open to visitors and is a peaceful place to learn about Tucson's ancestors. Gravel trails wind through the gardens below Sentinel Peak, also known as A Mountain. A typical irrigation ditch provides habitat for endangered Upper Gila trees that are used for wild recolonization.
Chairs, sofas and ramadas are hidden between the various plots. Long curved poles covered in green form green tunnels. It is a quiet oasis that is part of the city, but separate from it. Gardens are inherently places of hope because there is always a future harvest to look forward to.
The orchards are so large that it is hard to believe that they were born only ten years ago. Indeed, everything seems to be flourishing here.
These are all plants with a proven record of adaptation to the conditions of the Sonoran Desert. They grow in the fertile floodplains of the Santa Cruz River and are considered a good horticultural practice. Here, the soil is improved with organic matter and compost. When soil is healthy, it is full of worms, fungi and bacteria. This releases essential nutrients and creates more oxygen for plant roots.
"Mission Park is an educational space that gives voice to everyone involved in Tucson's history and their current descendants," Crozen says. "It's a place where everyone is welcomed and respected."
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Volunteers are the key to Mission Garden's success
In most cases, these descendants were very dedicated to the project. Friends of Tucson's Birthplace works closely with community stakeholders on many park properties. The Odham people help cultivate and interpret Native American gardens. The Yaquis attend Yoeme Park. Volunteers at the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center are helping to create a Chinese garden. These links encourage the continuation and sharing of traditional knowledge.
The success of the park depends on a dedicated army of volunteers who do much of the work. They are also ready to answer questions and point out interesting details. With over 200 volunteers helping out at Mission in the Park, this only strengthens the bond with local communities.
"In the beginning, the volunteers did mostly gardening: planting, weeding, etc.," says Krozen. "But now some of them, except for the interest groups, have started to specialize in another park.
“Some became very experienced gardeners and historians on their plots. Other volunteers became doctors, kitchen workers, retail volunteers, seed and manure savers, chicken farmers and other roles. It wouldn't have been possible without them."
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While the Mission Garden offers a window into the past, it is not rooted there. The park promotes agricultural techniques that combine traditional knowledge with modern science.
This is an opportunity for today's desert gardeners to discover what crops have been cultivated for centuries, how they can be used, and what they can learn from them. With the addition of a kitchen, it shows how produce and fruit are prepared using both traditional and modern recipes.
The garden store has a great selection of seasonal produce, dried herbs, fresh eggs, compost, compost, gardening and history books, t-shirts, hats and more. Native shrubs, trees and vegetables are available at certain times of the year.
The Mission Garden regularly hosts community events, including walks, gardening classes, cooking demonstrations, and fruit and vegetable festivals. Bird walks take place every second Thursday of the month from 8am to 9:30am. Presentation on Traditional Farming in Odham from 8am to 12pm. On the third Saturday of the month. Archeology Days 8am to 1pm every fourth Saturday (except December). Visit the website for other events.
One of the new lots arriving is Tomorrow's Garden. According to Krozen, it will be a garden that combines drought-tolerant crops with sustainability techniques to shape how we can grow crops in the future as we adapt to generally higher temperatures, more extreme weather and even scarcer water resources.
"We hope to be part of a better food security future."
How to visit Mission Garden?
When? Wednesday through Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where? 946 W Mission Lane, Tucson.
Reception. suggested donation of $5 per person.
Details: 520-955-5200, www.missiongarden.org.
Mission Garden events
A great read. On January 14, local authors will give readings during this literacy event, which will also mark the Trail of Books, 20 locations in the park with books and activities for children.
Native American Art Fair. On February 4, 40 basket makers, potters, painters, jewelers, sculptors and other artisans will display their work.
Citrus holiday. On February 18, explore the wide variety of citrus fruits growing in the garden, including Mexican sweet lemons, Meyer lemons, Valencia oranges, grapefruits, grapefruits, tangerines and more. The main focus will be on the Seville orange tree, which is often considered a purely ornamental tree, but is a worldwide source for jams and many other uses.
The reporter can be found at www.rogernaylor.com . Or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RogerNaylorinAZ or on Twitter @AZRogerNaylor.
This article was originally published in the Arizona Republic. These 4 acres reveal all of Tucson's food history; How to Explore a Mission Garden?
