June 18 Saguaro Fruit Harvest: preparation, syrup, sweets and a special liqueur

Saguaro harvest marks the beginning of summer’s bounty, and the act of harvesting with gratitude is the traditional way to invite the return of monsoon rains.

We’ll be harvesting, preparing -and thanking saguaros for- their delicious, nutritious fruit; walking and learning about saguaro/ ironwood forest plants and the importance of stewardship of the Sonoran Desert; promoting re-wilding urban spaces with edible and medicinal plants; feasting on local foods and drink; and if mesquite, ironwood and palo verde beans are on the trees, we’ll do a little bean pickin’, too.

Workshop is $50 and includes lunch. Click to download the registration form.

Time: 8am- 12pm

Place: Bean Tree lodge and farm

Registration/directions: See registration form

Contacts: Barbara, 520-572-7221, or 661-8803 (cell)

Schedule: We’ll meet at the lodge, do introductions and head out to pick while it’s cooler, then we’ll return with the fruit, to process and sample. At about 11 am, we’ll feast on the the farm’s bounty!

What to bring: Comfortable outdoor attire, close-toed shoes, water bottle, tweezers (just in case), your knowledge and questions, and any samples of desert foods and medicines you’d like to share. Saguaro harvesting can be quite messy (think falling ruby-fruit showers on your hat and shoulders!). It will wash out, but you’ll look a little strange to folks who don’t know where you’ve been.

A note about the heat: Some of you may be sensitive to the intense heat of this season. Don’t worry, it’s fine to self-monitor and return to the shade and cool of the lodge whenever needed.

We’ll provide drinks, a yummy gluten-free and mostly veggie lunch, and an array of BTL native foods products from the farm stand. There will also be books and resources about saguaro and other desert foods selected from our library.

If you have further questions, feel free to contact Barbara by phone or at beantreefarm@gmail.com. For more information about the farm and/or related workshops, see www.beantreefarm.com and www.sonoranpermaulture.org.