Public Programs at the Garden
Mission Garden offers free entry. Events and classes are free unless otherwise noted.
Book Release “Living Roots: The Promise of Perennial Foods
Come out October 22nd, 6pm for a wonderful fun filled evening with the book release of “Living Roots: The Promise of Perennial Foods”, book signings, and tasty treats.
Join editors Liz Carisle and Aubrey Streit Krug as they have an in-depth conversation with Gary Nabhan about his contributions to their book.
Book Overview
“Just four annual crops—corn, wheat, rice, and soybeans—account for 75% of the calories consumed by people. We are missing out on a tremendous bounty of perennial foods—foods that can not only enrich our diets but help heal the land and combat climate change. By investing energy in robust root systems rather than just annual growth, perennial food plants endure year after year, pointing the way to a more resilient future.
In Living Roots, a passionate group of experts from wide-ranging backgrounds and lived experience come together to explore the promise of perennial foods. In this book, you’ll hear from Indigenous scientists and community leaders who are working to restore buffalo prairies and traditions of berry gathering. You’ll also hear from urban visionaries planting food forests; farmers planting fruit and nut trees between their crops and hedgerows at the edges of their fields; ranchers stewarding healthier grasslands by grazing livestock in patterns that mimic the behavior of native herbivores; and scientists and farmers who are developing perennial grains, from sorghum to silphium”
We hope to see you there!
Curator Talks With Dena
Join us at Mission Garden for our wonderful “Curator talks with Dena” Sunday November 1st, 10 - 11am
Our curator talks will always discuss a different topic relevant to the season, that can help expand our knowledge of plants and even help us with our own gardens at home.
Come listen to this month’s topic on Winter heritage crops: soil, sun, water, critters and all the things you’ll want to know for your plants as the cold season approaches.
Take this time to listen and ask Dena questions to learn more about what to grow and how to care for your plants.
We hope to see you there!
Native American Arts Fair
You’re invited to Mission Garden’s annual Native American Arts Fair, a free event sponsored by Pima County Conservation that brings together Indigenous artists from across the region. All are invited to shop offerings from local makers and enjoy this community event.
Seed Swap and Plant Sale
Join Mission Garden’s Fall Plant Sale and Seed Swap! Browse plants for sale from local nurseries, talk to plant experts, and take home some free seeds.
Earth Speak: Indigenous Voices at Mission Garden Featuring Alyssa Dixon
Come learn from nationally recognized Indigenous leaders who are reclaiming traditional agricultural practices and foodways across North America. Tastings offered.
Alyssa Dixon is an O'odham culinary professional, food entrepreneur, community educator, and founder of Alyssa’s Kosin, established in 2017 in the Gila River Indian Community of Arizona.
Rooted in knowledge passed down through elders, family, friends, and community, Alyssa’s work focuses on reconnecting people with O'odham foods, ancestral cooking knowledge, healthy eating, and the cultural significance of food. Her culinary practice honors traditional ingredients and techniques while creating contemporary experiences that invite people to engage with Indigenous foodways in meaningful and approachable ways.
Alyssa spent five years working with Ramona Farms before founding Alyssa’s Kosin, building a foundation in Indigenous agriculture, traditional foods, and the relationship between farming, food, and community. Today, she provides community catering, culinary education, ancestral food programming, youth instruction, and food-support initiatives, while also developing her signature O'odham Bites concept.
Her culinary work has included high-profile Tribal and public events and serving distinguished guests including First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
For Alyssa, food is a way to preserve knowledge, honor elders, strengthen community, and carry ancestral teachings into the next generation.
Community Raised. Community Taught. Community Served.
Family Dragonfly Activities and Art with Pima County Conservation Lands and Resources
Family Dragonfly Activities and Art - September 26, 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM:
Family Dragonfly Activities and Art with Pima County Conservation Lands and Resources. Enjoy a family-friendly morning of art and nature! Explore the acequias and create dragonfly art to take home. All materials provided, no experience needed, all ages welcome.
Waters of the Diaspora Celebrate the Autumnal Equinox
Join us on September 22 from 5PM–7PM, Mission Garden invites the community to Waters of the Diaspora, a special Autumnal Equinox gathering in the Africa in the Americas Garden celebrating the relationships among water, land, harvest, food, culture, and community.
The evening begins with live drumming from 5:15-5:45 PM,
followed by a water libation ceremony from 5:45-6:00 PM.
Guests will then move to La Placita for tastings featuring some foods grown in the Africa in the Americas Garden, along with presentations and community dialogue exploring African American food traditions and the cultural stories carried through food, land, and generations.
The event brings together ceremony, rhythm, food, history, and conversation as the community marks the autumnal equinox - a moment of seasonal transition and gratitude for the harvest.
Event Schedule
5:00 PM Doors Open
5:15 PM Drumming
5:45 PM Water Libation Ceremony
6:00 PM Garden Food Tasting, Presentations & Community Dialogue
7:00 PM Event Concludes
Come celebrate the equinox, spend time in the garden, and connect with others in community. We hope to see you there!
Book Release: The Botanical Odyssey of Richard S. Felger
Join The Botanical Odyssey of Richard S. Felger co-editors Benjamin Theodore Wilder and Bill Broyles (with Thomas Bowen) at Mission Garden for their book launch. Learn about this fascinating botanist whose research odyssey took him from Arizona to Iceland to Uzbekistan to Madagascar and many places in between. Enjoy refreshments provided by event co-sponsor, The Southwest Center of the University of Arizona. This event is free and open to the public event, and books will be for sale and signing in the garden. Please RSVP here.
Celebrate Pascua Yaqui Recognition day during Summer Sunsets at Mission Garden
Sunsets at Mission Garden can be magical. In the hot summer season, you’re invited to enjoy the evening sunset glow and cooler temperatures at the garden. Bring your family and friends!
Eat / Grow / Thrive: An Evening of Nourishment with the Eating Right Everywhere Project
Join the Eating Right Everywhere Project and the University of Arizona College of Humanities at Mission Garden for a special event on Saturday, August 22 from 6–8 PM celebrating the powerful connections between food, nutrition, health, Indigenous foodways, and sustainable agriculture.
Through a series of lightning talks, you'll discover how locally grown foods support healthy lifestyles while exploring the agricultural traditions that have nourished communities for generations.
Each presentation will be paired with a simple tasting prepared by Mission Garden's talented kitchen volunteers using fresh produce harvested straight from the Garden, offering a delicious way to experience the flavors and stories behind the Garden's seasonal harvest.
Whether you're passionate about healthy eating, curious about local food traditions, or simply looking for an inspiring evening in the community, we hope you'll join us for this unique celebration of food, culture, and wellness.
Birds of Mission Garden
Walk around beautiful Mission Garden in the calm of the morning with one of the garden's expert birders.
Summer Sunsets at Mission Garden
Learn from Agnes Attakai all about Amaranth- one of the Southwest’s most important heritage grains.
Dia de San Juan Fiesta
Celebrate the 28th Annual Día de San Juan Fiesta at Mission Garden!
Join the Menlo Park Neighborhood Association at Mission Garden on Wednesday, June 24 for an evening of community, culture, and tradition. This beloved annual celebration honors Día de San Juan with a traditional blessing and festivities for all ages.
Healing Herb Walk
Learn about some of the 50 medicinal plants in Mission Garden's Moore Medicinal Garden. The plants are native to the American Southwest deserts and in many cases have been used for millennia. Modern herbalists are keeping this tradition alive at Mission Garden.
Guided tours and recorded workshops are also available.
Explore More
An ofrenda, or altar, honoring past loved ones and friends of the Garden during the annual Membrillo Fest.