Essence of Tucson: The Story (eBook)

Tucson’s Birthplace, Tohono O’odham & Southwestern Cultures

with Kendall Kroesen, Maegan Lopez, and Jesús Manuel García

I parked my car in front of the old adobe wall structure, which exuded a sense of historical charm, and gazed up at “A” Mountain. From the distant view in Catalina Foothills, the mountain seemed small, and the massive “A” symbol was barely discernible. However, as I approached, it grew larger and more significant.

The garden was tranquil, filled with beautiful plants, tempting me to step inside and take a leisurely walk. The sun was shining, and I was simply enjoying my day, curious about what might happen and who I’d run into.

As a few people passed by, the sun’s warmth began to take its toll, so I sought refuge under a ramada, a shaded, open-sided structure covered with cacti ribs, and drank some water. I settled down next to a middle-aged man, and we initiated a conversation about this place. He introduced himself as Kendall.

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Kendall Kroesen holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of California, San Diego. Following postdoctoral research roles, he dedicated over 10 years to serving as the Restoration and Urban Program Manager at the Tucson Audubon Society. Currently, Kendall serves as the Community Outreach Coordinator at Mission Garden. His hobbies include bird-watching, culture, gardening, and history.

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“It’s such a lovely place, isn’t it? But what’s the deal with this garden?” I asked, admiring the surroundings. The air was filled with the earthy scent of soil and the subtle fragrance of blooming flowers. The warm sunlight bathed the garden, casting a golden glow on the plants and pathways.

Kendall began to explain, “Well, one of its main goals is to protect the birthplace of Tucson and educate people about the rich agricultural history of the region. It’s a history that’s incredibly diverse, shaped by various cultures over the years. We’re talking about influences from the original Native Americans—the Hohokam1, O’odham, Yaqui, through Spanish, Mexican, Chinese, and Anglo to Afro-American communities,” counted Kendall on his hand.

“It’s a real melting pot of agricultural traditions, and the garden’s here to showcase and preserve that heritage.”

I was impressed with his knowledge; I asked for his permission and tapped the audio record button on my mobile phone. This marked my first interview.

“What a diversity! How old is this place, though?”

Kendall continued, “Well, the inhabitants of this part of the Santa Cruz River flood plain have been practicing agriculture for over 4000 years, making it the longest continuously cultivated site in North America. That’s quite something. And you’re right, the garden serves as an educational resource by preserving biodiversity and showcasing cultural heritage that might otherwise be forgotten and lost. It’s essential, especially with today’s focus on high-yield crops in commercial agriculture, which is leading to a loss of variety and tastes.

“If you’re up for it, I can take you on a tour,” Kendall suggested, and I enthusiastically agreed.

As we strolled through the garden, Kendall continued, “The Early Agriculture Garden features more primitive varieties of squash, corn, beans, and ancestral plants like chiltepin, which is an ancestor of chili peppers. In the Hohokam Garden, you’ll find more advanced varieties of corn, squash, beans, as well as cotton and agave. The Pre-contact O’odham Garden represents the period before colonization by the Spanish, where you can also find amaranth, tobacco, tepary beans, and more.” He was truly excited and kept walking further.

“So, ‘pre-contact’ means before the missionaries came? You’re illustrating here the evolution of crops over time, right?” I asked.

“Exactly,” Kendall replied. “The Post-contact O’odham Garden showcases the evolution of O’odham gardening, with the adoption of new European crops. When Spanish colonists and missionaries arrived in the 1690s, they brought a variety of Old World crops such as pomegranate, fig, quince, Seville orange, grape, and different types of legumes. The Mexican Garden features more tropical plants like papaya, various herbs, and fruits from farther south.

“Chinese farmers introduced bottle gourd, bitter melon, and luffa. We also have two special gardens: the Moore Medicinal Garden, dedicated to local medicinal plants, and the Tomorrow’s Garden, focusing on forward-looking growing techniques like hydroponics and vertical farming. Our most recent project is a newly built canal, which reintroduces some of the floodplain features to the garden and serves as a refuge for endangered fish species, including the Gila topminnow.”

“Wow, that’s very interesting. But why is the birthplace of Tucson in this area?” I wondered.

Kendall explained, casting a glance at the “A” Mountain, “The reason this is Tucson’s birthplace is both the period of four thousand years of continuous agriculture and the existence of a large Native American village here when the Spanish colonists arrived. The colonists and missionaries decided this would be another missionary outpost. The name of the Native American village here was ‘S-cuk-Ṣon,’ which means ‘spring at the base of the black mountain,’ referring to the dark volcanic rock on a nearby mountain. And that’s where the name Tucson originated.”

“That’s fascinating,” I remarked. “What’s the evidence supporting that 4000-year history?”

Kendall replied, “In the archaeological record, over 4000 years ago, they started seeing denser populations along the Santa Cruz River and the remains of temporary houses that were occupied during the growing season. In one of these houses, they found maize remains, one of which was radiocarbon dated to 4100 years ago. When archaeologists dug trenches, they found the shapes of canal remains dating back at least 3500 years ago. They knew people were channeling water from the wetlands, as there was a wetland just close by here to the south. They were building the canals to channel water to their cornfields, so there is a lot of evidence.”

“I had no idea that this place had such a rich history. How did you manage to find the original seeds and plants?” I asked, curious about the preservation efforts as we walked through a quince orchard.

“We conducted extensive research on what was cultivated during different historical periods and within various cultural traditions. Some of the original trees brought by the Spanish colonists still thrive in Southern Arizona. While the original trees may not have endured, many of their descendants remain. These trees may be genetically identical, as they have been propagated from cuttings, making them genetic clones of their parent trees.

“We believe we have preserved nearly exact varieties of these trees, and perhaps even the same genetic individuals, through a program known as the Kino Heritage Fruit Trees Project. Additionally, we’re fortunate in Tucson to have a non-profit seed bank called Native Seeds/SEARCH. This organization has been collecting heritage crops from across the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico for decades. All of these factors contributed to Tucson’s recognition as a City of Gastronomy by UNESCO, a title held by only two cities in the USA.”

Our conversation flowed seamlessly as we continued discussing agriculture, Indigenous cultures, and the significance of preserving these traditions. I also shared with Kendall the experiences and insights I had gathered during my research trip across Arizona.

“You know, I would love to speak with some members of the Tohono O’odham Nation. Do you happen to know anyone from that tribe?”

Kendall nodded: “Yes, I do. You should talk to Maegan, she works here. She’s from the tribe and can provide you with her perspective.”

Keen to connect with Maegan, I waited with anticipation as Kendall called out to someone nearby, asking, “Where is Maegan? Is she here today?”

The response came swiftly, “Yes, she’s over there!” With that, Kendall shook my hand and headed toward Meagan to let her know to come to me, as he needed to attend to his duties.

In the quiet moments before Maegan’s arrival, I absorbed the details of the garden. The soil beneath my feet seemed to cradle centuries of stories, and the plants whispered tales of resilience and adaptation. The sunlight played hide-and-seek through the leaves, casting dancing shadows on the pathways.

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Maegan Lopez comes from New Fields in the Tohono O’odham Nation. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Family Studies and Human Development from the University of Arizona and boasts extensive experience working with the Tribal Health Department. Maegan serves a crucial role at Mission Garden as a Gardener and Cultural Outreach Liaison, leveraging her knowledge to contribute to the preservation and revitalization of traditional agricultural practices.

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A young and amiable woman, wearing a hat and sunglasses, approached me, and together we decided to take a stroll through the garden. Despite the late afternoon hour and the intense heat, we opted to sit beneath another ramada in the garden...