Photos thanks to Carrie Cannon
Agave Roast & Learn
This event is free. All gifts are appreciated—they help the garden grow.
Come experience an agave roast and learn about these plants’ many uses! Members of the Hualapai tribe will demonstrate their methods of roasting agave hearts, then share samples of this sweet, unique food. Talk to environmental and cultural organizations from around the region about agave’s unique uses, including how agave fiber can be used for ropes, shoes, and clothes. Experience a panel discussion about how agaves may make a comeback as a crop of the future.
Schedule:
During the entire event, 8am-12pm: Explore Mission Garden and learn more about agave from our staff, volunteers, and partners.
Family fun activities from Mission Garden! Help our pollinators, including bats by potting an agave to take home. Make a bat puppet. Learn how you can help bats by becoming a Citizen Scientist in your backyard.
9am-10:15am: Panel: Agave’s Potential as an Agricultural Alternative - Our panel will discuss how agave is a climate-smart crop of the future – a source of not only food and drink, but also textiles, animal feed, construction materials, fuel, and more.
Panelists:
Greg Barron-Gafford, Ph.D., ecologist and earth system scientist who has been building the field of 'agrivoltaics'
Valeria Cañedo, vice president of Centro de Colaboración para la Ciencia y Cultura S.C.
Fabio Trigo Raya, Ph.D., agave biotechnologist and geneticist
Yadi Wang, Ph.D., Oatman Flats Ranch and co-founder of Development of Regenerative Yields Cooperative
Moderated by Mission Garden Curator Dena Cowan
10:30am: Agave Roast with the Hualapai Tribe - Members of the Hualapai Tribe will describe their traditions and relationship to agave roasts, then open the roasting pit and share tastes with visitors. In contrast with the Hohokam agave (Agave murpheyi) that we have roasted at past events, our Hualapai guests will be demonstrating the use of Utah agave (Agave utahensis). They will also use a different style of roasting pit.
This event is in conjunction with the Agave Heritage Festival. Learn more about the festival at agaveheritagefestival.com
Learn More
Take a Virtual Tour
Explore our Agave trincheras!