Field Notes

 Overview

   Netleaf hackberry(Celtis reticulata) is a water-loving tree that grows next to rivers and springs in middle elevations across the Southwest. Its small red berries don’t look like much at first glance, but they’re actually a calorie-packed staple food...

 Overview

     Desert hackberry(also called spiny hackberry) is a common shrub that grows in Southern Arizona and South Texas, in parts of both the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. Its tasty orange berries are produced in the fall, and are high in phosphorus, calcium,...

 Introduction

   Screwbean mesquite(Prosopis pubescens) is a small tree native to Southern Arizona, where it grows along rivers in the Sonoran Desert. In this article we're going to look at the identification and edible uses of screwbean mesquite, its range throughout our desert,...

Introduction

   Have you ever heard of goji berries? They are a "superfood" from China that started gaining popularity in the U.S. around the turn of the century due to their wide range of nutritional benefits. Goji berries are high in antioxidants, and have all kinds of...

Introduction

     Desert chia(Salvia columbariae) is our native desert version of store-bought chia (Salvia hispanica), which is a cultivated seed originally from Central America, and is popularly considered a “superfood” for its wide range of nutritional...

Introduction

     In this article we're going to look at the edible uses velvet mesquite(Prosopis velutina). Mesquite beans were an extremely to the native inhabitants of the Southwest, providing a staple food that rivaled corn in its importance. There is no doubt that...