On August 28, 2026, community organization Regenerating Sonora (Regen), based in Superior, AZ hosted their monthly Full Moon Garden Party. Facilitated by Regen cofounder and executive director Chris Casillas and program innovator Miracle Martinez, the event included a special mesquite milling workshop at the Erickson-Hall Micro Farm, Regen's community garden. During this event, attendees planted seedlings and listened to central Arizona experts discuss food sovereignty, foraging, and all the foods and drinks that can be made with mesquite. Our team from the Ramírez-Andreotta Integrated Environmental Science & Health Risk Laboratory (MRA lab) at UArizona was super impressed by the folks at Regen, the delicious spicy enchiladas and sopita, and all the wonderful speakers that evening. We got to share food, knowledge, and fun with new and familiar faces. Miami Town Manager Alexis Rivera went crazy in the drum circle, led by Superior resident Ivette Vargas. We learned about mesquite coffee methods from local residents, Rose and Peggy. Our team chatted with Bobby Stone of Hothai Farms, the Gila River Indian Community, and Vice Chair of Native Seeds Search.

Will McNellis, Kaitlyn Krushefski, and I tabled and spoke during open-mic, representing the University of Arizona and MRA lab. At our table, we promoted our STEAM in Action Youth Advisory Boards (YABs) and provided informational materials on water resources and safe gardening and health practices in heavy metal-affected areas. Folks loved the planet Earth stress balls and coloring sheets from Arizona Project Wet that we handed out. Two dozen attendees stopped by our table to chat with us, about mesquite coffee, composting, private well water quality, and indigenous agriculture. During the open-mic portion of the evening, the three of us made sure to shout out the Superior STEAM in Action Youth Advisory Board and highlight the opportunity for youth in the area to join. The Full Moon Party was such an awesome place to promote environmental health and joy.  

It was a beautiful night, and an honor to be there with our long-time community partners and co-investigators at Regenerating Sonora. My first engagement with the MRA lab was riding around in a UFO for the Halloween parade with Regen in Fall 2023, and it was very special for Will’s first engagement with the lab to be with Regen too. After helping with breaking down the event, our team got to unwind at Alex’s place, Casa de Milagros, and Miracle’s lovely home. Getting to see Miracle and Regen grow and bloom over the past three years has made my heart feel very full.  

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