Mesquite is a multi-functional tree, native to the southwest desert and certain similar climate zones in South America. The locally native trees have been a valuable resource for area residents for more than a thousand years.
Known for their tasty and nutrient- packed seed pods, even some wild animals will plan their seasonal routes based on the locations of these trees.
The Urban Farm is proud to work with the Mollen Foundation as they host an annual program of online education, in-person classes & harvest events, and community milling events.
SIGN UP BELOW for 2025 events: Three sections below include the links to register for the live class, the walkabouts and milling, and some great resource videos.
Please join us in enjoying this tasty and nutritious native resource. IF you want your OWN mesquite tree, you can shop for Velvet Mesquites at UrbanFarm.org/store.
First, Sign up for this Live Class:
Mesquite Chat and Q&A
Wednesday June 4th, 2025 at 6pm AZ/Pacific
with Don Titmus, Peggy Sue Sorensen, Mike Clow & Greg Peterson
Join the Mesquite Education Zoom Class as we look forward to our local Mesquite Pod Milling Event at the end of the month.
Then... Collect and Mill your Seed pods:
Harvesting
Mesquite Walkabouts
3 locations in Tempe and Phoenix
These are walking tour & harvest opportunities of the mesquite trees in, or near, some of our local parks. See, smell, touch, and taste mesquite beans as you take our walking class and learn how to collect mesquite beans. Harvesting depends on weather.
Bring your collection supplies and gather your own mesquite pods, then dry them a little bit more and turn them into flour later this month.
Spaces of Opportunity
in Phoenix
with Jordan Stejskal
Saturday, June 14th at 8am
Granada Park
in Phoenix
with Peggy Sue Sorensen & Mike Clow
Saturday, June 21st at 8am
Rio Salado Park
in Tempe
with Don Titmus & Jordan Stejskal
Sunday, June 22nd at 8am
Milling
Two LOCAL Pop-Up Milling events with The Mollen Foundation
Individual and Bulk Milling appointments
Bring your prepared pods to our community milling days at:
Augustus H Shaw Jr. Montessori School
We will inspect the pods, then mill them in our awesome hammermill, usually while you wait. Your pods are turned into your own flour for a mere $7.50 per lb – a great value!
Mesquite Milling Days
The dates we’ve been waiting for
to turn YOUR pods into YOUR flour!
Choose your appointment slot,
dry, dry, dry your pods,
(did we say dry?)
and bring your buckets of dried mesquite pods
so they can get turned to flour
with the Hammer Mill donated by The Urban Farm and The Bee Oasis.
HUMIDITY NOTE: Milling depends on dry weather.
Saturday, June 28th
and
Sunday, June 29th
We’ve partnered with The Mollen Foundation to run this event.
AND... watch these videos:
We have hosted several classes on: How to choose the tastiest mesquite pods, How to safely harvest, How to get them ready for milling, and even How to store pods if you can’t get to a milling right away. We are adding related videos and information as we collect it. Check these out!
Mesquite: Harvest it, Mill it, Eat it!
with Peggy Sue Sorensen and Mike Clow
This is the class we held in May 2021. Peggy & Mike discuss several elements of proper harvesting, preparing for milling, and some tasty examples of how to add mesquite to your menu.
How to Store Mesquite Pods
with Greg Peterson, Don Titmus, Peggy Sue Sorensen and Brad Lancaster.
This is the class from June 2020 while we delayed the Mesquite Pod Milling Event. We discuss several elements around the topic of storing mesquite pods until the next milling event.
