#5: Mesquite – Radical Abundance

In this episode of Remedy and Rhyme, we explore the radical abundance of Mesquite — a desert tree whose generosity stretches from myth to medicine. We reflect on what it means to live in relationship with abundance — the kind that’s rooted, reciprocal, and attuned to the rhythms of the earth. The kind of abundance that gives and gives and gives. We'll hear a traditional story of Siwani and Coyote, which uncovers how mesquite came to scatter its sweet pods across the land. From its fiber-rich nourishment and blood sugar support to its deep cultural roots among Indigenous communities, mesquite reminds us that abundance isn’t always flashy — sometimes it’s slow, steady, and quietly sustaining. This episode blends story, plant wisdom, poetry, and journal prompts to support your own journey toward radical abundance. References & Further Reading Books Bovey, Rodney W. Mesquite. Texas A&M University Press, 2016. Desert Harvesters. Eat Mesquite and More: A Cookbook for Sonoran Desert Living. Savor the Southwest, 2018. savorthesouthwest.blog Ferguson, T.J. History Is in the Land: Multivocal Tribal Traditions in Arizona’s San Pedro Valley. University of Arizona Press, 2006. archive.org Moore, Michael. Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West: A Guide to Identifying, Preparing, and Using Traditional Medicinal Plants Found in the Deserts and Canyons of the West and Southwest. Museum of New Mexico Press, 1989. Nabhan, Gary Paul. Gathering the Desert. University of Arizona Press, 1985. Nabhan, Gary Paul. Mesquite: An Arboreal Love Affair. Chelsea Green Publishing, 2018. Phillips, Steven J., and Patricia Wentworth Comus, editors. A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, University of California Press, 2000. Rogers, Ken E. The Magnificent Mesquite. University of Texas Press, 2000. Slattery, John. Southwest Medicinal Plants: Identify, Harvest, and Use 112 Wild Herbs for Health and Wellness. Timber Press, 2020. University of Arizona Southwest Center. Mesquite: A Training Manual for Growers, Harvesters, & Artisans. University of Arizona Southwest Center, 2023. swc.arizona.edu Articles, Reports, and Online Resources Arizona Historical Society. Ethnohistory of San Pedro Valley Collection. Ethnohistory PDF Archaeology Southwest. “A Brief Cultural History of Mesquite.” archaeologysouthwest.org Archaeology Southwest. One Valley, Many Histories: Tohono O’odham, Hopi, Zuni, and Western Apache History in the San Pedro Valley. Archaeology Southwest Magazine, Vol. 18, No. 1. archaeologysouthwest.org Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. “Mesquite Usage by the O’odham and Piipaash.” O’odham Action News. oan.srpmic-nsn.gov San Pedro River Valley StoryMap. San Pedro River Valley: An Ecological and Cultural Corridor. storymaps.arcgi