Downtown garden a model for urban sustainability

Sustainable living guru Brad Lancaster grinds mesquite pods in to healthy flour

TUCSON -- The family and I had a great time this weekend at the 5th Annual Desert Harvesters Mesquite Milling Fiesta and Mesquite Pancake Breakfast at the Dunbar-Spring Community Garden, just north of downtown.

The mesquite pancake breakfast was great with prickly pear, mesquite, and maple syrups; all ingredients organic.

The live music was nice along with good people, kids and native foods.

Lots of people lined up at the hammermill to grind harvested mesquite pods into delicious, nutritious flour.

The Dunbar-Spring Community Garden is a great success. It was built on a former ugly vacant lot and is now a positive, productive oasis for the neighborhood. Tucson needs more of these.

If you haven't been there, you should visit. The garden is located at the NW corner of 11th Ave. and University Blvd.