Desert Abundance

The Challenge

Our climate is changing, bringing hotter, drier conditions to the Southwest and placing increasing pressure on limited water supplies. At the same time, population growth is increasing demand for food, making traditional high-water agricultural practices less sustainable.

The Heartland Trial project was created to explore more sustainable ways to grow and distribute fresh, organic, nutritious food, especially in communities affected by food insecurity. In 2022, at the request of our nonprofit, Desert Abundance, Boyce Thompson Arboretum dedicated five acres of pristine Sonoran Desert to this experiment for sustainable community food independence.

Our Mission

Develop a regenerative desert agroforest in Arizona that nourishes both the land and community. Through education, empowerment and collaboration, we aim to create an innovative model for resilient food production rooted in the Sonoran Desert’s natural abundance - benefiting community members, nature and future generations.

The Project

On these five acres of protected desert land near Superior Arizona, the Heartland Trial team is cultivating a regenerative desert agroforest that integrates water harvesting, wild and desert-adapted agricultural plants, and firsthand public education, without disturbing the natural ecosystem. Designed as a restored habitat, living classroom, and replicable model for dryland food production, our project works with and for “food-desert” communities facing climate and economic challenges. We are committed to empowering communities through sustainable practices, fostering resilience, and creating lasting impact for both people and the environment.

Agroforestry Approach

Our site is designed around agroforestry principles, integrating food production into the existing ecosystem in ways that avoid damage or degradation. We make use of the natural resources already present , including the bounty offered from the natural desert foods, while strengthening the environment for the wildlife and plant life that depend on it.

This approach supports three core goals:

• Maximize nutritional and economic yield
• Encourage community engagement
• Promote long-term environmental health

Progress to Date

Thanks to your generous support during our 2025 Earth Gives campaign, our team of experts and dedicated volunteers has made meaningful progress across partnerships, education, land stewardship, and site development.

• Established partnerships with local government agencies and NGOs
• Hosted community forums and educational events
• Built low-impact infrastructure to capture and slow rainwater sheet flow
• Monitored local wildlife
• Strengthened fire protection and suppression efforts
• Built our first fenced garden beneath the shade of the floodplain mesquite bosque
• Successfully propagated native trees using the tall-pot method, increasing the site’s species richness
• Prepared for the installation of a water tank and gravity-fed irrigation system to support low-water-use, drought-tolerant Indigenous heirloom plant varieties

With Your Help

With continued support, we can expand our work and deepen our impact in sustainable food production, education, and community resilience.

• Build and fence additional gardens to test drought-tolerant plant varieties and water-efficient irrigation methods, while strengthening local food access, soil health, and community connection
• Create printed educational materials to share lessons learned and support our mission of community knowledge-sharing
• Harvest and develop products for food and medicine from native plants, including jojoba oil, prickly pear juice, mesquite flour, and creosote salves
• Hire a farm manager to oversee crops, fencing, project coordination, and fire management
• Offer forums and workshops that empower other communities to grow food sustainably

Desert Abundance is an all-volunteer organization: every donated dollar entrusted to the project goes directly to regenerative farming, land restoration and protection, resilient and equitable food systems and distribution, public access, and educational programming.