Arizona Foraging with Cactus Kelly

10/03/2026

You are invited to harvest prickly pears with me on October 10th in Mesa, Arizona!

Learn Prickly Pear Harvesting at this fun group event led by Cactus Kelly—Take home 5 pounds of fruit!

07/11/2026

Foraging class in Chandler, Arizona, in June

07/11/2026

Kids discovering Jojoba beans!

06/27/2026

Plant walk group pic!

06/24/2026

https://www.kjzz.org/the-show/2026-06-23/your-yard-full-of-things-to-eat-tips-from-cactus-kelly-a-master-gardener-and-urban-forager

I was privileged to speak on the show on KJZZ a few days ago!

Take a trip into the desert with Kelly Athena, aka Cactus Kelly — a master gardener and urban forager who teaches classes year-round on how to collect ingredients most people think of as debris in their yards — and make nourishing food out of them.

05/15/2026

Ironwood beans are green, some turning tan and brown. They will have a harvest window from approximately May 20 to June 1. I boil the dark brown dry pods, and the beans swell up and are so delicious to eat like peanuts! Don't eat the pods, just the beans. I find it best to freeze the beans for 3 days after harvest, then store them in barrels or buckets with lids. Look for upcoming harvesting events I'll list on this page!

04/27/2026

Palo verde beans are perfectly ripe today ! The only time of the year to pick them.

04/10/2026

Come foraging with me this evening at 6:00 and every Friday evening for the next 2 months!
Register here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1aK8bXV3Nv/
or here:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/organizations/homegrown-foodshave
We'll harvest palo verde beans that are perfectly ripe, and ironwood blossoms, then come back to the kitchen and prepare and eat.

I welcome all fun friendly feisty ferocious foragers and newbies!