During this session, Noland Johnson of Alexander Pancho Memorial Farms, shared his knowledge on dryland farming, rainwater use, and climate-adapted agricultural practices. Pancho Family Farm is a dry-land farm located in the Tohono O’odham Nation in southern Arizona. It is the only farm currently practicing traditional Ak Chin (mouth of the wash) dry-land farming. Focused on growing traditional crops such as the culturally significant tepary bean, melons, corn, and squash. The farm teaches and mentors O’odham Tribal members in traditional farming techniques, food preparation and wild harvesting through practices such as the annual saguaro harvest which accompanies the rain ceremony which signifies the O’odham New Year.

Noland Johnson joined our Peruvian colleague Rubén Tito de la Cruz, a Quechuan agronomist and agricultural producer and expert in Andean cosmovision, who shared with us his experience and use of climate prediction using traditional indicators. Also joining the call was Hilario Arone Quispe, a Quechua farmer and expert trainer in agricultural techniques and business for products from the highlands of the upper Amazon rainforest.