This week on Arizona Illustrated…the University of Arizona Poetry Center acquires the 60,000th book in its already astounding collection, Tom interviews Library Director Sarah Kortemeier; Tucson celebrates the heritage and unique flavors of the agave plant, and a tiny home community for those that have aged out of the foster care system.
The University of Arizona Poetry Center
The University of Arizona Poetry Center is one of Tucson’s most valuable cultural resources. Founded in 1962, the center has hosted many of the most influential names in poetry and has one of the largest collections of poetry in the United States. In 2017, the center acquired its 50,000th book and received a $500,000 grant from the Art for Justice Fund, the largest in the center’s history.
Tucson Celebrates Agave
Experts and enthusiasts converged in Tucson to celebrate the history, culture, and culinary offerings of the agave plant at the 14th annual Agave Heritage Festival. There are six agave species that grow wild in the Tucson basin, and they are a key nutritional source for pollinators like long-nosed bats, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Cultivation of the agave century plant dates to 950 C.E. and has been used for fiber as well as a food source. How is agave consumed by humans, and what does it taste like? This piece takes viewers to an agave “piñas” roasting pit at Mission Garden and a fermented beverages workshop at El Crisol.
Tiny Homes for Ex-Foster Youth
The University of Arizona Poetry Center is one of Tucson’s most valuable cultural resources. Founded in 1962, the center has hosted many of the most influential names in poetry and has one of the largest collections of poetry in the United States. In 2017, the center acquired its 50,000th book and received a $500,000 grant from the Art for Justice Fund, the largest in the center’s history.
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