Roll up sleeves, grab a hat, and let’s get to work in the Milpa! The milpa teaches us that all good things in life require proper maintenance. The seeds we planted in the Spring are well on their way and growing exponentially every day. In this class, we will cover topics related to properly maintaining all types of plants within our garden. Some topics we will cover include utilizing vertical space, pruning, integrative pest management, water-wise irrigation, fertilization, proper weeding, and the benefits of mulching. Special guest, Marlene Aguilar of Irekuarhikua. 

URBAN MILPA SERIES
LA Plaza presents the Urban Milpa Series—a hands-on program inspired by the life cycle of the Three Sisters: corn, beans, and squash. Participants will deepen their understanding of urban gardening while fostering a balanced and productive ecosystem. Led by Marlene Aguilar of Irekuarhikua, the series runs monthly on Saturdays or Sundays from 1 pm to 3 pm through October. Participants may register for free for the full series or join individual sessions.

Marlene Aguilar
Marlene Aguilar is Xicana and of P’urhepecha descent, born and raised in Tongva territory (in what is now known as East Los Angeles, CA) with roots in the inter-mountain valley region of Michoacán, Mexico. As a community-based cocinera, she draws inspiration from her campesin@ family but has also been shaped by her work in different food equity programs, specifically CSAs (community supported agriculture). She is founder of the food project, IREKUARHIKUA, which aims to offer seasonally inspired affordable plant-based meals while highlighting the resilience of indigenous foods. Her project is currently offering a meal prep service like comida corrida from fondas or cocinas económicas found throughout Mexico.

UPCOMING SESSIONS
Saturday, July 11
Sunday, August 9
Sunday, October 4