Growing a Milpa is an act of resistance and food sovereignty. Like many of the milpa cultivators that come before us we wish to honor and continue this tradition as well as share this knowledge with the community. So join us as we kick off our Spring milpa planting season! In this class we will cover topics such as; benefits of planting in trays vs direct sowing, seed viability, germination, proper planting techniques, polyculture and symbiotic relationships. We will also be providing locally adapted seeds to share with participants. 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, June 13
Saturday, July 11
Sunday, August 9
Sunday, October 4