Sonya Norman, B.S., Geosciences: Public Programs Coordinator, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; Taught rainwater harvesting workshops; Participant, invasive species control
Monday, March 16, 2026, 3:00-4:00 pm, Koffler Great Room at ASA and Zoom
In her presentation, Sonya Norman will treat us to a look at how the Southwest’s agricultural cornucopia resulted not only from use of native plants and traditional foodways, but also from the region’s historical legacy. The influence of Imperial Spain, itself a tapestry of customs derived from Muslims, Jews, Christians and Romans, was strongly felt through actions and mores that developed in Colonial Mexico. She’ll explain the role of the Jesuit missionaries, as well as some of the New World-to-Old World exchanges that took place, from coffee to cochineal. Together, we’ll examine the evolution of the Spanish language, and what has come to be called Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.
March 16: Tracing the Agricultural and Cultural Roots of the Southwest