Dirt Rocks & Shells: An Ode to Tucson

“Dirt Rocks & Shells” is an application of my wide variety of interests and skills over the course of my Bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Arizona. It is a food and culture magazine that combines studies of place, culture, food, creative nonfiction, geography, history, community, and storytelling centered around Tucson, Arizona. My publication is largely based on primary research, though secondary sources were also important to providing me with context and historical information.The magazine is broken into three sections: Dirt, Rocks, and Shells. “Dirt” highlights the parallels between local culture and the role of soil in sustaining life; dirt supports life, protects roots, and recycles nutrients. History and culture work similarly, sustained by local relationships. “Rocks” deals with my journey with nutrition and meat while addressing the future of food and sustainability. Distinguishing between factory farming, local whole-animal butcheries, and innovative new eating habits (like bug-based foods) holds promise for the future. Finally, “Shells” covers seafood in the Sonoran Desert and our underappreciated relationship with the ocean. I dive into geologic history, when Tucson was a pre-historic swamp, before bringing the narrative back to my favorite current seafood establishments. To understand food, you must understand how our geologic and social background creates the flavors we love today.My work celebrates how food represents people, history, and place as I explore my own passions and love for this community through an interdisciplinary journey. Read more