Deep in the Sonoran Desert, the community of Ajo, Arizona, is facing health and economic challenges. Ajo is dependent on the continued availability of imported foods, leaving people vulnerable to conditions over which they have little power. Productive and ecologically sound land use is achievable through modern adaptations of traditional Sonoran Desert farming and water management techniques that maximize food production while respecting the limits of the desert. In a healthy ecosystem, waste becomes the basis for good soils, water is continually recycled, and diversity creates resilience. Ultimately, peopleÕs lives are improved as they gain control of their food system.