If corn could talk, I imagine it would have a Rodney Dangerfield kind of voice.* Like other commodity plants, Zea mays doesn’t get much respect in a world that has overamped its production and crammed its chemical signature into a plethora of packaged goods.
It wasn’t always this way between humans and maize; we used to give corn its due as a life-giving crop, not just snack-filling substance. But, I respectfully submit, you can still raise corn from kernel to stalk and make it sacred. We start with a seed; who knows where it goes?
*Yes, that’s my second reference to Mr. No Respect this week! Have no idea why.
Copyright 2012, Lori Fontanes
What the Ducks! 
Beautiful picture, Lori. Corn is indeed sacred, though not how we have come to use it. From over 400 varieties once native to North America to just FIVE that are predominantly grown today, it is another plant we should strive to preserve, maintaining as much diversity as possible. That’s where backyard farmers like yourself come in, helping both to grow heritage varieties and to educate others about them at the same time. Nicely done!
Thanks!!! You know, it wasn’t that hard to do and I definitely want to try more & different varieties next year. The ducks love corn so I can grow some for them, too. We *still* have too much lawn… 🙂