Projects
Heritage Corn: Planting, Challenges, and Educating from the Family Plot Perspective
A funded project from the USDA´s Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education program, North Central Region
This project was submitted by Zuleyja Prieto and Jon Zirkle in 2020, as a continued effort to work with heritage corn and tackle the challenges identified in the Michiana Heritage Corn Project, where they both participated in previous years. Among those challenges were the need to keep native corn free from genetically modified organisms, and yet the need to amplify the seed bank.
Tortilla Making Workshop Field Sessions MIlpa In front of the Corn Bofo land Kalamazoo Collage Harvest Celebration Kalamazoo Collage Harvest Celebration Husking Bee Blessing of the Seed 2022 Blessing of the Seed 2021 Hitlacoche Hitlacoche Amaranth and bofo corn Hand pollination Protection of corn against rodents, birds and insects Corn-eating rodent chipmunk Bofo Corn Harvest 2022 Share seed from puebla Mexico in fort wine Bofo corn first harvest October 2019 Avati morotti corn adapting to the Indiana climate by growing with little water.
It was decided that heritage corn seed needed to be shared among families, to grow and care for in their backyards. With funds from the project, a group of around 20 families received seeds, training, teaching and support to learn how to care for and use heritage corn. The group was also intentional about making space for the spiritual and ceremonial aspects of native corn. Common challenges were confronted as a group, leading to a strong community of heritage corn growers with increased knowledge as well as context about the cultural value of heritage corn.
Different techniques such as late planting, hand pollinating and separation by urban and suburban barriers were employed to keep our native corn from cross pollination with GMO corn grown all around us. After genetic testing, for two consecutive years we were able to keep our sacred seeds within family circles and free of genetically modified organisms.
Read more about this project in the link below:
Michiana Heritage Corn Project
In May 2018 we participated with local seed expert John Sherck and other corn growers in the Michiana Heritage Corn Project, aimed at growing several varieties of native corn in the area. We received Bofo corn seed, a variety from Northwest Mexico, and the adaptation process then started.
Workshops for children
Workshops for children to learn about heritage corn and develop their skills through the exploration of music, dance, and plastic arts.
Food and Foodways Workshops for Adults
These workshops explore the cultural value of heritage corn, from its history, planting
practices, harvest, and processing traditions. Participants get to experience the energy
involved in grinding different varieties of corn in a metate, as well as the art of pressing
and cooking a tortilla. The final taste test and reflection give participants a scope of
corn beyond the dinner table.
University of Notre Dame, Indiana, United States 2023 University of Notre Dame, Indiana, United States 2023 University of Notre Dame, Indiana, United States 2023 University of Notre Dame, Indiana, United States 2023 University of Notre Dame, Indiana, United States 2023 University of Notre Dame, Indiana, United States 2023 University of Notre Dame, Indiana, United States 2023 University of Notre Dame, Indiana, United States 2023 University of Notre Dame, Indiana, United States 2023
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