Zea mays / Indian corn / Anasazi

Writer  /  Nancy Craig

Zea mays is what we know as corn or maize. My great nephews, Max and Eli, are displaying Indian corn and pumpkins that were grown in their garden. (see picture). The corn planted was traditional Indian or flint corn of multicolored kernels. My daughter, Ann, planted an ancient variety of Zea mays called Anasazi which is a sweet corn with multicolored kernels.

Last spring out in Colorado I helped Ann plant some of her garden for her business, Handful of Herbs. One of the things we planted was Anasazi corn along with squash and beans in a planting method called The Three Sisters. She also added a “fourth sister”; sunflowers; visit her blog for pictures of the “Fat Mama” sunflowers towering over her and the Anasazi corn! handfulofherbs.com/sunflowers-helianthus-annuus/

My favorite garden book, Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children by Sharon Lovejoy explains The Three Sister planting method in the chapter “Zuni Waffle Garden”. The Three Sisters was a way of planting used by the Native Americans and they shared the method with the early settlers. Lovejoy always has fun activities for the kids and in this chapter she tells about making Indian corn jewelry. Next year in our garden we will try some of her ideas like Zuni scarecrows who are “watchers of corn sprouts” and learn Indian songs to sing to the corn as it grows.

This time of year we can read many stories about the different Indian tribes helping the Pilgrims grow and harvest corn and other vegetables. The result, of course, is our harvest celebration Thanksgiving. As we gather with family this Thanksgiving, we will be giving thanks for the rich heritage and abundance of Zea mays.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Nancy Craig
The Gardening Nana

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