How can I raise the level of gratitude in my life? Let me count the ways.
So, you tell me:
Is this jewelry?
Photo courtesy of Nativeseeds.org
Or food?
Honestly, I believe it could pass as both, but the gorgeous “gems” you see are, indeed, edible.
This is an heirloom variety of corn, aptly named “glass gem.”
According to Native Seeds, a nonprofit seed conservation organization in Arizona, the roots of the Glass Gem variety can be traced to an Oklahoma farmer with a calling: corn.
“Barnes had an uncanny knack for corn breeding. More specifically, he excelled at selecting and saving seed from those cobs that exhibited vivid, translucent colors. Exactly how long Barnes worked on Glass Gem—how many successive seasons he carefully chose, saved, and replanted these special seeds—is unknown,” reports Stephen Thomas of Native Seeds. “But after many years, his painstaking efforts created a wondrous corn cultivar that has now captivated thousands of people around the world.”
Photo courtesy of Nativeseeds.org
The kernels of Glass Gem are ideal for popping or grinding into cornmeal, and thanks to the efforts of conscientious seed savers, you can buy and grow your own. Seed packets are currently available at the Native Seeds shop.
Native Seeds encourages everyone who grows Glass Gem corn to rejoin the ritual of seed saving by setting aside your favorite selections for replanting the following year. “Share seed with your friends and neighbors, organize a seed swap, or start a seed library in your community, they suggest. “As Carl Barnes has taught us, all it takes is one person to create a more colorful, diverse, and abundant world—one seed at a time.”
Winnie Nielsen says: Indian corn is always so interesting and beautiful to me with the colors, but this variety is stunning! Wow, there is so much variety of color, including pastels.
As the owner of a small heirloom seed company, I was fascinated by this particular corn. I love how the light seems to go through the kernels, as though it was truly made of glass! I have to GROW this corn ! But my coons can hardly wait too. The battle is on . I was planning on growing a very rare deep purple with purple leaves and cob, corn called “Purple Merado”. But I might have to grow “Glass Gem ” instead. Thanks for sharing this important information.
HAPPY EARTH DAY !!
calle says: Thanks for this “Memory Lane” post. My dear uncles planted this and one being a history buff, followed the same path. Other children did not that wondrous joy of watching and waiting harvest of this ” mysterious miracle ” Indian corn. The Corn Palace uses this and other colors to paint scenes, which turns into art. My parents met at the annual Corn Palace dance, thus I am indebted to this wonderful corn. It is my heritage.
I will order some and hope to continue the wonderment.
Karlyne says: Gorgeous!
Nancy Coughlin says: The Indian corn is stunning! I love corn, but can no longer eat it because of medical reasons. I love to see all the colors and it is wonder to know that this corn is an heirloom corn. What dedication!
calle says: Am sad as I have called and called and called an no answer or response. So wanted four packages to plant.
Anyone else had trouble reaching them?
Calle
MaryJane says: I ordered online easy peasy and got my glass gem seed already. Check the phone # again and maybe go online? Not sure why you’re having trouble.
Winnie Nielsen says: Happy, Happy Easter Mary Jane! I do hope the Easter Bunny added a bit of chocolate to your basket after this was posted<3
Happy, hoppy Easter to you MJ and all your family and all your ” farm family” too !
Connie-Kilalrney says: Happy Easter to you and Brian and Megan and your little grandchildren! All your Family! I love the Photo!
Connie #3392
Winnie Nielsen says: Lovely daffodils and hyacinth for Spring. The holder looks like some sort of vintage framework that one would use for large flower arrangements so that things would hold up in place?
Winnie Nielsen says: It looks like you are using that adorable dish for a butter holder? What a brilliant idea! The tulips are beautiful too. The pink and green combo reminds me of all the Lilly Pulitzer resort wear so popular here in Florida.
The glass rabbit butter container reminds me of the local dairy/creamery that still uses old molds for butter, a lamb and a rabbit. You can buy them in the local supermarkets, I usually bring one as my ” bread and butter gift ” ( southern for hostess gift ) when invited to someone’s house for Easter or Passover.
Winnie Nielsen says: Is this a vintage chocolate mold? Adorable! I hear that Peter Cottontail is quite busy this week finishing all of the chocolate bunnies for baskets. Will StellaJane and Mia be searching for their baskets, carefully hidden, come Easter morn?
Brings back memories of a rainy Easter many years ago when I was about 5. My parents had to hide the eggs indoors for me (well- the Easter Bunny did) and there was one egg still missing and we never did find it, until……. the stench of a rotten egg came up from a large umbrella vase. Yep, that was the last hiding place!
Winnie Nielsen says: The daffodils conquer Ole Man Winter! Hooray!!!!!
Got my first daffie blooming today! Very late but much appreciated !
MaryJane says: Well, you’re ahead of us. Maybe today!
Nancy says: Still no daffodils in PA!! Waiting and waiting and waiting!
Winnie Nielsen says: I bet you will be glad when the snow pack melts down to look like this!
Nancy says: Much as I love winter, enough is enough. But, a good snowpack will help increase the level of our groundwater. Really feel for those folks in CA. First brush fires, then so much rain they had mud slides to contend with, and hardly any improvement in their drought status. Too bad we can’t move the needed weather to where it is really needed!
Winnie Nielsen says: This reminds me of the old farm my grandparents lived on. They had a few doors with porcelain knobs which seems quite quirky to me at the time. They moved into the place in 1928 and it had been there for quite awhile as it did not have running water inside.
MaryJane says: This is the door to my chicken coop. Aren’t they stylin’?
Terry Steinmetz says: O.K. now the mystery is solved! I was going to ask what’s behind that doorknob, but I see now that I don’t. I was thinking along the lines of “The Secret Garden”.
Winnie Nielsen says: Versatility of the cowboy boot!
WOW you are using those boots for a planter, they look in much shape than the boots I wear! But very pretty succulents and sedums growing in them
Buy props used in MaryJane’s books and magazine!
5% of profits will benefit www.firstbook.org, a non-profit that provides new books to children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s how:
MaryJane will post a photo and a description of a prop and its cost along with a few details as to its condition here: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/MaryJanesCurations. It’s a playful way to be the new owner of a little bit of farm herstory.
Love this interesting planter!
What are the plants? I thought at first it was parsley, and then that it was mini geraniums (are there such things?!?)
They look like geraniums to me. A couple of weekends ago Karina visited our favorite local garden store, http://www.livinginthegarden.com/ and asked their permission to take some photos. We’ve featured them in a past magazine. They have a living roof on their store!
Well, whatever they are, it’s a super display!
Rub the leaves and see if they have a heavenly smell, they might be scented geraniums. Or the ” Martha Washington ” type geraniums. If they start to trail later on then they are the vining type. I adore scented geraniums and collect them, but they are unpopular here and hard to find.
Our garden stores have plenty of these different kinds of geraniums, vining, chocolate scented, etc. in a wide array of colors. They’re good for planters. I stick with the tried n’ true and already have one started in a planter … indoors. Maybe I should try one????
Ooh, yes the chocolate mint ones are the best, smell just like “Peppermint Patties”. I gave one to my gardening mentor, Eva, who was 80 at the time and she confessed it was her favorite plant of all. This spoken by a seasoned gardener with acres of vegetables , flowers and plants. All tended totally by herself alone. I bring a few choice scented geraniums indoors for the winter and they scent my house so sweetly, Lemon Rose is especially good for a natural ” air freshener”.