Tall strong bamboo like stalks wavin' their green flag like leaves in the hot summer breeze tossin' back it's shiny pale yellow silks like
a perky cheerleader in a room full of thick-necked football players. The Indians called it maize, English speaking folks call it corn but this Ozark farm chick calls it 'roasteneers'. MMmmm, pass the butter baby!!! Our corn reached as high in the sky as a lovestruck giraffe during mating season. Then the choppin' crew moved in.
Corn is a grass that was domesticated by indigenous Mesoamerica people in prehistoric times. Around 1250 AD the whole dang continent was growin' the golden grain. By the fifteenth century traders and explorers took it back to Europe shoppin' with it just like cash. Ya'll think that would fly at the Tanger Mall in Branson??? Just sayin...........
The many varieties of corn range from Dent to Waxy and if ya'll will allow me to take on the character of Benjamin Buford "BUBBA" Blue from the movie Forrest Gump, I'll tell ya'll some of the multitudes of food we ingest made from corn. Stand back...here goes....there is corn on the cob, sweet corn kernels, cornmeal, cream corn, cornbread, corn porridge, popcorn, corn polenta, corn mash, corn flakes, hominy, corn grits, corn alcohol, corn pudding, corn salsa, corn chips, corn oil, corn starch and corn syrup........whew, I'm breathless and this chick has the lung capacity of a hot air balloon.
Several other uses that are not for human consumption are silage (used to feed livestock), dog and cat food, fish bait, plastics, fabrics, adhesives, herbal supplements and bio-fuels.
America will harvest 332 million metric tons of corn this year. We harvested 671 tons of processed silage packed down and covered in plastic to 'cook'. Makes for some mighty good eatin' for the cattle. It was hotter than tarnation during harvest and this chick cooked for the Strongbacks (crew) and helped hubby cover the swelterin' steaming pile with plastic. Did I ever mention that farmin' is hard work??? Yep, there I was sweatin' like a tall glass of ice tea on a humid day crawlin' up and over dragging massive sheets of plastic beltin out' that old 1840's song that was later recorded by Burl Ives, "JIMMY CRACK CORN!!!"
Funny thing....I was just on my way to the kitchen to make cornbread!!! Sure hope you are feeling better. I enjoyed this post and I haven't thought of that song in years!
ReplyDeleteI love grits, corn bread, and Fritos. My momma ate cornflakes by the bushel. What ever you want to call it, where would we be without it? Fun post!
ReplyDeleteI always thought the corn was as high as an elephant's eye!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a busy place you have there!
Well of course we called them 'roasteneers' when I was growing up and would now if I had any to call. Yum. I am making my famous (to me, myself and I) meatloaf and roasteneers would really fit in. Oh well I'll just have green beans.
ReplyDeleteT
I made homemade cornbread today ~ yummy!!! I had no idea that fabrics and glue were among the many uses of corn.
ReplyDeleteI love this post!!!!
Have a great Friday
Just got done making Corn Chowder for my crew with Sweet corn from the garden that me and princess picked this week! I haven't seen any chopping around here yet, but it should be soon!
ReplyDeleteWho else if not Nezzy could turn 'corn' into a poetic theme reminding us how much we love corn on the cob( boiled), popcorn (on diet days), corn polenta ( have you heard of Mamaliga, the roumanian polenta dish? You should.)?
ReplyDeleteWork on a farm is indeed hard, but the reward is big when you think of all those people you feed with your crops.
The pictures in your post are awsome just like the expressions used in describing the varieties of corn and corn derivates.
Loving the homegrown corn!
ReplyDeleteMost ways it comes.
Ps: How are you feeling??
Melinda
So good to see you back in action!
ReplyDeleteThe Suite's temporarily OUT of action, though, as we get ourselves straightened up by someone who knows what he's doing.
'bout time, huh?
Lucy
I do love grits with LOTS of butter.
ReplyDeleteBoth my children LOVE corn on the cob! I'd wanted to take them to a corn maze when we were in Canada, but we just didn't find the time... maybe next year. :)
ReplyDeleteOh Nezzy,
ReplyDeleteYou out working your tush off in that hot sun? We have a bumper crop of corn this year with all the rain and warm temps. In fact, I am making corn on the cob as I write this.
You take care too and don't overheat yourself!
Hugs,
Cindy
Whew, you made me tired just talking about working in that heat!
ReplyDeleteNow the corn is in, can we get some rain please??
ya feelin' a bit corny, yet?? ;)
ReplyDeletefun post. thanks Nezzy.
Ooh, corn on the cob....one of my favorite things about summer. I used to visit an aunt and uncle in the summer and the corn was the best. We put the water on to boil while we walked across to the field to pick the corn for dinner. I'm glad you are feeling well enough to be doing farm chores and singin' Jimmy Crack Corn.
ReplyDeleteGrandpa had a dairy farm in upstate NY. I remember when he filled the silo with corn. I didn't mind climbing part way up the ladder to look in but was never brave enough to go more than a quarter way up - - - I was only in 4th grade. That stuff sure stunk by the end of winter but the cows loved it. Glad you are feeling better.
ReplyDeleteI learn something new every day of my life. I never knew that silage had to cook. My goodness farming is not an easy life. I guess that is why I'm a city girl. I go to the country every week and spend lots of time there because I love it. However I'm not doing much but sipping tea. And I buy my corn at a stand down the road. Good thing those lucky guys have you to cook for them.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful patch of corn!! Mine is doing nothing this year. Not sure why but I hear the cold spring sort of ruined it for gardeners. I know there are a lot of uses for corn but you mentioned some I never heard of!
ReplyDeleteI love how you write, by the way~!
I love sweet corn -- have some already but not out of grandpa's garden yet! Yes farmin' is hard work.... Hope your feelin' a mighty much better!
ReplyDeleteI love me some corn. So does my cow. Also love to sing "Jimmy Cracked Corn", but didn't know the song went back so far.
ReplyDeleteG'eve Nezzy ~ I so love your gr-kidling pics. What a cutie he is. And his own tools, I'd say he's going to follow in someone's footsteps.
ReplyDeleteInteresting info on the corn ... had no idea this is the what & how from beginning to end. All I ever cared about was how fast I could get that wonderful white stuff smothered in butter, eaten.
Hope that the 'visitors' are starting to subside, sweetie. You've had quite a bout with this ... I wish I could make you smile thru it all.
Hugs & love, Marydon
I remember having to drive one of those silage hauling trucks years ago and having to cover the mounds of that soon to be stinking stuff with black plastic. Thankfully we don't do that any more and I sure don't miss it !!
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed tomorrow
If I wake up in the middle of the night with that song in my head - you are one Farm Chic in trouble!! ;o) What an interesting lesson - never realized how many uses there are for corn (I just prefer to eat it!!) Hope you are feeling better since you are up and working your self to a sweat!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you all grew corn! I always wondered how they picked the corns...I had envisioned some poor farmer out there with a huge bucket pulling them off the plants, one by one. Could you imagine???
ReplyDeleteWe just grilled a bunch of yellow corn on the cob and it was SAH-WEET!!! The kids love it but the main reason they love it is to see the results in the potty the next day. I know, so gross, right? Kids...
I prefer cobby corn, as my kids used to call it. Smathered with butter and pepper.
ReplyDeleteCorn as currency, interesting thought. I just watched the whole fascinating series on the Last American Cowboy. Would love to see such a series on the American farmer. I'd put you in a starring role.
ReplyDeleteNezzy I love my corn in the form of roastin' ears and give me some GRITS! And I never refuse cornbread. That is a whole lotta work to be doing in this heat. I am so ready for cooler weather. This summer has been a huge stress test. Take care Nezzy!
ReplyDeleteThis is so interesting. Corn is really a mainstay in our country. Others too. I like corn in all the ways you mention here. I add corn to soups and many other dishes. Do you have a favorite corn salsa recipe?
ReplyDeleteI saw the first photo and thought oh boy, corn. daddy used to grow corn many years ago when i was a child in KY. then i read the first sentence and it said bamboo. so i enlarged the photo and thought, looks like corn to me. so i read the rest of the post and it is corn. love that truck.
ReplyDeleteOh my...all that corn...all that land. Whew! Lotta work!
ReplyDeleteMy little corn crop didnt do so well this year. It has been hot and dry here this summer. That is one busy place you have there girl! And yes farming is hard work but yet so rewarding. I grew up on a farm. Have a blessed weekend my friend.
ReplyDelete<><
And my favorite; fried corn right off the cob. Wonderful, educating post Ms Cow Patty.
ReplyDeleteYou have yourself a wonderful weekend
Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
You've got me hankern' for some roastin' ears for supper tonight. Farming is hard work. Hope you are doing better. I couldn't help but think that you had no business out in this heat!
ReplyDeleteOh Nezzy...Be thankful that these roasting ears of yours are not growing here in East Texas! If they were, you would have fields full of Popcorn!
ReplyDeleteI love to see tall stalks of corn..reminds me of when I was little and would play hide n' seek.
Thanks for sharing!
Shug
Pass the butter is right! I love me some corn.
ReplyDeleteThis was really interesting Nezzy. Hope you are feeling good and got to put your feet up after all that work!
xo jj
Hi Nezzy, another Missouri blogger here. I found your blog name on another Mo blogger's list. Nice to meet ya!
ReplyDeleteI love roasteneers, too, and that's what we've always called them..:)
Love the way you write, so I'll sign up to be a follower and be back to check out more posts.
Take care,
Cheryl
I love corn. Can't handle the smell of silage, but I love corn - especially roasteneers!
ReplyDeleteNow I've got a certain song stuck in my head...and I don't care! :)
You've got me feeling a little corny.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful pics of the corn! Hard work, but so worth it in the long run, right?
ReplyDeleteOur local farmer has been out harvesting long into the night all this past week, but the crop is in at last. Thank goodness as it's been raining all day!
ReplyDeleteMaggie
My husband I were just talking the other day about how much we "missed" cutting silage!!! hahaha actually it is a great experience for anyone! We also used to call it Roasteneers but in our Franklin County Va hick accents it was more like "roaseneeers"!!!
ReplyDeleteNow I will be singing that song all day long! Should have been last Saturday as we were putting up over 200 roaseneeers!!
Hugs!!
Just read your comment on your gr-kidlings honeymoon comment ... HOW ADORABLE! Aren't kids the best-est ever! If only the world could be seen thru a kid-lings eyes. Adorable ...
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely PINK summers weekend ~
TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon
Corn on the grill! Definitely some good eatin'.
ReplyDeleteReally cute post!
BTW, I'm coming over for dinner. I'll bring some tater salad.
I've been buying fresh local corn / soaking in the husk and putting it on the barbecue (while hubbys steak's a cookin'
ReplyDeleteI love your photos. Wish I'd been there.
Stopping in to say, I am sorry I have been missing in action, lately. Life has been crazy.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
andrea
Corn one of my favorite foods! Everything is better with butter!! I find it interesting that you make silage, hardly anyone up here makes it anymore..I remember the sweet half fermented smell of it from long ago. I hope you have a great time in Branson..I can't wait to hear what fun you had there!! :)
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing doing all of that! Love the pics
ReplyDeletexoxo
SC
I love home grown corn! Love seeing these pictures!
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping in to see me.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
You're back, YAY!! :) I was just reading somewhere the other day all the uses for corn... it's staggering. We obviously could NEVER live without the sweet yellow stuff, huh? Me, I love a good sweet ear slathered with butter and salt. Nom, nom, nom....
ReplyDelete"...sweatin' like a tall glass of ice tea on a humid day..." That's been too common this summer.
ReplyDeleteI'm just back from your state and of course I needed to post about it.
Corn - I might have some difference of opinion with you about this major crop. Please correct me here if I'm wrong - most of the corn grown in the US is not directly eaten by humans. I love sweet corn but maybe the corn syrup is a problem.
Please drop a comment over on my Ozarks related post.
I've been putting up corn all day, and I'm pooped. Came here to relax a minute and what do I see? Corn.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, anyway! Hope you're all better now!
I so admire the hard work you put into your farm with your hubby. I wish I could help! (said the city girl who thinks farming might be fun, haha!)
ReplyDeleteThat was a great agricultural lesson! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGod bless the farmers.
Now that's a lot of corn! You taught me some things today.
ReplyDelete"...sweatin' like a tall glass of ice tea on a humid day"
ReplyDeleteAlways love your colorful descriptions!!
Nezzy, Love all your corn pics. Hope you are well and having a great week. Thank You for being here for me and all your prayers. I pray this weeks update will be perfect. (He failed another BPP). Much Love,
ReplyDeleteThat IS tall corn. Great description and photos, you corny gal! I'm singin' the song, now, too.
ReplyDeleteWell honey that is a lot of corn. I don't think you left out one thing we eat made from corn. lol
ReplyDeleteI could live on your site. You always make my day when I stop by. Too bad verizon counts my every byte on this darn computer because it sure puts a damper on my blogging.
Love the way you express yourself you are too darn funny. Now if you could give me some lessons I could really cut loose on my site. lol
I have to go catch up on your other post while I am here.
Girl it is so hot here we could pop some of that corn on the sidewalks.
Love ya
Maggie
PS
I hope your entered the CSN giveaway
I, being quite southern/southwestern, thought for many years the only decent bread was homemade cornbread in several varieties. As a native Texan I like a few jalopenos included and occasionally a can or frozen package of corn.
ReplyDeleteSomewhere I have a recipe that toasts cornbread cubes and use as croutons in salads.
Thanks for visiting my blog which right now is sorta soggy with some unexpected repairs, but we will survive.
Don't forget my favorite...Corn Nuts!
ReplyDelete(Even though they are a dentist's dream.)
=)
We OD on sweet corn while we were in colorado...it was called cream and vanilla..something like that..it was delish! Sorry, Mr Gates is fully booked for the next year!!Yippee for me !!!
ReplyDeleteGood heavens woman, that's some big operation ya'll got going there! And I love your Bubba spin on corn.
ReplyDeleteThanks for droppng by my place today.
Jane
"Cow Patty Surprise" has been included in this weeks Sites To See. I hope you like the image I featured, and I hope this helps to attract many new visitors here.
ReplyDeletehttp://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2010/08/sites-to-see_13.html
Great pictures! It is harvesting time, isn't it? I bet you're glad that's over. Love the cake below from your grandson's birthday! Did you make it?
ReplyDeleteHave a beautiful, blessed weekend!
About the hard work...I honestly just can't imagine how much hard work farming takes. Thankfully, for all of us, there are still folks who love the process and are sturdy, steady, and not afraid of hard work. I believe my husband could have been a farmer; he's that kind of strong person dedicated to what he does. I, on the other hand...mmmm, not so much so I don't think I would have been a good farmer's wife. I could never "cut off their heads with a carv-ing knife" as the ditty goes. I could shoot them, though.....
ReplyDeleteI'm new here and so glad to find your blog. Love the name of it and it reminds me of living on the farm and how busy it is in the summer time. I'm looking forward to future posts! You have a great sense of humor! We called them roasteneers too!
ReplyDeleteOh my! I'm ready for the state fair, now for sure! Roasted corn at the fair is the best ever!!
ReplyDeleteLiz
Thanks for all the sweet notes Nezzy!
ReplyDeleteThat really made me chuckle about your Sister and the baby showers. Too Cute!
Hope your weekend is a good one.
We've had strong storms and more tonight as a cold front tries to move in.
Yikes!
Their kind of freaky!
Hugs,
Cindy
Farming is most definitely hard work and, in my humble opinion, one of the most honorable. I always say, if you like to eat, thank a farmer! My office window looks out onto fields of veggies and I watch the worker toil out there every day. It's so special to watch the food I eat being grown and then go down to the farmer's market and get it fresh. On the farm where I live we grow lavender. It's beautiful and the smell is divine. The family that owns the place harvests it and makes all sorts of great stuff. I feel blessed to live in such surroundings.
ReplyDeleteYou have a farm and sell your corn? Or just keep it for yourselves and friends? Everything in the world has some type of corn in it!! didn't know it was used in prehistoric times, though! Using it for money's good, but we'd need awful big wallets!!
ReplyDeleteI'm suddenly hungry for popcorn.
ReplyDeleteI will never forget listening to my son singing that song when he was a tiny guy, only he was belting out, "Jimmy can't come, and I don't care!" I still laugh when I think about it.
Hi Nezzy, I enjoyed reading your post! I haven't heard that song in years!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Ann
I came over from Fishhawk's sites to see post. I read a few of your posts and I simply loved them. I look forward to reading more of your posts.
ReplyDeleteHi Nezzy Sweetie...
ReplyDeleteOh how beautiful is this post. I love, love harvest time. I don't care what we are harvesting, I just love it. With Grand daddy it was wheat, and what a wonderful time it was. I loved to be there for that first cut. It is an exciting and awesome time for the farmer isn't it? I have never forgotten that excitement. Everyone has to be by the field to see that first load come in.
Your critters will be fed for the Winter months ahead. Circle of life. Isn't God great?
I love to come and read your writes sweet friend. You have such a beautiful knack of sharing.
I pray you are feeling better. I think of you so often in prayer, and with the heat we have been having especially pray you are getting better each day.
I have had no voice for the last few weeks, it comes and goes. When it comes it isn't much. I really don't expect it will get much better than what I have. The dr.s had pretty much prepared us for this. I will survive.
I have a couple of other issues. I will have to email you privately and we'll discuss.
I love you sweet friend. Many hugs and much love, Sherry
Sweet corn is the definition of summer. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteHi!, excellent post. :D
ReplyDeleteI’d like to go to your blog more usually however recently it seems to
ReplyDeletebe taking ceaselessly to come back up. I go to from work,
and our connection there is fairly good. Do you think the issue could possibly be on your end?
my page - having trouble getting pregnant