Survival Garden - All About Growing Corn
Corn has a long history of cultivation! Corn was first grown as an agricultural crop about 10,000 years ago. It was then and still is today a hugely important food crop for people all across the world.
Corn is a great crop for survivalists for many reasons. For one it is a calorie-dense food. And Calories for someone faced with rebuilding their life after a catastrophe is paramount. Corn's importance grows when you consider that it is not only a food for people but also a feed for animals, domestic and wild.
Corn has now been cultivated to the point where it can mature much faster than originally, and can be grown in much colder climates than the original. Thank you, Native Americans.
Corn is fairly easy to grow and is the easiest to process than other grains which usually have much smaller seeds and aren't so easily separated from the hulls and chaff.
And luckily for you and me, the corn comes in a few different varieties that suit a particular need.
These types are sweet corn, field corn, flour corn and three others that are not of interest here.
Sweet corn is the corn you buy to eat. It is harvested when the kernels are in the 'milky stage'.
Field corn is similar to sweet just not quite as sweet. Field corn today is used primarily as animal feed, processed into cornmeal. Since field corn can also be eaten by humans it serves a broader range of survival uses. This is why I believe it makes the best corn crop for a survivalist.
Field corn is allowed to dry, usually on the stalk for a while before it is picked. As the field corn dries to the proper moisture content level, it will leave a small dent in the kernel. This dent lets you know that the crop is ready to pick.
Flour corn is a type of corn that the native Americans use to grow. As the name implies it was primarily used for making flour. It's more limited uses make this corn less desirable for our purposes. However, that is just my opinion. If you feel that it is a viable option then by all means, prepare for its use. It isn't as if you must choose only one. And diversification is important when it comes to living off the land.
Whichever seed you decide to plant, be sure that your seed is a heirloom variety. This means that it is open pollinated and hasn't been genetically modified.
Whichever seed(s) you decide on keep in mind that they should not be grown near each other. Varieties must be kept at a minimum 600 feet from other varieties or cross pollination will occur and your future seed supply will be contaminated and less useful.
For this reason alone I think it is a better idea to just plant field corn and not have to worry about such issues.
Heirloom seeds are by their very nature, less domesticated than more modern varieties. This means that the heirloom varieties will usually be more resistant to adverse conditions. Think more weed like and less pampered pet like.
The one drawback to corn is that it does require fertile, nitrogen rich soil to reach its potential. It is for this reason that native Americans would when possible, plant their seed above a dead fish. Instead of fish you can also enrich the soil by adding lots of compost.
Corn grows well in soil that drains well. So, don't plant your crop in low lying areas that will be wet and swampy if you are having a wet year.
Plant the corn kernels 2 inches deep or they will fall over due to lack of support to hold them up when they get larger.
Plant your corn in a block. This will aid in pollination since they are a wind pollinated species.
When you plant is largely dependent on your local climate and growing season. In warmer climates you can possibly get two crops in a single year. Your crop must have a long enough growing season so that it avoids killing frost. Usually it is best to plant after the threat of frost has passed. But keep in mind in colder climates you might need to plant early and hope and pray because planting later might mean your crop is killed on the tail end by an early fall frost.
One important tip to keep in mind is to, if possible, never plant corn in the same place each year. Rotating your crops allows the nutrients that the corn has depleted from the soil, time to build back up. Rotate every three years is standard operating procedure.
If possible I would let the field go to grass and weeds the year after a corn crop is planted. This will help improve the soil tremendously.
Sweet corn is ready to harvest when the tassel begins turning dark brown. Once this occurs confirm that the corn kernels are milky, not clear, when a kernel is broken. Now you can harvest.
Field corn should be left on the stalk longer.
The drawback of corn is the intensity of the harvest vs. the pounds of corn you get per area you planted. But despite this drawback corn remains a top pick for the survivalist because it is absolutely a great crop when it comes to preservation and storage.
You sweet corn and field corn can obviously be eaten immediately, but it can also be preserved for later use.
To preserve your field or flour corn, go ahead and remove the husk. This is called shucking. Remove the silk. The silk is the tiny thin threads that hang down from the top of each corn cob.
To store it you will need to dry it, since refrigeration isn't likely to be an option.
Field corn can be stored on the cob or as kernels. It can then be ground into flour at a later date.
If the corn is to be used as feed for livestock you can store it in a corn crib. It must have good air circulation to prevent mold from forming.
Preserving sweet corn is possible, but it is much more work not as easy and more prone to failure.
First, put the ears in boiling water for four minutes. Then, submerge them in cold water to stop the cooking process. Next cut the kernel off the cob.
Now you must dry the kernels in an oven. Do this on very low heat. It could take up to three days. If you need the oven to cook your day's food, simply remove the corn and return it later. Be sure that the oven is no longer hot enough for cooking when returning the corn for drying.
The slow drying drives out the moisture and the corn will last a long time like this.
All of this is important, but don't forget to save some seed for next year's crop. Seed for next year should remain on the plant until the husk has dried. Then in a dry area hang the ears to dry some more. Once dried, you can shell the corn and store in a cool dry location. Never plant all of your seed. If you have a total crop failure you want some seed to replant at some point in the future, possibly even the following year.
Another step that is not always done is called the nixtamalization process.
Nixtamalization is a process for the preparation of corn for human consumption. The process calls for the corn to be soaked and cooked in a high pH solution such as Wood ash lye. To find out how to make lye, it is easy, check out this page, Wood ash lye. After soaking and cooking, the corn is washed, and then hulled. This process removes aflatoxins from mycotoxin-contaminated corn. The hulling process removes the outer coating of the corn kernel. You hull the corn by rubbing it.
The Nixtamalization process not only removes toxins but also improves a number of characteristics including dough formation and improved taste.
Here is a rundown of the process. The first step of nixtamalization is to cook the dried kernels in a solution of lye water. Once the water has reached a boil, remove it from the heat source. Let it sit in the hot lye water for about an hour or many more if you like. Different people soak for varying lengths of time.
This process does several things. The soaking makes it easier to remove the thin outer seed coat, soften the kernel and chemically alter the corn itself.
Drain the water off and wash the kernels with clean water.
The corn can now be used or ground while still wet. With the proper wetness you can now cook it as a dough. Or let it dry out again for storage as flour. So yeah you will have to mill it down to a powder.
Back to Survival Garden
Corn is a great crop for survivalists for many reasons. For one it is a calorie-dense food. And Calories for someone faced with rebuilding their life after a catastrophe is paramount. Corn's importance grows when you consider that it is not only a food for people but also a feed for animals, domestic and wild.
Corn has now been cultivated to the point where it can mature much faster than originally, and can be grown in much colder climates than the original. Thank you, Native Americans.
And luckily for you and me, the corn comes in a few different varieties that suit a particular need.
Sweet corn is the corn you buy to eat. It is harvested when the kernels are in the 'milky stage'.
Field corn is similar to sweet just not quite as sweet. Field corn today is used primarily as animal feed, processed into cornmeal. Since field corn can also be eaten by humans it serves a broader range of survival uses. This is why I believe it makes the best corn crop for a survivalist.
Field corn is allowed to dry, usually on the stalk for a while before it is picked. As the field corn dries to the proper moisture content level, it will leave a small dent in the kernel. This dent lets you know that the crop is ready to pick.
Flour corn is a type of corn that the native Americans use to grow. As the name implies it was primarily used for making flour. It's more limited uses make this corn less desirable for our purposes. However, that is just my opinion. If you feel that it is a viable option then by all means, prepare for its use. It isn't as if you must choose only one. And diversification is important when it comes to living off the land.
Whichever seed you decide to plant, be sure that your seed is a heirloom variety. This means that it is open pollinated and hasn't been genetically modified.
Whichever seed(s) you decide on keep in mind that they should not be grown near each other. Varieties must be kept at a minimum 600 feet from other varieties or cross pollination will occur and your future seed supply will be contaminated and less useful.
For this reason alone I think it is a better idea to just plant field corn and not have to worry about such issues.
Heirloom seeds are by their very nature, less domesticated than more modern varieties. This means that the heirloom varieties will usually be more resistant to adverse conditions. Think more weed like and less pampered pet like.
The one drawback to corn is that it does require fertile, nitrogen rich soil to reach its potential. It is for this reason that native Americans would when possible, plant their seed above a dead fish. Instead of fish you can also enrich the soil by adding lots of compost.
Corn grows well in soil that drains well. So, don't plant your crop in low lying areas that will be wet and swampy if you are having a wet year.
Plant the corn kernels 2 inches deep or they will fall over due to lack of support to hold them up when they get larger.
Plant your corn in a block. This will aid in pollination since they are a wind pollinated species.
When you plant is largely dependent on your local climate and growing season. In warmer climates you can possibly get two crops in a single year. Your crop must have a long enough growing season so that it avoids killing frost. Usually it is best to plant after the threat of frost has passed. But keep in mind in colder climates you might need to plant early and hope and pray because planting later might mean your crop is killed on the tail end by an early fall frost.
One important tip to keep in mind is to, if possible, never plant corn in the same place each year. Rotating your crops allows the nutrients that the corn has depleted from the soil, time to build back up. Rotate every three years is standard operating procedure.
If possible I would let the field go to grass and weeds the year after a corn crop is planted. This will help improve the soil tremendously.
Sweet corn is ready to harvest when the tassel begins turning dark brown. Once this occurs confirm that the corn kernels are milky, not clear, when a kernel is broken. Now you can harvest.
Field corn should be left on the stalk longer.
The drawback of corn is the intensity of the harvest vs. the pounds of corn you get per area you planted. But despite this drawback corn remains a top pick for the survivalist because it is absolutely a great crop when it comes to preservation and storage.
You sweet corn and field corn can obviously be eaten immediately, but it can also be preserved for later use.
To preserve your field or flour corn, go ahead and remove the husk. This is called shucking. Remove the silk. The silk is the tiny thin threads that hang down from the top of each corn cob.
To store it you will need to dry it, since refrigeration isn't likely to be an option.
Field corn can be stored on the cob or as kernels. It can then be ground into flour at a later date.
If the corn is to be used as feed for livestock you can store it in a corn crib. It must have good air circulation to prevent mold from forming.
Preserving sweet corn is possible, but it is much more work not as easy and more prone to failure.
First, put the ears in boiling water for four minutes. Then, submerge them in cold water to stop the cooking process. Next cut the kernel off the cob.
Now you must dry the kernels in an oven. Do this on very low heat. It could take up to three days. If you need the oven to cook your day's food, simply remove the corn and return it later. Be sure that the oven is no longer hot enough for cooking when returning the corn for drying.
The slow drying drives out the moisture and the corn will last a long time like this.
All of this is important, but don't forget to save some seed for next year's crop. Seed for next year should remain on the plant until the husk has dried. Then in a dry area hang the ears to dry some more. Once dried, you can shell the corn and store in a cool dry location. Never plant all of your seed. If you have a total crop failure you want some seed to replant at some point in the future, possibly even the following year.
Another step that is not always done is called the nixtamalization process.
Nixtamalization is a process for the preparation of corn for human consumption. The process calls for the corn to be soaked and cooked in a high pH solution such as Wood ash lye. To find out how to make lye, it is easy, check out this page, Wood ash lye. After soaking and cooking, the corn is washed, and then hulled. This process removes aflatoxins from mycotoxin-contaminated corn. The hulling process removes the outer coating of the corn kernel. You hull the corn by rubbing it.
The Nixtamalization process not only removes toxins but also improves a number of characteristics including dough formation and improved taste.
Here is a rundown of the process. The first step of nixtamalization is to cook the dried kernels in a solution of lye water. Once the water has reached a boil, remove it from the heat source. Let it sit in the hot lye water for about an hour or many more if you like. Different people soak for varying lengths of time.
This process does several things. The soaking makes it easier to remove the thin outer seed coat, soften the kernel and chemically alter the corn itself.
Drain the water off and wash the kernels with clean water.
The corn can now be used or ground while still wet. With the proper wetness you can now cook it as a dough. Or let it dry out again for storage as flour. So yeah you will have to mill it down to a powder.
Back to Survival Garden
