Heirloom Corn: Elemental, Sacred, Diverse
Thousands of years ago, indigenous farmers in what is now Mexico began domesticating corn from teosinte, a wild grass that produced hard-shelled kernels on short cobs. Corn (Zea mays) is a cornerstone of cultures and cuisines in the Americas. What is heirloom corn, and why is it important?
The Real Story of Gete Okosomin
Gete Okosomin squash gained internet fame as “the 800-year-old squash” after a story circulated that the seeds had been found in 2008, inside a clay pot during an archaeological dig on Menominee tribal land in Wisconsin. Not so.
Building a Better Food System
In St. Louis, social entrepreneur Gibron Jones is working to build access to healthier food — and a better way for farmers to access new markets.
“Never Let Go of that Pea”
In East Texas, Rev. J.T. Harris is the third-generation steward of an heirloom clay pea that has nourished his family since 1867. Why is seed saving important?
First Freedom
A few years ago, I took a deep dive into the state of religious freedom around the world for Congressional Quarterly Researcher. Here’s what I found.
Passenger Pigeons and Lyme disease?
Could the extinction of the passenger pigeon more than a century ago have anything to do with the prevalence of Lyme disease today? This story for Wiscontext.org explores the question.