In addition to the books listed under Story Sources at the back of The Corn Whisperer, I found these two books to be quite informative and useful to the blogs on my website.

Coming from Midwestern corn farmers, the author weaves in personal antidotes with the history of corn. Fussell traveled through South America and across the United States researching this ancient grain and its impact on western civilizations. Ms. Fussell spent considerable time in the Southwest, documenting the role of corn in myth, religion, and culture.

According to the authors, in 1920 there were about 48,000 Native American farmers in the United States. By 1982, there were about 7,000 and today, even fewer.  Mirabal and Zink are making a concentrated effort to revitalize pueblo agriculture at Taos Pueblo in New Mexico. They plan to grow corn in an effort to protect water rights at the pueblo and to start a movement to protect the traditions and religious practices related to corn.

This manual provides step-by-step guidelines for growing corn― the pueblo way―beginning with selecting the seeds through harvesting the corn. Included are songs for singing up the corn and calling for the rain.

After reading these books, I felt inspired to grow Indian corn myself.  On May 26th (the day following the New Moon) I planted corn kernels in three large pots on my patio. I’m enjoying tending the plants and watching their growth.