Milpas

Finally, some decent rain yesterday.  However, I drove a big loop yesterday through Tlacolula, Mitla, and over to Ocotlan and things look very dry for rainy season.  The corn in many areas looks so feeble and dry. 

This milpa (read this short history and description) is right around the corner from me and I always love the genius and the hundreds or thousands of years of knowledge and experience that goes into each of these.  It represents a deep understanding of the interdependence and necessary respect of nature and its cycles.

A milpa is one the most traditional and ancient arrangements of growing plants that aid each other.  So there is always corn, squash and beans and often more.  There are almost as many varieties and combinations as there are milpas.  And that is why Monsanto is thought to be so evil here.  Domestic corn was developed ten thousand years ago near Mitla and there are so many different strains and varieties that are threatened by wind-driven cross pollination, that people are scared and upset... uh...  make that livid.

As one who is a plant person, always in touch with plants, I always have loved the whole concept and rich history of milpas.  Judith Haden has been working with Susana Trilling on a recipe and photography book for the last few years that documents the miracle of the milpa.  Check out https://www.facebook.com/milpafromseedtosalsa?pnref=story.