Dear Friends,
After years of growing different varieties of blue corn with varying results, the 2021 harvest is abundant and beautiful. Producing an ear of corn like this takes many months of careful attention to growing and drying it on the stalk, always hoping the season will be long enough for it to become ripe.
In late October we hand-harvested the fields, dried them on the cob in storage over winter, then in February started shelling and cleaning. Many thanks to Southwest Grain Collective for their support, and, humble gratitude to the ancients from who we inherit the grain and processes. We are now nixtamalingand stone milling some of the corn in fresh small batch quantities. Nixtamalization is an ancient cooking and soaking process with calcium hydroxide that dramatically improves the nutritional content of the corn. The process loosens the hulls and secures niacin, detoxifies, raises calcium content, increases protein quality, and improves amino acid balance. The resulting masa has a fantastic aroma and flavor. Try Blue Corn Pancakes, they’re absolutely delicious!
With an equally good harvest of Sonoran White (soft) Wheat, Turkey Red (hard) Wheat, Pinto and Bolita Beans, we will soon be offering Owl Peak Farm Dry Goods through the farm’s website. Our online store will launch in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
Later in the summer, we will have seasonal produce, fresh pasta, and plenty of colorful eggs at the store as well.
Owl Peak Farm will focus on growing grains and milling in 2022. We’ll be at the Abiquiu and Los Alamos Farmers’ Markets with the Dry Goods or you can order from the online store.
All the best and enjoy the beginning of Spring!
- Owl Peak Farm
