We're harvesting otto file corn! Otto file is a flint corn with eight (otto in Italian) rows on each cob. This corn was grown here by the Lenape people for centuries. It was exported to Italy in the 19th century and became known there for making delicious polenta.

Stone Barns Center received otto file corn seed from Glenn Roberts of Anson Mills. We include it in our ley rotation, which incorporates grains, grains, row crops, and forage grasses for animals to improve the long-term health of the soil.

We seeded this corn in the beginning of June. In early fall the whole plant, including the husk, begins drying out, indicating it will soon be ready for harvest. To harvest, we snap the cobs off the plant. We then remove some of the husk and lay the cobs out in the sun for about a week to let them dry out. This prepares the cobs for storage and grinding into cornmeal.