OUR FLESH WAS MADE FROM CORN

The name “Pinole” comes from the Nahuatl word pinolli, meaning cornmeal. It is why Pinole, California was the perfect site to host a workshop on the power of intercropping and the value of seeds as a vital part of life.

Held at New Hope Farms in April of 2016, the East Bay Urban Farmer Field Schools, (EBUFFS) came together as a community to celebrate and give thanks to life by practicing a combination of indigenous rituals from the Americas. Farmers were accompanied by dancers and musicians, Mitotianis, while they asked for blessings of the seeds and for permission to sow. The Anahuaca Mexica Prayer Dance was performed by Chicueyi Coatl and Austen Tate, while GeraM accompanied on the drum, they are members of the community circle: Calpulli Huey Papalotl (The Venerable Obsidian Butterfly). Calpulli Huey Papalotl is a cultural circle and dance group of Indigenous Ceremonial and Ritual dances in northern California. Their tradition comes from the Valley of Anahuac in Mexico. They honor and connect to the Four Directions, to our beloved Ancestors and to all the Sacred Energies that surround us through music and dance.

A member of Food First, Leonor Hurtado shared the story of how people were created and shared the energy and the strength of the day according to the sacred Mayan calendar: Wakib’ K’at. She announced, “our flesh was made from corn.” Heart of Heaven and Heart of Earth ground the white and yellow corn kernels and, from the dough, molded the bodies of four men and four women. The Energy of Creation prepared a tonic, with red and black corn, for them to drink. This gave the people life: heart, mind, and body.

“our flesh was made from corn.” Heart of Heaven and Heart of Earth ground the white and yellow corn kernels and, from the dough, molded the bodies of four men and four women. The Energy of Creation prepared a tonic, with red and black corn, for them to drink. This gave the people life: heart, mind, and body

Food First Executive Director, Eric Holt-Giménez explained the history of maize and its importance to civilizations across the globe. He highlighted the tradition of planting maize, beans and squash together, referred to as La Milpa, or the three sisters. Together they grow in harmony. When eaten together they provide a balanced diet with complex carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, and all 8 essential amino acids.

According to indigenous tradition, the founder of New Hope Farms Hank Herrera gave Mother Earth food, tacos, and drink, mescal, and, together with Eric, they planted the first seeds. Once organized in groups, participants planted red corn to the east, black corn to the west, white corn to the north and yellow corn to the south. Counter to industrial farming practices, the corn was instead planted in four spiral patterns, imitating the flow of life. These practices added a new depth of meaning and appreciation for traditional American farming practices.

At the end, each participant expressed what the learning experience meant for them. Although the themes in our peer-learning workshops are technical, they also benefit from frank and honest exchanges between participants grounded in EBUFFS’ core principles of diversity, equality, anti-oppression, ecological sustainability and food sovereignty. The EBUFFS pedagogy creates an environment that cultivates trust, confidence and community leadership with men and women of underserved communities. This helps to support the power of their respective community organizations.

Video of the event