Date: October 28, 2009
Contact: Merrith Baughman, 402-223-3514
The public is invited to Homestead National Monument of America to harvest corn from the Heritage Farm Field. The corn variety is Hickory King, an open pollinated heirloom variety of white corn. It is known for its large kernels and small cobs. Last spring Homestead National Monument of America’s volunteers planted the field with corn using a check-row planter pulled by horses. The crop has grown, and it is now time to harvest the bounty from the field.
Hickory King was first described by W. Atlee Burpee in the 1888 Farm Annual as follows: "This new white field corn has proved entirely distinct from all other varieties, and has unquestionably the largest grains, with the smallest cobof any white corn ever introduced."
You are invited to take home what you harvest, up to a five gallon bucket full. Please provide your own container. Other species that you can harvest include walnuts, mulberries, rosehips, wild strawberries, mushrooms, elderberries, plums, gooseberries, choke cherries, asparagus, and hedge apples. You are allowed to collect up to a gallon bucket of each species.
"This is an excellent opportunity for the public to see the hard work that the homesteaders had to complete in order to make their homestead successful," stated Mark Engler, Superintendent. "It also is a great opportunity for visitors to get some free corn for fall decorations or to feed wildlife."
The Heritage Farm Field is located between State Highway 4 and the Heritage Center.
If you have any question please call the monument at 402-223-3514 or ask a Park Ranger. The Monument is located 4 miles west of Beatrice on Nebraska Highway 4. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends. Admission to the monument is free of charge.
