Hopi corn harvest

The Hopi people (meaning ‘the peaceful ones’) live on the arid mesas in NE Arizona on more than 2500 square miles of tribal lands. Twelve villages are located on, or at the foot of three finger-like extensions known as Black Mesa.

Hopis have farmed the sandy, arid soil below the mesas for hundreds of years. They are dry farmers, using only sparse rainfall (on average 10-12 inches of rain per year) to nurture their crops.

Traditional use of the small farming plots is linked to certain membership to clans and villages. Farmers plant several types of white, blue, red, yellow and speckled corn – varieties that have adapted to the sparse rainfall. The plants are stunted but the roots exceptionally long to reach every drop of moisture in the soil.

Hopi corn has been found to have higher food value than other varieties of corn. Many aspects of the ceremonial calendar relate to the planting and harvesting of corn, and corn grinding is both a social and ceremonial activity at different times of year.