July 26

Early corn has been ready for a little over a week, thought we’ve waited until now to enjoy the harvest. There has been a sign up in the store, just above the cash registers, that alerts customers to the fact that the “early ears are small,” something to which we’ve become accustomed through the years. Best to wait until the maturity of a week or so shows through.

Today we purchased our first ears, butter and sugar variety that is unshucked and freshly picked, with ears that are modest, though not of the size we will find in a month. It is a hallmark of our late July, to walk home in the summer sun down the farm driveway and left onto Grove, all the while slowly pulling away the husk and throwing the sepal coverings into the tall grass.

By the time we reach our driveway, the silks have been removed and the stalk stubble has been cut, broken clean by grabbing and yanking downward with a force.

Seven minutes in the pot and a few to cool. No butter or salt, thank you. This corn stands on its own, and we dream about it when the winter months set in.