b'ALIKE ANYONEand anything of true value, the beauty of Glass Gem goes below the surface. In addition to provid-Rainbowing an inspiring and unique experience for all who grow it, this stunning corn is also a living reminder of how many Native American tribes have re-connected with their traditional cultures, and a living Jewelsymbol of inspiration for their future.Glass Gem corn (also known as Rainbow Jewel, the reason for this will be explained later) produces a diversity of with astriking, translucent, jewel-colored ears, each and every one of them unique. Its a combination flint and popcorn types of corn. The smaller-kernelled ones will Longpop, while the larger flat-kernelled ones are best ground into flour. But of course, many ears are simply kept as a feast for the eyes. This corn is now well-known across History many parts of the U.S. and beyond, due in large part to the keen eye of Carl Barnes, a part-Cherokee farmer and corn breeder who died in 2016. Barnes developed the rainbow-colored corn through allowing The story of how thisPawnee miniature popcorn corn, Osage red flint corns and likely Cherokee Long-extremely striking cropear corn to interbreed, explains Greg was developed is trulySchoen. Schoen first met Barnes in 1994In 2013, the first pick rainbow glass gem at a herbalists gathering and was struckcorn was harvested at Native Seeds/fascinating, and one thatsby some small ears of corn Barnes had onSEARCH. far from over.Treena Hein display, ears with kernels of all colors. That year and in the years to follow, Schoenwith traditional Pueblo miniature and became one of several people to whomblue corns, on the land of Jose Lucero. Carl mentored, gave seedand encour- Schoen had a feeling it would be benefi-aged further sharing. cial for the pollen of the smaller rainbow Over the next few years, Carl sharedcorns to mingle with that of the robust additional samples of the rainbow cornSouthwestern strains, diversifying genet-seed with me so that I had a broaderics that might have narrowed over the genetic base, Schoen explains. Carl alsoyears with his and Carls somewhat limited gave me seed of a number of his largerplantings up to that point. His instincts traditional native flour corns. During thiswere right. Amazing colors and patterns time, my friendship with Carl grew and Iemerged. visited him at his home many times. HisEvery year, I began to see the corn collection room was full of shelves andmove towards its potential, Schoen says. cabinets of seeds in jars and displays ofIn 2008, we selected our best seed and seed and ears of corn originating fromplanted only rainbow corn.many Native American peoples. (BarnesHaving shared this seed to others over has also been central to the protection ofthe years, it was in 2009 that Schoen real-White Eagle Corn, part of a recent seedized he should give samples of the seed to submission to the Svalbard Seed Vault.) Bill McDorman, an Arizonian he respected, From 2005 to 2008 in New Mexico,who was conducting classes training Schoen grew the rainbow corn alongyoung people about growing and pre-26/ SEEDWORLD.COMFEBRUARY 2021'