{"id":167851,"date":"2025-07-14T05:00:47","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T09:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/?p=167851"},"modified":"2025-07-08T14:04:55","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T18:04:55","slug":"short-corn-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Benefits of Growing Shorter Corn"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weather events and latent environmental stressors are making it increasingly difficult to produce good yields of corn every year. With these added pressures, scientists are working hard to develop new varieties that continue to produce despite them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One such development has been the <strong>genetic modification of corn plants to produce shorter varieties<\/strong>. Although they\u2019re still in development, these smaller plants have proven highly beneficial for improving crop yields in various conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As trials continue and more varieties are developed, it\u2019s likely that shorter varieties will be the norm in certain regions. Since smaller farms can <strong>grow them on smaller plots<\/strong> and produce the same yields, it may be preferred across the board.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Short Variety Origins<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167856\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167856\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"66843e\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #66843e;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167856 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Young-corn-cobs-and-green-leaves.webp\" alt=\"Corn field with vertical stalks, long, flat, green leaves and young ears with silk, close-up.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Young-corn-cobs-and-green-leaves.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Young-corn-cobs-and-green-leaves-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Young-corn-cobs-and-green-leaves-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Young-corn-cobs-and-green-leaves-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167856\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shorter stalks stand strong when the heavy winds roll in.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When a huge windstorm knocked out <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/content\/article\/shrinking-corn-help-farmers-environment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16% of the corn<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> produced in Idaho in 2020, scientists from Bayer, along with university crop geneticists and Stine Seed began <strong>genetic breeding of standard types<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With prior wind damage to tall stalks between 2001 and 2016 coming to 800,000 hectares, they decided to reduce corn stature to limit the damage done by winds. In trials that have been in play for a few years now, scientists removed genes that engender height in plants, while keeping those that <strong>promote higher production<\/strong>, leaf density, and kernel formation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This resulted in the short varieties that are in trials among 300 farms today. These <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/pbi.13797\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">show promise<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with high potential for similar and sometimes <strong>increased yields<\/strong>, as well as flexibility in different environments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Benefits of Shorter Corn<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The lower height of these new varieties has benefits that funnel into higher yields. When these make it to the commercial realm, farmers who skipped this popular crop due to the space needed to grow it might have a change of heart.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Better Growth and Pollination<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167857\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167857\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"498392\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #498392;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167857 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bee-near-a-blooming-corn-tassel.webp\" alt=\"A striped yellow-black bee collects pollen from a vertical inflorescence consisting of many drooping tubular flowers of a golden hue.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bee-near-a-blooming-corn-tassel.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bee-near-a-blooming-corn-tassel-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bee-near-a-blooming-corn-tassel-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bee-near-a-blooming-corn-tassel-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167857\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pollination rates increase when corn is planted densely.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Short corn has a dense stature, with <strong>decreased space between leaf internodes<\/strong> (where the leaves grow from the stems). This makes silks grow closer together, giving them an easier time taking on pollen from nearby plants. The distance needed to <strong>blow pollen from silk to silk<\/strong> is much less.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even though the genes for the height of more standard varieties isn\u2019t present, the plant\u2019s growth rate remains the same. With more supple leaves in shorter succession, there is an increased chance for them to take in sunlight, resulting in better growth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stronger Stalks<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167858\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167858\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"868d4a\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #868d4a;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167858 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/farmer-checking-strong-corn-stalk.webp\" alt=\"Close-up of a farmer's hands checking a strong vertical corn stalk in a sunny garden.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/farmer-checking-strong-corn-stalk.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/farmer-checking-strong-corn-stalk-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/farmer-checking-strong-corn-stalk-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/farmer-checking-strong-corn-stalk-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167858\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Upright stalks mean healthier plants and less disease risk.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With better growth and less height, <strong>stalks are denser\u00a0and stronger<\/strong> than standard corn. Anchoring into the soil increases with higher stalk density. The stem <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nebraskacorn.gov\/cornstalk\/corn101\/learn-the-parts-of-a-corn-plant-and-what-they-do\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">transports nutrients and water<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from the soil to other parts of the plant, producing vigorous cobs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When normal stalks are weighed down by cobs or rain, the stalks of shorter types stay upright and resist lodging. This circumvents a common problem in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.extension.purdue.edu\/extmedia\/ay\/ay-262.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dense plantings<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of standard varieties. Upright stalks mean <strong>better disease resistance<\/strong>, as those that fall and lay in the field rot and harbor bacteria and fungi.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Easier Access<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167859\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167859\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"7b845a\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #7b845a;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167859 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Man-spraying-pesticides-on-corn-plantation.webp\" alt=\"A farmer in a white protective suit sprays pesticides from a spray gun on a young corn plantation.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Man-spraying-pesticides-on-corn-plantation.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Man-spraying-pesticides-on-corn-plantation-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Man-spraying-pesticides-on-corn-plantation-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Man-spraying-pesticides-on-corn-plantation-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167859\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Pest control gets simpler with shorter stalks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For farmers who treat their crops with pesticides, a shorter stature eliminates the need for <strong>aerial applications<\/strong>. These types of treatments come with high risks to wildlife and to adjacent farms, including but not limited to overspray and danger to local insects, which are a farm\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/06\/integrated-pest-management-farm\/\">initial defense against pests<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instead, farmers can walk among the stalks and apply by hand or via a tractor. Applying pesticides this way offers <strong>more control<\/strong>, and the ability to target pests more efficiently, limiting risks to human and non-human neighbors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Denser Plantings<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167860\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167860\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"799233\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #799233;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167860 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dense-corn-plantings.webp\" alt=\"Dense corn plantings in a field, close-up of green, long, narrow leaves growing on vertical, strong stems.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dense-corn-plantings.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dense-corn-plantings-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dense-corn-plantings-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Dense-corn-plantings-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167860\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Compact growth leads to stronger, healthier corn in fields.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smaller farms may avoid growing corn altogether due to the amount of land it takes to grow it. However, with short corn, <strong>intensive planting is possible<\/strong>. That means farms with a mid-sized range can opt for corn in their upcoming season. Farms that already grow this crop can grow more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In these densely planted areas, better growth and structure contribute to higher disease resistance. Sillage planters get a lot out of these increased densities, as there is much more material to feed to livestock. Spacing that would be applied to the usual sillage varieties <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.missouri.edu\/publications\/g4590\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can be increased<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The quality of sillage is improved by <strong>more productive growth<\/strong>, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Better Adaptability<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167861\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167861\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"547331\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #547331;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167861 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/close-up-of-a-\u0441orncob.webp\" alt=\"Close-up of corn cobs in green husks with dangling silk growing on upright stems among long, flat, green foliage in a sunny garden.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/close-up-of-a-\u0441orncob.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/close-up-of-a-\u0441orncob-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/close-up-of-a-\u0441orncob-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/close-up-of-a-\u0441orncob-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167861\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Stronger stems lead to increased resilience to environmental pressures.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shorter varieties adapt to <strong>environmental pressures<\/strong>, which is perhaps the most beneficial aspect of growing them. High winds, less fertile soils, and later seasons are all considerations for farmers. Having a short variety that can handle these pressures is incredibly important.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While varieties are limited at this time, there are a few available on the market. Touch base with your local extension office to get started.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"mfo-wysiwyg-custom-cta growing-corn-in-the-desert-no-irrigation-required\">\n<div class=\"mfo-wysiwyg-custom-cta-flex\">\n<p><a class=\"full\" title=\"Growing Corn in the Desert, No Irrigation Required\" href=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/01\/growing-corn-in-the-desert-no-irrigation-required\/\">full_link<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex\">\n<p class=\"title mfo-wysiwyg-custom-cta-title h1\">Growing Corn in the Desert, No Irrigation Required<\/p>\n<div class=\"description\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #122108; font-family: Inter, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; background-color: #fdfff7;\">The surreal sight of squash, melons and corn sprouting from the sandy ground reflects an ancient farming technique that\u2019s newly relevant.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"svg mfo-wysiwyg-custom-cta-svg\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Short corn varieties are currently in development, changing the game for farmers. These smaller-stature plants offer several benefits, promoting higher resilience and yields, even on a small-scale. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2074,"featured_media":167855,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":[],"meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33068],"tags":[],"article-theme":[],"class_list":["post-167851","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>5 Benefits of Growing Shorter Corn<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn the benefits of growing shorter corn!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 Benefits of Growing Shorter Corn\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn the benefits of growing shorter corn!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Modern Farmer\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ModernFarmerMedia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-07-14T09:00:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sarah Jay\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ModFarm\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ModFarm\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sarah Jay\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Sarah Jay\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/#\/schema\/person\/68fd59d96436bae0ee57d452c85abc04\"},\"headline\":\"5 Benefits of Growing Shorter Corn\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-14T09:00:47+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits\/\"},\"wordCount\":873,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"Food\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits\/\",\"name\":\"5 Benefits of Growing Shorter Corn\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-14T09:00:47+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn the benefits of growing shorter corn!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits.webp\",\"width\":1280,\"height\":720,\"caption\":\"Short corn benefits. Female farmer in checkered shirt and straw hat holds a wooden box filled with freshly picked corn cobs, standing in a sunny field of short, healthy corn plants.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/07\/short-corn-benefits\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Food\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/category\/food\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"5 Benefits of Growing Shorter Corn\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/\",\"name\":\"Modern Farmer\",\"description\":\"Farm. Food. 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It was during my time at college that I began to delve into the relationship between humans and plants across the world. Over time, I learned to grow edible plants in my garden at home. That led me to fall in love with the Cross Timbers and Blackland Prairie ecoregions where I live. I spend a lot of time restoring prairies and learning about the native plants of North Texas. I also co-manage a community garden that sends donations to a local food bank. My goal in life is to educate and empower readers to grow practically, and along with their local ecosystems so they can achieve the gardens of their dreams. In 2022, I was certified as a Texas Master Naturalist. With that knowledge, I focus on invasive removal and habitat restoration at home. I enjoy growing wildflowers in my yard, and watching the wildlife benefit from those plantings. 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