I went to Mexico this morning--had a fun day.

[panader0]

My friend made a deal with a Mexican farmer to grow some chapolote corn.
http://garynabhan.com/i/archives/1991
The guy in the link is a different guy, I posted the link to show the ancient grain.
Anyway, we crossed at Agua Prieta, a sad, dusty and ugly border town in SE Cochise County, Az.
We drove about 30 miles south, the scenery getting greener and prettier all the way. We began to follow a small creek. Then we got to the quaint village of Cabullona, where we had breakfast made by the old wife of the old farmer. Delicious green chile burritos with Mexican Coke, cooked on an outdoor stone oven fired by mesquite. Then on further south until we reached the fields. There we found the old farmer, tilling in his old tractor, cigarette dangling from his mouth. A deal was reached, he would plant ten acres of the
chapolote for five grand, 1500 down, the rest at harvest.
Apparently there is a demand for the corn, and also, apparently, Monsanto "discourages" it's growth in the US. If all goes well, and the rains come, there will be a small profit and enough seed to grow twenty acres next year. Then back to Cabullona to buy a dozen tamales to take home for dinner.
I'll be going back to help harvest when the time comes, or maybe just to eat in that cool little outdoor place.

[Kali]

1. Excellent!

AP isn't that bad, though. I really need to run down there soon, hit the Ueta and get some soap. Also lunch or dinner at Heradura, near the plaza.

edit: heh, reading Nabhan's article I see that was sponsored by SARE. My first grant proposal was written and approved for a project with them. I impressed myself with that.

The project itself was not that big and kind of got forgotten, but it was a fun first try.

[panader0]

3. They are building hundreds of little tiny houses

on the south side of town, for all of the factory workers. I have been to AP many times but never in that part. I used to go to the Ueta
often when Jeannie smoked (she quit two years ago), and some parts of AP are OK. What I saw was sad. Do you walk across or drive?
When we returned today we came through at Naco, because the line of cars at AP is usually a mile long.

[Kali]

4. yeah, the weekend can suck for the line.

oh hell no! I don't walk anywhere (cowboy blood and a fat ass)

most of the time over the last few years I was on my way to Casas Grandes with my German travel pal. Sometimes we just go down for lunch.

yeah the little houses are thick.

this reminds me - the last time I was down was in September. we broke down up on the Pass above El Valle 40 miles east of town. got a ride with some truckers and eventually found a mechanic around 10 that night. He got my car back to the crossing at 2 so I lost my deposit because I was a moron and put the actual date we were coming back on the permit. I can NOT believe I was so effing stupid. That was painful.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Good for you, my dear panader0!

I hope everything works out just the way you envision it.