Fall Fruit Trivia...

[captclearance]

Gourds
There are two theories about how gourds arrived in the Americas from their place of origin. Gourds used for floats by early Africans drifted across the ocean and took root in South America by accident. Or, another theory promotes the idea of seafaring Africans visiting the eastern coast of South America thousands of years ago bringing gourds with them. Then as now, gourds were used for storage, decoration and ritual.

Indian Corn
The multi-colored corn used for decoration purposes today was originally part of the diet of Native American people. Many more varieties of corn existed, particularly edible shades of red, white, blue and yellow. Corn was also dried and used during the winter months.

Native Americans used all parts of the corn plant. Husks were braided and woven to make Masks, moccasins, sleeping mats, baskets, and dolls. And corncobs were used for fuel.

Pumpkins
Native Americans made mats from dried, woven strips of pumpkin. They ate long strips of roasted pumpkin, cooked over an open fire.

Pumpkin pies were first baked by early North American colonists by slicing off the pumpkin top, removing the seeds, and filling the insides with milk, spices and honey and burying the stuffed pumpkin in hot ashes.

[heaven]

thanks lori i learned something new today thanks to you.