June and Roger Rouse and their corn at the North Chili Farmers Market. Photos by Barbara Carder Pierce.

June and Roger Rouse have long known the joys of gardening. They have farmed continually for 25 years on varying portions of their 100-acre homestead, Honqualac Haven, in the town of Byron on Lyman Road. For the past several years, the couple can be found amidst the zinnias and Indian corn at one of the area's most popular Saturday farm market: the United Methodist Church of North Chili parking lot on the corner of Buffalo Road and Westside Drive.

On one of the most perfect fall Saturdays (October 13) when the sky is crisp and clear after a rain, the Rouses were set up early in the morning with their baskets of tomatoes, squash, peppers, onions, cabbage, pumpkins, corn stalks, flowers and miniature Indian corn, also known in New York state as "Indian fingers."

It's one of those markets where you can find most anything that suits your fancy: spun honey and red potatoes, wreaths of statice and straw flowers, fresh flower arrangements in pumpkins, Gala, Empire and 20-ounce, and the last of the basil before a killing frost. What the Rouses have at their tables are tied bundles of miniature Indian corn, not just your ordinary tiny ears, but those that have been in the family for generations.

"We have varying shades of miniature Indian corn," June said, "from calico to single-color. It depends on the amount of moisture the stalks receive." Over 25 years ago, June's grandmother, a South Dakota farmwife, had kept an envelope of shells of the ornamental corn which she gave to June. They planted the seeds, harvested them and discovered an amazing variety of different colors in the ears. At the time, Roger was employed by the former Harris Seed Corporation where he showed the ears to the corn plant breeder who suggested it be developed as an item in their famous seed catalogue.

"They liked the way the stalk stood up," June said. "At the time it became a Harris exclusive. We had to take the seeds to the N.Y.S. Experiment Station in Geneva to have the germination certified, and then we were in business."

For years the Rouses grew the specialty variety and sold to Harris until the company began its fated turnover in the hands of multi-nationals.

Today they are both working full-time, she at the University of Rochester Eastman School of Dentistry as an office manager and he as a sales representative for Stokes Seeds. But farming is in their blood. After work hours they have managed to plant and harvest 10 acres in various vegetables, herbs, flowers and Indian corn.

"We're a dying breed … of small market gardeners, that is," June said. "It's really work; you need a lot of endurance. It would be good if there were more people interested in this type of gardening. It's very, very rewarding. I learn something new everyday. Selling at the farm market has its rewards, too. People are so grateful for nice, fresh-tasting products brought there with care."

They continue to grow their family-heirloom miniature Indian corn and recently they have discovered an even tinier ear which pops up randomly - perfectly developed Indian corn only an inch long. Maybe next time you are down at the North Chili farm market, spend a few extra moments looking closely between the cock's comb and broom corn for what may be the next breakthrough in the gourmet and specialty garden market.

Note: The North Chili Farmers Market closes Saturday, October 27.