Weekend farmers can become a member of the court of King Corn this summer, when the Sumner Community Garden begins to allow participants to adopt a row of the golden stalks.

City councilman and community garden organizer Randy Hynek announced the program at the June 5 meeting of council, calling it a good way to stockpile corn and bolster the supplies of Sumner Food Bank.

The concept, developed by Hynek, has adopters caring for the growth of their section of corn. In return, a third of every row of corn will go directly to the Sumner Food Bank and its clientele.

“You should get a lot of corn out of the process and help a lot of people,” Hynek said.

Rows are divided into three 100-foot sections. An adopter can adopt anywhere from one section, up to the full 300-feet for a whole row.

The community garden has already planted several rows, half of which have been adopted. More rows may be planted.

Tractor work, planting and tilling will be completed for the adopter, Hynek said.

Most of the work of adoption will be weeding, which Hynek estimated would take one to two hours per week. Weeding is hard work, but harder if the adopter skips a week, he said.

“Timewise, depending on the section, weeding could take a half-hour the first time out,” Hynek said. “But after that, with a hoe, you could get several feet [of weeds] in about five minutes. Come out once every ten days and you should be fine.”

Three hybrid seeds of corn have been planted. Bodacious is a 75-day growth corn that can grow up to 7 feet. Precocious is a 75-day corn that can grow 4 to 5 feet in cooler weather conditions. Quickie corn is a 70-day corn that can grow a 5-foot stalk.

“You could adopt a section of each if you want to balance your bets,” Hynek said.

This summer is the first year the community garden has put the adopt-a-row program in place.

“Most of the people I’ve spoken to have said they’re doing it for the food bank,” Hynek said. But I think once they bite into that sweet corn, they’ll realize there’s other benefits to it.”

For more information about adopting a row of corn, contact Hynek at City Hall. He can be reached by phone at 253-299-5792 or email at rhynek@ci.sumner.wa.us.