three sisters gardening!

[Kimber L Hirsch]

Creating a Three Sisters Garden
Discovering A Native Trio

Native peoples from different parts of North America have used a wide range of agricultural techniques. Perhaps the best known is the interplanting of corn, beans, and squash together � a trio often referred to as the "three sisters."

Cultivating these companions in your school garden, a small patch near the building, a barrel, or even indoors, can inspire studies of Native American customs, nutrition, and folklore. As students dig in, investigations of plant growth and relationships will also flourish.

In a three sisters planting, the three partners benefit one another. Corn provides support for beans. Beans, like other legumes, have bacteria living on their roots that help them absorb nitrogen from the air and convert it to a form that plants can use. (Corn, which requires a lot of nitrogen to grow, benefits most.) The large, prickly squash leaves shade the soil, preventing weed growth, and deter animal pests. The three sisters also complement each other nutritionally

[Kimber L Hirsch]

I am putting in a three sisters garden this year! Anybody with me?

[Rachel Butler]

Yes! I really love squash, corn and beans. Great post, thank you!

Kimber L Hirsch said:

I am putting in a three sisters garden this year! Anybody with me?

[Ty Mellon]

That's Awesome! I'll do it with you and post it for others to view as well!
Thanks for the post!
Ty

Kimber L Hirsch said:

I am putting in a three sisters garden this year! Anybody with me?

[Camilo Garcia]

Sure, Kimber, I will too. My brother has told me about this, and I've done it once but not in a few years. I think everything you've said is right on and maybe I'll use it as you say, to start building some interest in all things Native American. As well as reaping the groceries! Thanks for a great idea and being inspiring.

The problem I had was that corn seemed too hard, and it may have been from not getting the watering right, and because the soil did not have enough nitrogen in it. But after a few years of growing beans, it might finally be ready. And I'm ready to give it another try.

On squash, a very easy recipe for a veggie lasagna is to layer mixed yellow crookneck & zucchini slices in between your layers of sauce, noodles, and cheeses; even the carnivores will eat it. And I suppose any other squashes or YOUR favorite veggies might be just as good, but this is my favorite. And we eat the leaves and shoots as greens. I've also learned to enjoy corn-on-the-cob raw and black-eyed peas eaten green off the vine are absolutely the best. This is going to be a great garden.