Creating a Three Sisters Garden

Kidsgardening = Home=20 =97 Store

This month . . = .=20

Creating a Three Sisters Garden =
Discovering A=20 Native Trio

Native peoples from = different parts of=20 North America have used a wide range of agricultural = techniques.=20 Perhaps the best known is the interplanting of corn, beans, = and=20 squash together =96 a trio often referred to as the "three = sisters."=20

Cultivating these companions in your school garden, a small = patch near=20 the building, a barrel, or even indoors, can inspire studies = of=20 Native American customs, nutrition, and folklore. As = students dig=20 in, investigations of plant growth and relationships will = also=20 flourish.

In a=20 three sisters planting, the three partners benefit one = another. Corn=20 provides support for beans. Beans, like other = legumes, have=20 bacteria living on their roots that help them absorb = nitrogen from=20 the air and convert it to a form that plants can use. (Corn, = which=20 requires a lot of nitrogen to grow, benefits most.) The = large,=20 prickly squash leaves shade the soil, preventing weed = growth, and=20 deter animal pests. The three sisters also complement each = other=20 nutritionally. (See Nutritious=20 Lessons.)

It's=20 hardly surprising that these crops =96 considered by = many to be=20 special gifts from the creator =96 played such an = important=20 role in the agriculture and nutrition of most of the Native = people=20 of the Americas. Because of the sisters' central role as = "sustainers=20 of life," a host of stories, customs, celebrations, and = ceremonies=20 are associated with them.

Materials

soil=20 preparation tools (e.g., spading = forks,=20 rakes)
measurement tools (rulers, yardsticks, or tape=20 measures)
sticks (to = mark mound=20 locations)
seeds: corn, pole beans, winter squash or=20 pumpkins

(Find seeds that = mature between=20 your area's "frost-free" dates. The Resources=20 page features links to sources of traditional Native=20 seeds.)
=

Creating a Three Sisters Garden

Each = Native culture=20 that grew the three sisters had a unique planting system. Here we = feature=20 guidelines for one type of setup.

Plan=20 and select a site. You'll want to plant your three = sisters=20 garden in late spring once the danger of frost has passed. = Choose a site=20 that has direct sunshine for most of the day and access to = water. Once=20 students have determined their site's dimensions, challenge them = to plan=20 their three sisters garden on paper. They can use the layout = suggested=20 below or research and try others.
Prepare the soil. First, break up and rake the = soil. Next,=20 build a mound about 12 inches high and between 18 inches and 3 = feet in=20 diameter. If you're in a dry area, flatten the top of the mound = and make=20 a shallow depression to keep water from running off. The number = of=20 mounds your students create depends on the size of your growing = area.=20 Mounds should be 3 to 4 feet apart in all=20 directions.
Plant corn. Soak four to seven corn seeds overnight and then plant = them about=20 6 inches apart in the center of each mound. (You'll eventually = thin to=20 three or four seedlings.) Many Native people honor the tradition = of=20 giving thanks to the "Four Directions" by orienting the corn = seeds to=20 the north, south, east, and west. By doing the same, students = can learn=20 to use compasses and observe the sun's = movements.
Plant beans and=20 squash. After a week or two, when the corn is at least 4 inches = high,=20 soak and then plant six pole bean seeds in a circle about 6 = inches away=20 from the corn. (You'll eventually thin to three or four bean = seedlings.)=20 At about the same time, plant four squash or pumpkin seeds next = to the=20 mound, about a foot away from the beans, eventually thinning to = one. If=20 you are planting a large area, you can also sow the squash in = separate=20 mounds (1 foot in diameter) between every few corn and bean=20 mounds.
Consider other=20 additions. Consider planting other traditional crops, such as = sunflowers or=20 jerusalem artichokes (a tuberous perennial sunflower), around at = the=20 edge of the three sisters garden. Put them on the north side so = they=20 won't shade your other plants. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, and = other=20 native crops are often planted in nearby plots. (Some of the = many other=20 indigenous plants used by native North, South, and Central = Americans=20 include melon, tobacco, chili pepper, cotton, blueberry, wild = rice, and=20 hazelnuts.) Let your students' creative juices flow as they = create a=20 unique scarecrow; a number of Native culture's gardens = incorporate these=20 familiar figures.
Maintain your=20 traditional garden. As corn plants grow, weed gently around them = and mound soil around the base = of each stem=20 for support. When the corn is knee-high and again when silks = appear on=20 the husks, "side-dress" by putting a high nitrogen fertilizer = (such as=20 aged manure or fish emulsion) on the soil surface near each = plant.=20 If = beans aren't=20 winding their way around the corn, youngsters can help by moving = tendrils to the stalks. (Keen observers may notice a pattern in = the=20 direction in which the bean vines wind.) To allow room for corn = and=20 beans to grow, gently direct squash vines into walkways, garden = edges,=20 or between mounds. Once students observe young fruits, = side-dress the=20 squash plants with aged manure or compost. If you pinch off the = tips of=20 squash runners after several fruits have started to form, the = plants=20 will devote more energy to producing squash.

Raising Three Sisters in = Containers
If your outdoor = growing space=20 is limited, you can create a mini three sisters garden in an = outdoor=20 container, such as a barrel, or even in the classroom. Although = students=20 won't likely see the crops grow to maturity, especially indoors, = they=20 should be able to observe the pole beans twine around the corn and = the=20 large squash leaves form a mat. To simulate this planting system, = use a=20 large container with holes or gravel in the bottom and fill it = with=20 potting mix (and compost if you're growing outdoors). Follow the = above=20 instructions, but plant only 3 corn seeds (and thin to1), 2 bean = seeds,=20 and 1 mini pumpkin seed. Place the container where it will receive = at=20 least six hours of sunlight (or 12 hours of grow lights) each=20 day.

Coming Full Cycle (Saving = Seeds)

By saving and replanting some of the seeds from their = three=20 sisters gardens, Native cultures brought the cycle of life = full=20 circle. Your students may want to save some to replant or = package=20 and give to other gardeners. Below are some tips for = gathering and=20 preserving the seeds.

Corn
Leave several ears on the stalk until = husks dry=20 and turn brown. Remove and peel back the husks and hang them = to dry,=20 out of direct sun, for a month. Once they're dry, remove the = individual kernels. Store them in an airtight container. = (Note: If=20 you save and replant seed from hybrid corn, the plants will = not have=20 their parents' good qualities.)

Beans
Leave several pods on a plant until they = turn=20 brown and brittle. Break open the pods and remove the seeds. = Leave=20 them on a flat surface or screen, out of direct sun, to air = dry for=20 a few days. Put them in an airtight, dark container = protected from=20 extreme heat and cold.

Squash
Scoop out the seeds with a spoon and = rinse them=20 with water in a colander. Follow the same instructions as = listed for=20 drying and storing = beans.

Copyright=A9 2002 National Gardening=20 Association

Three=20 Sisters

Contents

Classroom Project

Background

Materials=20 and Procedures

Curriculum=20 Connections

Tuning=20 in to the
Sisters' = Cycles

Growing=20 Inquiries

Nutritious=20 Lessons

Something=20 Fishy?

An=20 A-Maize-ing Crop

Resources

Web=20 Sites

Books

Native=20 American
Seed Sources

Related=20 Articles

Sowing=20 Seeds of Understanding

Stalking=20 A-Maize-ing
Lessons

Ethnobotany:=20
The People/Plant Connection

Did you know . . .?
Although = many Native=20 American groups grow corn, beans, and squash, the tradition = of=20 calling them three sisters originated with the = Haudenosaunee, the=20 People of the Longhouse (also known as Iroquois).=20

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