Post on 14-Jan-2015
description
The Three Sisters Garden at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum
2009
What is a Three Sister’s Garden?
According to Iroquois legend, corn, beans, and squash are three inseparable sisters who only grow and thrive together. This tradition of interplanting corn, beans and squash in the same mounds, widespread among Native American farming societies, is a sophisticated, sustainable system that provided long-term soil fertility and a healthy diet to generations. Growing a Three Sisters garden is a wonderful way to feel more connected to the history of this land, regardless of our ancestry.
Why did Native Americans choose these crops?
• Corn, beans and squash were among the first important crops domesticated by ancient Mesoamerican societies. Corn was the primary crop, providing more calories or energy per acre than any other. According to Three Sisters legends corn must grow in community with other crops rather than on its own - it needs the beneficial
company and aide of its companions.
1. Corn provides a natural pole for bean vines to climb.
2. Beans fix nitrogen in the soil to feed the corn and squash.
3. Squash vines become a living mulch, shading emerging weeds and preventing soil moisture from evaporating, thereby improving the overall crops’ chances of survival in dry years. Spiny squash plants also help discourage predators from approaching the corn and beans.
Week One
• We have experienced a cooler and wetter than normal spring.
The Beginning
April 27, 2008
Week Two
May
The Seeds have germinated and started growing.
Heirloom DentCorn
Squash
Heirloom Pole Beans
Week Three
• Insect Problems
Week Four
• Pests gone-Sprayed with liquid Sevin• Wind blows down corn• Corn staked• Only 2 sunflowers come up• Pole beans taking off
Treat left sideWith EcoMulchCompost Tea
Pole BeansTaking
Off
Fertilize right side with Cottonseed Meal
Pole BeansRecovering
Week Five
• Corn, Beans, and Squash growing• Replant Sunflowers• More compost tea applied to left side
Week Six
• First Week of June• Everything Growing• First Squash Flowers
End of June Hot and Dry
Week Seven
• Everything growing• First tiny squash plants• Still only two pathetic sunflowers
Only two pathetic sunflowers
Week Eight
• Pick first squash• Beautiful corn tassels• Ants farming aphids on some corn tassels• Spray aphids and ants with soapy water
Beautiful Corn Tassels
First Squash!!
Ants working
Aphids on Corn
They were sprayed
with soapy water!
Try one more time! Seed at home to transplant later in garden.
Week Nine
• Baby Ears of corn and corn silks appear
• More squash picked
• Aphids and Ants back on corn tassels
Aphids and Ants Back
Visitors!
More Visitors!
Cindy Grogan at LSEM
Week 10
• First week of July
• Ant and aphid problem
• Fertilize with organic time-released fertilizer
• Corn ears growing
10-2-8
Short Beans
Week Eleven
• Squash ripe• Corn ripening• Corn aphids and ants • Pole Beans growing
Squash
Week Eleven Lemon QueenSunflowers
Transplant more Lemon Queen Sunflowers
Bug problems
Glassy-winged Sharpshooter
Homalodisca vitripennis
Glassy-winged Sharpshooter
Homalodisca vitripennis
Corn Aphids and Ants
Week Eleven Lemon QueenSunflowers
Transplant more Lemon Queen Sunflowers
Week Twelve
• Everything alive and growing• Baby Beans• “Lemon Queen” sunflowers (looks a lot like
“Mammoth”) peaking
Fresh Picked Squash
Baby Pole Beans
SunflowersUsed as aTrap Plant
Glassy-winged Sharpshooter
Homalodisca vitripennis
Sunflower transplants
Week Thirteen
• Green striped cushaws growing• Sunflowers headed down
Green StripedCushaw leaves
Week Fourteen
• Large Sunflowers headed down
• Beans twining up corn stalks
• Ears of corn not full
Week 15
• First week of August• Plants growing in heat and humidity• Large sunflowers headed downward and
transplants slowly growing
Week Sixteen
• Corn ears drying on stalks• Beans growing• Cushaw growing• Sunflower seeds drying on large plants• Young sunflowers making flowers
Week Seventeen
• Squash borer problem• Corn drying on stalks• Young sunflowers growing
Week Twenty-One• Mid September-Glitz and Grits week
• Corn drying
• Beans twining
• Next wave of sunflowers blooming
• Cushaw still growing (thanks to Jane Hall treating the squash borer!)
Week Twenty Three
• Cushaw still growing
• Time to pick the corn
Cushaw still growing
Straight-neck squash done
Pole BeansEnjoying Rain and Cooler Weather
Corn!
Coming Full Cycle (Saving Seeds)
By saving and replanting some of the seeds from their three sisters gardens, Native cultures brought the cycle of life full circle. Your may want to save some to replant or
package and give to other gardeners. Below are some tips for gathering and preserving the seeds.
Corn Leave several ears on the stalk until husks dry and turn brown. Remove and peel back
the husks and hang them to dry, out of direct sun, for a month. Once they're dry, remove the individual kernels. Store them in an airtight container. (Note: If you save
and replant seed from hybrid corn, the plants will not have their parents' good qualities.)
BeansLeave several pods on a plant until they turn brown and brittle. Break open the pods
and remove the seeds. Leave them on a flat surface or screen, out of direct sun, to air dry for a few days. Put them in an airtight, dark container protected from extreme heat
and cold.
SquashScoop out the seeds with a spoon and rinse them with water in a colander. Follow the
same instructions as listed for drying and storing beans.
Conclusions
• The 3 Sisters Garden was successful in that I had corn, beans, and squash, but, our tribe would have starved if it depended on this crop for survival.
• The heavy spring and summer rains caused problems.
• Pests must be addressed immediately.• Keeping records is very important.• What a great learning experience!
Thank You!!
• Dave Creech, my husband, for being patient, supportive, and answering a million questions.
• Greg Grant of Stephan F. Austin State University for providing the heirloom seeds.
• Hal Stuckman of EcoMulch for providing compost tea.• The Louisiana State Exhibit Museum Staff and
Landscape Board for allowing me to grow the garden.• Jane Hall and Denyse Cummings for advice and
continuous encouragement.