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.