Saturday, July 12, 2014

Three Sisters

                                                                                                                       (Sears)




Three Sisters

I found the stories of the corn, beans, and squash that have been grown together for hundreds of years by many Native American cultures fascinating.  Their stories although vary from culture to culture still provided necessary nutrients for both the consumer and the land and were staples in most cultures diets. 
 “The term ‘Three Sisters’ originated with the Haudenosaunee.”  (The Three Sisters)  This term came from their creation myth.  This legend can be read at this link:   http://www.birdclan.org/threesisters.htm
The three crops when grown together work together by the corn providing a stalk for the beans to grow up, keeping it up off the ground.  “The bacteria that occur naturally in beans absorb nitrogen from the air and convert it to nitrates, which fertilize the soil for the corn and squash.”  (The Three Sisters)  While the squash provides ground cover and helps to keep away the weeds.  The differences between these crops help to protect and provide for each other and return nutrients to the earth.  “The elemental botanical differences between these three species guarantees that they will not all succumb to a single nutrition conflict, pest or meteorological event.”  (Vivian)
By growing these crops together in this manner they were insuring that not only were the people getting the proper combination of nutrients but that they were returning back to the earth as well.  It is said the Native American is the original environmentalist, I think this is a great example of that.

 

Works Cited

Erney, Diana. "Ther Three Sisters." 29 April 2004. birdclan.org. http://www.birdclan.org/threesisters.htm. 10 July 2014.
Sears, Elayne. The Three Sisters: Corn, Beans and Squash . n.d. http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-and-environment/three-sisters-corn-beans-squash-zmaz01fmzsel.aspx#axzz37GRBsF1O.
"The Three Sisters." n.d. Iroquoismuseum.org. http://www.iroquoismuseum.org/three_sisters.htm#Corn_is_a_plant_first_domesticated_by_Native_American_people_somewhere_over_6,000_years_ago,_in_that_part_of_North_America_today_called_Mexico. 12 July 2014.
Vivian, John. "The Three Sisters: Corn, Beans and Squash ." February/March 2001. Mother Earth News. http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-and-environment/three-sisters-corn-beans-squash-zmaz01fmzsel.aspx#axzz37GRBsF1O. 12 July 2014.



10 comments:

  1. This is a great confirmation of the Native’s commitment to the earth and her resources. They lived from the land and believe in giving back to it. This way of life would have made the world/nation we live in much more different than the one we live in today. We are accustomed to sucking nutrients and resources from the earth and only returning back to it mere fractions of what we take, if anything. Thanks for the share on the Three Sisters.

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    1. I think so too! It also proves that they had a firm grip on farming without needing any help from outsiders. It is so interesting how they took such good care of the earth and animals.

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  3. Jana,
    I really enjoyed reading your post. I love to read about the Native Legends and how they influenced the life's of the Native People. The legend of the Three Sisters is one of my favorites and I like how you shared information about how these three crops aided each other in their growth. Great post.
    ~Barbara

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    1. Thanks Barbara, I love the legends and reading about them as well.

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  4. Hi Jana,

    I grow a garden each year. It is too late this year, but perhaps next year, I will devote a portion to the three-sisters growing method for corn, beans and squash.

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    1. I do too Nancy and I think I will try it out next year too. I would really like to see it and to know the story behind it will make it mean so much more than just the veggies for canning/freezing.

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  5. Hi Jana!

    I loved your post! I had read stories about "The 3 Sisters" in my youth but could not remember the details and simply knew that the corn, beans and squash each represented a sister. I really enjoyed that you included the specific information about nutrients and how the crops helped each other. I think that if more people read your post or the article you referenced that they would attempt to do a "3 Sisters" plot in their own gardens. =]

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    1. I think trying it in the garden is a great idea!

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  6. What I love about the 3 sisters is this ONE of the major links between different tribes across North America! So many tribes used this system in planting it shows there had to be information passed between them. It was used in all 4 corners of the continent - and across Canada. In terms of religion, politics, trade, economics nothing connects tribes like this singular choice in agriculture. Don't get me wrong not ALL tribes used this and many supplemented with local vegetation, but I see it as a link where you can find few.

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