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Friday, July 10, 2009

THREE SISTERS GUILD

This ancient system of growing corn, beans and squash illustrates how companion planting has been practiced with much success over the ages. Native American peoples planted them in different patterns depending on what region they lived in but overall the inspiration is based on Mother Nature. The method draws upon nature’s cycle of nutrients and flow of energy to create growing conditions that favor all three plants throughout their life cycle.

The corn provides vertical support the pole beans require to climb as well as a little shade for the squash. The squash shades the ground for the corn allowing moisture to remain in the soil longer. The pole beans provide nitrogen fertilizer by absorbing nitrogen from the air and converting to soluble nitrate in the soil. Microscopic nitrogen fixing bacteria live in small, often visible, nodules on the roots of legume plants (like beans and peas) enhancing the plants ability to absorb nitrogen.

How Native American peoples knew this I don’t know but they seemed to know a lot more about living sustainably than we do today. For more information about this planting Guild contact us today!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

GARDEN DIVERSITY!


Over 300 different species of plants thrive on this 1/3 acre property in N. California. 4 humans, 2 dogs, insects, birds, lizards, even moles co-exist in harmony within these gardens. Next animal needed: CHICKENS!
Expected food crop yield this season is approximately 1000 lbs!



Plants Shown in Picture
  • 10-30 year old fruit trees/vines: apple, fig, pomegranates, almond, grape, pepper, pecan
  • 3 Sisters Spiral + clover: Sweet corn, 7 types squash (spaghetti, 3 types pumpkin, yellow crookneck, scallop bush, zucchini) and 2 types pole beans
  • Elderberry with grape vine
  • Potatoes interplanted with Yin Yang and Blue Lake bush beans and Nasturtiums: 6 varieties potatoes planted vertically: purple, red, Yucon gold, yellow finn, banana fingerling and russet
  • Scarlet Runner bean Phaseolus coccineus
  • Joe Pye Weed Eupatorium purpureum
  • Costmary Tanacetum balsamita
  • Garden Sage Salvia offincinalis
  • Coneflower Echinacea purpurea
  • English Lavender Lavandula angustifolia
**Not shown but growing lower down are chives, calendula, wooly and creeping thyme, oregano, feverfew and nasturtiums

Pretty fulfilling to grow your own food; it goes hand in hand with happiness.