![\"Burning](\"http:\/\/www.midwestsoarring.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/burningbranches_6552.jpg\")
<\/a>Burning branches in firepit<\/p><\/div>\n
Comcast employees and Midwest SOARRING members worked together to cut down a large tree, burn tree branches,\u00a0 pick up the grounds, rototill the garden soil,\u00a0 and build dirt mounds in preparation for planting seeds for a companion garden at the Midwest SOARRING Native American Cultural Center.\u00a0 Everyone enjoyed a hearty lunch on the patio soaking in the warm spring sunshine and the serene setting of the cultural center grounds.<\/p>\n
NATIVE AMERICAN COMPANION GARDENING<\/h3>\n
Native people across the country typically companion garden by planting corn, beans, and squash near one another. \u00a0The \u201cPeople of the Longhouse\u201d or Iroquois were the first to call the combination of corn, bean, and squash the 3-sisters.\u00a0 The community or ecosystem formed by these three plants does not rely on plowing but on the beneficial relationship of the plants to one another.<\/p>\n
The beans fix nitrogen in the soil for corn and squash.\u00a0 The squash acts as a ground cover to lessen erosion, weeds, and increases the amount of rain that soaks into the soil.\u00a0 The corn provides a sturdy support on which the bean vines can grow.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Rototilling soil for SOARRING companion garden<\/p><\/div>\n
Midwest SOARRING employs the style of garden used by the Wampanoag people and by other nations east of the Mississippi.\u00a0 The people of the plains and the Southwest use similar style gardens with slight differences because of climate and environment.\u00a0 The corn, bean, and squash chosen are heirloom varieties with ties to the native people who lived in the Midwest and\/or around Lake Michigan.\u00a0 None of these vegetables are hybrids or genetically modified.<\/p>\n
Thirty 18 inch diameter flat topped mounds which are 3-4 inches high were formed for the corn and beans.\u00a0 The mounds are 4 feet apart from center to center.\u00a0 Between these mounds smaller mounds were formed for the squash.\u00a0 Along the north side of the garden are a line of small mounds for sunflowers that were also included in native gardens.\u00a0 The corn will be planted sometime between May 1st<\/sup>-10th<\/sup>.\u00a0 The beans and squash will be planted when corn is 4-6 inches tall.<\/p>\n Mounds for companion garden of squash, corn, beans<\/p><\/div>\n A 3-sister garden can be as small as one mound and planted in a half barrel or small square of ground. To learn more about 3-sister gardening refer to the books and websites that are listed below.<\/p>\n Books:<\/strong> Websites: Mother Earth News: Renee’s Garden: Square Foot Gardens:<\/a>
\nNative American Gardening<\/em> by Michael Caduto and Joseph Bruschac
\nIn the Three Sisters Garden<\/em> by JoAnne Dennee
\nNative American Gardening-<\/em> Buffalobird-Woman\u2019s Guide to Traditional Methods by Gilbert Wilson<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse:
\n<\/strong>http:\/\/www.uwlax.edu\/mvac\/research\/threesisters.htm
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.motherearthnews.com\/organic-gardening\/native-american-gardening-zm0z13fmzsto.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.reneesgarden.com\/articles\/3sisters.html<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/squareftgardens4u.com\/?page_id=153<\/a><\/p>\n