The Cool Down
Gardener shares low-cost method to solve common plant problems: 'So cool'
The Three Sisters' gardening method is a low-cost and sustainable way to grow food in your backyard.
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Local Gardener Revives Ancient 'Three Sisters' Method for Bountiful Harvest
A local gardener, known online as 'wonderfullyordinarygardening,' recently shared a detailed guide on establishing a 'Three Sisters Garden,' a traditional Native American interplanting technique. The method involves growing corn, squash, and pole beans together, leveraging their symbiotic relationship for a healthier, more productive yield. In her recent video, the gardener, Brittany, demonstrated her process for setting up a 10-foot by 10-foot garden bed. She began by laying down cardboard to serve as a weed barrier, followed by a substantial layer of wood chips. 'I didn't have enough soil for the whole area, but a contractor had given us a big pile of wood chips when a lot behind our house was cleared,' Brittany explained, highlighting a resourceful approach. She then created 18-inch mounds, approximately four inches deep, using a mixture of soil and cow manure. Each mound was planted with four corn plants in a diamond formation, six inches apart. Three squash seedlings were also added to each mound, with plans to thin them to two as they grow. The final step, she noted, will be to plant pole beans. 'The beans will actually use that corn as a pole to climb, so I'm super excited about that,' she stated, emphasizing the natural support system. The 'Three Sisters' method is celebrated for its efficiency and ecological benefits, with corn providing a natural trellis for beans, beans enriching the soil with nitrogen, and squash spreading along the ground to suppress weeds and retain moisture. The video offers practical advice for home gardeners interested in adopting this sustainable practice.
