Each year at Blue Duck Tavern we plant a "Chef's Garden." Among the more common plantings we've done this year (strawberries, basil, peppers), we decided to do a tribute to the first sustainable gardeners of North America by using a Native American planting technique known as the "Three Sisters Garden."
In the Three Sisters Garden, the plantings consist of corn, squash and beans planted in community mounds, which have the benefit of self-fertilization/companion plantings. The idea is that the beans add nitrogen to the soil which is in turn used by the corn plant, while the squash plants shade the roots of both, helping to conserve water and increase the pollination with large, visible flowers.
This garden is a work in progress and a learning experience as can be seen from the pictures. We are fortunate to have already achieved lush and vigorous growth. Unfortunately, unforseen challenges do present a problem. A recent hail storm took out half of the corn stalks.
We do hope to have a limited harvest of the Three Sisters Garden in about eight weeks time and will continue to post photos as the plants develop. It's also not too late to plant your own urban garden. Short season varieties of heirloom plants abound and are readily available from online suppliers. Enjoying just one meal a year from your own garden will contribute to the health of yourself and the environment with the added benefit of understanding what our farmers endure to bring the bounty of nature to our doors.
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