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Corn, beans and squash are known as "The Three Sisters." Why? These three crops are often grown together. Once again the question is "why?" It seems that each crop has a property that helps the others to grow better. This practice is called "companion planting" and has been practiced by Native Americans for centuries.
The three sisters are often shown clothed in the leaves of the crops. In some stories they are considered the daughters of the Earth Mother.
Properties
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Corn stalks are strong and tall and give the beans something to climb up--which beans need.
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Squash covers the soil around the corn and the bean plants and keeps the moisture in the soil. This keeps the soil cool and keep the weeds down.
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Besides being delicious beans "fix" the atmospheric nitrogen in the soil. This nitrogen helps to fertilize the other two plants. (Bean pods are also toasted on a flat rock and then mashed into the ash that makes natural baking powder.)
Planting a Three Sisters Garden
http://www.nativetech.org/cornhusk/threesisters.html
Go to the Web site listed above for step-by-step directions to build a Three Sisters Garden.
Have a Three Sisters Feast
Below are listed recipes that include the Three Sisters. You try, or have your mom or dad try making a dish that contains one or all of the sisters.
Native American Recipes http://www.vegetarian.about.com/library/native/blidx.htm
Three Sisters Cookbook http://www.oneida-nation.net/frmain1.html
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