3rd grade plants the Three Sisters Garden

Mr. Mumford shows a team of his and Mr.Souter's 3rd grade students how to build a soil mound so that they can plant the corn, beans, and squash in our Three Sisters Garden. The 3rd grade studied Native American history and how the Native Americans grew their own food.  In the fall, the students will harvest the crops and have a harvest dinner.

Do you know what a Three Sisters Garden is? Here is one description taken from www.kidsgardening.com

Native peoples from different parts of North America have used a wide range of agricultural techniques. Perhaps the best known is the interplanting of corn, beans, and squash together a trio often referred to as the "three sisters." In a three sisters planting, the three partners benefit one another. Corn provides support for beans. Beans, like other legumes, have bacteria living on their roots that help them absorb nitrogen from the air and convert it to a form that plants can use. (Corn, which requires a lot of nitrogen to grow, benefits most.) The large, prickly squash leaves shade the soil, preventing weed growth, and deter animal pests. The three sisters also complement each other nutritionally. 

Students get an overview of the Three Sisters Garden planting area.

Students work together in teams to plant each mound.